Southwest Airlines Community

I'm finding lower fares on other carriers, even when factoring in baggage or other fees, at least 50% of the time. It pays to compare. Southwest isn't a low-fare leader anymore. 😞 ... View more

Unfortunately, for technical issues (frequent and many), Southwest never gives a timeline for the fix. All they'll ever say is that they are "working on it."   Southwest is not known for having particularly robust IT, or for timely response to issues that occur.   The inability for some customers outside the US to access the website is an issue they have been "working on" for nearly two years now. So I wouldn't get my hopes up for a speedy resolution of any particular tech issue.   Sometimes they'll say an issue is "fixed," when it turns out later that it's actually not. The recent A-Lister "glitch" is a good example.    Also, be aware that, with some minor exceptions, reps don't really participate here much. Your best bet if you'd like an "official" response is to reach out to Southwest directly. My recommendation for the quickest reply is via Twitter. ... View more

Southwest doesn't fly to Gulfport, so your 2nd leg must be on another carrier? If so, no -- your bag(s) will not be checked through, as Southwest has no interline agreements with any other carriers. You'll need to claim your bag(s) and then check in with the carrier flying you to Gulfport and then re-enter the secure area of the airport. You may also need to change concourses, depending on the carrier.   Medications should always be carried on. Be aware that may trigger some additional screening by TSA, so allow extra time if possible. ... View more

@JohnnyNashville wrote: A list tickets are issued 72 hours before flight. If you purchase within 24 hours you will be issued a B or C ticket.   Johnny ( I am not a employee of Southwest, just a multi-year Companion Pass holder) A-List boarding positions are assigned 36 hours prior to departure. If you purchase a ticket (or make a flight change) within that time, you won't be checked in automatically. At manual check in, you will be assigned the next available position, which can be A, B or C. If you receive a B or C position, you can always board between group A and B.   This thread was discussing the recent IT "glitch", which caused A-Listers to lose their status on their reservations, and not be checked in automatically. ... View more

Your husband is likely right. 😉   A particularly helpful Customer Relations rep may be able to convert the funds to a voucher for you prior to expiration, but it's a longshot. Try reaching out via Twitter.   Note that the expiration date -- should you need to wait it out -- is one year from the original date of purchase (not flight). ... View more

Assuming all Southwest flights, they should be able to check bags through to the final destination. They'll need to use the full-service bag check, so allow extra time for that.   In regards to IROPS, they should also be able to accommodate them, but that's very much up to the discretion of the gate agent. Staff won't know at MDW that they are connecting, they'll just think that they missed their flight. However, the unofficial "flat tire rule" should cover them.     ... View more

EarlyBird Check-In exists as a profit center for Southwest, earning over $250 million last year alone. As such, they only allow credit cards for purchase. The point of the product is to generate income. I do not expect they will ever allow points to be used for EBCI purchase. ... View more

I think you may be confused.   Southwest has always charged a fee (1 cent per point) to transfer points from one account to another. They utilize a 3rd party company (points.com) to manage the points sale and transfer function. They "justify" these fees by suggesting the responsibility for the fee is the fault of the 3rd party company, but that's not true since these fees generate profits for Southwest.    You likely won't get any "official" response here -- if that's what you seek your best bet would be to contact them directly (I recommend via Twitter). Be aware though that you'll probably just get a copied/pasted form reply that repeats what I said above re: the 3rd party.   The good news is that you don't really need to transfer points, as anyone's points can be used to book flights for anyone else.     ... View more

Southwest used to allow travel funds to be used by anyone. They stopped that several years ago. It's not coming back. Keep in mind that any funds that go unused become profit for Southwest. ... View more

@Haipham2017 wrote:   @bhushan_gosavi wrote: I have been a Rapid Rewards member for some time now, However I did not fly Southwest recently. Do my Rapid Reward points comes with expiry date?  If you have no activites in 2 years yourSW points would expire, most airlines has 18 months. Activities do not mean you have to earn points, you can spend points. One of the easy way is buy magazine or donate (not sure with SW) since does not cost many points. You also can give away the free trip to your friends or your relatives. This is wrong.    You must have point EARNING activity once every two years. Spending points does NOT count. ... View more

@cbtinc wrote: Update.... I reached A-list status, called to update my existing reservation and they had already done it for me. Southwest rocks!!! Well, unless you're an A-Lister flying for the past few days...  😉   https://www.southwestaircommunity.com/t5/Boarding/A-list-preferred-getting-B-group-positions/m-p/59638#M844   (One of many threads about the "glitch.") ... View more

This is often requested, but it's not going to happen. Southwest has said repeatedly that the extra weight this would add to each plane would increase fuel usage and therefore reduce profits. They spent millions retrofitting their entire fleet a few years ago to the "Evolve" interior, and that would have been the time to add this if they wanted. Instead, they added an extra row of seats, which reduced legroom but gave them 6 more seats to sell.   There are many different portable battery USB chargers available that can help your situation. ... View more

According to Southwest, it's now "fixed," but the fix won't be in effect until sometime tomorrow afternoon. Your guess is as good as mine as to what that means. ... View more

Sadly, EarlyBird customers aren't always "ahead of all other non-status customers."   Because Southwest re-issues the positions of those who are checked in but then cancel or change their flight, frequently someone with no status and who has not paid the extra EarlyBird fee will receive a premium position simply by checking themselves in manually.   EarlyBird Check-In should be seen as a fee-based way to be automatically checked in, and nothing more. ... View more

They monitor these forums, but not in a way that would trigger a direct response to an issue.   Southwest's IT team, never the best, is currently dealing with their latest systemwide screwup -- a "glitch" that is causing all A-Listers (Southwest's most loyal and, presumably, most valued customers) to lose their status from all upcoming reservations. This is a huge issue, so one assumes they're scrambling. Again.   I suspect the relatively "minor" issues once again get pushed to the back burner. ... View more

The quickest way is by buying points from Southwest -- those usually post almost immediately.   But 6 weeks is plenty of time to get points to post via RR Shopping or RR Dining. ... View more

There's a systemwide "glitch" causing A-Listers to lose their status on all upcoming bookings.   The correct thing to do would be to board A-Listers after Business Select. They're not doing that of course -- it's not often Southwest does the right thing these days -- even when it's as simple as something like this. 😞 ... View more

The correct thing to do would be to board A-Listers after Business Select. They're not doing that of course -- it's not often Southwest does the right thing these days -- even when it's as simple as something like this. 😞     ... View more

The correct thing to do would be to board A-Listers after Business Select. They're not doing that of course -- it's not often Southwest does the right thing these days -- even when it's as simple as something like this. 😞 ... View more

The exit row restriction is an FAA requirement. The ACAA specifically allows this restriction, only. ... View more

Make sure you track all flights taken during this "glitch," as it's possible you'll need to request proper credit for the A-List points multipliers after the fact. ... View more

@tcuzzillo wrote: I think it's been down since before June. Doesn't SW pay its IT people going rates? Or does SW simply not regard this as a priority? Sadly, competent IT has never been a priority for Southwest. Their systems have been cobbled together and systematically patched over and over throughout the years, often by outside 3rd parties working under short, limited contracts. Which is how "glitches" like this -- and the many others -- happen, and frequently. Remember the huge IT meltdown last year? ... View more

@equus wrote: I've been unable to access SW website from South Africa, for nearly a year now!  I've seen many sites with many postings about the problem, but can't believe it's still going on.  I don't want to call any 800 number and the other alternative provided is to send an email by using the website itself!   Now what?? Try accessing the website using a VPN or proxy server (google for more info)... or some people report success accessing their account via the app.   Just don't expect a fix anytime soon. Given the delays in fixing the issue... Southwest's IT team is either completely incompetent or this issue just isn't one management actually wants to fix in the first place. 😞 ... View more

If you buy a "refundable" fare using travel credit from a non-refundable fare, the non-refundable portion remains non-refundable. ... View more

@hockeydiva wrote: This would absolutely solve the problem! If only it were possible. But it's not. Because -- as has been mentioned many, many times now -- Southwest cannot -- in an "open seating" system -- specify which seats pre-boarders can or can't use. To do so would be a violation of the Air Carrier Access Act.   The only "solution," sadly, is assigned seating.     ... View more

Give it up.   This horse is dead.     ... View more

Oh I have. ... View more

Southwest doesn't have a business class. All the seats in the plane are regular coach seats.   Business Select is the name for their unrestricted, full-price, refundable* fare.   *Note: Refundable fares become non-refundable if any change is made to the itinerary.     ... View more

Generally, yes. But you'll have to use the Full Service line at check in. ... View more

Glitch. ... View more