Southwest Airlines Community

"What no one can confirm is why the error is different"   Perhaps if you don't knowingly attempt to perform a transaction that is not allowed, you might receive fewer error messages. ... View more

Perhaps, on your flight to Hawaii, you can bring all your belongings on board, and then on your return flight, you could check in your backpack with all the souvenirs you may wish to get. ... View more

15 years ago, Early Bird really made a tangible difference. Automatic check-in, several hours before the other passengers could check in, almost always resulted in an low (or mid) numbered A boarding position. That was a time when smart-phones didn't even exist to alert passengers to log in and check-in exactly 24 hours before boarding. Now that we're all aware of that 24-hour-check-in timeline, more passengers try the Early Bird system. The number of seats on the plane remains the same. The value of Early Bird decreases, and the airline tries to leverage that by increasing the price in order to shrink the customer base who can afford the tangible benefit. It wouldn't shock me if Southwest came up with an "EarlyBird+" option, to further parse out what their customers are willing to pay. ... View more

Good luck, and please don’t become one of those passengers we see on YouTube having a tantrum at the airport if the airline agent tells you your suitcase exceeds the permissible limits. 😊 ... View more

@TheMiddleSeat I’m talking about the folks who hop, skip, and jump around the terminal… until boarding time nears. Then they feign mobility issues (perhaps they’re too dumb to know they don’t need to engage in the theatrics?). I recently had a flight from SJC, to PHX, via SLC. At the end of a connecting flight at SLC, a formerly-limping SJC passenger (and her companion) who had boarded early at SJC, "magically" deboarded quickly and dashed to make the connection at SLC, where they also boarded early.   (This is a tangential question, for anyone in the know: if a passenger requests ADA privileges to board early at SJC, do they automatically receive early boarding ADA privileges at the intermediate [in this case, SLC] airport?)   I have a hidden disability. I abhor blatant fakers, even though I am well aware that it might not be politically correct to point out their abuse. If you don’t believe those people who abuse the system exist, and don’t comprehend that Southwest (due to its unique “open seating” practice) is uniquely open to that abuse, then there’s little chance that you and I will see eye to eye on this.   By the way: to all the mothers out there: HAPPY MOTHERS’ DAY!  😊 ... View more

@ The Middle Seat   @kDub2022 “nope. Someone could hop, skip, and jump all the way to the plane and still have a legitimate reason to preboard. Your belief that you know all is the problem here.”   A small (but significantly annoying [and, yes, based on my experience, increasing]) proportion of Southwest pre-boarding passengers abuse the system. This issue affects Southwest a lot more than other airlines, due to Southwest’s unique non-preassigned-seat system. It feels unfair, and it’s up to Southwest to come up with a plan to fix it. ... View more

@ TheMiddleSeat:   Would you deny that some fakers are gaming the system, and that fakery is sometimes quite blatant?   Look, I'm not aiming to pick a fight with you. Truth be told, I've clicked a "hearts up" on several of your posts over the last few years, because I agree (generally) with your stances, but I don't comprehend why you would label my thoughts as garbage.   I absolutely support providing accommodations for people who have disabilities. I abhor non-disabled people who take advantage of those support mechanisms. ... View more

@ TheMiddleSeat:   I never claimed to have a magical ability to detect (as you say) all disabilities.   There is a good chance that most people reading my post have a normal, regular ability to detect fakery. If you see a person placidly strolling around an airport for over an hour, and then, shortly before boarding, that person (and her companions) suddenly becomes so disabled as to need privileged boarding, it is rather obvious to me and most other Southwest passengers (except for, perhaps, you) that she's faking.   This also happens during deplaning, as if enduring a flight on Southwest magically cures people who, upon arrival, can dash through the terminal to collect their checked bag.   I have a really hard time believing that you, as a frequent Southwest flier, have honestly not seen this happen. Detecting fakery does not require magical powers. Just raise a couple of teenagers and you'll become an expert!  🙂 ... View more

Southwest has a unique challenge with this issue, because the order / sequence of boarding is something that some passengers explicitly pay a premium for. Having a “privileged” boarding position is one of the few perks of the Southwest travel experience that one pays extra for (or flies frequently to earn).   Except for seat location (front vs. back? window vs. aisle?) and a slower-paced boarding process, there is little (if any) benefit from any “accommodation” people with disabilities can benefit from by boarding early, because almost all seats are the same on Southwest; the exception being the emergency exit rows that have a bit more leg room (and, alas, I think people whose physical disabilities merit boarding accommodations cannot sit there).   I’ve been a Southwest customer for decades. When they first introduced Early Bird check-in, it was a welcome option at the time, which consistently got me a great boarding position… initially. Over the last few years, the cost of Early Bird has increased, just as the number of pre-boarders also seems to be increasing (some of whom are irrefutably faking, as I see them galivanting just fine for over an hour at the airport [and I know many people with “actual” disabilities, and they hate those fakers even more than me!]). The benefit of Early Bird continues to deflate compared to its increasing cost.   I’ve seen other airlines (e.g., United) charge extra for “preferred position” seats (e.g., on a B777-200). No extra room or drinks or snacks or anything, the only “privilege” (for an extra $45 in my case) is sitting toward the front of the plane (but still behind First, Business, and Premium Economy). I may be wrong and I welcome expert feedback about my belief/assumption, but I don’t believe United passengers can say they have a disability and expect to be given one of those preferred seats for free; I believe this because I suspect such a request would fall in (and likely fail?) the ADA’s caveat of accommodations having to be “reasonable”.   I’d be curious to learn how some of the Southwest “disabled” early-boarders (and I’m exclusively referring to the fake ones here) manage their “disabilities” when / if they fly on other airlines that have pre-assigned seating. Do they pay extra for the convenience of a seat toward the front (United style), or when they book their ticket do they tell the airline that they need one of those seats for no additional charge (and what response do they get from those airlines)? The number of them fakes is increasing, and Southwest, due to its unique seating policy, is a prime target for that repugnant abuse.   I wish Southwest would develop some boarding process whereby all passengers who paid extra (or who have earned status for premium service) to receive a preferred boarding position (including Early Birds who may end up in a B boarding position) actually enter the aircraft before the (non-truly-disabled) “early boarders”. I don’t think this should need to be that hard. Maybe print a large heart, or a big smiley face, or a peace sign on their boarding cards. Then the boarding agent could more accurately discern who should board first, based on extra services EARNED or PAID FOR. And please ensure that gate agents actually adhere to that boarding sequence.   Thanks you for reading this loooong post, and happy weekend to y’all. Cheers! ... View more

In theory, I think the concept is good. However, I’d like to respectfully throw a monkey wrench in it. I live in California, and I can imagine the outrage here if Southwest implemented these types of flights. Yes, we have plenty of natural attractions that can be appreciated from the air, but the idea of flying commercial airplanes, with the resulting Climate Change damaging emissions, simply for the viewing pleasure of a few privileged customers… well, I think Southwest would face backlash from powerful West Coast “green” groups. Also, please keep in mind that airlines received significant federal financial support due (in part) to the essential nature of the service they provide; so, if they start engaging in this sort of pleasure flights, they may find themselves in hot water. That’s just my humble prediction. The flip-side is that if they offered sightseeing flights over, for example, Yosemite and/or Lake Tahoe, in a heartbeat I would book a window seat. 😉 ... View more

Given that there were only 26 passengers on that flight, I wonder: did they all receive an "A" boarding group?   Normally, Southwest's boarding process requires forming a line next to those posts/markers* that are located right outside the boarding gate. Unless the boarding process has changed very recently, I don't see how passengers can keep 6 feet from each other without losing their boarding position.   I suppose one possible solution is to stay a safe distance away from the group of boarding passengers, and then board last. If the plane is lightly booked, there should still be plenty of seats to choose from.   *- By the way: does anyone know how far apart those posts/markers are? ... View more

dfwskier:   With all due respect, I believe you are misinforming when you state “you can't carry (on the plane) any liquids/gels in sizes greater than, I think, 3.4 ounces”.   You can bring into the plane a lot more than 3.4 ounces of liquids. You can bring to the airport an empty bottle and fill it up with water once you’re past the TSA security checkpoint, or you can purchase an expensive bottle of water once you’re inside the secure area and bring it on the plane.   I always bring a 16-oz bottle of water on the plane, and I keep it in the seat pocket (not in the carry-on that goes in the overhead compartment that gets shut right before take-off). Taking a couple of sips helps me equalize (i.e., “pop”) the ears during take-off when there is a change in air pressure.   Southwest flight attendants hand out a free cup of water or soft drinks during flight, and I truly enjoy the amenity, but I also like having my own water bottle, which I can sip from during take-off and landing. 🙂   I know you meant "into the TSA security checkpoint" instead of "on the plane," but this post is for the benefit of a first-time flyer, so these details may be important. 😊   Happy flying! ... View more

This is very concerning, indeed!   One of the scariest parts of the article is that "many of the 88 foreign 737s acquired by Southwest were certified in one day, and in some cases put into passenger service on that same day. That process typically takes three to four weeks per plane."   Essentially, those Southwest passengers were flying on a foreign aircraft without knowing it. ... View more

Hello amorley135,   Usually, a SWA agent announces/describes the boarding process at the gate, so it’s easy to follow along, and once you’re on the plane, you can take any empty seat you like.   Likewise, the check-in process when you first enter the airport is designed to be easy to follow, whether you are checking in a suitcase or not. There are plenty of signs with instructions on how to follow along. The key thing is to arrive with plenty of time to spare.   Basically, most of the airport experience has been very carefully designed so that it’s easy to follow along. Pretend that you’re a sheep, and just follow the herd, and you’ll be just fine. 😄   Being that this will be your very first flight, I would recommend that you select a window seat, so you can better observe the wonderful experience of air travel. Note: if you sit in the wing area, your view of Earth below will be obstructed by, well, the wing  😉 so you may wish to avoid it. There is a useful website with information on the pros and cons of different seats on different aircraft, if you have time you may want to check out:  seatguru  [dot]  com.   Your boarding position will impact the seat choices you’ll have once you get on board, and the boarding position is affected by when you check in for your flight. It’s wise to set your smartphone alarm and make sure to check in exactly 24 hours before your flights (or, to get automatically checked in, purchase EarlyBird).   You might like to explore in advance the websites for the specific airports you will be flying into and out of, because there may be interesting things to do and see there, both outside and inside the secure area. Some airports have small but very unique museums/memorabilia, art exhibits, and even yoga/relaxation rooms!   It can get very cold during flight. Decades ago, airlines used to offer small/thin blankets for passengers to borrow, but that’s very rare on domestic flights nowadays. Southwest doesn’t offer blankets, so I’d suggest that you wear warm clothes or bring your own small blanket in your carry-on bag. Even if you find that it’s not too cold during the flight, you can always use the small blanket as a cushion for extra padding on the seat.   Depending on the length of your trip, you may want to bring some food or snacks onto the plane, because Southwest does not offer food-for-sale service on board. You may also wish to bring to the airport an *empty* water bottle that you can take through the security check-point and then fill up for free at a water fountain once you’re in the boarding-gate area --or you can pay exorbitant amounts of money to purchase a water bottle once you get past the security checkpoint; please keep in mind that EVERYTHING is more expensive in the secure boarding-gate area, and even MORE expensive once you’re on the plane where a bottle of beer may cost you $7.   Last suggestion: install on your smartphone in advance the Southwest App, which you need to have installed before you can enjoy the in-flight entertainment (some of the SWA onboard entertainment is free, some of it costs $).   I remember how alien the experience was to me when I went on my first flight. I remember being anxious, and I must say, Southwest has a unique, laid-back culture, and I wish that SWA had been my first experience.   I’m sure you’ll be fine. Please come back and share your airport/flight experience.   Enjoy your flight! ... View more

Dear jksobony: With all due respect, I disagree with your stance that this is a pretty insignificant matter. There are numerous conversations about this topic on this board, because boarding sequence has a particularly unique impact on Southwest vs. other airlines. For example, while it made sense for me to pay $10 for Early Bird (EB) a decade ago, I rarely bother* now because, in the tangible reality I witness at the boarding gate, it doesn't get me now the benefits it got me back then (and now they charge much more for EB). *- The exception is if I know I'll be away from cell/internet access 24 hours before the flight; but, normally, checking-in exactly 24 hours before flight-time gets me a sufficiently good position, not much different from the position of a travel companion who does fork out $ for EB; and then we both watch lots of people boarding before us, and then... (gasp!) ...once on board, sometimes they try to save seats. Also respectfully, I see nothing wrong with a loyal customer expecting benefits. Unless I'm severely mistaken, many airlines use the term "loyalty" to describe their... well... frequent or loyal customers. For example, Southwest describes its Rapid Rewards program as a "loyalty program," no? Do you think those customers shouldn't be allowed to voice their opinions unless they are complimentary of the airline? (It's a rhetorical question.) These issues are important to many loyal customers, and you can't simply brush their opinions under the carpet by suggesting that they go fly "any other airline". @@jksobony wrote:   Any "loyal" customer who 'rightly expects' benefits or compensation isn't right, and isn't very loyal.    Southwest boards on a first come, first serve basis, and always has. We can talk about how a small minority 'abuses' the pre-boarding process until the cows come home, but at the end of the day it's a pretty insignificant matter as long as a) you get on the plane and b) find a seat.    If it truly bothers you, you can go to any other airline and pay for a specific seat - and pay much more overall in the process!    --Jessica   ... View more

mskok:   On July 30, 2019, at 4:38 PM, you wrote a post titled “JULY 1 Flight 2617 to Seattle” where you mentioned being removed from a Southwest plane. Then on August 14, 2019, at 2:30 PM, on that same thread, you mentioned speaking with a lawyer about that incident, which you vaguely describe as “[…] I was just asking questions […]”.   On that thread, and now on this new one, you don’t want to describe the situation you were involved in (e.g., what questions were you asking?). Essentially, you simply call Southwest bad names.   This is an open forum. When a story seems incomplete, some of us sometimes ask questions. I'm just a Southwest customer. Seeing the way you replied to jksobonya (Jessica), you’ll probably also accuse me of being part of “the squad” (whatever that is).   I don’t think this is the appropriate medium for you to obtain the answers that you desire, in a situation where a lawyer is already involved.   ... View more

“Race and Power in the Air” …or “Confirmation Bias”?   It is sad that you chose to turn this into a racial thing, and for a self-described “man of power” you seem to have a rather thin skin.   If your food was really as carefully packaged as you say, it should have been quite easy to follow the crew member’s instructions and place that package in the space under the seat in front of you.   I am a member of a minority group. That reality rarely comes up in my social interactions. Sometimes things don’t go 100% smoothly, but that’s not a race thing; it’s a life thing.   I can’t believe Southwest gave you vouchers worth $50 just for complaining, and to top that off, you post here to show that you are ungrateful about their extraordinarily generous gesture. ... View more

I’m not a Companion Pass (CP) holder, but this issue of boarding position for Companions also affects regular passengers like me. Boarding position is uniquely impactful on Southwest because there are no pre-assigned seats.   I believe it would be easier for everyone if, 1) CP holders had a chance to board with their travelling companion (perhaps as an option for a small fee?) in recognition for their loyal patronage, while simultaneously, 2) adopting a clear, universal, consistent no-seat-saving policy unless previously arranged (e.g., passengers purchasing 2 seats for themselves get an official decal during boarding to place on the seat they are legitimately saving).   Wouldn’t these two changes save precious seconds (and prevent some frustration) during the boarding/sitting process?   I remember how great it felt when Southwest drastically improved their system by assigning boarding positions. It sure is day and night compared with the old system of 20 years ago. It would be nice if Southwest now took another quantum-leap forward. ... View more

@Flying_Slug wrote: @SWDigits wrote: I think those are good questions, I would be curious to hear how Southwest responds to your note.  Any chance you are able to return to share your boarding experience out of SJC?   There are two different threads I've seen that are relevant to your concerns:   https://www.southwestaircommunity.com/t5/Boarding/SWA-is-testing-loading-from-the-front-and-rear-of-plane/m-p/82885?advanced=false&collapse_discussion=true&q=swa%20is%20testing%20loading&search_type=thread https://www.southwestaircommunity.com/t5/Check-In/We-purchased-earlybird-checkin-and-when-we-got-on-the-plane/m-p/72756?advanced=false&collapse_discussion=true&q=we%20purchased%20earlybird%20checkin&search_type=thread Hello SWDigits (and everyone else). I completed my round-trip this week, and here’s my update.   It turned out that my flight was not affected by the 2-door boarding system being tested at SJC. I overheard the beginning of an announcement for a nearby gate that was using that system, but I couldn’t listen to it because by that point I was already boarding my flight.   On the round-trip flights, the baggage drop-off agents & the boarding-gate agents & the flight attendants were all friendly and efficient. On one flight, the pilots gave us 5-minutes’ notice of “minor turbulence” that they anticipated would last for a few minutes, so we were all ready for the “ride” and it was all over within that timeframe. The flights landed no more than 5 minutes later than the scheduled arrival time. My checked suitcase arrived at the carousels without damage. These are the important things that make Southwest my preferred carrier for domestic flights.   However, I have not heard a peep from their Customer Service folks, even though over a week ago I sent them an e-mail (requesting a reply), about the original questions I posted here. So, perhaps that’s an area for improvement at Southwest.   I’m still confused about how the 2-door boarding system is supposed to work. I wish to avoid being “the one”    passenger that slows down the boarding process for everyone else. I strongly wish Southwest communicated clearly (with an easy-to-find video on their main page, perhaps?) how this system works.   Happy flying to y‘all! Flying_Slug I imagine this is my last update on this topic. I’m writing this, mainly, to give credit to the SWA employee who eventually did e-mail me. Thumbs up, and love, to Cindy G. for taking the time.       After my last post here, I received an e-mail from Southwest, with: 1) apologies for not replying before my travels had been completed, 2) a statement about how the 2-door system helps to save valuable minutes to keep the operation running on time, and 3) an assurance that my questions/concerns would be passed on to the Senior Leaders.   Still, no direct answer to my question about HOW the dual-door boarding system physically and chronologically plays out at the boarding gate(s).   I wish the Senior Leaders would direct their tech teams to create a video to post on the website, to show how this works, the same way there is a video showing the regular 1-door boarding process.   Southwest is selling boarding position upgrades at the gate for “just” $30-$50, so clearly they know that passengers value boarding positions and the processes that affect them. It really shouldn’t shock them to hear me ask how this boarding system impacts the benefit of boarding order.   If you send me an e-mail prior to my flight, telling me you’re trying something new at my departure airport, please: 1) anticipate that I will want to know how exactly the new system works, and 2) have a basic but informative response prepared. Telling me you’re trying something new, without operationalizing the details of how the new thing works, doesn’t help; and telling me afterwards that you’re forwarding my concerns to your higher ups does not answer my question either.   I really am surprised that my question is apparently so challenging that it remains unanswered and needs to be passed on to Senior Leaders. Come on, folks. I know Southwest can do better. Please keep being transparent. Your customers expect it. ... View more

@SWDigits wrote: I think those are good questions, I would be curious to hear how Southwest responds to your note.  Any chance you are able to return to share your boarding experience out of SJC?   There are two different threads I've seen that are relevant to your concerns:   https://www.southwestaircommunity.com/t5/Boarding/SWA-is-testing-loading-from-the-front-and-rear-of-plane/m-p/82885?advanced=false&collapse_discussion=true&q=swa%20is%20testing%20loading&search_type=thread https://www.southwestaircommunity.com/t5/Check-In/We-purchased-earlybird-checkin-and-when-we-got-on-the-plane/m-p/72756?advanced=false&collapse_discussion=true&q=we%20purchased%20earlybird%20checkin&search_type=thread Hello SWDigits (and everyone else). I completed my round-trip this week, and here’s my update.   It turned out that my flight was not affected by the 2-door boarding system being tested at SJC. I overheard the beginning of an announcement for a nearby gate that was using that system, but I couldn’t listen to it because by that point I was already boarding my flight.   On the round-trip flights, the baggage drop-off agents & the boarding-gate agents & the flight attendants were all friendly and efficient. On one flight, the pilots gave us 5-minutes’ notice of “minor turbulence” that they anticipated would last for a few minutes, so we were all ready for the “ride” and it was all over within that timeframe. The flights landed no more than 5 minutes later than the scheduled arrival time. My checked suitcase arrived at the carousels without damage. These are the important things that make Southwest my preferred carrier for domestic flights.   However, I have not heard a peep from their Customer Service folks, even though over a week ago I sent them an e-mail (requesting a reply), about the original questions I posted here. So, perhaps that’s an area for improvement at Southwest.   I’m still confused about how the 2-door boarding system is supposed to work. I wish to avoid being “the one”    passenger that slows down the boarding process for everyone else. I strongly wish Southwest communicated clearly (with an easy-to-find video on their main page, perhaps?) how this system works.   Happy flying to y‘all! Flying_Slug ... View more

@SWDigits wrote: I think those are good questions, I would be curious to hear how Southwest responds to your note.  Any chance you are able to return to share your boarding experience out of SJC?   There are two different threads I've seen that are relevant to your concerns:   https://www.southwestaircommunity.com/t5/Boarding/SWA-is-testing-loading-from-the-front-and-rear-of-plane/m-p/82885?advanced=false&collapse_discussion=true&q=swa%20is%20testing%20loading&search_type=thread https://www.southwestaircommunity.com/t5/Check-In/We-purchased-earlybird-checkin-and-when-we-got-on-the-plane/m-p/72756?advanced=false&collapse_discussion=true&q=we%20purchased%20earlybird%20checkin&search_type=thread Thank you very much for the links, SWDigits!   Flying out of (or into) SJC, I haven’t encountered this before, but now I see that it has been happening for a while at other airports. It is the first time I receive an e-mail from Southwest, a few days ahead of my flight, with the subject “Get prepared to fly!” to let me know that they are “introducing a new dual door boarding option”.   I think that having passengers line up orderly by the boarding gate, only to then have them choose which boarding door to use, voids the premise that they advertise: “When your boarding group is called, find your designated place in line and board the aircraft in numerical order with your boarding group.” < https://www.southwest.com/html/customer-service/faqs.html?topic=boarding_the_plane >   Now it sounds like people would no longer board the aircraft in numerical order. I’ve been flying Southwest for so long, I remember when Early Bird cost $10. Now I’m middle-aged and certainly can’t compete with youngsters racing down the tarmac to dash up the rear-door stairs.    I know Early Bird doesn’t guarantee a “good seat” but it does provide (usually) a nice boarding position, and, costing (now) $20, it would probably irritate me to look out the jet-bridge window and see folks walking up the rear-door stairs and boarding ahead of me.   I’ll come back and share my experience with boarding next week, and I’ll also share the feedback I receive from the e-mail I sent directly to Southwest.   Happy Summer, everyone! ... View more

@DancingDavidE wrote: I've really enjoyed App in the Air for an added layer of notification, including gate changes.     Receiving notifications when flight details change at the last minute, allows me to relax before the flight. I'll look into App in the Air. Thanks for the suggestion! ... View more

I will look into FlightView. Thank you for the suggestion!   @TheMiddleSeat wrote: Hopefully Southwest will implement a new notification system soon after the retirement, I find the current one to be horribly unreliable and gave up on it long ago. Until something new and reliable is in place I would recommend using an app such as FlightView to track your flights.   --TheMiddleSeat   ... View more

@syber2th wrote: I have a flight in the future.  Would like to know what I should do if my flight is affected by the grounded planes You may wish to contact the airline directy (click on the Contact Us option at the bottom left of this screen), especially if your future flight is in the very near future.   I hope your flight is enoyable and on time!   F_S ... View more

It looks like the decision has been made for you:   "President Donald Trump said he is issuing an executive order Wednesday grounding all Boeing 737 Max jets".  (source: cnbc) ... View more

@Harrisj22, I’m happy to hear you had a great experience with the cabin crew, and I hope your grandmother recuperated quickly and is doing well.   Even though they are very busy folks, I often notice that SWA Flight Attendants go the extra mile when unusual needs or situations come up.   It sounds like those Flight Attendants on your flight to Chicago earned a pat on the back, and I would like to present a suggestion to you. This is an open forum for us to communicate with each other, and it is not necessarily monitored by SWA management. If you would like to make sure that Southwest passes your compliments along to those wonderful Flight Attendants, perhaps you might consider contacting SWA directly, at Southwest.com/contact-us.   Happy flying, F_S ... View more