Southwest Airlines Community

Goodness, that would make my heart skip a beat.  Hopefully you resolved it by now.  Best Option - return to the email and check the name.  If still not working, call customer service.  Because of the 737 Max, there was a period of heavy re-scheduling.  Report back and let us know the outcome. ... View more

@byrdbrain591, in your post, you refer to rules and I am not sure to what rules you are referring?  Unwritten rules?  I expect that the only written rule would be to keep one's hands to oneself.  Unfortunately people in the air are exactly like people on the ground except much closer.  Sure, there are lots of annoyances, and different things annoy different people.  Fortunately, there are a few unexpected delights as well, such as the frequent flyer who keeps a small toy to give away to an unhappy child seated nearby or the person sharing their drink coupons, the book lover who shares some good tips when questioned or the middle seat person who slides in and folds up to sleep quietly.   I hope you encounter many of these folks on future flights.   ... View more

I wonder if they had a last minute craft swap?  Normally, they would not have said they had a seat, but maybe the computer system did not catch up with craft swap.  Some of the older 737s have only 4 seats on the exit row whereas most 737s have six seats.     I am sorry this happened to you and the lady you were sitting next to.  This is not typical, so I hope you will give the, another chance someday. ... View more

@greglvnv, The man may have been flying to a medical appointment or traveling to go live with one of his children.  I do not think blood on his leg is a health emergency for you or anyone else on the plane in most cases.  You are in far more danger of infection from the folks with airborne or droplet transmission germs (coughing, sneezing) than bloodborne germs.  Unless the double combination occurred of someone rubbing their open wound against his open wound and him having a contagious pathogen, there is very little risk of any problems.  As people age, they lose collagen under the skin’s top layer which leads to more bruises and scrapes, so it may have just been a bad maneuver getting out of the car and an unexpected confrontation with another traveler’s suitcase while traveling down the terminal hallways.   The answer given by personnel at the gate may not have been the best comforting answer but their position doesn’t always prepare them for addressing concerns regarding microbiology.  I can understand that you might feel that planes are not always the cleanest environments, but they compare to subways, buses, shared ride transportation, etc. that many people use each day.  I hope that helps put your mind at ease a little bit, and helps other travelers reading the post.   ... View more

My typical policy is to never check bags because I seem to (mentally) need a lot of flexibility when I travel.  Flight delayed because of the incoming plane?  Look for another route.  Flight delayed because something wrong with the weather?  Consider bailing out and leaving the next day.  Connection problems requires an overnight stay?  Bag at hand means quicker to hotel and faster to sleep.  In a hurry when landing?  No waiting at baggage claim.  Cancelled flight with a driveable destination?  Abandon flight and first at rental car counter.   At 5’5”, I don’t have your stature challenge, and I have learned to pack as light as I can get 5 days of dress clothes in a standard roller bag.  I used to be on planes 2-6 times per week, so I wanted all the flexibility I could achieve.     But it certainly is a Southwest perk.  That is one of the best things about Southwest.  Lots of perks to choose from.  My personal favorite?  No change fees.   happy travels! ... View more

Along with other fellow post-ers, I express my sympathies, and have had some long travel days myself.  The gate agent who said no when you only had a carry-on bag?  That one would have crushed me.     I am glad you eventually made it safely to your destination. ... View more

@southwesterner, sorry about the delay.  Summer delays while on the plane are the worst!  As a frequent flyer, I have undergone all types of delays, and those are my dreaded ones,b but they happen.  I try to always carry a fan that fits in my phone as well as a water bottle.  But I know that doesn’t help you at this point so all I can say is that I hope your delay ends soon.   ... View more

@lindag, I have not seen many people being allowed to board wildly out of order (with the exception of A-Listers being able to board before the B group).  Most gate agents do not get too concerned if B18 boards before B16, but they typically would not let a C5 board when A1-A30 get called.    I often buy the Early Bird for family members on early flights so they can get a wall on which to prop their head for a nap, so even though a B10 boarding pass isn’t great, it would likely still get them a wall further back.     I like the open seating policy because of allergies, and I will move back if something triggers my nose (pets, perfumes), but I can understand how it might vex those who are not used to it.  But the full price SWA flights with early bird are typically less expensive than the basic fares on other airlines, so that is the main thing that keeps me coming back, even if I occasionally get a middle seat.  But I understand others want to have the opportunity to buy a specific seat; it is just not my mindset.   I also try try to give the seat savers the benefit of the doubt, hoping they are  together for some fun event versus just taking a regular old business trip like me.  They can have some fun, and we all get to the same place at the same time.     I hope your future travels go well, regardless of what seat on what airline.  ... View more

@lebry001, The Customer Service group is likely tied up with rescheduling due to Tropical Storm Barry.  The storm is squarely across their flight routes.   Sorry that you have to wait; however, I have not seen much success in getting any airline to honor expired vouchers, so the answer may be as frustrating as the wait.  I am just letting you know my experience so that if you have other demands on your time, you may not want to wait.  I hope your travel emergency gets resolved quickly. ... View more

Hmm-strange, and I don’t have any suggestions then.  I have to check in on Thursday for a Friday flight —also on an iPhone X.  I will let you know if I have any trouble from the app.     The odd thing I have seen in the last month was boarding positions 30 spots apart for two people booked on the same confirmation number at the same time with neither having an early bird.   Check in glitches can be troublesome, and unfortunately, they happen from time to time (without explanation). It is a small nuisance, thank goodness. ... View more

@suthercd, sorry to hear about issues with boarding passes on iPhone.  I flew last week with an iPhone X and did not have that same problem.    This is is a customer to customer forum but the moderator might see your message.  It almost sounds like you were just checking to see if it was a general problem versus looking for a solution?  What model iPhone you used would also be helpful information.     So how did you solve the problem?  Paper passes? Or going through Safari to the official Southwest.com website to check in? hopefully whatever issue you had was fixed for your next flights.  Report back and let us know.   ... View more

Thanks for the update.  @dfwskier had good advice. ... View more

If you have searched these discussion boards, you have probably seen some tips.  You have to maintain the confirmation numbers and the name of the ticket holder.  The Airline will not provide them to you in any situation (so hopefully you can search emails if you didn’t write them down when you cancelled the original flights).    The funds can only be used for the ticket holder (cannot cross to a new person).   When you book a new ticket, choose Travel Funds as the method of payment.     Finally NEVER think that you can extend the expiration of the funds by booking a new ticket, then canceling it.  It has the opposite effect.  Any funds added in the newly cancelled tickets now have the old and earlier expiration date.     Hopefully this helps.   ... View more

@FrequentOne, my choice is to accept free-range boarding as a good business model that allows me the freedom to select a seat, and then if a highly perfumed-cologned person or an animal comes close, I can choose another seat.  I think that generally the boarding agents follow the required regulations and enforce the baggage policies in a manner that is acceptable to me and if they occasionally bend a rule without compromising safety, that is okay with me.  The free range boarding keeps the prices lower (along with a good Rewards program and good kind employees) and that is what I really like.  As a short-haul frequent flyer, they are competing with my car because I have take other airlines from time to time but I generally prefer the SWA way and the people. ... View more

@TheMiddleSeat, My recent experience was that the parties with the same confirmation number were checked in simultaneously but were NOT given sequential numbers.  2 groups of 2 = 4 people on 2 confirmation numbers.  No EBCI.  3 were together in the A group and my youngest 15 y/o niece was in the late B group.  I would not have believed it if my sister hadn’t sent me screen shots.  It happened with all connections on a RT so 4 flights.  I had to go back and make sure I didn’t buy EBCI for 3 but not 4.  I can’t post the screen shots without showing their names so I cannot show you the proof (no photo editing tricks known by me).    Fortunately they were able to save a seat but I was really surprised.  Just not her day, and of course, endless teasing by her 2 older sisters. ... View more

One does not have to have a JP Morgan Chase card to fly SWA.  It just helps build up reward points.   If you get an affinity card from another airline, you could still use it to book SWA tickets, and then you would get points on two airlines simultaneously.   But wouldn’t flying produce a large carbon footprint also?  I am just not sure that I follow the logic of divesting of Chase accounts, then flying on jet fueled transportation.  (But I have not had a chance to explore the links and information.)  Although it is still challenging and time-consuming to drive the US in an electric vehicle.   Personally I am looking forward to teleportation instead of flying but probably not in my lifetime.  In the meantime, I will enjoy being with the SWA crews who try to make flying as comfortable as possible.  It seems that you enjoy the airline also and may not want to switch airlines so perhaps a different credit card being used to buy SW flights is a good option. ... View more

@Kauaikidd , good info.  I like that sign off too! ... View more

If you use the digital boarding passes and download them to your Apple Wallet, make sure you get both of the passes.  If you swipe left when the first one pops up, you should see the second one. ... View more

It was my lucky day, and I made standby option number 1.  On second flight, I had the usual WiFi issue.  WiFi did not work on the ground but once we were in the air, I was able to get on the network via WiFi.   ... View more

My lucky day, but only in one respect. SWA WiFi worked perfectly for me on the first leg of my trip.  However, the second leg of my trip was cancelled due to weather.  So hanging out at BWI for 3 standby hopes.  (My mantra — “never check bags” — continues to give me the most options.   happy travels to all. ... View more

Excellent point, @DancingDavidE .  Not everyone buys “in bulk” like I used to — every time the schedule opened, I was getting one per week for all the new time periods that became available.  Thanks for clarifying. ... View more

@Balto_red, I agree with @DancingDavidE because there are too many great destinations to name.     If you are looking to get the most out of your companion pass, one key benefit to keep in mind is that you can change your companion up to three times per year.  The ability to change allows for so much flexibility, but one must plan it out so that the proper companion is designated for the winter holiday travel season.   enjoy your travels! ... View more

@Blairpent wrote: I am taking a flight out of Jacksonville.  It’s 89 here.  Why is it that it takes 60 full minutes to cool off these planes!?  Did I pay less than someone else that I deserve to fly on a plane where I am wet from sweating to death? Another Southern Summer flier here, and I don’t like the “bake wait” either, and I am so grateful when the plane gets to about 10,000 feet and cools off.  My suggestions —(1) I carry a tiny fan that plugs into my phone that helps somewhat but not enough at times.  And (2) a cool water bottle rolled around on my neck also helps.     Not sure what the inquiry about price means because isn’t everyone hot regardless of what price was paid?  (I have experienced this on every airline.) I feel bad for the flight attendants who are sweating as much as the passengers, but in their workplace.   The heat is not good, but I prefer it over snow and ice delays, so I try to mentally adjust and dress as cool as work clothes permit.  I have even brought shorts in peak heat times during the summer to get out of my work clothes but I usually don’t build the time into my schedule to change, so I gave up on that.   ... View more

Yes, I can understand how that might frustrate you.  The airports typically are responsible for the internal transportation assistance such as carts and wheelchairs although some airlines keep wheelchairs on hand also (because they have determined that they cannot always rely on airport transportation).     Were you able to ask for assistance at the original gate and then unable to get any help?  The conundrum in asking is that while waiting to ask, time is lost, and while waiting for transport, and time is lost.     Last minute gate changes are typically due to weather or aircraft changes.  I have also seen changes overnight where one gate is posted when I go to bed and by the time I get up (even if just a few hours), the gate has changed....and it is always changed to the last gate of the terminal, which means it was probably a cost saving measure—-less fuel used to park at end rather than pull past all the other gates, but that change comes with a warning of a few hours.   Sorry this happened to you, and I recommend that you let the gate agent know about any hearing difficulties when you arrive at the gate so they can be aware and on the look out for someone who needs help.  (Gate agents often arrive at the last minute, so it may be helpful to perhaps carry a printed note that you could leave on the desk for them as you arrive.  No guarantees this would work, but it increases the odds).     I hope future flights go smoother for you.  ... View more

@LW96009 , sorry that this happened.  It was flash-flooding in Houston mid-week, and those of us who travel a lot have almost all been bumped by weather.  When reshuffling has to happen within 24 hours, there isn’t much that the airline can do (any airline).     However, if you feel that you were treated rudely , you might want to talk to customer service. But the seating probably wouldn’t have been able to be fixed as they could not have reissued everyone’s boarding pass. This is a customer to customer forum, so you will have to reach out to customer service if you feel that you should be compensated in some way.  I hate weather re-routes (also have slept in airports, abandoned a flying companion overnight because of a one seat option and a more demanding schedule, etc.), but I understand weather delays happen so there may not be anything offered.  I can vouch that Houston was getting pounded with rain and that happens a couple of times per year —so sorry that it interrupted your trip.  I hope the rest of it was enjoyable. ... View more

@Sonokeena, Southwest’s open seating policy is often a posted topic on the discussion boards, and various opinions and suggestions get tossed around.  If you search saving seats, you will see the variety of opinions.  I understand how some dislike it, and for many, they ultimately choose to fly alternative carriers.     I prefer the policy, because I have a lot of allergies, so if I sit and end up near a dog or a highly perfumed person, I will get up and move further back.  That option is preferable over an allergy attack in an enclosed space.  And I keep in mind that we all arrive at the same time and it helps keep the prices lower. Having sat in the back often, I have timed how long the plane takes to empty out and it is usually less than 10-15 minutes. Others argue that they should get to choose any seat, and will even sit down against the other passenger’s will, but if someone is saving one, I just keep moving back.     I don’t want that kind of conflict in my life to save for 10 minutes of time.     I am sorry that you felt ganged up on, and hopefully it will not happen to you again.  I also think that the gentleman who found you the window seat was likely a much better person to share a row with than the person who asked you not to sit in that seat.   My mindset is that free-range seating is preferred.  Although I might end up in the middle or squished against a window occasionally, I know that can happen even with assigned seating.  I wish I could say that makes me “a MOVER and a shaker” but it probably just means I like lower prices.  I hope the experience doesn’t totally turn you off of Southwest, and that you ended up next to someone kind and respectful, even if in the back. ... View more