@parpitt1 wrote:
As others have noted it may take awhile for the points to be deposited, 20000 points is nothing to sneeze at. Just make sure you've read all the small print since Booking.com is the source not SWA.
That being said for me personally I book my hotels direct with the chain I focus on. I have tried 3rd party sites a few times but typically I can get a cheaper rate direct. Since most of my travel that is "paid for", is business related, I feel it's my fiduciary responsibility to get the cheapest fare/rate/rental I can within reason.
Direct booking allows me to cancel or make a change without penalty in almost every case because I've built status with the either the hotel or the rental car company. I've overheard many folks holding their paperwork from Booking.com, Expedia.com, and other sites at rental car counters and hotel front desks pleading, demanding, and ultimately taking whatever they can get because they thought they were getting a "deal." Not me, no thank you.
Best of luck and safe travels
Fiduciary sounds a little strong, there are other factors besides the cost alone or else you'd be staying at Motel 6 or Microtel or America's Best Value all of the time.
But right on that normally I'm booking direct in order to get the changeability and cancelation policy in my favor. And there's nothing wrong with hotel chain points other than they aren't Southwest Rapid Rewards points. Try to specialize in one or two if you can to concentrate the benefits.
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@gsking wrote:
You're probably seeing Get More,Pay More. Certain hotels offer the option to literally buy points on top of the points you receive for the hotel booking. The cost is close to the 1.6 cents per point.... so it's almost a net wash in terms of value.
But yes, it's useful for achieving CP. I've done it twice this year in Reno and Albuquerque. Vegas is the easiest place to find these offers.
I don't think they phrase it that way, but yes you can basically get the value of 20,000 x $0.016 = $320 sounds pretty good on $800.
If you want to cross-check, try Rocketmiles for the same thing and see what the extra cost looks like.
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05-27-2022
09:06 PM
05-27-2022
09:06 PM
@gsking wrote:
No honest person would give up their companion pass due to a stinky toilet.
Therefore, I guarantee this is a fake post and the poster will never return.
That's a good point. Even if it was all through one of those bonuses and they had never flown before no one would walk away from it like that.
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05-25-2022
10:39 PM
05-25-2022
10:39 PM
@CupCrusher40 wrote:
cash drawer?
I don't think so at the gate either.
Maybe you can give a fellow passenger the cash and they would swipe it for you.
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@lukutu wrote:
I realize that the new Wanna Get Away plus fares rolled out this morning, but I had bought an Anytime fare before they included Early bird in it. So now that the fare INCLUDES Early bird within it do I qualify for a refund on that Earlybird purchase I already have now?
You'd have to request it, but it doesn't seem unreasonable. As discussed below with @jksobonya it is included retroactively. So it isn't like you are asking to take it back off a ticket, it's been provided which seems like a slightly different case than just asking for a refund.
Whether these requests are being approved I don't know. But I'd recommend to ask.
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@jksobonya wrote:
@pkerr100 wrote:
I don't think there is any "maybe" involved. Either that or they were clueless.
I'll go with clueless - what makes them think that A-List can board around the A-16 spot?!
--Jessica
Entitlement and selfishness.
Which brings me to a story from a recent trip, boarding in ATL. A gentleman showed up towards the last minute and it turns out he did in fact have A1. However I had A2, and he's bringing his travel companion with him. Me and A3 give him some stink-eye for a bit but don't say anything. General boarding starts and beep his goes through and then the agent says "whoa! - it isn't her turn" and ended up bouncing the companion back into the later A's. There was much rejoicing about following the rules. They weren't going for my exit row, and he just saved her a seat anyway so the actual damage would have been minimal.
Then we had it again in Orlando last week, a lady tried to board with her son he was A16 or so and she was A54 and he bounced her! "A54 I'm not having it" cracked me up.
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@Dillonm92 wrote:
Good Evening Everybody:
I know in a previous post I mentioned about creating a training aid for airport codes, and I have the format down that I wanted to use, and wanted to share it with everybody and get feedback. This is being done in Excel, more so for me because I learn better with Excel, but everyone is welcome to use this when I am fully complete with it. As demonstrated in the attached photo, the City/States are in the left-hand column, with the column next to it for the airport codes. If the correct airport code is entered, the cell will automatically highlight green to signify the correct answer has been entered. Just sharing my progress so far, and I will add the full excel sheet to this thread when I am done with it. Thanks!
This is not exactly the same thing, but you might enjoy this online game:
https://airportle.scottscheapflights.com/
My main resource here is a wikipedia page listing all the codes by starting letter. You can also browse wikipedia articles about list of largest airports, or list of airports by category.
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05-25-2022
10:24 PM
05-25-2022
10:24 PM
@123engineering wrote:
I have been enjoying A-List status for over ten years. One of the benefits I enjoy is able to use the faster A-List Full Service line to check in my luggage. I have been noticing non-A-list members using the line and agents are having difficulty controlling it. I always try to show my A-List member card when I stand in line. During my last flight from SMF, an agent took my card stating it has expired, which I didn't know. I called SW customer service and an agent informed me that SW no longer issues A-List Member Card.
I wish SW to resume issuing A-List Member Cards to help reduce A-List Full Service lines. It will be much easier for agents to check A-List member cards than boarding passes when people are standing in line. Currently, you can't verify A-List status until people get to the counter by then it will be too late to send them to the regular line.
The a-List Full-Service line is a great benefit and I wish SW reissues A-List Member Cards to keep it effective.
It's right on your boarding pass, you don't need the card. I have seen agents watching the line and checking boarding passes to ensure only a-list are using the line. That was at Midway.
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05-25-2022
10:23 PM
05-25-2022
10:23 PM
@Amimal wrote:
I write this I’m on board the above listed flight. I had to close my vent and triple mask due to a strong odor urinals of coming out of the vent and overpowering the entire cabin.
as soon as I offboard, I will be canceling my return flight to Oakland and rebook w/ delta. I also plan on canceling on my credit card and cash out all remaining miles. it’s so disappointing to see how this airline standards deteriorated over time. I was such a big southwest fan and faithfully ensured to choose them over any other including my companion pass and status. In a world where we need to ensure the unlicensed health standards, I’m in disbelief that this is the current situation. I can no longer support southwest or use them as a first choice carrier.
Where were you sitting? I think closing the vent was probably the wrong move. At cruising altitude the air from the HVAC system is 50% outside air and 50% recirculated air.
There's no place in the HVAC system for an odor like that to suddenly start dispersing, it has to be coming from the cabin or maybe from the cargo hold.
If the odor was coming from the lavatory then you would have wanted to have more air from the vents instead of less. Also the air is running all of the time - the vent over your head is only a supplemental vent.
If the odor was coming from a fellow passenger, for instance perhaps there was a baby near you, then again closing the vents was probably having the opposite effect.
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05-25-2022
10:15 PM
05-25-2022
10:15 PM
@pkerr100 wrote:
I noticed when perusing SWA that they mention that A-List qualifying points can be earned via "b) through qualifying purchases with our Rapid Rewards partners."
Anyone have any idea what those purchases are? Through the shopping portal? Car rentals?
Thanks
Here is the manual - this comes up a lot at the end of the year but I think it should answer your questions as well even though we're in May.
https://www.southwest.com/html/rapidrewards/eoy-tier-communication.html
In the case of what you were reading, the "Rapid Rewards Partners" is only Chase credit cards at certain levels, mainly excluding the basic card.
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05-25-2022
10:07 PM
05-25-2022
10:07 PM
@Freefallin44 wrote:
Let me know if you are able to get a replacement voucher. I just discovered my email voucher is missing and it’s been in my inbox almost a year
Are you sure it was a year expiration? Some vouchers are six month expiration.
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05-25-2022
08:46 PM
05-25-2022
08:46 PM
@dfwskier wrote:
ORD/DAL First flight as a SW FA. The crew did a great job of making her feel exceptionally welcome, and the passenger kicked in with applause. She was all smiles and loving the experience.
I Gave her a kick tail coupon as I was leaving the plane -- if those are still worth anything.
Have you been saving the coupons or did you get some more? I'm way out of them although I've sent kicktail virtually through twitter several times. It seems to be serious, the agent asks for confirmation numbers to verify the flight took place.
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@roxy031 wrote:
I had the same experience - 4 different travel funds expiring 9/7. I booked 2 flights with the funds and then canceled the flights, but the funds retained the original expiration date of 9/7. Really frustrating that there isn't an exception to this rule, since we are still in a pandemic and all.
I do have a flight already booked for June, which I'd booked with points. I was going to cancel the flight, and rebook it with travel funds + points. But you can't use points with travel funds. And you can only use 3 methods of payment, so if I used the 2 highest amounts of travel funds, I would have to pay the rest with money, since I can't use points for the balance.
I guess I will let mine expire 9/7 and hope they'll grant some kind of extension or something.
If you didn't already, book one-ways to allow use of more travel funds. Then you get three methods each ticket.
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@KC308 wrote:
I'm in the exact same boat! I rebooked a trip for our family of 5 in June 2021 for Dec 2021 using travel funds from Mar 2020. Unfortunately, my son started to have COVID like symptoms so we had to cancel again... Now we have $2500 in travel funds with expiration of 6/11/2022. (lucky you, still got 9/7/22 expiration date, not me!) It is too expensive or limited availability to book for spring break and our kids won't be out of school until end of June. We have a few trips coming up this summer but I don't want to see ticket price goes up while waiting for the funds to expire.
What if I book a trip that costs more than the travel funds before the funds expire and cancel. Will the new travel funds still have expiration date of 6/11/22? or since I paid more, will it generate a new expiration date? Any thought or suggestions? I wish I had known that I had an option to convert the travel funds to points but it seems like it was for a limited time.
The funds keep the earliest expiration date of any combination of funds and new money, so don't do that. Book separate one-ways or use any other method to use up funds separately from cash.
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05-25-2022
03:47 PM
05-25-2022
03:47 PM
@dfwskier wrote:
I'm looking at a wanna gonna napkin as I speak.
I'll try to take a pic after I land
Edit add:
Apparently there are at least two different types of wanna gonna napkins out there. Mine is different than that posted by themiddleseat
Dang! I had a password issue and couldn't get reset until now. I have the "Wanna" version today as well.
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05-19-2022
11:54 AM
05-19-2022
11:54 AM
@dfwskier wrote:
I have been paid Pre for about 7 years. I fly about 35 times a year across all airlines.
In the roughly 250 flights I've had in the 7 years I have never failed to see Pre on my boarding passes.
Similar, maybe one or two times for me, and it was resolved after a trip to the ticket counter for one of those.
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05-19-2022
11:52 AM
05-19-2022
11:52 AM
@mrbreeze wrote:
I've searched history. Newest comment I could find was 2019 so I'll ask again.
We are older and so not so comfortable with smart phones. We like an old fashioned paper boarding pass but will not have access to a printer after the 24 hr check in.
The kiosk can be a struggle for early AM flights when your running late, half awake and anxious to get through security.
I chatted with SW who offered no help. I think you used to be able to do a" faux check in" and get the print option. It seems SW may have removed this convenience?
Do the check-in however you were doing it at 24 hours, without a printer. That secures your position. Text it to yourself and you can save the graphic to easily log in for printing the next day at the airport.
Then:
a) if you are checking any luggage it won't add a minute to get printed boarding passes too. Curbside can even do this if you check with that approach. Tip the person a few bucks and I'd ask them just to print the passes without checking. When you checked-in the day before you secured your number, so you are already checked in, now you are only completing the process by printing it.
b) if having only carry-ons you can still use the self-service kiosk to self-service print boarding passes only. show the texted pass to the scanner and your reservation will come right up. you are already checked in from before and keep your number, you are just getting a pass printed the same day.
Either way getting a pass printed at the airport is only a minute or two if there's a big line. If you are running that far behind then it isn't the passes that are holding you back. Checking luggage can have a big line, that's where I would get anxious if habitually cutting it close. (I'm a poster child for this.)
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05-19-2022
11:44 AM
05-19-2022
11:44 AM
It could return seasonally as well if you look further out.
I'm not sure what the connections offered were, but there are several good layover spots and sometimes a direct flight with no plane change layover.
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@ApplePair wrote:
Hoping someone can help… I’m traveling alone with my children (4 months & 21 months.) I purchased a row of three on a 737-700, and will put both kids in car seats. (I know they’ll fit in the seat fine) However, I’ve tried to find the aisle width everywhere online, emailed customer service and called. No one seems to know what the aisle width is from arm rest to arm rest. I have a Doona car seat/stroller and car seat cart that would make it easier for me to get them on, but I don’t know if they’d fit down the aisle.
I know it’s a long shot, but does anyone know the width or has anyone happened to travel with their Doona and know if it does or doesn’t roll down the aisle of the 737-700? I know it didn’t fit down an aisle once, but can’t remember what plane or airline I was, and it wasn’t a big deal because my husband was with me at the time.
It sounds like you have someone to get some measurements, and also I'm flying later today and will try to remember my tape measure. I was on one yesterday but didn't see this message. 😐
We know from here: https://www.southwest.com/help/baggage/carryon-baggage that carryons are 10" thick and 16" wide. I'm 100% that it fits with clearance sideways so there are several inches more than 10" from my roller.
Also walking down the aisle I will bump people leaning over their seats so it's a snug hip width which must be 14" to 18" straight across.
Doona website says 20" so that seems like it might be snug but a 737-700 is still relatively modern and if 20" is the rule it should be following it.
I'll try to check back tonight, but your best bet might be @TPArampgirl with some measurements.
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05-19-2022
11:24 AM
05-19-2022
11:24 AM
Twitter or calling might be your best bets for reaching someone that can do this for you. Don't send any personally identifying information until you are asked for a direct message if using twitter.
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@Radar70 wrote:
I've read conflicting responses for the purchasing of an extra seat. My husband has a large chest/ shoulders, I have a large bottom, we are flying to Vegas and thought it best to purchase an extra seat. I want to pre-board as it is difficult for me to walk the aisle, I don't want everyone staring and judging my size. I am confused about pre-boarding or if I have to purchase Early Bird check in. I sent Southwest an email weeks ago, I never received a reply - they said it could take up to 30 days for an answer, I am impatient & want to calm my anxiety. Thank you
All three responses so far are the answer to the post:
1) don’t buy early bird if you will ask for preboarding and/or COS.
2) the scenario for you both might be for you to ask for medical preboarding and him to book customer of size which includes preboarding, then you can both board and pick out a three-seat row and put the placard on the middle seat. (Or the window
note: the COS ticket is refunded, so you don’t actually “pay” for it in the end but you do have to buy it up front and get a refund later. There is no option to buy a second seat for yourself, it’s not compatible with the ticketing system. The COS method is the workaround in this regard.
3) There isn’t any reason for you both to be COS when all you need is one empty middle seat to share. You could both do it if you didn’t plan to sit together.
4) if you don’t end up preboarding or as COS, head to the middle of the place the window seats are a little wider there. The very front and back window seats are thinner seats due to the tapering of the fuselage.
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05-07-2022
06:04 PM
05-07-2022
06:04 PM
@flywithwine wrote:
Hi
I have a a VinGarde Valise wine suitcase.
https://www.flywithwine.com
I see people travel with these all the time and check them as luggage but in reviewing Southwests polices it appears they don't allow them.
Southwest states that all checked wine must be in a corrugated box.
https://www.southwest.com/help/baggage/special-baggage-sports-equipment
Is this really the case do you know?
Would a suitcase of wine be rejected by Southwest even though TSA allows this?
Please let me know if you have experience with this.
THx
I think the distinction here is between if the wine is inside of another checked item, or if it's being checked as a whole case of wine.
So you'd qualify for the wine being "inside of checked luggage" option.
Good luck!
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05-07-2022
06:02 PM
05-07-2022
06:02 PM
@dfwskier wrote:
Your chances of being allowed to get off approach 100%
1) Sit as close to the front of the planes as you can. - the first 9 rows ideally.
2)That allows you to get off the plane much earlier than the last person to de plane
3) Tell the flight attendant at the front of the plane that you are getting off and plan to return.
Chances are you'll be done with your bathroom break and be back at the gate before the last person de planes.
one more thing, leave something in your seat (not your purse) so that someone else won't take your seat.
Getting off is 100% - getting back on is the trick 🙂
You'll just have to promise (and deliver on the promise) to get back at least 10 minutes before departure time.
Sounds pretty smooth though if your family will be staying on the plane and hold your seat.
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05-07-2022
05:24 PM
05-07-2022
05:24 PM
@dfwskier wrote:
To be guaranteed TSA Pre on any flight, you have to pay for it - every five years.
Has your TSA Pre expired?
They still say it is not guaranteed although assuming the TSA PreCheck name matches the booking ticketed name, it seems to be 99+% for me.
Sometimes it has been as easy as not getting it on the at home boarding pass and asking for a new boarding pass at the ticket counter and it shows up again.
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05-07-2022
09:43 AM
05-07-2022
09:43 AM
@TheMiddleSeat wrote:
Board with them at B1 and B2. You can always board later than your assigned position, you just can't board earlier.
--TheMiddleSeat
If neither one is six years old or younger, that's the option.
Or board at "B0" family boarding if one of them is younger.
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I recommend "App in the Air" as a free tool you can use that will send you notifications to your phone about gate changes among many other features.
Once I was tracking my parents and saw the gate change, texted them, and they had no idea...they made it! (That flight was on the other guys, but still.)
But to the original point - they surely did make an announcement, the one you didn't hear would have been when all the other people on that flight got up and headed down the concourse.
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Make sure in your correspondence that you are clear whether you were flying to Dallas Love Field (DAL) or Dallas Fort Worth (DFW) if someone is trying to look up your flights and can't find them it won't help them to validate your claims.
@Amame wrote:
Fast forward to 4/11/22. Again, having no choice, I booked round trip flights. (Buf to Dallas w a stop at midway) I had a flawless flight and was impressed we even got in early to DFW despite a full sold out plane.
The way back (DFW to BUF w a transfer at midway) was the complete opposite. The
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04-24-2022
11:50 AM
04-24-2022
11:50 AM
@rich1954 wrote:
45% would be the best I have ever seen. If you can buy points for less than 1.5 cents a point it might be worthwhile.
Only if you need to use them right away and you wouldn't have any method of earning them through flights, other travel, shopping, etc.
That's about break-even on the valuations that you can find online for what you can redeem them for, so not horrible but there still might be other ways to earn the points for taking an activity that you were going to do anyway.
But if you need them right now to book something before you could earn them, go ahead.
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@vtayeh wrote:
Unfortunate realities… really. No offense, but @chgoflyer have you traveled with a toddler and attempted to keep them calm for not just a delay but during a flight? The actual reality is that SW is required by law to provide a notification of delay and that’s it. They don’t care about the ramifications that causes. And I’m just supposed to deal with their delayed and undelayed notification stupidity. SW is missing the whole point as to why you’d notify someone of a delay. If the point is to be at the airport at the original scheduled time, no matter what, then why send a delay notification? SW is going to do whatever they please, whenever they please. My time is not on their list of things that concern them.
I have, the littles have gone all over the country with Southwest. It's unfortunate that there seems to be some extra time and I get what you are saying for sure, but you really do have to get to the airport as if it was on time just in case. The best suggestion would be to get through security and then try to find some distraction once you are airside. Or if the posted delay is long enough ask to go on an earlier flight instead.
I'm sorry this happened, I hope everything worked out in the end. Unfortunately it is true that although they try to keep you posted the departure time can go both up and down.
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04-24-2022
11:40 AM
04-24-2022
11:40 AM
@parpitt1 wrote:
Southwest pretty much exclusively utilizes Terminal C at Atlanta for domestic flights, I can't say how far between gates you will have to walk but you won't have to get on the inter-terminal train, also as noted above they will only sell you a connecting flight if they believe you and your baggage can make the connection.
Safe Travels
Unless they have to drop off at the international terminal all domestic flights would be Concourse C.
I recommend that you check the equivalent connections today to get a feel for it - of course gates change due to conditions all the time - but for instance if the connection was today, or the next weekday with the same schedule, etc. - then what would be the gates and you should see that you probably have time to even use the restroom if you need to, hit the coffee shop or get a chicken sandwich or chili dog. (Both of these in the center of of the C concourse)
Otherwise plan to use the airplane lavatory about 25 minutes before landing at ATL and you'll be fresh and ready to sprint out of there.
If you are delayed from Nashville, ask the FA to do you a favor and see if they'll hold off the horde for you to get out first. They'll do this if your 30 minute layover has evaporated down to 15 minutes due to a late arrival in ATL.
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