Southwest Airlines Community

@banann454wrote: I'm enrolled in a Southwest A-List promotion, in which I have status through April. I need to fly three more flights before April in order to retain my A-List status through the year. Unrelatedly, I had to cancel an existing flight (which was made prior to enrollment in the promotion) but now need to re-book it. By re-booking it now, it would count towards my three-flight requirement.   The fine print of the promotion discourages this type of action in a vague way (something along the lines of "trying to cheat the system may result in being banned from future promotions"), but does anyone have any experience in this? How can I "prove" that my trip was canceled and rescheduled for legitimate reasons? I would hate to be punished simply because my client changed their mind about my trip.   Any insight would be much appreciated! As a lawyer, I'm a pretty good engineer. So with that caveat, I feel like the intention of this promotion would be to keep people from canceling a trip that was scheduled within the window and then re-booking the same trip to have it count. That's obviously not included.   Canceling a trip, and then rescheduling for a different date/time (maybe city?) might be a partial flag since you have already deposited the money and will use travel credit with an existing confirmation number. Might be allowed.   To make it cleaner, if you fly Southwest a lot (you are A-list?) I would hold onto the credit if you can carry it and make a new booking. Then use the flight credit later in the year. That would show new money coming into the reservation system as a result of a promotion. Not sure if this is better or not.   Last resort - sale right now for some $59 routes - make a "points run" to a nearby location over a weekend and get it in the bag, for instance MDW - MSP and back. (Don't know if this is feasible at your home airport.)    ... View more

Enlist the help of the flight attendant if you do get stuck at the back of C-boarding with your son.    Instead of $30 each way for early bird, plan on $5 to buy someone a beverage if they move for you.   Definitely check in right at the 24-hour mark to maximize your postiion without EB.   Where you have the choice for selecting a flight, check that flight number to see if it is a through flight number from another city. As a tie-breaker, choose flights that originate at your location which cuts down on how many people will already be on the plane before anyone has boarded. ... View more

If the new flight is cheaper then you'll continue to have the remaining amount of credit available.   When the new flight is more, you'll have to pay the extra above the vlue of the credit.   ... View more

@reismithwrote: Does anyone know what the Eligibilty Period for applying a postponed ticket is? Are there any fees with a reschedule? No change fees. You do pay the current price for a ticket. ... View more

Might be a software issue, was there a place to put his age on the ticket? ... View more

You can also check with the ticket agent at the airport to re-issue boarding passes, allow a little extra time to check with them if you weren't already planning on checking luggage. ... View more

If those are on the Saturday schedule its' showing 4142 arriving 8:20 a.m. and 4384 departing at 9:05 a.m. for next weekend.   Both the through plane and your leg landing at about the same time at MDW.    You may want to sit towards the front if you can, but if both planes are deplaning over the same period, you should be able to get through MDW to make your flight no problem.   I'd skip the Early Bird though, its possible that you won't get to the second gate for your scheduled boarding position. You'll have a 24-hour head start as someone mentioned earlier when you check in for 4142 you will automatically be checked in for 4384 as well, so you'll get a slightly more favorable position. ... View more

@franktravelwrote: Did you book a flight with a connection with one conformation number? Or did you purchase the second flight separate from your first flight?  If you have one conformation number, when you check-in for your first flight you will be checked in for the second flight also. If that second flight is a originating flight you will have been checked in before most of the people for that flight therefore you will have a lower boarding number and group number then them.    Good luck!  ...which they probably won't be able to use, walking up at 10 or 15 minutes until departure.   That is shorter than most connections I've seen - need to confirm if this is one confirmation number, or separate confirmation numbers.   Also, are you sure that you change planes in MDW?   What's the final destination?   ... View more

The cancellation email should have a link to request a refund. ... View more

@Adri0111wrote: I want to purchase flights for a companion and I with cash money. I am waiting for my rewards points to post.  Can I later call in and have the money refunded and use points instead?    Only if the fare was Business Select or Anytime which are refundable fares, if you purchase Wanna Get Away fares they are not refundable.   Points booking would also be refundable, if canceled the points go back to your account even for WGA fares.   @Adri0111wrote:   Unrelated question. I had a flight that I had to cancel. Can I use the value of that flight towards a ticket paid fully with points.  I want to use the credit to pay the taxes/security fees. That should work. The value from that flight would have included taxes/fees in it and could be an even exchange for a new flight including fees.   Make sure that you will use the credit before it expires, one year from original purchase. ... View more

@chgoflyerwrote: FYI: Southwest stopped putting the full RR number on drink coupons some years ago.   Most of the ones for sale on Ebay at the moment are from the Business Select drink coupon lawsuit. Those do not contain any identifying information, they just say "Replacement Voucher."   I expect prices for those will drop and we'll see an influx of them onboard over the next few months as they expire at the end of May. 😉 That makes more sense...I hadn't looked online myself, I'm glad that the ones for sale are not personally identifying!   I hadn't noticed that my own info wasn't on my tickets anymore, that also makes me happy - what if I dropped one somewhere and then got hacked? ... View more

If you have the internet - looks like you do if you are on this community board - I would try the Twitter account @SouthwestAir if you have a twitter account - don't send any name or confirmation number information until they ask you to direct message them.   Or call the general Southwest number, your call doesn't seem to be about the Punta Cana leg to FLL, it's the FLL to Buffalo leg which is domestic, I'd call the domestic line not the Punta Cana line.   ... View more

I think any new category would have to be behind the A-list and A-list Preferred flyers. ... View more

@djflyerwrote: Hi any chance you can throw a few my way too I would loved to have them 😃 Thanks Although not technically transferable I understand these can sometimes be found on eBay. I haven't ever had to do that myself as I'm usually just able to use them up as they expire, or throw away just a few of them.   I personally wouldn't sell something that had my last name and RR# printed on it, but I guess some people will. ... View more

I do see this enforced occasionally. I hope the discretion in enforcement might lean towards more enforcement on busier flights and less so on empty flights, but also it might come down to enforcement by opportunity when there aren't other urgent matters in boarding, or when the violation stands out more for larger items. ... View more

In that regard in the same position when traveling with my wife and young child, we don't gamble, boarding at "A61" has always worked fine for us.   I only get EB if traveling only with my wife since I'm A-list and she can be closer in position to me.   When traveling with baby and we'll be using family boarding, no EB for us, the potential to be moved up 10 or 15 spots isn't worth it, and as you said you might not move up any spots. ... View more

It is an interesting idea. I think Southwest probably wouldn't go for it due to the current prioritization based on frequency of flying, and the business travelers will tend to have a carry-on for work-related items and they don't want to discourage that.   I am surprised sometimes that people don't seem to be taking advantage of two free checked bags. I'll admit I check my clothes, but carry on my work-related items which is still either a roller bag or backpack. ... View more

@Empressharawrote: I think given the 26% annual increase in traffic to LIR, the year round flights by Alaska Air and Jetblue contemplating expansion to this terminal maybe you should change your schedule. There are so many people complaining about the 4.5 hr commute to the Pacific beaches from SJO, it hardly makes sense to limit options, in or out. LUV is losing business to legacy airlines here and nobody particularly likes it! Please reconsider as our "low season" has contracted from July to mid October and saavy travelers know that they can come anytime. We are also the closest airport to the hottest spot in Central America, Grenada NK. This community is meant to be user-to-user help, if you are acting in an official capacity (it sounds like you may work for the LIR airport or a tourism body) then you should continue trying to reach someone at Southwest directly with your information, I wouldn't expect the scheduling group of Southwest to see this post in this forum. ... View more

@franktravelwrote: The old saying "Always count your change"  When someone receive a refund they are given the amount of the credit the expiration date and are also sent an email. Most of the blame for credits going missing must go the the customer who either delete their email or don't write down the information in a safe place.  My suggestion everyone create a folder in their email and call it "Southwest Credits"   All the information is there for us passengers to keep track of it ourselves and not let funds go to waste.     That Southwest doesn't charge a change fee and maintain such a relaxed cancelation policy is great and I'm more or less happy with status quo - I don't personally cancel too many fights without immediately rebooking the replacement.   It sure would be handy to have a search by RR number though. ... View more

I understand that you can call customer service and there is a chance to unofficially pay a fee to have travel funds re-instated as a voucher after they expire, although the fee to do that may be $100 so sometimes it won't make sense depending on the value of the travel funds remaining.   Otherwise the expiration date doesn't change even though you have a new flight booked and may cancel it, the expiration would remain 2/27 if that was your original purchase date a year ago.     ... View more

Hopefully a full recovery! Glad to hear it worked out.   To clarify, there aren't ever any change fees but maybe the customer service agent was able to exchange your ticket for "even money" even with the short notice flight. ... View more

The southwest section in C-gates at ATL is compact. As long as the flights are on time you will be able to make it before the doors close, and that should be enough time for baggage as well.   Keep your passport handy for when you get to the Punta Cana gate so that you aren't digging for it. ... View more

wrote: My CEO left his MacBook in the seat back pocket in front of him and didn't realize it. A report was submitted but I have tried multiple times to reach the lost item department in DEN- 303.214.2332, with no success (noone answers the phone or returns calls when messages are left).  It is VERY important that we find this MacBook and I have been told that there is no way to get a hold of anyone via phone, only email. If anyone has ANY suggestions please share!  I was confused about the routing - in the subject it was MCI to DAL, then in the body you mention Denver - what was the destination where your CEO lost the item, and then do you know where that plane went after leaving your destination?   I'm not sure if the item shows up in the baggage area, or if they hold it somewhere else. If you had local presence at either airport maybe have someone go to the airport with a description.   Depeding when your flight was during the day and if anyone saw the item in the seat back pocket (assuming that's where it was) then the plane could make several stops before the item was found.   I would include the known locations in your report though, incuding where you were and then where you think the plane went next.   Good luck, let us know if it turns up. ... View more

wrote: Is there a reason you can't book now and apply your travel funds to the April trip?  I think he said that the expiration is in March. ... View more

Do you men through the "vacations" section of the site, or generally if you buy a ticket the website helpfully suggests booking hotel and rental car? ... View more

Don't worry about #1, there are all types and it gets bunched up fairly quickly...you won't be slowing things down.   There will probably be some aisle seats in the back at B40, but you can ask for the "needs more time" pre-boading between A and B groups if you like, it seems reasonable.   At the gate they shouldn't ask for any specific documentation, only questions "do you need more time" or "do you need a specific seat" and answer accordingly. ... View more

You can cancel or re-schedule to use your funds to complete travel within a year of the original purchase.   If you won't be traveling, you need to cancel at least 10 minutes before the flight. ... View more

I don't think that would be restricted, what if you had separate clients that you needed to reimburse expenses individually for each car trip?   It sounds like a pain to keep bringing the car back for an exchange unless you have a way for the rental company to leave it in your possession for each rental period...I haven't ever heard of that before.   If you are paying for the rental on your Southwest Visa then the total cost also applies at dollar per point, so in that regard you capture the length of rental in the rewards although presumably less than the 600 incentive points.   I've been making CP pretty comfortably the past few years, I don't think this would be worth it to spend the time returning the car multiple times unless you had to, or you were staying near the rental place where it was super convenient.     ... View more

Just to back up a little bit - coming from Argentina, then flying Southwest while travling inside the USA?   You'll need to verify requirements elsewhere for the trips back and forth between B.A. and the USA, or if you change airlines in Central America airports they may also have different requirements. ... View more

wrote: Best I can tell wi-fi is a topic with tens of thousands of views on this forum. Would not be surprised if it is the most searched term. Because it sucks on Southwest. And it has sucked for years. Yet SW appears tone deaf of these countless complaints. I have heard it is the single biggest item SW issues credits for.   There are a few posts about pre-boards, early-bird, and seat saving, but I'll give you that it is probably in the top 4 in terms of volume of posts.    Maybe it is the most searched term, conditional probability for people that are concerned about wifi quality to use the search functions? ... View more