Southwest Airlines Community

Not sure what you're asking.   That's the exact reason why they let you get the doctor to sign off that you've recovered.   It's arguably more accurate than trying to get a negative test after you're positive.  The goal is to ensure that you're not contagious, which allegedly you aren't so many days after symptoms go away.  ... View more

All good tips.  If you want to be really crafty, buy refundable hotel stays and cancel them after you get your CP.   I prepaid for a bunch of vacations before the 1/31 deadline to get 30% extra points.   Had to cancel some in February due to Covid closing Tahiti.   But I still got the point bonus.  ... View more

Technically, you don't have to then test negative.  The other option is you can go to a doctor and have them sign a note saying you no longer have symptoms and have recovered.  The concern is false positives even when you're no longer contagious.   We tested negative within three weeks of testing positive, not knowing this was an option (for going to Hawaii).  For returning from Mexico, we decided to then get the exemption rather than hassle with another test (although testing would have been easier and cheaper...amazing what a doctor charges to write a note these days).   So yes, SWA will accept a positive Covid test result, and a doctor's note of recovery, to return to the US.   That will of course mean you'll be there 10-14 more days (or more, if you still have symptoms).  But hey, it's Mexico.  I heard our hotel would put us up free.  Almost wish I had taken the test and gotten a false positive...it was a great (and expensive) hotel. ... View more

What are you looking for?  Might be better to ask a specific question.   Most "programs" or promotions are indeed for the card holders.  There are a few that come up to provide bonus points or bonus CP if you fly during certain windows.  The last two I recall were 5000 bonus pts for flying 4 flights, and another for a 4-month CP for flying four flights.  You should be able to find them here.   https://www.southwest.com/rapidrewards/promotions   I might agree that some of these seem a bit complicated, but USING the points couldn't be easier.   If you're talking about Alist vs CP...it's pretty simple as well.  A-list is essentially only available by flying 25 or 50 legs a year.  CP is available by gathering points from spending money through partners or the credit card, as well as flying. ... View more

Good point.   I'd forgotten you could pay to transfer them.   At  a penny a point, it only makes sense if you're REALLY close to purchasing a ticket and need just a few more points.    Consider points are worth about 1.6 cents each,  so you're almost buying them.   When they have sales,  you can buy them for below 1.8 cents per point if I recall... but even then,  it rarely makes sense unless you have a specific flight in mind and just need to top off.    Don't forget that points flights don't accrue more points, so you get about a 10% rebate on every revenue paid flight.... and one more step towards A-list.  ... View more

I'm sure you wasted more then 4 hours of your precious time ranting about it.      If four hours of your time were that valuable,  you wouldn't be flying Southwest.   And you'd probably have an accountant find a way to write it off your taxes.    So no,  I still don't consider you to have suffered any monetary loss.   The world is full of uncertainty,  and air travel is definitely got its fair share of it.    I lost $20 today.   I think.   Might have fallen out of my pocket.   Oh well... I'm over it.   If someone found it,  I hope they needed it more than I did.    Move on.  ... View more

No, but you can purchase tickets for anyone with YOUR points.    So you can't combine two different owner's points to get one ticket.   But you could buy a one way ticket for someone and have them buy the other... if they only had enough points for one leg.    One advantage of this... you retain some control over the points.   If the ticket is cancelled, the points are returned to you.  ... View more

Sheep, lions, flesh... oh my.    I think we find this interesting for a few reasons:   1.  It's been years and you're still fixated on this.  2.  You didn't actually suffer any loss.  3.  This happens so rarely on SWA that few of us (if any) can commiserate.  4.  Your intelligence begets a writing style that is quite entertaining.    So... all that taken together... and... we'll nod and keep flying SWA.  Baa? ... View more

I'm pretty sure that is a credit card bonus.   I just got mine,  likely from a 20% bonus for all charges from October through January, or something like that.    There's another one going on now, in Promotions.  ... View more

@Bobbyduarte wrote: This is not true. I have had problems trying to have my wife board with me .  I am a list preferred 4 years in a row. Companion pass for 2.   the Southwest employee taking boarding passes does not know of this !!!! Twice I had to board with B group , trying to explain this post to the employees!!!! My wife will travel with me again in 2 weeks.   I can only except more issues due to employees not letting her board with me.  I am almost always A-16. By the time the employee looks and reads this post.  We are boarding with B group!!!! Two things I don't understand here:   1.  If you book your CP ticket more than 48 hours before the flight,  your companion will get a boarding number one higher than you.    2.  If you don't,  your CP will get a "regular" assigned boarding number.   If she is A- list,  she can board after the A group.  If not,  she'll have to board at her assigned spot.      But how hard is it to save a middle seat for your spouse?  ... View more

I suggest you reread the original post.  No one suggested you should do something illegal, or insinuated you wanted to.   You took it that way,  and got bent out of shape.    My opinion of the rules doesn't matter.   Your opinion does.   I speed, but I wouldn't tell you to.... unless you were in the left lane.    I merely laid it out for you with clear examples.      Frankly,  if I had a twin,  I wouldn't worry about switching tickets with him.   Or maybe even my brother.   Guess that makes me a heathenous scofflaw.  Oh well... it's a situation I've never had to consider.      As recently as 1999, they used to sell tickets in bulk and hand them out at the airport.   So apparently before some terrorists ruined it for everyone,  this sort of thing was probably not an issue.   So I don't find the mere mention of swapping tickets at the gate to be heresy.      I do find it unfortunate that it costs so much to do it by the book.   Whether this is purely a profit motive by the airlines,  or driven by FAA regulations,  is beyond my pay grade.    Good luck and safe travels.  ... View more

Kind of a bummer that they aren't sending out new ones anymore.   It almost seems more important to reward people flying now that extend the expired ones.      But yeah,  there might be a lot of tipsy people on those first flights that resume beverage service.  ... View more

No one is suggesting you wanted to do something illegal, merely pointing out the subtleties in how the system works.   There is no ID check to get on the plane.   Twins booked on different flights could get on either flight, and no one would know.      Or Bob and Bob Jr.    Or father and son with different names.    Or mother and son,  both named Pat.    Or friends of the same gender.    Or maybe even Butch and Suzie... not sure they even see your first name when you board the plane.   Or that they pay attention.    The point is that it's technically doable,  but not allowed according to the rules.      ... View more

1.  Flights within a week or 2 are always more expensive 2.  Flight demand is going up faster than flight schedules are returning to normal.  ... View more

@dfwskier wrote: There is one proviso —   if she wants to change her flight, she would not able to do so in her RRaccount, but would need to return to your account to make a change. Yeah,  that's a complication.    Plus you can't change the flight with the CP attached.   You have to cancel it first and rebook.    I tend to leave my companion unbooked as long as possible if I expect prices to go down.   It's hard to even check once it's booked.    But the flip side is you risk the flight booking up.   Almost made this mistake recently, as flights start to get back to normal packing factors.  ... View more

Sounds like you're worried about having a clean plane?   Well,  considering neither middle seats being full nor contact with surfaces have been attributed to spreading Covid,  it seems you're being overly paranoid.    The facts are you'll be low risk regardless.   If you're looking to assuage your fears of flying,  your best bet is to stay home.  There's really nothing to be gained by nitpicking one flight over another.  ... View more

I'm inclined to go with the probability of mistaken identity.   Strange things happen in life, and often times we never figure out why.   You know you, and you know you were fine.   Trying to figure out other people will always result in frustration.    I say let it go.   In time, likely you'll get a good chuckle.    Sorry this happened.  ... View more

They told me they could connect the two reservations into one routing for the bags,  but I don't think we ended up testing their theory.    I can't recall the specifics,... maybe we changed our plans.  But I'm pretty sure you can do it.   A quick call to SWA would confirm.      ... View more

It certainly seems possible, given they've run out of other spots in Florida to expand to.   But then,  they were there before, and pulled out.   So they likely know the market well.   Time will tell.  ... View more

Yeah,  I didn't suspect they could target the purchase channel that closely.    Unfortunately,  I moved her back to being MY companion.   So now we're at a loss on how to structure many flights to utilize the CP.  Too many benefits... first world problems.  ... View more

Just an FYI... my wife either had her two month CP extended to June,  or (more likely) was awarded the new promo for flying 4 flights... even though they weren't through work.    Anyone in the same situation may want to check the app.  ... View more

I hear what you're saying,  but... what would you suggest they do?    They told you up front they may fill the middle seats.   They told you as soon as they exceeded 66% seats full.    They can't predict the future.   What other logical option is there?    You don't have enough time to rebook?   Well,  look on the bright side... the late notification means maybe 20-30% of the seats are still empty.  Sit behind the wing and you might just get an empty middle seat... like we all hoped even before Covid.    The straight talk is...you need to stop treating this an an emotional issue and try thinking about it rationally.   They told you the rules and are following them.   There is no evidence that filing middle seats is adding any measurable risk.     If flying were dangerous,  wouldn't all the flight attendants be sick?   And conversely,  if you're that concerned about it,  your only safe bet is not to fly.   Moving the needle an immeasurable amount by leaving the middle seat open doesn't do anything other than appease emotions.    Sit at the window and blast the air vent down on your face.   Having someone sitting next to you won't matter.    ... View more

My sincerest sympathies for your situation.   It's a very good example how government overreach and overreaction when faced with this pandemic creates many problems.   Whether their doing so avoided many more serious problems may never be known.    Half the people think they did too much, the other half think they did too little.   Laws are imperfect,  whether they follow them or not.  ... View more

Completely not feasible.  They are flying limited routes with the current demand.   Expecting them to create additional underbooked flights would just create more lost revenue.    And for what?   Why would vaccinated people care who else is on their flight?   Or unvaccinated people?   Neither is any more or any less at risk from this policy.  ... View more

@Jonesbbkr wrote: Not sure where you see me contradicting myself but that’s your opinion for what ever you feel it’s worth. It’s not about mask etiquette, it’s about respect for others safety and following rules and guidelines. Let me guess your a pre- boarder too You said flying should be 0% risk,  but you admit you can't have that in such close quarters.   Which is it?    Nope,  I'm A list preferred,  and I don't block the aisle during planing OR deplaning.  I flew 50k miles last year without getting Covid... or whining about other's masks.    Ps.  It's spelled "you're". ... View more

@Jonesbbkr wrote: The bottom line is that there should be a 0% risk of infection or contraction on  a flight and any measurements that can be be taken to achieve that goal should be taken. Science says stay six feet apart and when your elbow to elbow that’s not possible.   I'm not quite sure what your point was,  but considering you just contradicted yourself, I'm not sure you do either.    Science says flying on planes is safer than most other activities,  but none are 0%.  Nothing is.   Fly accordingly.      I am flying tonight.   Just last weekend,  and the one before that, and the one before that.   I don't get bent on other people's mask etiquette.... not worth the stress.  ... View more

Yep,  here's someone who thought like he did.    https://www.khon2.com/coronavirus/safe-travels-quarantine-violators-say-hawaii-takes-rules-very-seriously/ ... View more