Southwest Airlines Community

Unfortunately, Southwest stopped allowing travel funds to be used by anyone in 2011. 😞 ... View more

It's pretty doubtful that the first 12 peoole to board would all want the exit row. I actually find that oftentimes seats in the exit row (when not being saved) are still open well into the B group, sometimes even later. Many people (for reasons that escape me) prefer the bulkhead row. So ultimately, I don't think your suggestion would help. Instead, I wish Southwest would actually affect a seat-saving policy: Passengers can save any adjacent seat only, and no seat saving in the bulkhead or exit row. This would limit saved seats to 2 at most, and keep the prime seats open. I think this is a compromise most people would be fine with. Sadly, I doubt it will ever happen. ... View more

I think most people have no problem with someone saving a seat for a family member or friend. But more frequently I'm seeing people try to save whole rows or more, or "prime" seats in the exit row. Unfortunately, with the current "non-policy" that's totally allowed. I think this is a problem. ... View more

Some flight attendants check the expiration, some often do not. Occasionally I'm not even asked for the coupon at all. 😉 ... View more

If you apply your travel funds to a new multi-person itinerary, the funds will be applied only to the original passenger's portion of the total fare, and you'll be asked for another form of payment for the balance. ... View more

Your best bet for a quick reply is to reach out to Customer Relations via Twitter direct message. I do know that sometimes refunds can take some time to process. Good luck! ... View more

@Deion wrote: How would this be a work around? I’m confused  The person who is no longer going on this trip retains the funds in his name and can use them for another trip within one year of the date of purchase. That money you spent on his ticket effectively becomes his now. As a way of "paying you back" he would buy the ticket for the person who is now going in his place. ... View more

FYI: When you book the original itinerary, or change / cancel an existing itinerary, an email is sent that lists the expiration date of the funds for that ticket. This can be helpful if you've made any previous changes or reused funds from another ticket, since the new booking will take on the oldest expiration date of any funds applied.   ... View more

@unhappyatswa wrote: chgoflyer   Thank you for the information.   Used a Key bank debit card, so this has nothing to do with Chase.   Activated the RapidRewards button in Chrome browser, then made the purchases.    The points were awarded initially, then reversed later.   Seems to me to be an administrative error, but the stonewalling by SWA suggests something else.   Thanks to you both for the replies.   Hope SWA does right. Just to be clear, I'll repeat that the Southwest Shopping program isn't run by Southwest Airlines -- it's run by a completely separate company (Cartera), and it's Cartera that you need to contact in order to get answers to your questions (see the contact info link I posted earlier). Good luck! ... View more

Tickets are non-transferrable. Assuming you bought a Wanna Get Away fare, they're non-refundable as well. But Southwest will allow the original passenger to use the funds towards another flight with no additional change fee (just a fare difference, if applicable) for one full year from the date you made the original purchase. Perhaps you could have the friend who is unable to go pay for the ticket for the new passenger? ... View more

I doubt this has anything to do with Chase. It's most likely that the OP is talking about points earned through Rapid Rewards Shopping.   Rapid Rewards Shopping is a program run by Cartera Commerce, Inc. through a partnership agreement with Southwest. Unfortunately, issues receiving points from Rapid Rewards Shopping are fairly common. Assuming you met the terms and conditions of the specific offer for which you believe you are due points, the first step is to contact them directly. Good luck!   Who do I contact if I did not receive my points - Rapid Rewards Shopping, Southwest Airlines® or the Retailer? If you have questions regarding Rapid Rewards points earned with Rapid Rewards Shopping, please use our automated customer service tools located in the Contact Us section of the Rapid Rewards Shopping web site. If you have a question about your order, please contact the retailer directly. Please contact Southwest Airlines if you have questions related to the Rapid Rewards Program or how to enroll in the Rapid Rewards Program.         ... View more

@ACESNEIGHTS wrote: what about US customers on vacation?   I'm on a cruise in Europe and I want to book a cheap Hawaii fare from LAX,  Can't access SWA to book JAX to LAX. Or even check the price. Since SWA isn't flying to Hawaii until 2019.   Why block entire continents when all that is needed is to restrict booking to SWA US customers.   IF I knew how to spoof an IP address I could login.   CAlling is useless, $4.95 a  minute from ship.   Yes, it's unfortunate. And there's no sign anything will be changing anytime soon. 😞   Try using a proxy server or VPN -- many free ones are available (Google for more info).   Good luck! ... View more

I understand what you're saying. I know that you cannot use travel funds or vouchers to purchase EBCI because EBCI exists as a profit center for Southwest, but I have no idea why Southwest won't allow the use of PayPal.   This forum is customer-to-customer, so I'd recomend you contact Southwest directly with your concerns. I doubt you'll receive answers to your questions, but your suggestions will at least be noted.     ... View more

This is a known issue -- you have to log out / back in on the app for your current point total to update. It's odd to me that it works this way, but I do know that if you try to make a purchase using points that the app thinks you have (but that you don't actually have, per the correct total shown on the website) it will generate an error when you try to make the payment. ... View more

@CTTrainer wrote: If your need is due to a diagnosed medical condition, request PreBoard at time of purchase.  You will be denied to option of EXIT row seats, but will be allowed to board first and select your seat.  If your condition is not properly documented, you may be denied “preboarding” status.   Pre-boarding is available for anyone with a disability who needs either 1) assistance boarding the plane or 2) a specific seat once onboard. You can contact Southwest in advance to have a notation put on your itinerary, but you will still need to see the airport agent either at bag drop or your departure gate in order to receive your pre boarding pass. No documentation is necessary. ... View more

@reneerose wrote: So if my $49.50 expires Sept 18  2018 and I book a flight to L.A. for May 2019, even though I want to fly in May 2019, it won't let me do that and I'm forced to fly to L.A. by Sept 18, 2018??  Why does Southwest make it so hard for people to use unused travel funds for a rental car?   Sounds like you really have 2 questions.   To the first: Yes -- travel must be completed prior to expiration. The system won't even let you book a flight scheduled after your funds expire.   On the second: You originally paid the funds to Southwest in exchange for air travel. They then limit your reuse of those funds to only air travel on Southwest. Southwest doesn't rent cars. 😉   Keep in mind that on most other carriers you wouldn't even have travel funds to use, and that if you did, change fees would eat up those funds. ... View more

@rich1954 wrote: The original flight was delayed and I missed connecting flight in Denver so I had to get a room for the night. $200 voucher was issued.   That would explain the one-year expiration (many LUV vouchers expire in 6 months, such as those issued when expired Travel Funds are converted). But unfortunately, you were given incorrect information -- the voucher could have been used for travel by anyone, not just you.   Here's some info for reference:   Southwest® LUV Vouchers: Southwest Airlines accepts Southwest LUV Vouchers for Passenger travel on Southwest Airlines purchased through Southwest Airlines, excluding the Southwest Airlines Group Desk and Southwest Airlines Vacations. Southwest LUV Vouchers may be redeemed at Southwest.com, through Southwest Airlines Reservations, and at Southwest Airlines Ticket Counter locations. To redeem a Southwest LUV Voucher, purchaser must have a Southwest LUV Voucher number and associated security code. Southwest LUV Vouchers Terms and Conditions: Southwest LUV Vouchers and air fare paid with Southwest LUV Vouchers are subject to the applicable incorporated terms, Contract of Carriage, and rules and regulations of Southwest Airlines. Southwest LUV Vouchers are valid as a form of payment toward future air fare only on Southwest Airlines through Southwest.com, toll-free Reservations 1-800-I-FLY-SWA (1-800-435-9792), or at any Southwest Airlines Ticket Counter. Southwest LUV Vouchers must be redeemed and all travel completed by the expiration date indicated. If applied in conjunction with any other accepted form(s) of payment, the earliest expiration date of all payments applies. Once the voucher is applied to a reservation, it can only be used by the ticketed Passenger. Validity of Southwest LUV Vouchers will not be extended and any unused value will be forfeited upon expiration. Southwest LUV Vouchers are not redeemable as payment toward Government-imposed segment fees, excise taxes, Passenger Facility Charges, or September 11th Security Fees or as payment toward miscellaneous charges, Southwest Airlines Group tickets, Southwest Airlines Vacations packages, or travel either wholly or in part on other air carriers. Southwest LUV Vouchers and travel issued in exchange for Southwest LUV Vouchers have no cash value and cannot be exchanged for cash or other monetary consideration. Southwest LUV Vouchers will not be replaced if lost, stolen, or destroyed. To redeem a Southwest LUV Voucher, purchaser must have a Southwest LUV Voucher number and associated security code. If a balance remains after redemption, please retain this Southwest LUV Voucher number and security code for future use. Southwest LUV Vouchers are VOID if sold, altered, purchased, brokered, and/or bartered. ... View more

You can apply Travel Funds towards vacation packages booked through Southwest Vacations (actually Mark Travel Corporation). And, of course, towards air travel on Southwest. But that's it. No group travel, extra-fee Southwest products (EarlyBird Check-In, Upgraded Boarding, etc.), hotels or rental-cars, despite being able to book them on the Southwest website. ... View more

@elijahbrantley wrote: Hey hey! What @chgoflyer said. I actually had to read the family boarding policy, and it’s rather vague. It says “An adult traveling with a child six years old or younger may board during Family Boarding.” This caught me off guard because (as stated), I see whole families get on together all the time, and it seems to be largely allowed. It’s not uncommon to see one youngster, the parents, and their grandparents board during family boarding.    Personal opinion moment: as much as I like SW boarding, this is one area that is not that great. If the policy were enforced as it reads, it could make family boarding difficult, even if sitting together is not important.    A while back, there was a brief period of strict enforcement re: not allowing adults in addition to parents to board with the family, following an incident where a gay couple were denied Family Boarding (the couple wanted to board with a grandparent as well). I still frequently see social media posts from someone upset that their grandparents (aunt, uncle, etc.) couldn't board with the family at Family Boarding. Which is how it should be, IMHO. Much like Preboarding, Family Boarding has become somewhat of a free-for-all. If you're the unlucky one who -- despite purchasing EarlyBird Check-In -- has a B or later boarding position, you suffer. Admittedly, since seat-saving is allowed, it's ultimately not that different really whether the OPS agent enforces policy strictly or loosely, but I do think that consistency would help avoid customer anger and stress.   Southwest's boarding system certainly has it's challenges. ... View more

@rich1954 wrote: My voucher had my name on it and I was the only one that could use it. It also expired one year later after it was issued. That doesn't really follow official policy. Can you tell us why/how you received that voucher? ... View more

@DancingDavidE wrote: @Travelfan85 wrote: possibly going to book southwest for the first time next February . However I’ve heard a lot of horror stories about their boarding procedure.  I’ve heard there’s no saving seats ... family boarding only one parent gets to board with the kid while the other has to board in their group. Would early bird be worth it for this first time flying southwest or Is family boarding a better option. ?  I’m on the fence about getting it .  Now the saving seats issue , I’ve heard that’s not allowed and frowned upon by the flight attendants. I just would like to be able to sit by each other. The seat saving issue has been discussed quite a bit...but at least I can weigh in that you can have two adults with a kid for family boarding, so that part that you heard was not true about splitting up the parents.   Family boarding works great as long as you already have gotten your gate check tag and are ready to board at the designated time. I wouldn't also get EBCI if you are planning on family boarding.   Just to be clear, official Southwest policy actually does only allow one adult with a child age 6 or under. That said, it's most often not enforced, and both parents (or 2 adults) are usually allowed to board with a child (or multiple children) during Family Boarding. Also, the age requirement is enforced fairly loosely (since minors don't have ID anyway), and if there's at least one child that appears to qualify, other minor children are generally allowed to board along with everyone.   There are occasional reports of a specific OPS agent strictly enforcing the policy, and while the inconsistency is certainly problematic, these situations are generally the exception.   ... View more