Southwest Airlines Community

@DrewB wrote: Love the in-flight music selection but never seems to work. Either only works for 1 song or stops in the middle of a song. I've flown many flights especially to the West Coast and all the flights experience the music issues. Shame because the music selection is awesome. Any tricks to getting a reliable stream? I've never used it myself. I'm sure that anyone else diagnosing the issue may want to know what hardware / software you are using to access it. It must be working for some types of devices and software?     ... View more

@dfwskier wrote: That ain't going to happen. Southwest knows that assigned seating means boarding takes longer, which impacts the ability to turn aircraft quickly, which affects profitability and ultimately ticket prices.   SW has 50 years of experience on what  boarding process works best.   Besides different people views "prime" seats differently. What might be "prime" to  you might not be to someone else. Besides the Southwest method of having lots of short haul connecting flights there would be many flights with people already on them that may or may not have taken the seat that was desired.     ... View more

The reason relates to the two tickets being procured separately - what you describe would work if you bought two tickets at the same time (cash, points, funds, voucher, etc).   Since companion ticket is added separately it gets a separate confirmation number.  I believe Southwest is working on this issue for check-in at the same time or to award sequential boarding positions. As far as seeing the pass I suggest keep your own in the app and login your companion on mobile web to show the boarding pass and also recommend adding it to the wallet before you leave for the airport in case of connectivity issues.     ... View more

@bec102896 wrote: I bet @DancingDavidE could dance on a plane 😜 now would he who knows I agree it might be hard in the small space. I for one am not a dancer so I would be more likely to cheer for them as left if anything.  For Lindy Hop maybe in the rear galley. Could possibly “Do the Hustle” in the exit row and aisle or the bulkhead row since it is a slot dance where the follower goes back and forth in a line. Ironically no aerials in either case or the partner might end up in an overhead bin! All aerials solely provided by the 737 dance floor.     ... View more

Here’s a new thought as well - those with a passport, even if it is not required, would be able to forgo masking or distancing restrictions.  https://fortune.com/2021/04/01/its-official-vaccinated-people-dont-transmit-covid-19/    Now it is a huge mess for flight attendants to figure out who has one and who doesn’t, can they be forged, etc...so the restrictions for masking and distancing probably have to stay until the risk is reduced enough for everyone to participate. ... View more

@gsking wrote: @Kvainuku wrote: I would like to book a flight for late in the fall while flights are fairly cheap. Although I am confident I should be receiving my companion pass within the next following months, should all continue as planned. My question is, will I be able to edit my fall reservations once I get companion pass to my current flights booked? I will be flying with the person I plan to add onto my companion pass in the fall. I am fairly new to all this. Please advise, thank you! Yes, as was said... book your flight normally, and watch for fare moves.    If it goes down,  rebook and get the discount.    If it goes up, and you're worried it'll sell out... lock the seat with Points.     I had to do this once.   By the time I swapped it to the companion,  people had canceled,  so it wasn't an issue.   But I did get nervous there for a while.  I have also called and had Southwest simultaneously cancel the points and add companion if I thought the flight was full to the point where a self-service swap was too risky.   I have also been stalking an open seat at T-24 hours to add companion seat, there is usually some movement around that time when people get their reminders and have forgotten to cancel a flight or whatever other reasons. So far it always worked! ... View more

@gsking wrote: Masks all the time?   No way.   Never get the flu shot, never get the flu.   Now because some people have weak immune systems, I have to wear a mask on a plane, en perpetuity?   No thanks.    Perhaps the reason for all the weak immune systems are people being too averse to germs.     I grew up on a farm so I have been exposed to all kinds of things and unfortunately that doesn't result in a strong immune system. I wish I was like that, but having gotten the flu one or two times per year even after getting vaccine for it I realize there are many people that just aren't as hearty.    This year - no flu. There's no doubt in my mind and from my experience that the distancing and masking works, it's cut the flu totally out this year.    I may wear a mask from now on riding public transportation like the el.   ... View more

@marymitri wrote: Hello,    My son was on flight 2165 from San Diego (stop in Chicago) to Boston on 3/15/21.  The flight was diverted to Milwaukee and passengers were instructed to get off the plane and leave their bags in the overhead bin.  They could get back on the plane with their boarding pass or picture id.  My son got off, and was not allowed back on as Southwest automatically booked him on a different flight, without his consent or asking him.  The flight attendant had to go and get his carry on from where he described “near or above 16F where he had been sitting”.  He was relieved to get his bag and left the area to find food. He went into “his” bag at that point only to realize it was in fact an identical bag that was not his!!  He returned to the gate and his original flight had just departed…with his bag.  He turned in the other bag to the Southwest crew at the gate and had to rush to get to his flight.  It was a mess.    Long story short, 2 passengers are without their bags due to a mistake by  Southwest.  Is it possible to send an email to all passengers who boarded in San Diego who were on that flight to Chicago and others then went on to Boston?  I am not confident in the lost baggage system and this would go directly to the other passenger who is missing his bag…which had a laptop in it!!   Please contact me if you are missing your bag or have my sons!  It is a black Swiss Gear duffel with 2 wheels and a handle.   Thank you,   Mary  Oh no, definitely check the bag to make sure its yours and put ID on it even as a carry on. I hear about events like this a few times a year.    Southwest won't email the passengers, but if the other passenger finds out they have the wrong bag then if they come forward I'd say chances are good for a reconnection if your son left Southwest his contact info, and also file a Lost and Found report for sure. ... View more

From your own knowledge does NMIA have gates available? Also how does it compare in total traffic - Southwest would be looking for destinations that can fill a 737 regularly or at least get a decent load factor.    Also see if you can find any stats for how Southwest is doing on their current route there - are planes full?   If any of these was a "no" its probably a longshot to split up destinations there.     ... View more

@Kandjay wrote: Our flight was cancelled from Cancun to Kansas City onSunday. They rebooked us on Monday. But we don't have arrangements for lodging, the car, where our car is parked in KC, our pet sitter and we are supposed to be back to work and son is supposed to be back in school.  There were flights available but those are full now. Who is going to pay for my additonal expenses so Southwest could save a few at my expense. Flight should not have been offered if it might not be full enough. I can't even call southwest from my cell in Mexico. I facebook messaged them and twitter messaged yesterday and no reply as of yet. We are Southwest members and I think they should have called us not texted with no way to respond. They offered rebook, but I had limited service and had to dig for password etc, because we are in Mexico, not home! So that window closed in minutes. There are other flights on other airlines. How about rebooking us on one of those.   You might be eligible for a refund due to the cancelation, and then rebook on one of the other airlines for Sunday if you can't arrange to get rebooked on the Sunday flight with Southwest.   My limited experience although there would be a risk going back to the airport without confirmed flights that you'd have some good chance that there is availability the same day to get switched. Definitely check at the 24-hour mark if you can - that's when people get their notices about flight check-ins and invariably a few people realize they forgot to cancel their flights and free up a few seats.   The MDW or BWI connections may still be your best bet but you can ask about being changed to an alternate routing if one comes up in the system that we can't see online. Houston has a few flights available but then I don't see any available from Hou to MCI, maybe its the storm.           ... View more

@gsking wrote: Sheep, lions, flesh... oh my.    ...   So... all that taken together... and... we'll nod and keep flying SWA.  Baa? Actually I feel like the lion, eating up no change fees and two free bags. King of the aviation jungle.   Anyway - they surely did offer voluntary bumping, because its potentially cheaper for them to do it although it could be more if they wanted to avoid a tough situation, and it leaves customers feeling good especially someone that just got a big stack of vouchers.   The amazing part would be that no one took them up on it. Back in the day my wife and I would be scouting out the opportunity to volunteer - check with the gate agent, did the gate look over-full, was there some big cancellation on another flight that they would be wanting to get more people on, etc. Sit right in front of the desk so we'd be first to jump up there, or leave our name on a list before they even ask.   Now with kiddos in tow it's a little different on trying to keep the schedule, plus we're using points and companion pass so you miss out a little on the compensation compared to people with regular tickets, and we can't go to standby option if they aren't sure immediately and not sit together.    I think the disconnect here is that after they ask for volunteers and no one goes for it, it's the nuclear option, press the red button. It would be pretty atypical for people to come back and say "nevermind, I'll take less and volunteer instead" after finding out they are bumped - there's no button for that. I'm exaggerating a little bit here but the scenario is pretty extreme and honestly a gate agent could be faced with it and not know what to do. Can they even go back once they've done that?   Then they bump the person that checked in last, who it turns out can't personally accept the compensation?   Wild thread!     ... View more

I just got one for flying this week, but I didn't use SWABiz.      ... View more

Unless you are using it on the last day or last week of its eligibility I don't see the issue.   I'm not sure if they reschedule you then would it supersede the expiration date. Good question. It seems reasonable that you are entitled to a rescheduled flight though if it was canceled.          ... View more

Vancouver, Toronto, Montreal all would be good Canadates.  😂   I'm more into the urban eating vacation than hiking.   I have flown Porter to Toronto and Montreal before and they are very good as well in the meantime.      ... View more

You can call ahead to have the baby added to your ticket, but you'll still need to show the birth certificate when you arrive anyway. It won't really be much of a time saver.          ... View more

Sorry to hear this, I’m not sure what the mixup was or maybe they were able to convey that there were connections but didn’t communicate the handicapped status.  The response you received shouldn’t have been flippant though, if there was a mistake on the handling of the connection the rep should have just offered a straight apology and mea culpa.     ... View more

@tappingmom1 wrote: Brown556 said: "If you arrive at the airport without a seat assignment..."   Brown, what are you talking about?   ....   I would hate for folks reading your comment to think part of what you wrote is true. Reported as spam, suspicious link at the end and incorrect info. Feel free to report as well.     ... View more

@amsands wrote: Thank you so much for your compassion.  I realize that SW, themselves, is not necessarily going to respond here. They won’t for customer service, the premise of the community here is customer-to-customer support.    Telling you that they would pull your bag, and then not pulling it, that’s definitely worth discussing. In the future don’t put any medicine or urgently needed things in the checked bag, even under regular circumstances.  I hope things settle down and your Family member is recovering.    ... View more

@downsarah wrote: Sacramento is not the bay area, and Santa Ana is not in L.A. This is why I'm confused. They are presenting the restrictions in case you are using SNA or SMF as alternate airports to access those areas, the restrictions would apply if you were renting a car or otherwise traveling into the municipalities.   If your travels are exclusive to Santa Ana and Sacramento or at least not physically visiting the cities noted, then it seems that you are not covered by the restriction.   Sacramento seems to be not really a alternate, but many people use SNA that may end up in LA during their trip.     ... View more

@dfwskier wrote: Yup. You can cancel one out of two flights. That's a fairly recent development - within the last year..   You bring up the confirmation number, pick "cancel." Then both flights show up and you can pick either one or both. You could do it by phone before, but now you can self-service online.   I'm confused up in the beginning OP mentions BWI - was the IND->MCO originally a direct flight and then changed to a connecting fight through BWI, or was that a typo? I'm not sure if that's confusing the situation.   Part of your response should be that your original contact with Southwest was more than 10 minutes before the flight, you didn't have a second contact because the first contact was supposed to cancel the whole trip.     ... View more

@phatpatric911 wrote: Hello Everyone.  I am getting conflicting information from the internet. I need to fly from NC to Long Island NY and i have received both doses of the Covid vaccine. does anyone know if i still need to get the blood test showing negative results 3 days prior to flying??? TIA I didn't see any vaccination exemption but there is a section on essential workers if that applies which points towards only a test after arriving, if you are staying multiple days.     ... View more

I think it is manners/respect more than instructions unless anyone has a feeling that many first time flyers are taking to the skies due to low fares.   I’m happy to let someone go ahead who has a short connection (our opinions on what’s short may differ) or urgent need for a bathroom.  Traveling with the family we are usually waiting for the rush and waltzing out at the end anyway which is more comfortable and less stressful.  The main lesson is that if you choose a seat in the rear you get off later, sorry that’s how it works. Want to get off earlier? Then pick a seat towards the front.    ... View more

@gsking wrote: As far as I can tell,  online will only book flights with one connection.  If it takes two, you have to call in.    I might be wrong,  but the only times I've gotten two connection flights are when my original itinerary was changed f due to flight cancelations.    So there are always more ways to skin a cat that shown online.  Look at a multi-city route as separate one-ways to get your route down, then either book it that way online or call to have it booked as a trip but you’ll know the suggested connections before the call.  I don’t know Little Rock myself but for instance maybe the flow of flights comes through Houston or Nashville, then have your one plane change options to get that far in mind.     ... View more

@SWFlyer007 wrote: @DancingDavidE are you saying you can get SWA loyalty points with car rentals from Costco or Costco points?  (I'm not a Costco member but wife is)  Yes, whatever earning method you have setup whether in the car rental program or swapped to SWA points and earning towards status for number of rentals and days. It’s more like a discount code.    ... View more