Southwest Airlines Community

@sharonrose  My sentiments exactly! Why should we have to figure a way to finagle the system? I also spoke to Southwest and no such workaround was mentioned. Additionally, I rebooked, using part of my credit for a trip scheduled for October. I am 68 and my 89-year-old parent lives with me.  It was October when my doctor told me I should not travel so I did not have the option of canceling prior to September 7.   My travel funds expired on November 7. I would have been happy to accept points instead of a refund, but that was not an option. This whole thing has changed my opinion of Southwest. I am inclined to agree with the writer who suggested a class action suit. ... View more

@tjsazwnflyer  I agree, especially since in addition to keeping passenger funds,  Southwest is also trying to force some workers to take a pay cut or be laid off. We don't see them, but in terms of our safety, the mechanics are some of the most important people in the airline industry https://www.dallasnews.com/business/airlines/2020/11/06/southwest-issues-42-furlough-notices-after-cost-cutting-talks-stall/ ... View more

I keep seeing responses to this and other posts about how Southwest gave several months to extend travel funds. The truth is the parameters of the extension excluded many travelers that were and continue to be affected by COVID19.  A March 20, 2020 email from Southwest limited the extension to travel funds that either expired or were created between March 1 and May 31, 2020,  That email indicated the funds would be extended to June 30, 2021.  An April 16, 2020 revision, copied and pasted below, extended the dates to "Funds that are set to expire or funds that are created between March 1, 2020 and September 7, 2020, will have an expiration date of September 7, 2022". Southwest travelers, like myself whose funds were created prior to March 1 or expired after September 7, 2020, were left with nothing. Travel Funds: • Previously, Customers' travel funds that have expired or would have expired between March 1 - June 30, 2020, or travel funds that were created because of a cancellation between March 1 - June 30, 2020, had an expiration date of June 30, 2021. We are now expanding the window of funds eligible for extended expiration dates and extending the expiration date of these funds. Funds that are set to expire or funds that are created between March 1, 2020 and September 7, 2020, will have an expiration date of September 7, 2022. This gives Customers who had travel funds created in connection with this pandemic–or who won't be comfortable traveling this summer–additional time to retake that same trip or explore a different destination. It will take our Technology Team a few days to make these changes and more details on this extension can be found at Southwest.com/RRcoronavirusupdates. • Additionally, we have added a new benefit for our valued Rapid Rewards Members. Those Members who have travel funds that are set to expire or funds that are created between March 1, 2020 and September 7, 2020 will have the option to convert those travel funds into Rapid Rewards® points at the same rate you would be able to purchase a ticket with points today. We hope this provides our Members ultimate flexibility as Rapid Rewards points never expire, never have cancel or change fees (fare difference may apply), and you can redeem your points for anyone you choose.  ... View more

@chgoflyer  Yes, I now see that in some of the communications, but the December 15 date was not mentioned in an August 11 email that I received from Southwest regarding a change to my flight schedule.  I thought maybe I had missed something when I read, "You had until September 7", but see that was regarding requesting the expiration date extension.  In any event, my funds did not qualify for either option. I checked back in August and have continued to check every month since. ... View more

*Update*  Southwest has extended the date to December 15, 2020, to convert your qualified travel funds to points. To qualify, your travel fund must expire on September 7, 2022. My travel funds do not meet those criteria so are still not eligible and will expire on November 7.     I also saw on Facebook that people are getting refunds for travel planned after December 1 if they are not comfortable with the elimination of the 'open middle seat' policy.    Southwest's refusal to either refund, extend the expiration date, or convert the travel funds to points for travel other than their arbitrarily defined dates makes no sense!       ... View more

I am in the same position as the original poster of this thread, my travel funds will expire on November 7, 2020.  The response, "You had until September 7 to extend travel fund expiration out to September 2022" is inaccurate. I attempted to extend my travel funds during the 6-month window and received a system reply that my funds were ineligible.  I called Southwest and the agent confirmed that the consideration only applied to travel that was booked between March 1 and September 7, 2020.  Those dates seem inconsistent with the fact that Southwest's open middle seat policy does not expire until November  30.  At a minimum, the two Southwest covid policies should carry the same date.  I have always been an advocate for Southwest because I felt that they provided excellent service.  However, this experience leaves me feeling that they arbitrarily assigned dates that purposely disadvantage their customers in order to avoid giving refunds.   I had plans to use my travel funds for a trip that was scheduled for October 24 through October 31. To use the remaining funds in my account, I also had planned to add a stop with a return date of November 6.  Upon the advice of my doctor, I had to cancel those plans.  Covid19 is not resolved! This week we have seen some of the highest numbers since the pandemic hit US soil.  I am a long time Rapids Rewards member and do not understand why we are not being allowed to at least transfer our credits to points for any travel disrupted due to covid19.  ... View more