Southwest Airlines Community

@Ancadgel wrote: Hi! I pieced together 2 flights to get to Hawaii from Raleigh RDU. I was originally only carrying a backpack + carryon but they are both very full with no room left; they will still fit but I would probably have to mail souvenirs back! LOL.  I'm considering switching to checking a bag.  I have the first flight of the day 5am, from what i've read the ticket counter and security do not even open until 4am.  The terminal in which Southwest is located does not have the other major airlines so it is not normally as busy as the others (from my research). My question is do you think checking my bag to final destination will make me rushed in getting through security (I do have Pre-check also).  TIA! My main question is that it says you "pieced together" two flights - do you mean a one-way ticket to destination X and then another ticket from X to Hawaii? In that case carrying on may be favorable depending on your time for connection. You may be able to get checked baggage tagged for the final destination in Hawaii but there is a chance you'd have to retrieve it and go through re-checking when you get to X if I'm understanding the post.     ... View more

"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

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

We see people gaming most any system put in place. This is just one such example. I have been in line with a veteran of war that could easily legitimately qualify for pre board but he would not have it. He was pretty outraged at the people he saw clearly gaming the policy. This was going on with emotional support dogs as well. To the people that do this, shame on you. ... View more

I believe the reason for the flights to nowhere is to keep crews current. They actually have to fly an aircraft to keep current. They have to be current to fly aircraft with passengers.   So the 2 options are   1) Fly an  empty aircraft or 2) Fly an aircraft with some passengers to help cover the cost of keeping current  ... View more

Sorry to hear about your experience...but wow, you certainly had me captivated.  Sadly, this sort of story is all too common these days, but it definitely makes a different impression when related so eloquently.  Forceful in its softness, if you will.   If you needed  a job selling ice to Eskimos, you could probably get it.  😉   I hope your next flight is better.   If I find myself sitting next to you, I expect a good yarn. ... View more

Touche. Ya got me. ... View more

thanks NicoleAshley but the solution I am looking for is to allow my companion to board with me. I think in my discussions with many other Companion Pass holders that is what is universally wanted.  ... View more

@chgoflyer  Hi I totally agree people find anything and everything to complaint about. If they don't like SW well my situation is to find another airline right?. People are something now and days.  ... 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

Sorry to hear of your father's predicamet.   Almost  all Southwest seats recline a bit. The exceptions are exit row seats, the seats immediately in front of exit rows, amd the very last row of seats on the plane. Gvien that, I'm afraid your father will be dealing with a federal rule that seats must be upright in takeoff or landing configuration. The rule is in place to insure the plane can be quickly evacuated should there be a need to do so.  ... View more

@chgoflyer wrote: @DancingDavidE wrote: @chgoflyer wrote: Southwest announced quite some time ago that they were discontinuing Flight Status Notifications, I actually thought they were already dead. This was the system by which you would actively sign up to receive a single email or text at a set time (1-4 hours) prior to a flight's departure or arrival. Useful years ago, it's necessity has long since been replaced by other methods.   What hasn't changed: When you purchase a flight, you select your preferred notification method -- email, text or call -- and Southwest continues to use this to notify you of any changes to your itinerary. (In theory at least. As many have mentioned for years now, this system is pretty abysmal in practice. Updates are often never received, contain outdated information, or are received too late to be of any use.)   Ironically, Flight Status Notifications seemed to work flawlessly. But their usefulness (as a single notification) was limited. The surviving flight change notification system absolutely needs significant work. IMHO it should be a major priority for Southwest.   I recommend proactively checking flight status via google (just enter "WN" + your flight number) or websites like FlightAware. I've really enjoyed App in the Air for an added layer of notification, including gate changes.       I need to check that out. I tried a similar app a while back (I can't remember the name for the life of me; I uninstalled it after a few weeks) and I had mixed results at best. Do you happen to know where they get their data -- especially things like gate changes? I found earlier that an app is really only as good as the data is, and if Southwest isn't updating their systems (or, more often, the airport ones) with things like gate changes, the app isn't helpful. I wondered if there was a crowdsourced solution, but that doesn't seem ideal since there would be a lag in updates (and the obvious problems with crowdsourced data).   I had used TripIt before which was nice, but the way they import Southwest flights they end up with a lot of duplicate trips, since that's my primary airline the service was not useful.   I think some from there was on the community and maybe could answer some questions but I don't recall the name right off hand.           ... View more

Potential agreement on the way: https://dfw.cbslocal.com/2019/03/17/southwest-mechanics-union-reach-tentative-deal-labor-dispute/amp/ ... View more

@SWDigits wrote: @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 To add to the comment from @dfwskier the travel advisory is for travel through March 31st. I have to imagine that Southwest is making a contingency plan to cover a long-term grounding scenario that they'll update as they learn more from the investigation. To add to that, every MAX flight will not result in a cancellation becasue Southwest has the ability to use other planes instead of MAXs -- at least for some flights. ... 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

@LittleLove wrote: I will be traveling soon with my 2.5 year old toddler. However, he has some health issues that mean he needs all liquids thickened. He is still  on formula (again, health reasons) which we thicken with baby cereal, and drinks water mixed with applesauce. I am concerned that there will be problems going through security with it because of his age. I know they allow formula/baby food for infants, but will he be okay? I also like to bring applesauce pouches for backup, will those be a problem? It’s a lot easier to bring it that way and add water later than to lug around all of his liquids for the day. Thank you for the help! This should be fine as a medical need, and also as a toddler food. The TSA may need to test a sample if any liquid is open, or else they can test your person and the outsides of the containers for any trace of contaminant. Allow a little extra time (10-20 minutes above what you normally would arrive at).   Not sure about the applesauce since it isn't medicinal exactly, but potentially it could be tested in the same manner.     ... View more