Southwest Airlines Community

Here is the link to the flight attendant portal:   https://flightattendants-southwest.icims.com/jobs/intro     Good of luck on your career journey.      ... View more

We did something similar! Ours was travel themed, not airline specific. I contacted Southwest prior to her party and they sent her a huge poster signed by their staff.  She loved it! You can see photos here: https://milanastravels.com/2016/10/31/a-travel-themed-birthday-party/ ... View more

@melishacordoba keep in mind that there are thousands of very talented candidates SWA is currently reviewing. Have you checked your dashboard?    I know it’s hard, but patience is very important during this process. In fact...you will need to practice patience on a regular basis as a flight attendant. Perhaps you might be able to use patience as a strength you have during an interview?  😀   Good luck to you!    ... View more

@SoothSayer Just like what @bec102896 said, there can be many factors that lead to delays. I’m just curious as why you feel like you are being lied to? SW doesn’t want flight delays just like you don’t. Delays throw off the planes schedule and create customer complaints.    If the the real issue is about the gate agents compassion or customer service, I encourage you to reach out to SW via Twitter.  I would only mention the facts about your experience and be reasonable.    Hope the rest of your day goes better.    ... View more

@Stephanieb41, my experience is that the temporary will work but I had to agree to a more complete screening— full patdown and bag inspection.  I had to allow more time but it didn’t prevent me from boarding the plane.    Safe and fun travels. ... View more

Thanks everyone!! Everyone had been so kind and welcoming! ❤ ... View more

@Kelly1carlson wrote: If it had been just screaming kids, par for the course, but the stench was the problem. Thanks for the info. My only suggestion - hopefully you aren't ever in the same situation! - would be to try and discretely grab the FA and mention to them in case they could help in some way, either to find out if they were out of supplies and get some from another passenger, or...?       ... View more

Complete nightmare is an understatement. SW has the worst tracking system (it is actually nonexistent) and the worst baggage claim agents known to man. I work in customer service and if anyone one my staff handled incidents the way that these people have...they’d terminated immediately. They’re not helpful across the board, from the 1-800 baggage reps to the actual agents at the airport both are deplorable as it pertains to service. They’re only interested in over talking you and telling you it’s your fault as it was told to me. No one wants to take responsibility for losing my bag, but I’m the culprit...I cancelled my own I guess?!?!?! Unbelievable! Yesterday (8/21) my 10 am flight was cancelled from Midway to BWI and just about every other subsequent flight after that was cancelled leaving me to camp out in the airport all day and take a late evening flight. I asked if there were other alternatives and there were earlier flights heading to DCA, so I asked if that was an option and they said yes. So, I was booked and an “email” was sent to the folks who only handle retagging bags as I was told. The flight tO DC left at 1220, i rebooked before 830, so no one could pull and retag my ONE bag in 4 hours, seriously? Long story short, I get to Dca, no bag, filed the claim report and now I sit and wait as NO ONE on the SW customer service staff can help...again no tracking. They only scan when bags arrive apparently. I just got off of the phone with the DCA agents and the BWI agents saying my bag is being sent to DCA on a flight, really? Dca and Bwi are very close in travel proximity. However, DCA asks me if I’m requesting it be sent to them???? No idiot...that’s the arrangement you guys (SW) set up not me. I actually went to be Bwi last night as I had to get my car and waited for a couple of hours to see if my bags made it on any of the flights able to leave midway without cancellation. No bag, so I went home and decided to check the baggage claim site for updates. THis morning i check and my status said “Matched.” I have called DCA, BWI and SW directly and all were rude and not helpful. Look, sh— happens, I understand that. So, it’s not that the bag is delayed/lost it’s the lack of customer care that’s making this situation horrible. I use to give SW major props for good CS and pleasant travel experiences, but this coupled with a couple other minor incidents recently has completely changed my POV. I use SW for business and leisure...not anymore. Customers are clearly not the priority. ... View more

Southwest operates much more like a legacy carrier these days than an LCC. The Ultra Low Cost Carriers (ULCCs) have basically taken over the role Southwest previously filled. Southwest's marketing has been shifting very slowly, from a focus on low-fares to offering "best overall value." Brand identity dies hard. ... View more

Congrats to the happy bride! ... View more

@Angrycustomer88,  not reboarding the plane is an FAA policy, not a Southwest policy.  Though I do not agree with the flight attendant’s methods, she was attempting to enforce policies that the federal government set up for everyone’s flying safety.  Just like locks on the cockpit door, the federal government concluded that if people could get back on, they might leave something aboard that could be dangerous (even though I would argue that they were screened in the first place so how?). But I do not know how secure the outer doors on the jetway are.     The airline has to enforce FAA safety standards, so even though she was overly aggressive, she is required to assume you had been trying to do something bad to the plane and that you did not care about anyone getting in your way.   I remember when the FAA required a pat down of any passengers flying on a one way ticket after 2001 because a suicidal terrorist would not pay for a round trip ticket.  I was relieved when they changed that policy, but I grudgingly complied knowing that someone deemed that it was for everyone’s safety, and I knew complaints to the agent doing the patdown were not the proper channel to voice disagreement.   I know the experience was bad, but remembering that the people who did the bombings did not even care about their own lives is the reason for the aggression. Terrorists are not reasonable people so the attendants are trained for that potential situation to enforce the rules assuming that the offender is unreasonable.     It is similar to joking about guns in the TSA line.  They can haul off a person and lock them up for a time just for what seems like an exercise of free speech, but jokes are not appropriate in every situation, and those folks are working toward our safety.  I hate that the 99.5% have to toe the line because 0.5% want to do harm, but unfortunately the 0.5% operate completely different from the average Joe or Jane and people charged with law enforcement have to be prepared mentally.     Someone will argue that the airlines at times have to empty a plane and then reboard it, but in those situations, the gate agent handles the boarding process and everyone has to have a boarding pass.  That process falls under a different process that a random person walking down a jetway toward the plane.  I even have seen gate agents start then stop the boarding process announcing that the flight attendants were not ready so they may be deemed the decision makers as to who gets on board when.   again, I am sorry this happened to you in this manner,  ... View more

@billSAT the good news is that you have options. If you would like to express your concern with Southwest you can contact them via Twitter in a DM or you can call customer relations at 855-234-4654   Good luck, and remember to take a deep breath. It will all work out in the end.    ... View more

Thanks Blake. ... View more

@TheMiddleSeat wrote: I have seen special TSA screening lines for families, but not for older individuals. Here's TSA's web page regarding 75+ individuals: https://www.tsa.gov/travel/special-procedures/screening-passengers-75-and-older   Give yourself plenty of time to get through security so you don't feel rushed and remember you can always ask for a private screening if you're not comfortable being with the crowds.    --TheMiddleSeat That's true, I have seen this at MDW, although I don't know if I'd call it a dedicated line the same way TSA Pre or A-list Fly By Priority lanes are enforced - it's a sign that says families feel free to go over here and everyone else feel free not to, but do whatever you want. ... View more

@Beachflier1 So glad to hear that your flight went great! Way to tackle those fears!     ... View more

@Samariya what you experienced is the reason why I would entrust my children with SWA. They hire human beings who know how to do the right thing. Thank you for sharing.  And as @bec102896 said, make sure you DM SWA via Twitter so they are aware of the amazing service that was provided to you. Anyone who is a parent can relate to your situation and it feels good to know it was handled correctly.  ... View more

@Mac1963 great news! Thank you for coming back to this forum to recognize SWA for handling your concern. The outcome is one I was wondering about and hoped for. My experience with SWA is they do care about their passengers, and strive to do the right thing.    Hope you have a great Vacation!  ... View more

@TheMiddleSeat wrote: I highly doubt TSA would even notice, they're looking for a name that matches the ticket, not gender.    @DancingDavidE, want to bet a big bowl of clam chowder?   Yes, allow a little extra time just in case and please let us know how it goes.   --TheMiddleSeat That's a great point - I'd just try it at first and see if they care. But maybe bring some of the backup materials just in case, and allow some extra time if there is a discussion.   As for the clam chowder, I enjoy the aroma and taste, but the creamy sauce is a no-no unless you were thinking Manhattan style.   If we meet at BWI, then I think a crab cake at O'Brycki's is the wager.     ... View more

@advlce I agree that the situation you were going through was frustrating, and I’ve experienced it as well. However, you are leaving out the details on what lead to the cancellations. Weather or mechanical? I don’t think the commitment is misleading because it actually makes sense if you look it from a business perspective. If the airline had to put out the cost of hotel rooms for all of their stranded passengers because of any unforeseen circumstance, they might as well park all of their jets and open hotel chains.    My advice to you is to alwaybe courteous and not demanding when frustrated at the gate. In my experience, being concerned, but understanding about my situation actually goes pretty far.      ... View more

I'm sorry to hear of your bad experience, Southwest staff have generally been very helpful for us traveling with our 2 year old over the years.   The FA must have had some bad experience recently with the aisles to make an issue of it, especially when you acknowledged the first request and then got back in the bin when no one was waiting.   I'm sure it was something like that and not trying to start something to get you kicked off, she must have just been really concerned about the aisles that day.    Hopefully the return trip was quiet like most of your other experience on Southwest.         ... View more

@Carteru lots of info regarding Young Travelers can be found by clicking on the link below:   https://www.southwest.com/html/customer-service/family/young-travelers.html   Good luck!            ... View more

Yes, it is very possible that he was carrying for someone else and completely legitimate. It is those instances when some people think to themselves, "well if it is just me doing this it won't be an issue" that tend to boil the blood.  A) thinking they are special & above everyone else and B) if everyone thought that way, things don't work. Unfortunately, it seems more and more people are thinking they are entitled to "special treatment".  I blame the Kardashians : ) Anyway, this is a minor infraction compared with the "I'm saving this seat" SWA passengers. ... View more

@Smhemstreet I agree with everything @rtbarron@CareforNOLA said, but remember that employees for SWA are human and sometimes make the wrong decision based off of mis-communication, lack of details, etc.  With that being said, I would contact Customer Relations and voice your concern. What do you have to lose?    Good luck!    ... View more

Thank you! ... View more

@Debbiedean wrote: Are you employed by the airline industry? @Passenger1C @bec102896 @elijahbrantley Nope. Every one of them is a Southwest Customer. Why do you ask? ... View more