Southwest Airlines Community

Hopefully see you around @parpitt1 on one of the other platforms? ... View more

@bballflyer wrote: you have to make sure the points hit your RR account before Jan;  So if your billing statement is the end of the month the purchases you make in DEC would typically hit your RR account a couple days after the month in Jan.  These would not count toward 2025 companion pass, but would count toward 2026.   I hope both @bballflyer and @05bardic we may see you around over on Reddit or FlyerTalk?     ... View more

@rpoplin wrote: Currently with SWABiz they are offering 3x tier qualifying points. Earn 3X tier qualifying points toward A-List and/or A-List Preferred when you register, book through business channels, then fly.*   my question is when I select my flight is says Earn 4260 points. Does that mean I will receive 12780 points toward A-List? Can you trace it back to the cost of the flight? The amount shown may not include promos and likely shows the Rapid Rewards points earned, not TQP specifically.   ... View more

That inspiring post deserves one of the last check marks! ✅  ... View more

@zzzz wrote: I did, and they told me to submit a claim online --- unfortunately, that's how SW operates and treats customers right now. This seems to be the best path forward.  Also have them show you the measurement if the bag was okay before and suddenly looks oversized then let them demonstrate.  ... View more

I’ll still meet you on the layovers if I can 😂 ... View more

@dfwskier wrote: IMO Southwest will implement assigned seating with a future schedule release.   That means you'll be able to use your upgraded boardings, as you have in the past, for at least the next 8 months.   Chill. Hopefully by the time of your annual charge rolling around there will be some clarity. But the other airlines offer various seating and baggage benefits to card holders of their programs so I'm sure something yet to be announced will be provided.      ... View more

@rees30095 wrote: Dancingdavid....I'm not sure I've ever flown Southwest, but I happened by this blog so I posed this question since it seemed to be a good place to ask. The mouse house welcomes you always and thanks for the response. Southwest did do what you were describing until about five years ago whenthey stopped providing peanuts onboard. However they don't have full oversight of everyone's private snacks on board so if a customer brought their own peanut items onto the plane there isn't a control for that.    A mask might help, but the person could also need to eat or drink something, and as @tappingmom1 described it is a difficult situation.   Just general message board practice would be to start a new thread if you have questions as opposed to replying to such an old post which in this case turns out to have a lot of outdated information.    Since it is a Southwest message board I incorrectly assumed you had a question about flying a Southwest flight - this board wouldn't have any information on the other airlines necessarily although I think there is an industry-wide trend to get away from serving peanuts. Maybe try FlyerTalk.   Hopefully visiting the Mouse again in 2025! Always a great time.         ... View more

@rees30095 wrote: As a casual infrequent air traveler, one of my flights the attendant via the overhead system told us to pack up our peanuts and not eat them for the duration of the flight, or something along those lines.  Seems one, ONE of the passengers out  of hundreds had a  peanut allergy.  I am not without sympathy for this ONE passenger, but it's so unbalanced. My question is Is there not a mask this ONE passenger could wear so the rest of the passengers could enjoy their peanut snacks? Baffled in Orlando. You may be very infrequent it has been years since Southwest served peanuts.      ... View more

@melynn44 wrote:   I did end up booking a later return flight, as it cost less. But I intend to keep an eye on my original flight. I'm okay either way. My original flight was at 5:30 am, and I wasn't really too eager to get up for that early a flight. But, it did get me home earlier; the flight I ended up selecting is about 6 hours later, so that's a bit of a bummer. But....I'll keep an eye on it.  Try to keep it untouched now, the terms of the promotion will say something along the lines of "changes invalidate the promotion" so you should keep what you have.   I've heard people using WGA+ or other standby options still qualified in previous contests but making a change in advance to the ticket could knock you out of qualifying.     ... View more

@melynn44 wrote: Shoot, I wish I would have thought of this before I cancelled the January flight for my expected companion.    Well I booked it on points so...I suppose it wouldn't do any harm to re-book it for now.  Yes, if you want insurance then (re)book the companion's ticket on points. Then you have hit locked in, that would protect you in case the promotional qualifying flights don't go as planned or if the flight sells out before you can add the companion then you'll have a seat to trade.      ... View more

@melynn44 wrote: I'm sorry I don't know what IWG plus is?? I think the poster is referring to the "Wanna Get Away Plus" - WGA+ I would call it, they may be thinking "I Wanna Get Away" ... View more

@wkkunkle wrote: At least here you had your Champions that posted a lot and stuck up for you a lot of the time. I'll try to be on there as well, but since it won't be as concentrated with people seeking help necessarily (lots more stories and sharing experience and less people looking for suggestions) I'm sure my participation will be a bit less.     ... View more

@sj23 wrote: Can anyone tell me when I will be able to see the "add companion" on a reservation OR if I will receive a notification about earning it?  I'm supposed to fly one way Oct 5 and one way Oct 6 and the pass said it was good for travel Jan 6 to March 6, 2025.  Would I have gotten immediate notification or will that come after I fly the 2nd one way on Oct 6th?  I'm trying to make plans for mid January.  Thanks! Confirmation comes when you make the flights to qualify.   You won't be able to add the companion until the day that the pass starts, so if you have a flight on Jan 6th book your own flight now and then as early as possible on Jan 6th you can nominate your companion and then add them to flights.   If the flight is January 6th or early enough in the window that you are nervous, book the flight for the companion now with points to hold the spot but remain refundable, then if something happens and you don't make the qualifying flight you will still be covered. (or buy refundable fare.)   Either way you can book your flights now and add companion later.   ... View more

Great suggestion @Cancelled_Vacay  ... View more

@Takedown wrote: My understanding is that flight limitations at ORD are not based on demand. There is more of an issue of operations. The  limited gate availability works OK when everyone is on-time but fails with tardiness. Maybe this can subside as the terminal moves toward completion. 100% its the gates/operations - but we'll have the new terminal and concourses by 2034. 🙄     ... View more

Save this list somewhere! ... View more

@dfwskier wrote: Why are you trying to book this a a multi city trip?   You could book SJO /DCA (which stops in MCO)  . and then   DCA / SJO as the second trip I marked solution, but otherwise if you really are stopping in MCO each way, then book SJO-MCO as one RT and then book MCO-DCA as a second "nested" round trip inside of the other round trip. This wouldn't be what you need to do if the MCO is only a connection though - do what @dfwskier is saying and the connection is "built in" to the itinerary, you don't have to explicitly book connections like that unless you are getting out of the airport and need a longer layover.           ... View more

@dfwskier wrote: @alexben wrote: @Artanis wrote: Bird strikes are bad.   Back in the old days, at the Boeing 737 assembly plant in Renton, Washington, the line workers would bring their shot guns to work.  At lunch time, they would walk out of the factory down to the edge of the marsh and slaughter birds.     Bird strikes are a significant issue. Historically, Boeing 737 workers in Renton, Washington, would use shotguns during lunch breaks to control bird populations near the assembly plant, reducing the risk of bird strikes. Which is probsbly a much more accurate rendering of history than that which was posted in the initial poat. Using 737's to clear the birds is not a good idea.   But I would agree with the OP that maybe the vegetation could be changed and other natural methods used to discourage bird habitat as well.    Who knows, hearing this story for the first time on a public message board makes me think there could be many more facets to the story.     ... View more

@parpitt1 wrote: You can double check but I believe you clear customs in Costa Rica at the airport before boarding for return to the USA.  I don't think Costa Rica has it yet - Bermuda, Bahamas, and Aruba.    Southwest wouldn't sell this combination if they didn't think it would work most of the time.    The wildcard here is if you clear customs in MCO if they let you recheck luggage and have a dedicated access to security re-screening in the international area or if you have to go back to the main lobby in which case the lines can be long.   Maybe @bec102896  have you ever come back to the US with MCO as the gateway? How is the customs and re-screening?     ... View more

@JBlanch488 wrote: I just read that Southwest will "most likely" implement a policy change on bags fly free.  While I certainly understand the financial impact bags have if you charge for them, it takes away from the Southwest mantra and the differentiation it provides against its competitors.  This particular policy has kept flyers like me from looking at other competitors for the last 20 years.  A company as big as Southwest should be able to look at their organization to improve profitability by reducing waste/non-essential positions, without effecting safety.  Not claiming to be an expert in the airline industry, there's probably many more cost cutting/profitability builders out there that could be addressed.  Southwest has always been my go-to airline because of some of the policies such as baggage, boarding, seating, etc. but with these changes, Southwest has little to no differentiation against its competitors and someone like me (and many others too!) will start looking at other options.  Herb and Colleen are rolling over in their graves watching this unfold. The assigned seating change is already going to extend the boarding times per flight, I guess someone may be thinking lets go ahead and shift people to carrying on more items as well.    And TBH although I take full advantage of the free checked baggage, I know a lot of people do still carry on just like flying on other airlines. And I do the same if it is a business trip.   But for leisure trips we sure do love our checked bags!     ... View more

@SoCalFlyer97 wrote: @bAmbi_2901 wrote: Just curious what is the limit to the size on personal items? I know it used to be 16.25x13.5x8.5, but now it’s not specified. So what is the largest personal item you have successfully put under the seat? I bought a backpack, but it’s 20x14x7. I didn’t realize until I got it in how large it was, and now I’m second guessing it. I’ve never been on a plane before, so I don’t have anything to compare it to myself.        Hello!   For my flights except for my single day trippers, my carry-on luggage consists of the 50L Carofield Travel Backpack which is similar to what you describe. It is 22"L x 15"W x 8"H and if lightly packed, it can be squeezed down to fit under the seat (pictured above) if you're sitting in either at a window or middle seat anywhere generally after the 4th or 5th row. Otherwise if packed solid or if sitting in an aisle seat, or the first few rows of the plane after the bulkhead row where the personal item space is narrower, it will not fit as a personal and needs to go into the overhead bin as the designated carry-on bag.   Either way, given its size, I consider it as my carry-on bag and not the personal item.   Hope this helps.   Concur with @SoCalFlyer97 on all points - should be fine but sit in a middle or window not in the front.    Or put it overhead if it is your only item.     ... View more

Here is the screenshot @YeahNoMaybe  it's actually "notify moderator of inappropriate content"     ... View more

If you click on the gear icon do you get an option to "notify moderator" - please feel free to flag anything that violates the community terms.    I know the end is coming soon but I'm still flagging away on these spam posts.      ... View more

@kollpp wrote: I've always carried consoles, even on international flights, in my hand luggage. Just so I can quickly address any questions or security checks instead of finding out after arrival that my bag never left the airport. Even if you do check-in your console, make sure you either remove the batteries from the controllers, or carry the controllers in your hand luggage. You have to if they have lithium batteries.    I think the OP is saying they left theirs in the seatback pocket after using it inflight.     ... View more

@rakunn wrote: Have a business flight tomorrow that I purchased at least three weeks ago. Am A List Preferred ( have been preferred or A List for 10+ years), and confirmed this is reflected on my ticket. Imagine my shock when my boarding number came as B-47. So I guess, just wondering if anyone else has noticed this for flights tomorrow/recently or if I just got extraordinarily unlucky. Will obviously be attempted to board between A and B but if there are this many other preferred in front of me not sure it’s worth it! There would have to be some sort of glitch in the system, or else when you booked the flights the RR number wasn't connected to the reservation, or else it's a crazy A-list travel weekend.   If it is the last one, then you'll have 47 A-list members all trying for that "A61" boarding so it may be hectic.   Make sure your boarding pass says "A list" on it which you'd need to show in theory for the A61 boarding. That would also be the clue if something went haywire in option 1 or 2 above.     ... View more

@Dickson wrote: Thank you.  My TQP show up on drilled down activity but are never applied to General points or towards A List and A List preferred.   Rapid Rewards blames Chase...Chase blames Rapid Rewards. They aren't supposed to show up as general points, so that's correct.   But they should be counting towards A-list and ALP.     ... View more

@SoCalFlyer97 wrote: @Jonboy71 wrote: I checked in 2 minutes before my wife for the same flights and got a significantly worse boarding position. I did both check ins, so know this for a fact.  Why would this occur? In your case, it looks like you checked in and received your position. During the two-minute window, somebody else who was already checked in and got an early position changed or scrapped their booking, thus your wife was the "lucky" one to snag the open upper spot.    Anecdotally, the wrinkle here is especially if you were checking in right at the 24-hour moment at the same time there are a bunch of A-listers getting their automatic notifications of positions being assigned and believe it or not some of these people will have forgotten about their flight or else forgotten that they need to change their flight and a few earlier spots often open up around this time.     ... View more

@BobNoxious123 wrote: Pre-boarding will still get to board first and take all the carry-on space.  They just wont get the good seats without paying first. Is this a big problem for you? In all my flights this year maybe one of them ran out of bin space and it didn't affect anyone that was in the A's, B's, or early C's.     ... View more