Southwest Airlines Community

I've found other threads on a "similar" issue - but this one is different.  I cancelled my (Mid-June) reservation (2 travelling) yesterday - after we determined that our FL Beach plans were not feasible this year - due to the Coronavirus.  (I've always been a proud SWA customer - and proudly use the SWA branded Visa card.)  I thought the best thing to do was to cancel my reservation - to give SWA a break - where they would "not" be working to find another flight for me if/when my flight was cancelled.  (Why sit on a flight reservation you know you won't use - that makes more work for everyone.)  As soon as I cancelled - I got my points back and my taxes and fees.  After I noticed that I did "not" get a refund on my Early Bird Check-In fees - I called SWA today.  Their representative said those fees ($25 x 4 = $100) are non-refundable.  I've since learned (the hard way) that if I had sat on my reservation up until 10 mins before my flight (clogging up their reservation system) and if SWA cancelled my flight - I would get a $100 refund.  I plan to contact my Congressman and Senators - to make them aware of this.  At the same time SWA is lobbying for a huge bailout payout from the taxpayers - they are treating their customers (the taxpayers) like this.  PS - I really did not want or expect a "cash" refund.  I simply wanted a credit I could use next summer.  In retrospect - it would be much smarter - to ask (demand) a "cash" refund.  (Even though cash is the last thing they want to give back.)  If anyone knows a way around this issue - please let me know.  Thanks!! ... View more