Southwest Airlines Community

It's frustrating when your go-to flights change their schedule; sometimes the demand for other areas or the bulk of passengers don't fit our travel ideal schedules very well!  I travel from BNA to CLT a lot, and they schedules have adjusted many times over the last several months.  I am currently at the airport now at 10:35pm waiting for my delayed 11:50pm departure; not ideal, but I choose to take it because it is direct and because it is the only option besides early in the day.  So I totally appreciate your position and feedback!   With that said, since this is a customer forum, I would recommend reaching out to SW directly to provide the feedback.  Twitter at @southwestair is a good option, or you can find the Contact Us page on southwest.com.   Also, some of the connection options go through Denver or Las Vegas.  While you may not care to connect, Denver is not very much out of the way; that might be your best bet if you want to avoid United! ... View more

I have experienced it being rather cumbersome to get thru all the prompts, but I have had success in getting it to work each time. Note that I have been using the SW app on iPad ibstead of Airtime Player. ... View more

To your point, my next trip from Nashville to IAD is thru ATL both ways! ... View more

Plus, connecting thru any wagers in the NE or thru MDW in the winter is always a risk!   Have you checked for flights connecting thru DAL, HOU, DEN, or PHX? Given SW’s large operations at these airports (that are either very reasonably sized or contained within one concourse of a larger airport), these are more centrally located.    With that said, given SW’s presence at MDW and BWI, I’m sure we will still see those as popular connection airports. At least BWI has good food options??? 🙂 ... View more

I'm not sure you will get an answer here since this is a customer forum, but I certainly understand your concern! The same happened to me years ago on the BNA to GSP route. The planes were alyways full; that said, full planes don't necessarily equal profit. As I'm sure you know, there are so many variables, and airlines change their routes frequently to balance demand, growth goals, and profitability. I'm not sure there is any one specific reason for the schedule change.    Hopefully things will change in the future to get that route back! Good luck . ... View more

I also agree that it would be nice to have! But I always say that I am happy to do the work to have the benefit of changing and cancelling fee-free.    We we can always hope! ... View more

While I do not have experience trying to check one of these, given that the L+W+H of the Frakta bag does not exceed SW's limit of 62 total inches, it does seem like you will be allowed to check the bag.  Note that any bag over 50 lbs. will be subject to a $75 fee each way.   While SW may accept this bag, I would caution you against checking it because it does not seem very sturdy.  I would be terrified of what might happen to the contents, even if the bag is treated gently.     Happy travels! ... View more

Welcome to SW, and congrats on [almost] achieving ALP! It sounds like you have it figured out!! RTs don’t count until the whole trip is complete, and you will want the 2018 outbound to count for 2018. Having it on its own reservation will make that happen.    Hopefully cancelling them and rebooking separately will not result in a fare increase, but even if it does, I would say it’s worth the additional cost!   Some folks always book each direction separately. There are different schools of thought, but for me, I would only typically consider doing that in your situation.    Good luck!! ... View more

Awesome story! I highly recommend you provide your experience to SW via either their site's contact us link or Twitter. If you provide the flight details, SW's teams will ensure the right folks get recognized.  ... View more

This has been extensively discussed on this site, and I doubt we will see much change around the preboarding process. I am right there with you in that I travel frequently, but when I find myself growing impatient, I always remind myself that we can’t always see a disability or know the whole situation.   To your first suggestion, I really like the idea of limiting the number of folks that can board with a preboarder. Given that I am AList Preferred and cannot board with my family unless I take a worse boarding spot, it does bother me when a large family boards with a preborder. I don’t know where to draw the line, but it is frustrating.    To your second suggestion, this seems problematic because it a) would complicate (slow) the process of folks getting off the plane, making flight attendants have to police what could be volatile situations and b) punishes folks with legitimate preboarding needs. Across my hundreds of SW flights over many years, I can honestly say that I have never lost more than about a minute of my time waiting for someone to get in a wheelchair. Making wheelchair-bound passengers wait would add unnecessary stress and shame.    Just thinking out loud here... ... View more

This is indeed a terrible situation, and I am glad that the major airines have tightened their emotional support animals policies.    Given that this happened on another airline, I would hope that no one on SW would ever have am experience like this. And if they happen to, I am confident that the SW folks would go above and beyond to remedy the situation . ... View more

You might also find this helpful: https://millionmilesecrets.com/guides/southwest-companion-pass-points/ ... View more

I am not sure I can answer all of this, but I will tell you what I do know.   @tparrent wrote:   I have a Southwest credit card that I use very frequently. I read that there is a limit of 15,000 qualifying points in a year from the card but I have not found any information on how to look up information on where I am relative to that limit (I assume I am over it)   Any and all Southwest credit card points count toward CP, BUT they statement has to close and the points post before the end of the year in order for the points to count.  There is a limit of of 15,000 Tier Qualifying Points that can count toward A List, but that is separate from CP qualification.   @tparrent wrote:   I still have at least 9 one way flights booked this year but cannot tell how many qualifying points they will generate.   This is something I like to see as well, and it is not necessarily easy.  I remember when estimated points were shown in your upcoming reservations, but now, you can find them in your confirmation emails.  As long as you have those saved, you should be able to add those estimated points you will earn up pretty easily.   @tparrent wrote:  I am one flight away from A List qualification. Will subsequent flights that are already booked receive the A List extra points? Do those extra points count towards Companion Pass qualification?   Based on my research, bonus points that come along with A List status do NOT count toward CP qualification.   @tparrent wrote:  Would buying Southwest gift cards move me closer to qualification? What if I am already above the credit card annual 15,000 point limit? I fly Southwest nearly every week so I would certainly use the gift cards next year.   In theory, you could indeed do this if you pay for the GCs with your Southwest credit card.  Just be sure the statement will close before the end of the year, of course.   @tparrent wrote:  If I upgrade some of my Wanna Get Away fares that I have already booked through year end, will I get additional credit towards Companion Pass?   DING DING DING!  The difference in the amount of points that WGA fares earn and Business Select fares earn is HUGE!  The first year I qualified for CP on points, more expense fares was how I accomplished it!  When I book Anytime for work, I usually upgrade to BS on my own dime.  This would be a sure-fire way to get lots of points!   @tparrent wrote:   I seem to recall that any charges to my Southwest card will only count as of the billing cycle posting date which will be in early December. Subsequent purchases will not then count towards qualification, right? (Assuming I have room under the annual cap)   Correct...credit card points post after the statement closes.   Good for you for figuring out how to get this done!  Don't let a few thousand points stand between you and the most valuable elite perk in the industry.  Good luck! ... View more

This is awesome!  I don't book group travel, but I repriced a work trip yesterday and saved my compnay $80.  This is why I love SW for business and personal travel! ... View more

@meglynn629 Happy to help!  Note that you can mark one of the replies as an "Accepted Solution."  This helps other community users find trusted information.  If you have a moment, please take time to do that.   Thanks! ... View more

As long as he has qualified for BOTH A List Preferred and CP, he (and he alone) will get the ALP benefits.  The benefits do not transfer to the Companion.  Also note that some benefits are only for paid fares (the bonus points, for example).  But he will always get the priority boarding, wifi (based on availability), etc.   ... View more

Great questions, and congrats on CP!  They require a rather complex answer.    Assuming you booked Wanna Get Away fares, while you CAN cancel her flights and get the money back in the form of travel funds, you CANNOT use those travel funds for other people.  With that said, even though you can't use those travel funds for others, I would indeed go ahead and cancel her paid flights, hold the funds for future travel, and add her back as your companion.  While this option may not get money back in your pocket, you might find that the needs to travel on occasion without you, and if/when that occasion arises, you can use her travel funds for those flights where she doesn't have you to get her the CP use.  In this case, I would recommend calling in to SW and getting an agent to help you with this change; frankly, that would be easier than making the change yourself online.   NOTE: If you cancel the paid reservation for her and add her as a Companion, she will have her own reservation/confirmation number and will likely have a different boarding position from the rest of your family.   ALSO NOTE: If you happened to book Anytime or Business Select, you can cancel her flight for a full refund to the original form of payment and add her back as your CP.   Hope this helps! ... View more

I wonder if this happens to be populating the person's info using the browser save feature? I doubt that is the case, but it is possible.    There may be a delay in the change showing properly online, but you can call to have it added (as was previously stated); I would bring the issue to the attention of the phone support person as well! ... View more

I do not know the official responses, but from my experience, points-earning flights update within a few hours after all flights in the reservation are complete (ie, the return flight of a round-trip reservation) credit card points post within a day (or so) after the statement closes each month; note that you can always look at your statement to see how many points were accrued that month I cannot speak to other types of point earnings that count toward CP, but I hope that helps!  It is also worth noting that when you do achieve CP, I have experienced getting the email and info in the mail very quickly after I make it over the threshold.   ... View more

Being cold on a flight is never fun...just like being hot on a plane is never fun!  Given that you never know what the temp will be like, I always bring extra layers.  It's impossible to make it comfortable for everyone on the plane, so I take things into my own hands.   With that said, I encourage you to reach out to Southwest directly if you would like to provide feedback about this experience since this is a customer community.  You can tweet them at @southwestair or use the Contact Us page.     ... View more

What @DancingDavidE said!   Here is more from TSA's site specifically on the matter:   Forgot Your ID?   In the event you arrive at the airport without valid identification, because it is lost or at home, you may still be allowed to fly. The TSA officer may ask you to complete an identity verification process which includes collecting information such as your name, current address, and other personal information to confirm your identity. If your identity is confirmed, you will be allowed to enter the screening checkpoint. You will be subject to additional screening, to include a patdown and screening of carry-on property.   You will not be allowed to enter the security checkpoint if your identity cannot be confirmed, you chose to not provide proper identification or you decline to cooperate with the identity verification process. ... View more

I am right there with you (literally ALP), and I get it. When I travel alone, I share the exact same perspective!  I want that exit row, but I have to admit that I have never exerienced anyone saving anything more that the middle seat in the exit row for their travel partner (often their Companion), which I don't want.  Which brings me to when I don't travel alone...   My wife is my Companion [Pass], and I do indeed often save the middle seat only in the exit row for her.  Furthermore, I often sit around others doing the same (typically saving only one seat).  You mentioned the devalued policy; if I were to hang back to her spot in line, MY benefits get devalued.  Either way, someone has to lose.   So I am mostly on the fence.  While I totally get your perspective, I have learned to appreciate the SW boarding process.  Furthermore, I do believe that making a hard rule would lead to a more frustrating boarding process for all passengers and would drive up the turn around time for planes at the airport.   I think it is worth noting that SW does strictly enforce the early (pre) boarding policy!  I recently witnessed two pre-boarders all but run to the exit rows, and the flight attendant assertively handled the enforcement of no pre-boarders in the exit rows.  Which I very much appreciate.   Thanks for sharing!  I'm just thinking out loud here... ... View more