Southwest Airlines Community

@gretch0628 Am I being unreasonable?   In a word, YES!  I work all year, mostly into Nov and Dec before the points for my companion finally reach the jackpot.   And we are taking many flights, not the other promotions.  You get on one flight and you have that luxury for months?  I will admit, it's not during the best of times, but it's there.  So I can attest you won't get much tread on this one even from the skeptical SWA travelers.    ... View more

@jcrootbeer1    As mentioned, if you're end goal is CP, you're done.  If you haven't gotten A-List, which I think you would since it's fewer points, maybe shoot for A-List Plus which I'm doing, but don't think I will make.  Here is what I've done the past years, once I have the CP, and A-List, I don't go chase the A-List plus anymore as I've never got it.  What I do have is a United Airlines, Choice Hotels, and Wyndham Hotels card, which I start using to build up those points.  It's been nice when my sweetheart and I fly for the price of one and also have free hotels at the same time.  (And if you still keep using the SWA card) you could use points and both fly for free and then get free rooms.  It's not Rocket Science, but this reward thing I've been doing fairly well with for the past 10 years.    ... View more

@gsking wrote: "airframe isn't inherently airworthy without software intervention. "   Plenty of planes are much less airworthy without a computer flying them.   Most modern planes.   Of course they have more redundancy.    Most of the reason they put in the MCAS is for flyability/ similarity to older models,  and for avoiding a small portion of the stall envelope.     The plane is perfectly flyable without software.  It just takes a smarter pilot to avoid stalling.  Just like the smarter pilots who disabled MCAS when it malfunctioned.      Much like traveling under Covid, it's a risk analysis.   Just BETWEEN the two crashes, there were over 150,000 Max flights.  That's pretty good odds... about 10x better than a healthy person dying of Covid.     So if you're that worried about the Max, you're best staying home.      Unfortunately, the plane is not perfectly flyable without MCAS. If it was, then the simple solution would be to remove MCAS. They're not removing MCAS.   More accurate would be to say that, without MCAS it's flyable in an emergency, if the pilots have the correct training, and also the strength needed to physically operate the trim wheel.   Please don't mistake my concern for "worry," I'm well aware of the odds involved. I'll wait until I've learned more before deciding if, with regards to the MAX, they're acceptable to me.   Luckily, I'll have other options available, at least for a while, that will negate any misperceived need to "stay home." 😉         ... View more

@Floridagal45 wrote:   Sorry to hear of your issue.   Southwest is simply doing what it said it would do (and you agreed to) when you bought a non refundable ticket.   Who knows what the virus situation will be by 5/31/21. It may have improved enough for you to take a flight.   If not, you do have some recourse. SW has an unofficial policy that lets travelers with expired travel funds turn those funds into vouchers. This can only be done after a travel fund expires. It must be done within 6 months of the expiration date. The resultant voucher can be used by anyone but expires in 6 months. Cost (subject to change) is $100.   Hope that helps. ... View more

A power bank would be another option. ... View more

The same governor just sent a bunch of workers to Hawaii, and is happily dining indoors in large groups.   He has also lost in court recently so he can no longer make up rules as he goes along.   So what that means is you really need to take the "rules" with a grain of salt.  Key word there is "should".  I'll define that how I see fit.  I doubt even Gavin could define explicitly what constitutes "essential" work, and could do so fast enough to restrict next week's travel...and if he tried, he'd be sued (again) so fast his pretty little coifed head would spin and an injunction issued. Don't worry. ... View more

I think at the time the decision was made, cases were at the most, steady.  However, what we have seen in the last 5 weeks hopefully will allow SWA to reconsider, but then what if there are already flights that have booked past the number of only window and aisle seats?    I don't have the answer, just know that I will have to cross that bridge when I get there in 3 weeks.  I wish they would reconsider.   ... View more

I had travel funds originally generated from a trip to South Carolina I had booked for travel in late March/April, but re-scheduled to October 2020 due to covid and stay-at-home order. Trip cancelled for October 2020 in September 2020 due to quarantine orders for Chicago for travel to South Carolina as well as us now having a newborn. now my funds are set to expire on 11/20/2020 and contacted Southwest multiple times and no exception being made to extend funds. Keep recommending customer relations, but over 45 minutes of waiting and no answer. ... View more

Afternoon. Found this thread when researching which airlines will protect my health by following the basic science of viral transmission that we've had locked down for something near a hundred years now.   I was getting a kick from the plandemic people in the thread with their hilarious accusations that masks don't work or that the virus isn't real. Let me guess folks, the earth is flat and the moon landing was faked? 😂 They're spying on us with the five gee?? 🤣   Never fails to make me laugh when people are *proud* of their ignorance.   Anyway, masks do work:   https://www.nature.com/articles   https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/coronavirus/in-depth/coronavirus-mask/art-20485449/d41586-020-02801-8   If you simply *must* continue to be ignorant on purpose about it, well shoot you know you're right, right? So you should have no problem saying so with your full name and face attached, right? Come on, I bet your employer would love to hear how much smarter you are than every virologist in the world 🙂 what are you, chicken? 🐔🐔     ... View more

@MurphreeJA wrote: I am in the same situation. I have a "credit" for nearly $300 due to a cancelation before the Covid thing but now I can't feel safe using it. I've contacted SouthWest several times. I don't expect a refund, I just would like an extension on the expire date of the credit until such time as it's actually safe to fly again. I've been told in other words to buzz off three times now.  The latest one said something to the effect of (paraphrased) "since we offer such great deals with our wanna get away prices we don't feel we need to offer you any customer service no matter what is going on, you shouldn't have been cheap because now we have no intention of doing anything for you. Oh but we value your business. " I have flown SW exclusively for over 20 years, but that will be coming to an end, I'd rather pay more just on principle. It's incredible how stupid the company is acting towards it's customers in a time like this. Does it really cost them anything to extend the expire dates of unused credits? If they think giving me more time to use my $300 credit is too costly, I wonder how much it's going to cost when I and my family and everyone else I warn away from Southwest never fly them again. This is just bad decision making on the part of the company and it will cost them more than they realize. I'm going to file a complaint with my state comptroller this week and any other governing body I can find that will listen. I will warn everyone I meet to avoid Southwest from now on.    Unfortunately, I don't think you'll find the grass greener on any other carrier. They are all doing pretty much the same thing now, which is no longer making accommodations for customers due to new covid-related cancellations. 😞   Sounds like you missed the period when funds were being extended through 2022. That's unfortunate, but you're not the only customer in this position. I'm truthfully surprised (and disappointed) that Southwest isn't making any more accommodations for customers such as yourself, since it's clear that the pandemic is far from over.   You can file any complaints you wish, including with the US DOT, but it's unlikely to make any difference, since Southwest is acting well within their Contract of Carriage (the contract you agree to when buying a non-refundable ticket). If Southwest canceled the flight you are due a full refund, but if you did you are due only travel funds, with limitations and a expiration date.   Your one possible option with Southwest is to reach out to Customer Relations (not the reservation line) after the funds have expired, and request they be reissued as a voucher. You have 6 months from the date of expiration in which to make the request, and if granted the voucher will be good for 6 months, and is usable by anyone (not just the named passenger, as with travel funds). There is a $100 fee for this, which will be deducted from the funds.   Contact Customer Relations      ... View more

Denver: one flight daily Oakland (OAK): up to two flights daily Phoenix (PHX): up to three flights daily   --TheMiddleSeat ... View more

The intent is for your personal item to fit under the seat in front of you, if that helps.  Definitely smaller than most carryon luggage.   These days, with fewer passengers, you can probably get away with something bigger and fit it in the overhead.  But lugging two carry-on sized pieces of hardware is tough in the first place.   I won't get started on the people that inevitably put their personal items in the overhead, when it's otherwise full.  Ah, the good old days. 🙂     ... View more

The lady who called told me that accepting the change didn't impact my ability to still make a no cost change based upon the schedule. I have gotten like 5 emails in the past two days about schedule, and this is the only one where they called. The difference was that this went from a one-stop flight to a nonstop which made me happy, of course. No offer of a refund, but I don't want one anyhow. This flight leaves slightly later than the original and arrives much earlier. ... View more

@rlink It’s amazing how people make the different, right? It is why I stick with Southwest!  I am glad you were able to get your issue resolved with a helpful person, and I also echo the alternatives for taking action listed here as well.   ... View more

And don't forget "points" are really only achievable with higher fares.    The easier route mentioned is "flights"...to get to the 25 legs.  The old either/or, and for most of us I think the 25 flights is the easier milestone to hit.  I doubt many people get it on points unless they are flying cross country on Anytime fares for business.  But I think that's what youare looking for.   One other thing to consider with Covid is the reduced schedule.  You likely have fewer flights to choose from to get those legs in, and hopefully the price isn't higher.   If you have time to book out in the future for best fares, there may be one other trick/glitch.  All my flights for Oct and Nov have been shifted to the reduced schedule, so now I get the choice of moving them with no increase in fee.    The December flights appear to have the full schedule, so you may be able to load some flights at that time, in the cheap seats, and have the added flexibility to move them around to more opportune times when and if they shuffle the schedule in the coming weeks. Hope that makes sense.     ... View more

Yeah, I can't imagine any issue with saving a seat.  Everyone gets an aisle or window, so no reason for them to need yours. ... View more

Put yourself in her shoes for a second.  Do you think perhaps she's dealing with hundreds of passengers a DAY who are all frustrated with wearing masks?  Do you think  she enjoys being the enforcer of the draconian rules we're living under?  I suspect not.    I actually had an FA on one flight say "When we ask you to keep your mask on, just please do it.  Don't roll your eyes...you agreed to the terms when you bought your ticket".  Typical SWA snark.   The difference between that, and your interpretation of your encounter is pretty slight in my opinion.  Something I would brush off with some empathy, not pay $8 to sign up for a forum to rant about being "mistreated".   You can't control other people's demeanor, you can only control your response to it.  Try not to get so bent over the minor things, especially when we're all dealing with this BS together.   A deep breath is cheaper than $8.   (PS...are you sure it was all THREE attendants?  You only mention one.  And I don't think I've ever interacted with all three on a flight..  Just trying to clarify for  a friend. 🙂 ) ... View more

See the posts earlier in this discussion, along with the FAQ in my post here.     ... View more

Don't wait until you're nauseated, it's too late.      https://www.dramamine.com/blog/5-tips-to-avoid-motion-sickness-your-first-cruise#:~:text=Try%20taking%20Dramamine%C2%AE%20Original,for%20up%20to%2024%20hours.     I never get sick on planes, but I can say it works noticeably well on ships. ... View more

SW is doing the best they can (more than other airlines) since everything regarding Covid is inconsistent and changes by the day.  I flew American last week, and let me tell you... SW is doing circles around them.  American had every seat filled, allowed passengers to swarm at the gate before boarding, planes were filthy (enhanced cleaning, what a joke), and no one actively enforced face coverings.    When I flew SW the week before, constant announcements at the gate and on the plane regarding face coverings, board in groups of 10, planes feel fresh and maintained, and the middle seat is open.    Thank you SW for doing your part with our safety. American.., you need to take some pointers from them.  ... View more

This came across my news feed this morning.   Walmart, Amazon among donors to QAnon-promoting lawmaker   I do hope that Southwest issues a statement "distancing themselves", but I suspect that won't happen. ... View more

gsking,  If applicable to you, how long after posting points did the 30% promo bonus post to your acct? Thanks ... View more

I got most of them done.  Thanks for the reminder. ... View more

If the airline can keep getting good fares, then they'll have more reason to keep the middle seats open longer.    I hope so as well. I have some travel planned in October which will be under the current requirements. Otherwise I'll be very interested to find those less busy flights if possible.     ... View more

And maybe this is the COVID's fault too.  You're right Chicgoflyer.  Now that I think of it, maybe it wasn't the home page, but the my account page.  Went there today and there it was.  I guess I had thought it was HOME.   ... View more

there was a WSJ report on the airline industry recently, guess what?  every airline is losing business.  Just food for thought. ... View more

@ericjames wrote: I cannot see the movement assets from the others that were on a similar reservation.. the movement reserves have vanished.    I'm not certain, but if you're referring to a multi-passenger reservation, be aware that each passenger will see their own funds in their own account. ... View more

I stand corrected, I'd delete my previous post if I knew how. This solution does work, you just have to give it a day to update. Although the new travel funds expiration date remained as the original expiration (Dec-2019) immediately after I cancelled the new booking, overnight the expiration date of the new funds was updated to Sep 7, 2022, and I now also have the option to convert them to points. ... View more

@w5aj wrote: The problem ... I bought (in error instead of using points) three tickets for other family members.  The tickets are not in my name but the $$funds$$ to purchase were on my SW Visa RR card.   Those family members can transfer to points then transfer the points to me.  A REAL PITA (PAIN) .  folks at SW know that can be done but making process less painful isn't in their cards and really kinda horsey about doing it the long painful way.   I told guy at SW customer Service to expect FAA complaint but they were fine with that.... Robert (A+ priority member) Sorry you are disappointed, but the airline is operating in exactly the manner it promised it would operate in it's contract of carriage. You agreed to it when you bought the tickets.   Another point, don't have others transfer points to you because it costs money to do so - thus diminishing the value of the points. Instead have those  people use the points to buy tickets for you. ... View more

I hope this happens for you.  However, there are still dinosaurs like me who still uses a phone that is about 12 years old.  I don't get apps, nor anything other than a phone call and occasional text.  So I would be your adversary if SWA said they were going to go to app-only drink coupons.  ... View more