Southwest Airlines Community

Rapid Rewards points come in three "types," and a single point may be multiple types at the same time. There are effectively multiple "meters" in your account, and a point may actually register in multiple meters.   1) "Regular" points are points you can spend towards flights on Southwest, or for merchandise or travel on More Rewards if you have a Chase Rapid Rewards credit card. These points accrue as you earn them, and are deducted from your account when you spend them. This is the main "meter," which is the total of your points minus any you spend. You can earn these any number of ways -- flying, credit card spend, partner spending, surveys, Rapid Rewards dining, shopping, etc.   2) "Companion Pass Qualifying Points" (CPQ): Most "regular" points are also CPQ, meaning they accrue in your Companion Pass meter as you work to earn Companion Pass. That meter resets at the end of each calendar year. Almost all points are CPQ, with the exception of some "bonus" points.   3) "Tier Qualifying Points (TQP): Those "regular" points that you earned by actual travel on Southwest are also TQP, meaning they accrue in your A-List meter as you work to earn A-List and A-List Preferred. That meter resets at the end of each calendar year. A small amount of points earned with certain Rapid Rewards credit cards are also TQP.   Here are some examples:   You purchase a ticket and fly, and earn 1,000 points. Those 1,000 points are "regular" (spendable), Companion Pass qualifying, and Tier Qualifying.   You make a purchase on your Rapid Rewards credit card and earn 1,000 points. Those points are "regular" (spendable), and also Companion Pass qualifying.         ... View more

It was down for a few hours early this morning, but is back up now. ... View more

You'll need to reach out to Customer Relations and ask for this accommodation. Keep in mind the fee is $100, which is deducted from the balance of the travel funds. If granted, the voucher will be valid for 6 months from the date issued.   Contact Customer Relations  ... View more

@jkeith00 wrote: Oh goodie… another “top contributor” to ignore the actual complaint and tell me how wrong my contextual information is. 🙄   I'm really not trying to be argumentative here. But since this is not a customer service channel (it's a peer-to-peer forum) all we can do is provide info based on our knowledge of how things work at Southwest. You'll need to contact Southwest directly if you're looking for an explanation of how the system failed you, a refund of your EBCI fee and/or compensation, or, as I suggested, potential help before your return flight. Otherwise, you're going to get unvarnished opinions from strangers. That's how the internet works. 😉   I will point out a few personal observations:   -- The rep who gave you preboarding, it can be assumed, thought they were being helpful. They apparently had no idea that your desired seat was in the exit row (and this was not expressed to them).   -- Anyone who has traveled on Southwest enough to earn A-List should be aware that preboarders aren't allowed to sit in the exit row, as this is part of the pre-flight gate PA announcements. If you honestly weren't aware of this (perhaps you've received A-List as some sort of promotion and aren't overly familiar with Southwest) I can see how learning this on the plane in the manner you did would be upsetting.   -- Even with your BP marked for preboarding (or being given a preboard slip) you still could have chosen to board either at the end of the A group or at your originally assigned position.   -- The flight attendants on board the plane have no idea why a particular person has pre-boarded. They do know, however, that per FAA rule preboards cannot sit in an exit row. They are required to enforce this rule.   -- I suspect they were unable to verify your "reason" for preboarding since the person who gave that to you was not at the gate area, but back at the baggage check desk. (Although I'm not sure if it would have made any difference at that point, since you had technically preboarded.)   In the end, it absolutely does sound like you were caught up in a series of errors that led to a less than wonderful flying experience. It's unfortunate. But sadly things like this do happen.   At this point, you have a few options available to you, all of which have been stated earlier.   Good luck!   ... View more

Did you perhaps achieve A-List after you booked? As noted, A-Listers can't buy EarlyBird Check-In -- the system doesn't actually allow it.   In any case you'll want to remove that link, since the information shown would allow anyone to change or cancel your return flight.   I think our reaction is because often people post here stories that include missing details, or that aren't correct, or are even impossible. I apologize for that being my assumption in your case.   Your boarding pass indicates A-List, but not Early Bird Check-In. I suspect there was some sort of glitch, perhaps caused by the presence of both, that caused neither to actually be applied to your itinerary. I'd recommend you contact Customer Relations (not the reservation line) early Monday to see if there's anything that can be done before your return flight.   In case you aren't aware, as an A-Lister you can always board at the end of the A group.   If you prefer boarding even earlier than that, I'd recommend paying for Upgraded Boarding at the gate, and then asking CR to refund that fee, and/or your EBCI purchase fee after the completion of travel.   Contact Customer Relations  ... View more

If you're seeing the banner allowing free changes: In order to change a flight without paying the additional air fare difference, the origination and destination must remain the same as originally booked (or in some cases, a co-terminal).   If you'd like to change to a different destination, and your flight is currently "protected," (showing the banner notification for free changes) you'll need to cancel the flight, and then use the resultant Travel Funds towards the new booking. Note that you'll have to pay any fare difference. ... View more

No. On Southwest, every person has their own account and the person(s) flying earn points for themselves. (Unfortunately, Southwest doesn't offer "family pooling" like some other carriers.)   That said, you can absolutely set up account for your children, so that they will earn Rapid Rewards points when they fly. ... View more

I didn't think social media reps were able to take credit card info or make initial reservations?   In any case, just so the OP is aware: Infant Fares are a discount off the Anytime fare, and are fully refundable -- but are more expensive than the Wanna Get Away fares available online. ... View more