09-13-2017
09:58 AM
09-13-2017
09:58 AM
I'll echo @TheMiddleSeat that there is often some movement on an opening in the day prior to a flight, but you have to keep checking, maybe even hourly to grab that open spot. If the flight is oversold you'll have trouble though. I feel like TSA should be able to handle the ID though, as mentioned there is a procedure for people that have lost their ID. Bring some utility bills or something with you showing the maiden name? I guess it is extra difficult since you have two separate paths - keep the companion booking as-is and go through TSA without ID, or else change the name and come with matching ID, but risk not getting a seat by this weekend? Honestly I'd try twitter as a communication path if you are into that - send @SouthwestAir a message and then they'll accept a direct message (DM) from you with the confirmation number and maybe they can help...mentioning that its your honeymoon can't hurt! Don't ever put your (wife's) confirmation number on regular twitter though, wait until they ask for a DM.
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09-13-2017
09:43 AM
09-13-2017
09:43 AM
Hopefully she's on Rapid Rewards, so if you enter her RR number when you book then she'll be able to see the flight when she logs in even though you made the booking. But I've done this sucessfully with family members that aren't regulars on Southwest too, you just have to keep track of the email confirmations if you ever want to change anything.
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Is this for multiple seats? If so sometimes there is one ticket available at the lower price, but if you are buying two tickets together the second ticket can determine the price for both at the next increment.
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09-13-2017
09:31 AM
09-13-2017
09:31 AM
If $150+$50 covers your original points, plus you got some voucher on the spot at the time you gave up your seat then I think you are getting the going rate. I'm not sure why they would provide additional points, that might be a miscommunication, but the equivalent in cash would be to get your original points back. At $0.02/point the offer on the phone would be for 10,000 points, is that around what you spent originally for the flight?
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We've had mixed reviews on the packaged milk containers also, some airports let these through with a testing, and others passed them right through. Otherwise an open container they will test the milk itself. An unopened container they will need to test your person for traces of any problematic materials. The trick is that for milk the open container may go bad while the shelf-stable milk is good until it is opened. However, if we had these poured into 3 oz containers then it also sails right through. (But not ten of them in your case, that would probably be too many...plus the spoilage.) The most likely scenario will be that it is allowed, but with some extra time for testing of your person so allow fifteen extra minutes arrival time at the depature airport. I'm not familiar with the pedialyte specifically, but good luck!
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08-17-2017
01:33 PM
08-17-2017
01:33 PM
Very limited upside to waiting, especially if the current price seems reasonable.
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08-17-2017
01:31 PM
08-17-2017
01:31 PM
I'm guessing "no" to number 1, but you'd have to call Southwest and ask about that one. For number 2, did you ask? On long and full flights the flight attendants may not give out a whole can, especially early in the flight, but for a shorter flight or not completely full you could probably get one if requested.
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Cliff notes version: You should be fine at the time of family boarding for three seats together but probably have to go back to the wings or a little further. Early Bird checks you in 36-hours ahead, basically guaranteeing that whatever the position is for checking in at 24-hours, you'd be at the front of that group, but behind A-listers, and still ahead of anyone that has a connecting flight that gets a few extra hours on the 24-hour limit. Sometimes this is a late A-number, sometimes it is in the early B's...it isn't a guarantee of absolute position, only that you'll be checked in ahead of everyone else, whereever that happens to fall for that flight. Depending on the route there may be a lot of A-listers that would be in front of your EB check-in. Anyway...I'd expect family boarding to be sufficient. I believe the tie-breaker among early bird check-ins to be in order of purchase of early bird.
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08-16-2017
12:11 PM
08-16-2017
12:11 PM
Double check that all dates are applicable and whether there is a restriction on which type of car, there might be some deals out there depending on the options selected.
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@mkblinzlerunless you think you may spend $50k for your business in the remainder of the year, or earn 50,000 points by spending plus flights, then why wait? (For example $5k of flights x6 points and just a $20k of other business spending...there's a lot of variables that can affect the ratios.) Especially if you plan to earn CP annually after this, you might as well get it sooner. Earning in January/February is great but the extra portion of a year is academic if you'd be earning CP every year anyway. Waiting is good only if you don't think you'd otherwise make it every year anyway.
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08-16-2017
12:08 PM
08-16-2017
12:08 PM
Also the cost for the BS upgrade might be incremental - buy a WGA fare and reimburse that if this is for work, but then out of pocket pay the extra for BS upgrade which may be quite a bit less than $1,000 in net. Note that if you upgrade from a WGA fare, then BS fare will not be refundable. So you can wait until things are certain, but do it more than 36 hours prior so that you get the boarding position. The other question is how many of the remaining trips this year will the companion fly on - if it is a lot then it may be good timing to push the pace. If the rest of the trips this year aren't big candidates you could wait and do a strategic upgrade in October/November if needed.
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08-14-2017
07:36 PM
08-14-2017
07:36 PM
That's scary, glad to hear you were able to receive treatment at the destination. No idea about the nebulizer idea or who to contact, but I would bring a portable battery for your own device in the future if you aren't certain to have access to a standard receptacle.
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Yes, 24 hours prior to the flight's depature regardless of your actual location and any adjustment to time zone. Hopefully your calendar adjusts automatically if you set a "one-day alarm" but in your case yes it would be 9 a.m. check-in for an 11 a.m. flight from MDW.
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A-list preferred is probably the top status since that means the customer is flying the most number/cost value of flights. There are many other non-ticketed methods to contribute towards companion pass - which I'm sure benefits Southwest as well, but let's assume that they make the most money from ticket revenue then I think A-list Preferred may be the top, A-list second, and Companion Pass third in terms of predicting how often someone flies or what they spend specifically on airline tickets. I agree with your point though that why not allow a companion to board with the primary member? It ends up being largely academic - when boarding at the proper time I've never not sat with my companion, although I have also had the benefit of A-list position to get the first seat. Then when companion boarded later any one middle seat is as good as another. Now we do family boarding with our new addition, so we're all "A-61" and it also works out fine.
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08-02-2017
11:09 AM
08-02-2017
11:09 AM
If you are traveling with parents/guardians the answer is "no" from TSA. https://www.tsa.gov/travel/security-screening/identification If you are traveling solo then I think you would need to provide something in lieu of a driver's license such as a birth certificate, or better yet a passport. Southwest it doesn't say here what would be needed if solo. They allow "young travelers" - where the unaccomanied minor it asks for birth certificate, but it doesn't say for the young traveler.
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08-02-2017
11:00 AM
08-02-2017
11:00 AM
Maybe Virgin to ORD, but I hope you can find a nice Southwest route that accomodates you. Denver is a nice layover, not too far out of the direct line.
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Co-worker? Nice try. Spouse...yes. Young kids...yes. Fiance? I'll even get up out of my aisle and take a middle for them at the end of boarding. Co-worker...see you in 3.5 hours!
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I would amend your original statement to say that "clearly seats are not assigned" and that maybe it means seats that are unoccupied.
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07-31-2017
02:14 PM
07-31-2017
02:14 PM
This may or may not apply to you, but you'll find that the airport lounges and also inflight that adult beverages are available regardless of time of day (maybe not super early at the airport)...if you think one might be relaxing you can go for it. The "before noon" rule doesn't apply at the airport. Music and books are always good too. I think decide ahead of time if you'll be trying to see out the window or to not see out the window according to your needs - here is the seating map to help you think about the options. Or get a C group number and take a middle 🙂 737-700: https://www.seatguru.com/airlines/Southwest_Airlines/Southwest_Airlines_Boeing_737-700_new.php 737-800: https://www.seatguru.com/airlines/Southwest_Airlines/Southwest_Airlines_Boeing_737-800_new.php
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07-31-2017
01:58 PM
07-31-2017
01:58 PM
I have heard of other uses accepting immunization documents, but the Southwest website only mentions the birth certificate specifically. I would call the 800 number the day ahead today to add the child to your ticket and mention then what materials you do have.
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07-31-2017
12:04 PM
07-31-2017
12:04 PM
Here's some current info: https://cu.usembassy.gov/u-s-citizen-services/local-resources-of-u-s-citizens/traveling-to-cuba/ There certainly are many exceptions that would allow people to visit, but with a stated purpose other than tourism.
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07-31-2017
11:53 AM
07-31-2017
11:53 AM
We have a few follow up questions If this is on one reservation where you change planes but have a single ticket, then any bags you check will go through automatically. (So check as much as possible?). Verify when you check in at your depature airport that the tags are for the ultimate destination. You'll have to keep your carry on bags with you in any scenario, so travel light. If you have separate tickets on southwest or even one leg Southwest and one leg someone else, you'll need to pick up any checked bags and go back through security. In that case I doubt you have enough time to do much out of the airport. Assuming that it was the first case above, there are plenty of poorly paying slot machines at the airport. There are also a couple of lounges for a fee that may be worth it if you enjoy airport lounges for a few hours. That ones I know are in the other terminal though, so you'd need to take the inter-airport train there and back - allow 20 minutes or so for that each way. Otherwise traveling light and maybe with TSA Precheck you may be able to take a taxi to to the Strip and make it back in time spending maybe a couple of hours there. The hardest part may be judging the time it takes to walk through a casino if you opt for that.
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07-24-2017
09:57 AM
07-24-2017
09:57 AM
The CP (and A-list) qualifying points all are calendar based, so when you mentioned hitting the limit in February that would have to be from flights and CC spending in January and February next year, not the remaining/excess points from this year plus those two months. I agree with the other poster about booking any remaining personal trips with points (companion still included whether booked on points or cash), but I assume that the high volume of flights is due to business that you may be reimbursing. Keep using SW Visa for those to get the compounding benefit of extra points on SWA purchases. If you own your own business, then maybe it does make sense to use points even for work trips. I'd have to dig a little on this one, but I think it is possible to earn a second companion pass? If you had that high of a volume of flights and also had a child or someone else that would fly with you. Obviously that wouldn't be as useful if you normally travel only with your wife. I thought I saw something about this before, but can't find it now.
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I was able to import to calendar from the email confirmation, but had the same error from the Southwest.com website that the others are having.
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07-20-2017
04:07 PM
07-20-2017
04:07 PM
With the policy that isn't a policy in effect, I would translate "open seating" means "not assigned" which is the distinction to most other airlines. One counterpoint to the no policy approach, I have had the flight attendants once in a while block people from saving seats in exit rows specifically, but no comment in other areas.
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07-19-2017
04:16 PM
07-19-2017
04:16 PM
You can try this: https://www.southwest.com/account/recovery?clk=GSUBNAV-RR-LOOKUP#needUsername Otherwise you'll need to call customer service, this message board doesn't have access to your Southwest account, it's meant for user-to-user tips. https://www.southwest.com/contact-us/contact-us.html?clk=GFOOTER-CUSTOMER-CONTACT-US
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07-19-2017
04:12 PM
07-19-2017
04:12 PM
I agree that the emails are an unfortunate error, but the bigger issue seems to be that you seemed to be on track to earn the awards but then it didn't convert in the end, we'd probably need more detail to help on that front in terms of what you had planned to do and what actually happened. I'm not sure what the issue was, although it seems like a common one is spending on the Rapid Rewards Visa which is accrued at the statement closing, not as spending takes place. Hopefully that wasn't what got you.
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07-12-2017
10:50 AM
07-12-2017
10:50 AM
Although not advertised, if you go to Magical Express and let them know you are there they may be able to pull your extra luggage even without the yellow tags. The scenario you describe makes sense, Southwest will only care about what you check at the departure airport, and Disney will only care about luggage that shows up with yellow tags (or names that they are looking for). You can "gate check" luggage on the Magical Express too if needed, the downside is that you would need to leave it with the concierge at the destination resort instead of having it appear in your room automagically. This works great if you need some items before heading to the parks even if you don't have a room assignment yet.
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07-12-2017
10:42 AM
07-12-2017
10:42 AM
Passport, and depending on several factors it may benefit you to have Global Entry. I like flying Porter to Canada if you'll be in the east of the country. Take Southwest to get to MDW or one of the other Porter airports. (Chicago MDW, Pittsburgh, Boston, among others.)
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07-12-2017
10:40 AM
07-12-2017
10:40 AM
I think it might be a mixup in the lingo, I've never heard of family boarding to be affected by ticket type. It is affected by age of the child, and potentially number of adults traveling with the children. Companion boarding along with the primary ticket holder likely to be A-list does cause friction when the companion has a later boarding position, particularly if the child companion was old enough not to qualify for family boarding as an altnerative.
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