Southwest Airlines Community

The situation that you described sounds like this passenger/Spirit employee was traveling on a confirmed ticket purchased by their employer.  Other airlines often purchase SWA Business Select fare tickets to ‘deadhead’ their employees to their destination for work purposes.  ... View more

@mattreily wrote: Totally forgot the AFB, how could I? My apologies!    Which is a no brainer, friend's and family of soldiers probably feel even further away than they need to be, because of this lack of service into ABI. Are there gates available? It would be on the small side for a Southwest airport.   It looks like it is about 5x too small as of now based on flight volume: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_airports_in_Texas   300,000 to 400,000 per year is typical for the smaller volume airports needed to support the 737's coming through.     ... View more

@Splat wrote: I don't travel all that much, but recently got back from a 4 hour flight.  The seatbelt sign was on for 80 percent of the flight, both legs.  It was totally unnecessary as the clouds were stratus, flat, and uniform.  Turbulence was very mild, yet the seatbelt sign came on and stayed on through landing.   Here is my working hypothesis: it all relates to money, specifically insurance premiums Southwest pays for passenger liability.  My guess is that their insurance company jacked rates with all the recent news of passengers being thrown about from clear air turbulence and requiring hospitalization.  I'm guessing here; perhaps the insurance company said, if you keep the seatbelt sign on X percent of the time, your rate will go down significantly.   Communication came down from upper management and the pilots followed orders. Interesting analysis. Yes, home and car insurance rates for sure went through a steep inflationary cycle this summer (we all felt it with our wallets) but not sure if this is true for liability insurance. However, I think you are correct that having the seat belt light on even through the "smoothest" of forecasted turbulence is to protect the airline from liability (e.g. if one gets up to go to the bathroom when the seatbelt light is on, they do so at their own risk--if the plane does in fact "hit" a bump and that person trips, they cannot hold SW liable if the sign is on). I don't think however having the sign on for X-amount of time has a direct role of how rates are determined. Communication related to safety and turbulence is also done with Air Traffic Control and other pilots. The communication from the management would be err on the side of caution and keep the light on if pilots suspect any risks.     Here's an interesting read from On Mile at a Time on the policies of this little iconic light that we see on the cabin ceiling: https://onemileatatime.com/insights/airlines-seatbelt-sign-policies/       ... View more

Massive abuse by people gaming the system. These are the parasites of society. ... View more

After 4 flights in 2 days which each had over 25  pre-boarders- I'm over it. And breaking news states that SW has increased the maximum charge for earlybird check-in and upgraded boarding ( up to $149!).  That will surely increase the number of pre-boarders.   Also- SW policy regarding saving of seats ( they don't officially have one)  has also been put out there on social media and now abused. Between the 2 policies- the abuse has gotten out of control.   I used to like no assigned seating  - but now I wish that Southwest had pre-assigned seating.  ... View more

This one is easy. When you click on Rental Cars page, go to bottom. To the left of the "Search" button, you see this, "Use advanced search for promo codes"   Click on "advanced search" and it will pull up the last time you searched with all the codes you entered.   Just do this every time. And all you have to do is change rental location and dates. ... View more

Hey Nicole,   I understand it is an old thread, but I am experiencing this issue on both mobile and web (PC and mobile) and it is now 2024. It definitely seems related to flight changes, as the problem started right after I made one. This issue is very frustrating because the customer support representative is unable to resolve it, and it appears to be an ongoing problem that the tech team was supposed to have fixed years ago. Can you help us?  ... View more

@honduh8 wrote:   Well the rules have changed since 2020. ESA's a no longer allowed.   You certainly have the right to fly with your service dog, and by your description of your situation you do need a service dog.   I hope you find a way to control your seizures, but if not you do have your 130 pound friend there to help out. A very good friend indeed.   All the best to you...   ... View more

I also just attempted to log in again and for the first time in days it succeeded Not sure what changed but perhaps my email to customer relations finally made an impact Regards Goku to             ... View more

That it is "all the TSAs fault" seems to be the well rehearsed response by all Southwest phone support, check in personnel and gate agents, for the multiple impacts getting selected for a secondary security screening causes. It's TSA, not Southwest, so you get nothing from them to help rectify the situation of getting a late C group number when you went to all the trouble to checkin and your spouse on the same reservation gets A group.  It is true that it is TSA for being selected for the secondary security screening for the one flight with the extra screening, but all the issues on subsequent connecting fights are caused by Southwest's reservation system and boarding process. There is no reason not to get assigned your legitimate place in line on the rest of your connecting flights as the TSA screening has nothing to do with them. Even worse then not being able to board with the rest of your party on the reservation on subsequent flights is losing your TSA Pre Check from paying for Global Entry on the rest of your connecting flights. On international flights you usually need to go through security again after clearing customs. On my recent trip back from Mexico, the rest of my party with TSA Pre Check cleared security in 5 minutes and then waited another 50 minutes for me to finally show up. This is very much Southwest's issue. Other airlines with different reservation systems have none of these issues. There are things that Southwest could have and should have done on my connecting flight. I clearly should have had an A group number as all other folks on the reservation with me did. All the numbers are gone since the Southwest system would not assign my connecting flight boarding position since it wouldn’t assign the 1 st flight. However, Southwest lets "special circumstance" folks board after the A group, before the B group. When I asked the gate agent in Miami, Monica V., if there was anything I could do to board at least close to the rest of my party, she parroted the party line that is was TSA’s fault and that there was nothing she could do. When I mentioned boarding after the A’s, she got that hostile look like I was just another low life trouble maker trying to cheat my way onto the plane before my turn. She stated that was ONLY for disabled passengers and my issue was not a Southwest problem. An even better solution is for Southwest to still issue you your boarding position number for your connecting flights and not remove TSA PRE from your connecting flight boarding pass. This is Southwest's problem, they just don't care as it will cost them money to fix their reservation system. ... View more

  Here it is again!  I just installed a new WiFi network at home - I tried to select it to connect to it - and here is SouthwestWifi jumping up to take the password from the WiFi I’m trying to connect to (I never tapped on to connect to SouthwestWifi - SouthwestWifi is not even an option of a network to connect to from Wi-Fi’s available - it simply buts in and steals password entry.  ... View more

guess is that if you call southwest and say you would like a refund, they will tell you that there is no policy on seat saving and tell you that you could have sat in that seat.  It's several years after your post and the same seat saving is still being done today.  At this point, I do not think it will ever change.  Southwest got their money and that is where they stopped caring.  ... View more

I have been a loyal customer with Southwest for years and fly the airline almost exclusively. More recently, back in October 2023, valuable items were stolen from my checked luggage. I opened a case Southwest and TSA per Southwest's recommendation with all supporting documentation and have been getting the run around since. I will continue to escalate this issue to the highest degree  necessary and have decided to fly other airlines after my last scheduled trip in December.  Is 2 free checked bags worth the potential cost of theft? It's a free for all for airline or TSA employees to do as they please. I am working with both to solve the issue, but nothing is being done.  I have also submitted reviews on multi-sites warning travels of this.  ... View more

Hi PamG   Just do like everyone else does on Southwest.  Pretend you’re disabled and then get miraculously cured after boarding.   This is something that Southwest’s model of boarding promotes, so take advantage of it.   Jim                                    ... View more

SW has stopped enforcing its rules a few years ago, and it is no longer pleasurable, nor economically useful to fly Southwest.  Where I generally fly out, with a little planning, Delta and American can be equal in price.  It is a huge turnoff upon boarding to see the one faker with an entourage preboard. ... View more

@sskotha wrote: I am facing the same issue as well, and wasted so many hours of my time because of it. Please please please fix this soon Southwest! At some point my time will become more valuable than the money I save so I might just give up and change to a different airlines if this keeps happening each time. Is it happening every time?   Also book one-ways so you can self-service changes more easily on-line and less likely to need to call.     ... View more

I was just charged $125 for golf clubs in a hard case. The counter person measured height + width + length. ~78" I have been traveling with same case since the 80's and have never been charged. Always keep it under 50lbs. I'll start driving if this is case ... View more

Although the error code is the same it might make sense to start a new post with the new 2023 issues.     ... View more

This just happened to me. flying with 89 mom that needs a wheelchair. I checked in at the 24hr mark. got B9. got distracted and checked her in about 45min later. she got A46! She is not A-list. As noted in another reply, somebody who had A46 probly changed or cancelled. It's all moot because I will accompany mom as a preboard. ... View more

I haven't checked luggage in over 25 years. After the second time my luggage did not arrive, once again with very specific clothing required, a suit for an international presentation & a banquet down the first time, that was the very last time I ever checked luggage.   I do love your thinking. It's a great idea if it works for you. However, never have the luxury to sit around and wait for 30 rows of people to deplane.  But if I had the time it sounds very entertaining.  ... View more

@dianaaschner wrote:   My workaround: I called Chase and they are overnighting the card to me free of charge. Still not a great solution but the call took 5 minutes and hopefully flights won't go up too much before tomorrow. Hope that helps someone out there.  Someone had mentioned that you have to write down the info earlier, I agree this should be a lot easier of a process. Glad to hear you got an expedited response - if your flight is for more than a few weeks out hopefully you'll be okay. It's tough when you get within the week. ... View more

For several years I had send my Android tablet to watch movies. But just recently I couldn’t watch them. Error message said I needed to upgrade the operating system. I checked and I had already upgraded. Then on the next flight I STILL could not watch movies. I have a flight in 3 weeks and wonder if I should bring my laptop (too heavy) or invest in a new non-Android tablet.  ... View more

You can’t buy an A List preferred ticket you can buy business select which based on A2 is what he bought buying business select doesn’t come with the perk of sequential boarding numbers  ... View more

Is this still the policy on employee vaccinations? ... View more

Hi,    I was wondering if this is still possible?  ... View more

@lnelson with a nationwide FAA ground stop affecting all airlines and flights this morning I suspect all phone numbers are busy with long wait times.   --TheMiddleSeat ... View more

My son was just boarding his delayed flight from Dallas, TX to  to return to his Navy air station in San Diego. Him and another service member neither in uniform, went to board when military was called after priority boarding. The service member in front of him clearly white, showed his military ID and ticket was scanned and he was allowed to board. My son right behind him , who is half white half Hispanic has dark hair showed his military ID and the attendant told him he could not board and needed to return to B 42 position to wait to board. I have never heard of such utter disrespect for our service members , but also the utter display of prejudice that occurred . I am appalled at the gate attendants hatred and disrespect. attendant  was at Gate 2 Dallas Lovefield airport Dallas to San Diego departure at 10:25 (delayed) originally supposed to depart at 10:05 12/29/22. I want answers!!!  ... View more

You’re unbelievable. I have a companion, so I can’t get the online booking to work. Worse, their next flight that is available basically makes my entire trip pointless. This isn’t a 1 day delay, the app says they don’t have a flight till Thursday night with an open seat and that isn’t even assured.  I haven’t had a vacation in a year and not only have they ruined the scheduled vacation I planned for 3 months (can’t cancel it), I lose the days, and worse, they ruined my Christmas, because by the time I get there, the other half of the family will have gone home.  I was on hold for 3 hours and 14 minutes when I heard what sounded like the VOIP server crashing and the call drop.  https://imgurDOTcom/a/UcpxFSE   It’a almost 1am   This is all around incompetence and the CEO should be fired Monday morning.  I was a huge fan of SWA. No more, I will never recommend them again, I will never be loyal to them again.  ... View more

I like the idea of the rewards for opinions. I am able to top off my points instead of buying some. You just have to know how to use it  ... View more