Southwest Airlines Community

That's scary, glad to hear you were able to receive treatment at the destination.   No idea about the nebulizer idea or who to contact, but I would bring a portable battery for your own device in the future if you aren't certain to have access to a standard receptacle. ... View more

Yes, 24 hours prior to the flight's depature regardless of your actual location and any adjustment to time zone. Hopefully your calendar adjusts automatically if you set a "one-day alarm" but in your case yes it would be 9 a.m. check-in for an 11 a.m. flight from MDW.   ... View more

A-list preferred is probably the top status since that means the customer is flying the most number/cost value of flights.   There are many other non-ticketed methods to contribute towards companion pass - which I'm sure benefits Southwest as well, but let's assume that they make the most money from ticket revenue then I think A-list Preferred may be the top, A-list second, and Companion Pass third in terms of predicting how often someone flies or what they spend specifically on airline tickets.   I agree with your point though that why not allow a companion to board with the primary member? It ends up being largely academic - when boarding at the proper time I've never not sat with my companion, although I have also had the benefit of A-list position to get the first seat. Then when companion boarded later any one middle seat is as good as another.   Now we do family boarding with our new addition, so we're all "A-61" and it also works out fine.   ... View more

If you are traveling with parents/guardians the answer is "no" from TSA. https://www.tsa.gov/travel/security-screening/identification   If you are traveling solo then I think you would need to provide something in lieu of a driver's license such as a birth certificate, or better yet a passport.   Southwest it doesn't say here what would be needed if solo. They allow "young travelers" - where the unaccomanied minor it asks for birth certificate, but it doesn't say for the young traveler.         ... View more

Maybe Virgin to ORD, but I hope you can find a nice Southwest route that accomodates you. Denver is a nice layover, not too far out of the direct line. ... View more

Co-worker? Nice try. Spouse...yes. Young kids...yes. Fiance? I'll even get up out of my aisle and take a middle for them at the end of boarding. Co-worker...see you in 3.5 hours!       ... View more

I would amend your original statement to say that "clearly seats are not assigned" and that maybe it means seats that are unoccupied.     ... View more

This may or may not apply to you, but you'll find that the airport lounges and also inflight that adult beverages are available regardless of time of day (maybe not super early at the airport)...if you think one might be relaxing you can go for it. The "before noon" rule doesn't apply at the airport.   Music and books are always good too.   I think decide ahead of time if you'll be trying to see out the window or to not see out the window according to your needs - here is the seating map to help you think about the options. Or get a C group number and take a middle 🙂   737-700: https://www.seatguru.com/airlines/Southwest_Airlines/Southwest_Airlines_Boeing_737-700_new.php   737-800: https://www.seatguru.com/airlines/Southwest_Airlines/Southwest_Airlines_Boeing_737-800_new.php     ... View more

I have heard of other uses accepting immunization documents, but the Southwest website only mentions the birth certificate specifically. I would call the 800 number the day ahead today to add the child to your ticket and mention then what materials you do have.   ... View more

Here's some current info: https://cu.usembassy.gov/u-s-citizen-services/local-resources-of-u-s-citizens/traveling-to-cuba/   There certainly are many exceptions that would allow people to visit, but with a stated purpose other than tourism.   ... View more

We have a few follow up questions    If this is on one reservation where you change planes but have a single ticket, then any bags you check will go through automatically. (So check as much as possible?). Verify when you check in at your depature airport that the tags are for the ultimate destination.   You'll have to keep your carry on bags with you in any scenario, so travel light.   If you have separate tickets on southwest or even one leg Southwest and one leg someone else, you'll need to pick up any checked bags and go back through security. In that case I doubt you have enough time to do much out of the airport.   Assuming that it was the first case above, there are plenty of poorly paying slot machines at the airport. There are also a couple of lounges for a fee that may be worth it if you enjoy airport lounges for a few hours. That ones I know are in the other terminal though, so you'd need to take the inter-airport train there and back - allow 20 minutes or so for that each way.   Otherwise traveling light and maybe with TSA Precheck you may be able to take a taxi to to the Strip and make it back in time spending maybe a couple of hours there.   The hardest part may be judging the time it takes to walk through a casino if you opt for that.        ... View more

The CP (and A-list) qualifying points all are calendar based, so when you mentioned hitting the limit in February that would have to be from flights and CC spending in January and February next year, not the remaining/excess points from this year plus those two months.   I agree with the other poster about booking any remaining personal trips with points (companion still included whether booked on points or cash), but I assume that the high volume of flights is due to business that you may be reimbursing. Keep using SW Visa for those to get the compounding benefit of extra points on SWA purchases.   If you own your own business, then maybe it does make sense to use points even for work trips.   I'd have to dig a little on this one, but I think it is possible to earn a second companion pass? If you had that high of a volume of flights and also had a child or someone else that would fly with you. Obviously that wouldn't be as useful if you normally travel only with your wife. I thought I saw something about this before, but can't find it now. ... View more

I was able to import to calendar from the email confirmation, but had the same error from the Southwest.com website that the others are having. ... View more

With the policy that isn't a policy in effect, I would translate "open seating" means "not assigned" which is the distinction to most other airlines.   One counterpoint to the no policy approach, I have had the flight attendants once in a while block people from saving seats in exit rows specifically, but no comment in other areas.             ... View more

You can try this:   https://www.southwest.com/account/recovery?clk=GSUBNAV-RR-LOOKUP#needUsername     Otherwise you'll need to call customer service, this message board doesn't have access to your Southwest account, it's meant for user-to-user tips.   https://www.southwest.com/contact-us/contact-us.html?clk=GFOOTER-CUSTOMER-CONTACT-US       ... View more

I agree that the emails are an unfortunate error, but the bigger issue seems to be that you seemed to be on track to earn the awards but then it didn't convert in the end, we'd probably need more detail to help on that front in terms of what you had planned to do and what actually happened.   I'm not sure what the issue was, although it seems like a common one is spending on the Rapid Rewards Visa which is accrued at the statement closing, not as spending takes place. Hopefully that wasn't what got you. ... View more

Although not advertised, if you go to Magical Express and let them know you are there they may be able to pull your extra luggage even without the yellow tags.   The scenario you describe makes sense, Southwest will only care about what you check at the departure airport, and Disney will only care about luggage that shows up with yellow tags (or names that they are looking for).   You can "gate check" luggage on the Magical Express too if needed, the downside is that you would need to leave it with the concierge at the destination resort instead of having it appear in your room automagically. This works great if you need some items before heading to the parks even if you don't have a room assignment yet. ... View more

Passport, and depending on several factors it may benefit you to have Global Entry.   I like flying Porter to Canada if you'll be in the east of the country. Take Southwest to get to MDW or one of the other Porter airports. (Chicago MDW, Pittsburgh, Boston, among others.) ... View more

I think it might be a mixup in the lingo, I've never heard of family boarding to be affected by ticket type.   It is affected by age of the child, and potentially number of adults traveling with the children.   Companion boarding along with the primary ticket holder likely to be A-list does cause friction when the companion has a later boarding position, particularly if the child companion was old enough not to qualify for family boarding as an altnerative.  ... View more

This forum site is meant to be user-to-user questions and answers. The message board staff jump in from time to time and monitor things, but they may not be in position to say one way or the other. You can ping the board managers directly though, @LindseyD any thoughts on next steps for this one? It isn't a specific customer service question, i.e. this isn't a question that you would call the 800 number and ask...   My own thoughts, one issue might be the perception. When in uniform, everyone at the gate will understand what is happening. When the policy was originally developed maybe it was more common for servicemembers to be in uniform even when traveling commercial - with changing trends maybe the policy is outdated regarding uniforms. ... View more

Hopefully you were able to get the "boarding position only" upgrade at the gate for cash.   I don't think it makes sense to use points for Business Select - one of the real benefits of BS fares is the extra point earning potenital, which you would be doing the opposite by purchasing with points.   If the boarding position was critical for someone, then it would be best to go for early bird for a small price upgrade instead of multiples on the cost of the ticket.     ... View more

There is also an issue at times with purchasing multipel tickets at once, if there are only two seats left at the designated fare but you purchase four, then it kicks up to the next bracket.   Right or wrong in that approach, it would be helpful if there was some feedback when that happens to allow you to automatically buy two and two, instead of all four at the higher rate, or if you prefer to go back and buy each one separately.   ... View more

Earlier is better for Southwest.   If the trip did become lower priced after you purchased it, you can change your ticket to the lower fare although the extra money will be held in a voucher for Wanna Get Away fares.           ... View more

Breast milk will be allowed through after testing, allow extra time for the testing. I don't believe that size of the container is important although I've never seen anyone go through with gallon-sized jars. Bottle-sized are definitely okay, after testing.   Conventional milk or formula isn't allowed through, that formula should be left in powder form and hydrated after you are through security. ... View more

The allowable range of capacity under this particular regulation is from 100 Wh to 160 Wh, so you should be fine. It's an FAA rule.   https://www.faa.gov/about/office_org/headquarters_offices/ash/ash_programs/hazmat/passenger_info/media/Airline_passengers_and_batteries.pdf     ... View more

Southwest does have a cargo division: https://www.southwest.com/html/air/business-groups/cargo.html?clk=GFOOTER-BOTTOM-CARGO   I would doubt that this works out to be the best way to transport a couch from ABQ to GRR though. Probably one of the van lines will be more economical. Or sell it in ABQ and buy a new one in GRR.   Maybe Allied Van Lines or one of the others.   David ... View more

You can check it, two free checked bags with Southwest!   Unless I'm missing something, the "carry on" tag just means that you could carry it on if you wanted to, but it should also be fine for checking.   I'm not sure about the cruise part - does the cruise line pick up your checked bags automatically at the destination airport? (Like Disney's Magical Express?) Otherwise I'm not sure that you will avoid carrying it around when you leave the airport. Hopefully the ship has a bellman to hold luggage if needed. ... View more

Regarding the gate check, it can be done either way to have the item for use at the layover, or retrieve it in the jetbridge at the destination airport, just let them know and they may ask your preference.   Assuming that you don't need the booster seat in the airport, obviously you'd opt to pick it up at the destination and not the layover.   Regarding curbside or at the counter, we have been happy checking our pack and play at curbside, but we do use the blue Southwest bags avilable for purchase to protect the items from scuffing.   The exception is the stroller which we use in the airport. It can be gate checked either to the connecting airport or to the final airport, your choice. For the stroller we're usually wanting to have it on the layover, so we retrieve it and re-check it at the new gate.   I'm not sure about the booster seat. If it is precious, then I'd say gate check over curbside or ticket counter. If it is a pain to carry through the airport, then check it regularly and retrieve at baggage claim. ... View more