Southwest Airlines Community

@Diva23rc wrote: I feel that they should have notified every customer by email, phone or letter of that option. I got nothing. No notice whatsoever. It should have been a common courtesy to do so and make sure all of your loyal customers are informed. But nope they didn’t and now are going to blame me for not knowing.  They did.   I got the email.   You might want to check your junk email settings.    So blame whomever you want,  but the notifications were on email, and on the app.     ... View more

@DancingDavidE wrote: Costco is my go-to, they have free cancellation up until the pickup time, second driver is included in all states (specifically for Florida already includes spouses automatically), and choose from four major brands side-by-side, and you still get regular loyalty points with the agency. It’s usually a pretty good discount too.  Agreed.  I always check Costco, and then the Budget app directly.  Just checked Florida for April and Budget was cheaper.  No need to prepay with either, so no cancellation issues.   I've never found a good deal through SW unfortunately.  As with the hotel bookings, you pay a premium to get the SW points bonus, and it's usually nonrefundable.  Good if you absolutely need the points and are booking last-minute, but rarely worth the cost/risk otherwise. ... View more

@Blake521 wrote: Same issue here i really don't getting what to do now. Neither do we.   You have to be more specific about your situation.  ... View more

I heard they will predominantly be on the longer routes like Hawaii.   Not sure if that helps,  or how long it'll last before they are phased in to a greater proportion of the flights.    I look forward to it.  ... View more

Let me see... I've flown 12 legs this year alone and it's only been one MONTH.    Been to Maui, Vegas, and Colorado.   Every one of those flights used my CP.     France forced Tahiti to close with no advance notice so my trip there next weekend got canceled.   I'm busy trying to get refunds for those flights from United and Air Tahiti.    So guess what?   I'm going to Cancun... on SW with my CP.  Prices are LOWER than advertised... about $350 for two people,  at the last minute.    So I'm really unclear on what you're complaining about.   If you can't find a reason to fly, that's on you.   And then go try to find last minute travel on another airline due to these capricious rule changes, and let me know what you find.        ... View more

There is no requirement for proof of anything to fly right now,  so it's not likely there will be in the future.    Some countries require proof of negative Covid test to enter,  including the US right now.   The vaccine doesn't change that.   Hopefully it'll change soon.  ... View more

I get it... accrued liabilities in general are a bad thing.   But in the middle of a pandemic... accrued liabilities are a GOOD thing.   It's what they use to avoid borrowing money.   Look at the benefit they got from NOT buying a bunch of Maxes right before they didn't need them.    Besides,  if everyone used them at once... they would be worth LESS.   The average cost per flight would go up.    Not to mention inflation and interest  that they get from the free loan.   It still doesn't make a whole lot of sense in normal times, and less sense in these times.   Yes,  they want to force people to use their funds to fill up planes,  but the negative goodwill doesn't seem worth it.  ... View more

I appreciate your analogy,  and it's a good one.    But to your point,  if your new pants got a new expiration... and then you returned them in 30 days for a new paid... and so on and so on.   You'd always have new pants.   That's the problem SWA has to avoid... people getting around the 1 year rule by buying a new ticket and inheriting a new expiration.   I'm not smart enough to know why having unlimited fund expiration is a bad thing,  but the rule you suggest would allow that.   It does seem to me to not be such a bad thing.  ... View more

First of all,  there is nothing "clear" about postponing trips due to Covid.   There are plenty of reasons and options to fly over the past year.    Second,  I'm very careful about tying new funds to old travel funds.   Better to pay cash and have a year to use them if you're not sure you're gonna fly.    It gets complicated,  but it's WAY better than the alternative at another airline.  ... View more

@SWFlyer007 wrote: Well, I hope your flight change wasn't as confusing as mine.  at 11:05 am I got notice of my flight change.  Then at 4:30 pm, I got another one showing me another change to that flight.   It's been pretty bad for me too.    I just realized a flight was changed in December to a different flight, which they emailed me about.   But then,  since then,  it changed to an earlier flight, even though the existing flight was still available.   No email notification.    It doesn't help that the emails they send are nearly useless.   All have the same title,  so they get lumped together.   The text lists the new leg, then the old leg, then the resulting new flight.  It's hard to figure out exactly what changed.    The worst is when the flight times don't even change.  All they change is a flight number,  and have to figure it out.   At least I'm given 3 days to figure out if the change in flight number is unacceptable to me.    But forget to check your schedule for 3 days, and I'm stuck with their new plan.    They need to find a better format to convey their changes,  or give us more than 72 hours to deal with it.    Preferably both.  ... View more

    Earn Companion Pass through 2/28/2022 plus 30,000 points after you spend $5000 on purchases in the first 3 months. @jj1814 wrote:     Earn Companion Pass through 2/28/2022 plus 30,000 points after you spend $5000 on purchases in the first 3 months.     THIS.    If you're flying this year,  you get the companion pass for THIS year,  plus a head start on next year.    Otherwise,  you have to get the full points before the CP kicks in,  for the rest of the year and next year.    So it depends on how much you plan to spend, and when you plan to travel.        ... View more

Agreed.    My wife and I live in separate cities right now.   I thought using the CP would be tough.   Ironically,  Covid made it easier,  since I spend more time working remotely, with her... either at her house or somewhere more exotic.    And more over, the extra CP she earned for Jan and Feb means we're taking weekend vacations with the kids.   Double the benefits.    With all the complaining that people can't use it,  it seems unreasonable for SWA to extend it ad nauseum until 2022 or 2023 so that everyone feels they got "what they earned".  I earned my pass this year,  so the extension does me no good.    But if they wanted to increase load factors THIS year,  finding some way to issue "companion companion passes" might be interesting.   My wife is paying for her tickets for these Jan Feb trips,  and we take the kids.   She'll be my companion again on March 1.   Not sure how they could implement it,  but expanding the CP for 2021 rather than extending it might bring them revenue and placate the whiners.  Maybe.  ... View more

Did you try it on the app?  There might be an option to refund the portion of the fare paid with cash.  ... View more

You're correct on the international destinations...I forgot about those.   But as you said,  nothing they can do about that when the entire county is essentially closed.    But those states you refer to... either SWA doesn't fly there,  or the restrictions are recommendations.   Do I feel bad ignoring the California quarantine "suggestion"?   Nope.... not worried about bringing Covid into a state with the worst Covid.    I've been to Hawaii twice since Covid.  Testing is a pain,  but the cost saved in airline tickets should make up for it.   If you've had Covid,  you don't even have to test.      Yes,  I had to fly an extra leg on one trip.   Oh well.   Half my tickets were free, and the other half were half off  due to Covid.  A 75% discount.  So that's an excuse to complain and demand an extension to my CP?   I just landed in Vegas.   I'll be in Colorado next weekend.   You said you need options.   You have plenty of them.        ... View more

@cfrieday wrote: totally agree.  I earned my pass in April 2020.  Have used it once.  I am not adverse to flying but there is no place to really go without crazy requirements.   Incorrect.   I can't find anyplace SWA flies with ANY requirements, let alone crazy ones,  except Hawaii.   You can get tested before you go,  or show proof of Covid recovery.    When they were closed, we went to Florida and Cabo.   Going to Vegas and Colorado this month.    So I guess you're not looking very hard.  ... View more

  @Lanmon wrote: I called SWA Executive Office and spoke to Esteban, employee # E135097.  He informed me the second 2020 companion pass is good for only this year.  And, the 2019 pass was a gift during Covid. . HUH?  There was no second 2020 pass. And there was no "gift" 2019 pass because of Covid because Covid wasn't a thing until March 2020.   Either Esteban or you are very confused. @Lanmon wrote:   I feel SWA owes me two years of Companion Pass....for 2019 and 2020.  The 2019 was a carry over from 2020 to 2021.  So, I am using the 2019 pass.   I earned the 2021 Companion Pass (for achieving over 125000 points) but it cannot be used because SWA only issues one Companion Pass per year. "I feel (someone) owes me"...so much wrong with this statement.  You might consider checking your feelings with a little logic sometime.  I feel I should win the lottery too...but that's not going to improve my odds.    You can say you can't fly all you want, but that's either factually incorrect, or not SWA's fault.  Planes are flying.  YOU chose not to fly on them.  Tough break for all of us...things aren't as rosy as a normal year.  Would you also demand an extension if you wanted to fly to Key West but it was destroyed due to a hurricane?  No?  This is the same thing.  Act of God or whatever they call it in legalese.   My advice?  Quit your whining...it makes you sound petulant.  But if you must vent your soul on the Internet, try to get your facts straight first.   ... View more

Great point.  YMMV...your mileage may vary...no pun intended.  Okay, intended.   And these offers are harder (if not impossible) to find on mobile, so here's the direct link:   https://www.southwest.com/loyalty/myaccount/rapid-rewards.html     ... View more

Sigh,  I recommend you read existing posts before you repeat a common rant.    And I think you're technically incorrect when you say anyone will "LOSE A YEAR OF COMPANION PASS".   That's factually inaccurate.  ... View more

@15grandkids wrote: If SW chooses to extend the companion pass for those who's pass expired in 2020, why not extend the pass for those who have earned it during 2020 for the 2021 calendar year, to the end of 2022. Giving each member equal benefits. We traveled and earned points and spending credits throughout 2020 and believe that should mean something. To thoroughly beat a dead horse...   1. The main goal for SW is to make money and stay profitable.   Giving CP benefits works best for them when it fills empty seats,  not when it displaces paying passengers.   So arguably, giving CP extensions for 2021 makes more sense than giving them away for 2022.   2.  Extending your logic out,  if I earn my pass for 2022, should I get a free pass for 2023?  At some point,  trying to give each member "equal benefits" no longer makes sense.   So,  you need to accept that people who have less than you to start with may end up with more benefits.   That's kinda the way the world works.  Do you expect to get a welfare check when you already have a job too?   3.  We have no idea what SW will do in 12 months.   No point in fretting over it now.  ... View more

That's a pretty simple way to bump up your CP points if you need them.   I'll have to remember it for the future.   It assumes of course you wanted the room anyways.    @TheMiddleSeat wrote: Is 8000 points really worth the extra $144 though?   --TheMiddleSeat From a direct value standpoint,  8000 points is worth about $128 at 1.6 cents per point.   So it's not outrageous.   We got 1.8 cents per point with the Covid travel funds exchange, but that was a unique opportunity.  ... View more

What about those of us who already had Covid or the vaccine?   What about those of us traveling with family who are using the middle seat anyways?    We prefer the lower costs afforded to us by normal seating policies.    In case you weren't paying attention,  they let you know if the plane is more than 2/3 full.   I've never seen it happen.   The plane to Hawaii had less than 50.  The plane I'm on now has all of 16 people.    Not to mention all the data showing flying is safe.      So what frustrates me is people complaining about things that really don't matter,  that really don't affect them,  and on forums that really won't make a difference.    Reminds me of the people I saw last week wearing masks on an empty beach in Hawaii.   Pretty much unclear on the concept,  but apparently willing to be worried? ... View more

Saturdays are still slower.   You can always judge by the price of the flight.   The cheaper it is, the fewer people on the plane.  ... View more

Considering your reimbursement was tax free,  it was more like getting paid $50 an hour.  ... View more

@Jsmjeff wrote: please dont speak for everyone. I have be flying. Wow,  so you admit you HAVE been flying with the CP, and you're STILL complaining that you're not getting a good enough extension?    @Jsmjeff wrote: I earned my companion pass for 2021 in April of 2020. Worked very hard at it. Have not been able to take advantage of the extra benifit do to the virus. I sure hope Southwest takes another look and offers an exstension. Thank you Jeff Hmm,  here you said otherwise.   You can understand my confusion.    I'm sorry if you thought I was trying to speak for you.   I wasn't.   I don't really understand that level of greed,  so my comments wouldn't really apply to you.    My apologies.  ... View more

Most flights are still less than 2/3 full.   They notify you if your plane is filling any or many middle seats    Most people traveling with family sit next to them.   They notify you if your plane is filling any or many middle seat.    Sit in the back and you'll have an empty seat next to you nearly all the time.  ... View more

Sigh, I'm tired of all the complaining.      You all got a bonus from Southwest.  You got more than they were contractually obligated to provide to you.    YOU made a decision to not fly.   YOU decided to not take advantage of lower fares on planes that were still flying.   YOU made a decision to stay home.   No one else did (with very few exceptions).   I lost count of the number of CP flights I took last year.  The flights were so cheap.   I have the family in Hawaii right now for about $80 a person.  Our first LUNCH cost more than our airfare.    I also earned CP this year.   So, just like YOU,  the free one year extension did me ZERO good.    So rather than complaining,  get off your sofa and fly.   Support SWA instead of complaining you're not getting enough free benefits.    Some people's kids... ... View more

My advice?   Travel.   It's not how you catch Covid.    Unless you've been at home for 9 months due to being in a high risk group, traveling adds no risk.    I speak from experience,  and studies say the same thing.  ... View more

I'm thinking why did you create a new thread?  Sigh... ... View more

Yeah,  ironic that giving people a year to gain status, and then giving them the rest of the current year free,  as a bonus,  has created this conundrum.   If there were never any overlap,  people would feel less cheated.    And I wish there weren't three threads on the same topic ... View more