Southwest Airlines Community

@tappingmom1- thanks for sharing.  I laughed so hard til I cried while reading this to my husband @ceddes, the OP- thanks for a little diversion from the usual here 🙂 ... View more

Southwest long ago figured out that open seating is the fastest way to get everyone on a plane. Fastest boarding means quicker plane turns - which allows more flights/gate/day and more flights/plane/day -- which in turns mean more profit and potential for lower fares for everyone. ... View more

Hi everyone! I've been following this discussion about saving credit card information on the Southwest app for Wi-Fi purchases. It seems like a common issue. While Southwest doesn't currently offer this feature, using a password manager like LastPass or 1Password, as suggested, is a good workaround. These tools securely store credit card info and autofill it when needed. I also agree that it would be convenient if Southwest could allow the purchase of Wi-Fi in advance or in blocks. This would reduce the hassle of transactions mid-flight. Looking forward to seeing if Southwest will address this in future updates. ... View more

@adamsusa wrote: And when credit does NOT automatically appear after 3 billing cycles...  do you contact the Visa CC, Southwest Rapid Rewards, or ? If it does not automatically credit, then I have to start wondering whether you had already used your freebies   edit add: or perhaps you inadvertently used a CC other than a Chase Southwest card. ... View more

@floridaguy wrote:   If it was included, I want a credit for the implied value.     Congrats @floridaguy, this is one of your more ridiculous statements.  Despite not actually succeeding, I appreciate the effort you made to try and make your statement slightly relevant to the conversation   --TheMiddleSeat ... View more

I’ve always strangely found the WiFi spottier on the 800s than the 700s—whether that’s just anecdotal or has something behind it, no idea.   i feel pretty respected/understood as a frequent business traveler by SWA (although I am not a BIG IMPORTANT GUY—I only fly about four to ten hours a week and make significantly less than $300 an hour); it’s why the status exists and why the family boarding got pushed back years ago.   I’d like to know who has the really good, consistent, strong WiFi. In my experience, they most all aren’t impressive, domestic nor international.   i’ve  occasionally been annoyed by the WiFi but I’ve been able to get emails out no issue, usually tap into my organization’s system, and occasionally attend a Zoom (sorry, I know that’s a no-no). When I am working up there, at worst I do it offline and connect-send/save at the end. I most usually take the time to rest though—maybe like the WiFi, you could (should) work less? ... View more

Involuntary bump can happen to anyone, it does not limit to companions. I've enjoyed many free flights from my companion pass and no other airline provides such a beneficial perk. It appears you obtained the companion pass via a promotional offer on credit card sign up. The standard expiration is the remainder of the year you earned it in AND the entire next calendar year. That's a pretty sweet deal. You're welcome to do what you want, I just don't agree with the thinking.   --TheMiddleSeat ... View more

I've found that the boarding process differs from other airlines in that there is open (non-reserved) seating. Stand in line when the gate agent calls your boarding group and board the plane.   I don't know if drink/snack service has been reinstated yet; I haven't flown since the pandemic started.  Can anyone else answer?   You may want to give yourself some extra protection and wear a mask, even though mandates have been lifted. You're sitting in a tin can with a lot of bodies in close proximity--better safe.    Carry-on questions have been answered.    Flight attendants are the best in the business. (Hi Gayle!)   Bon voyage! misshollie. ... View more

I gave one out this last weekend too. Fantastic, personable FA, Mark, who was just too good to pass up with at least a hopeful effort that the Kick Tail token in my carry on bag still carried any value. I will likely still send in a message to SWA because he was just that good. It just felt funny handing over a Kick Tail ticket that seemed archaic and maybe not actually valuable.  ... View more

Amomto6   I appreciate your compassion. It seems to be quite the foreign concept to some people that taking accountability for their mistakes should be a standard of practice. You seem to be the only person who would also be up in arms if thousands of dollars of your personal items were essentially stolen with no regard.  i was nothing but patient and kind and gracious for the first month- but everyone has their tipping point- so to answer someone else’s question- I absolutely reached out to my attorney (to whom I pay a yearly retainer FYI) because it seems as though being quiet and understanding doesn’t really get the ear of Southwest Airlines.  again- hope this never happens to any of you who made the useless responses- and that your first (post cancer) vacation isn’t obliterated by an airlines negligence and disregard. ... View more

Thanks everyone. ... View more

The only reason I could see the company being notified of a change is if they use SWABIZ to purchase flights. If they don't use SWABIZ there's no notification since they aren't the traveling party. And yes, you can change the flight and pay the fare difference.    --TheMiddleSeat ... View more

I'm sorry this happened to you.  It's likely that very few here, if any,  know what it's like to lose everything on your way to a very special event. Well, I hear you! I was in the same boat Jan 10th in Denver when my luggage was lost and never recovered.  I was on my way to my son's wedding! It's sickening when you're standing there in the middle of the airport with only the clothes on your person. I'm in the claim process too now.  And your story has me really worried! I, too, didn't have receipts for clothing I bought a year ago or even months ago.   I was less than impressed with SWA's assistance for sure.  I'm also finding it interesting that we both had this happen in Denver. Thanks for sharing.  I'll be praying that you get some positive resolution.  ... View more

@bwallet- thanks for posting this.  I'm just now reading it and it's a good reminder for all of us.  I stored these with my drink tickets and just re-discovered them.  I was just reminding myself to make the effort to use them (the kick tail awards, not just the drink tickets LOL) .  Yes, hoping SWA will send more out. ... View more

@aMomTo6 wrote: @gsking- regarding same day standby,  your companion doesn't get that benefit if you choose to use it while traveling using CP. Right.   That's why I said it doesn't help with full flights.    But if it's an empty flight,  they will give you the seat... then you can add the companion.  ... View more

@jhporte wrote: Well not entirely true. You will get a better boarding position number in the A group. Which has its benefits if you are going for one of the few decent seats on the plane Plus 20% more RR points than anytime and 100% more than WGA   and a drink coupon -- if they ever start serving alcohol again  ... View more

It does seem to be getting worse. Within the last two weeks I've had flights on two 737-800s, and both times the WiFi was inoperative the entire duration of the flight. ... View more

@aMomTo6 wrote: I have seen several articles posting essentially the same ambiguous details about the new fare SWA announced it will be offering beginning second quarter of 2022.  Any speculations about what this new fare might entail?? There's a discussion about it over here: https://community.southwest.com/t5/Travel-Policies/New-fare-class/m-p/133421#M18716 ... View more

I found an interesting new data point. As stated in the article, the new fare will be slotted between WGA and Anytime, and it would not take anything away from any other fare class. Apparently, Southwest also says that they will be increasing the benefits tied to BS, Anytime, and WGA fares. Okay, now I'm truly stumped. If they had said "enhancing", I'd jokingly say that it was a euphemism, but the word used was "increasing". ... View more

This is such an interesting detail! I am so glad that this was clarified.  I have tried to talk several friends into a SWA cc because these end of the year offers have been too good to pass up. Only on one occasion did I actually send the referral link.  That friend decided against it  because she didn't fly frequently enough for the opportunity cost against her other cc to be a benefit.  But, I am so thankful now. I had no idea that the link that I sent her would lead her to a lesser offer than I was talking up.  I did convince my brother and one of my sons, though. But never sent them a link because, honestly, in sending the link to my friend it felt so self serving and insincere.   I have really appreciated the benefit of CP that was first afforded to me through the cc point bonus and I try to convey the benefit of CP or even the value of 80k or 100k point bonus emphatically to others and that all loses a little of it's glitter when you ask them to work out a little kick back for you if they do go through with the cc application. Again, that is all made worse if my referral for them makes them ineligible for the phenomenal offers that are popping up out there at the end of the year. Yikes.  ... View more

Even though it's an exit row, saving that middle doesn't seem to bristle people too much.   Saving the whole row though will be some definite stink-eye, but that's not what you were describing.         ... View more

I just flew with my granddaughter a few weeks ago on another airline and we had a collapsible wagon and the crew happily took it at the jetway which is what my daughter in law assured me would happen as she has flown several times with it.  I was really worried right up until that moment that we boarded.  The attendant at the counter wasn't quite sure either when we checked our bags.  But, they were more than accommodating at the gate.  I am sure that will be the same here. I find SWA to be very accommodating for these kinds of things. Have you seen some of the stuff that gets gate checked?? LOL I think you will have no trouble.  ... View more

@dfwskier wrote: If you think things will be better elsewhere, IMO you will be disappointed. They won't be. As a matter of fact they will be worse.  yeah American Canceled hundreds of flights this weekend because of a pilot shortage which is 100% in Americans control. Technology not so much. United was also affected when it came to the outage a couple days a go. Airlines aren't perfect.  ... View more

I’m not trying to resolve my complaint on this customer forum.  I get that.  I just didn’t understand that I can’t complain on the customer forum.   ... View more

@kbluebig wrote: My point exactly @aMomTo6   I do understand that you do potentially get a better position and yes my wife and I did get A27 and A28. That is not my issue.   My issue is, if we still have to press check-in then that nullifies the advertising stating EBCI does AUTOMATIC checkin for you. If you purchase EBCI and there still needs to be a way for the customer to obtain their boarding pass online, then change the wording of it on your website and app, to say something like, "receive boarding pass"   And also, the fact that you do not SEE the benefit until you press the checkin button within 24 hours of your flight but the advertisement says they reserve your position 36 hours before your flight. I want to SEE that added benefit right when it happens. I want to see my position 36 hours before my flight. Since that is how you are claiming this earlybird service works.    This is sort of a weird thing to cherry-pick. Early Bird automatically assigns *your boarding position* 36 hours ahead of time, as opposed to standard check in when you check in at least 24 hours before and your position is assigned during that check in process. If you have checked in for any Southwest flight at all right at the 24 hour mark, if you are more than a minute late you can see the difference in boarding positions plain as day. The benefit of Early Bird is that it eliminates all the hassle and your boarding position is automatically assigned regardless of when you actually check in. It doesn't matter if you check in right at 24 hours or an hour before, your boarding position was already assigned ahead of time, and it's almost always good and it's certainly better than anything you could have manually assigned yourself if you checked in 24 hours to a couple of hours before your flight. Your evidence of this is in your A boarding positions. A common misconception is that Early Bird guarantees an A position; it does not, but let's be honest, more times than not, you will get an A. If you don't use Early Bird, you have to be lightning quick at the 24 hour mark to get an A position, and like I said, if you are a minute or more late you're going to get a B or a C position.    You should think of it as "Early Bird Boarding Assignment", not "Check In" necessarily, since everyone has to "Check In" for their flight regardless of whether they use Early Bird or not.    --Jessica ... View more

@thelostbag  I hope your bag gets returned! That's sad and frustrating when it happens. I have had a bag lost by SWA, but returned to us within 24 hours.  But, since you also asked about lost items inflight I thought I would also add that I haven't been as succesful in those cases.  We are 0 for 2 on our lost items on SWA flights, unfortunately.  We left my daughter's super cute handmade unicorn gloves in a seatback pocket; filed a report immediately; and kindly got regular updates from SWA for 6 months saying that the item could not be found. Similar story for a jewelry bag that somehow was misplaced/lost/(taken??) from a roller bag. For items lost inflight, I've pretty much given up hope that those items get returned. I am though, like you, curious to know if other passengers have had success.  Hoping you get your bag back! ... View more