Southwest Airlines Community

Could you get it on your phone instead? All, or nearly all airports can take mobile boarding passes from smart phones. ... View more

Ironically my best Global Entry experience was Denver - but then the biggest delay that time was that Southwest's old software didn't end up putting the TSA Pre on my connecting flight back to MDW, some hiccup with the international bookings at the time - hopefully that bug is fixed in the new system.   Not a big deal except I had been waiting in the wrong line and got to the front to realize no PreCheck! 'scuze me, pardon me...all the way back. ... View more

If there isn't a battery component to the equipment then I think it would be allowable.   TSA has some extensive guidance on batteries which you can search and also find on prior threads here pertaining to batteries, but with inverters I think you are referring for instance to a device that can take 12VDC power from a vehicle accessory port and make 120VAC for conventional plug devices?   If there is a battery component, then it most likely would be carried on instead of checked.   Maybe you can describe the equipment a little more for more detailed feedback. ... View more

I doubt that Chase would offer double bonues of both refer a friend plus the companion offer. ... View more

Did you use this number?   Can I check the status of my baggage online? Currently, this option is not offered on southwest.com. To check the status of your lost/delayed baggage, please call 1-888-202-1024, and a representative will provide you with a current status. ... View more

Or simultaneous while one uses the computer and one a mobile device? If you check the schedule now and there are plenty of WGA fares available you should be okay. If it's showing higher pricing then you probably want to get these booked sooner.   This should work fine, you'll have separate confirmation numbers to keep track of, but is recommended over purchasing points or transferring points which take time and add surcharges.   David   ... View more

The policy is that they are opened for you without the cap.   As you noticed there might be an occasionnal variance, but that is most likely unintentional or as a result of the irregular circumstances of turbulence - not for your convenience, but the FA was probably a little hectic.   Did you ask to get your drink ticket back? Probably tougher to do if you paid credit for the drinks.   ... View more

To get on the plane from inside the airport you just need your boarding pass. ... View more

I enjoy the traveling, but I know what you mean, I'm tired!   Business travel will slow down the rest of the year for me, but now we'll go into the opposite mode of using points to fly visiting family. ... View more

You need to call the baggage service right away, there is a limited window of time to report any propblems with your luggage. ... View more

Have you completed both legs? It does count as two for Tier Qualifying status after travel is complete.   For instance, the A-list preferred basis of 50 flights could be earned by taking 25 round trip flights.   These are for paid flights - if you booked any of your legs with points these obviously don't count towards the total, could that be why you are missing one somewhere? This wouldn't apply towards a RT flight, but maybe the missing one is actually a one-way that you flew on points earlier?     ... View more

The ads are still valid because you can have more than one Chase RR Visa among the different levels.   I think you would have put your Rapid Rewards number on the credit card application. If a new account was created for you with the credit card, check with Southwest about merging the two accounts. ... View more

For a little extra money you can also go the Global Entry path, which includes TSA Pre and may help  you with international travel if you plan to make any applciable trips.   Your global entry card will also serve as valid TSA identification in case you wanted a backup.   My experience with Global Entry so far has been varied - the limited number of international flights at MDW meant that a trip to Toronto was faster to use the regular lines than the kiosk. I would call it a draw at MKE once where thet lines were pretty short anyway. One other trip it saved some time. ... View more

The receipt at the time of purchase should have been sent to an email associated with the purchase?   I would have expected a similar email when the flight was cancelled to the same address.   If none of these are available to you, I would call, and have the credit card information available for the operator.   ... View more

Verify your statement closing day of the month was the same - i.e. all the previous cycles may have been on the same day each month, but the most recent one could be different?   If they are all the same then check in as advised. If this most recent one was later, wait that many more days to check in. ... View more

If you have Business Select or Anytime, cancelling gets your money back and retains the refundability when you rebook, as opposed to changing which causes the whole thing to be non-refundable.   Otherwise I think changing is generally the equal or better option for all other cases.       ... View more

I don't know what a disability card is, or what disabilities are covered, but based on the description so far I think the actions are consistent with the policies. Boarding between the A and B group with family boarding is what is described for passengers that "need extra time boarding" which may be appropriate depending on what your needs are.   https://www.southwest.com/html/generated/help/faqs/boarding_the_plane_faq.html   Do passengers with disabilities get to preboard? Preboarding is available for Customers who have a specific seating need to accommodate their disability and/or need assistance in boarding the aircraft or stowing an assistive device. Customers who are traveling with assistance and emotional support animals qualify for preboarding. If a Customer with a disability simply needs a little extra time to board, we will permit the Customer to board before Family Boarding, between the A and B groups. Those Customers who need extra time to board will receive a new boarding pass with an extra time designation. The designation serves as notification to our Operations (boarding) Agent that the Customer should be permitted to board before Family Boarding.   We will allow one travel companion...<snip>...Customers should request preboarding from our Customer Service Agent at the ticket counter or departure gate. Our Agents are trained to ask factfinding questions to determine if the Customer meets the qualifications described above.   Those Customers who qualify for preboarding will receive a new boarding pass with a preboarding designation. The designation serves as notification to our Operations (Boarding) Agent that the Customer should be permitted to preboard.   It's important to keep in mind that Customers who preboard may not occupy an exit seat.   Note: Customers who are preboarding because of a need for a specific seat onboard the aircraft should speak with the Operations (Boarding) Agent prior to the start of preboarding to alert the Agent to the seating need.     ... View more

I was about to say something went wrong if you had time to post this message, the twitter response is quite fast. ... View more

Basically for 15k points you need:   WGA fares at 6x points you'll need to spend $2,500 - this is probably exorbitant if these aren't flights you would otherwise be taking. BS fares at 12x points you'll need to spend $1,250 - this is much better, especially if you have the chance to spend your own money to upgrade to BS fare on flights you otherwise would already be taking. This might be three legs for instance, as opposed to WGA fares you'd be taking 10 or more legs to spend $2,500.   As @TheMiddleSeat has pointed out on several similar threads - make sure you plan to use companion pass enough to recover the extra money that you spend to achieve it.   You can also use Rapid Rewards shopping which could close the gap, but might be difficult to get 15,000 points solely through that method.   https://www.southwest.com/rapidrewards/how-to-earn     ... View more

There used to be one specific way to earn the companion pass in January by applying late in the prior calendar year so that the bonus point spending limit completed in January, and combine that with a Marriott hotel + flight package that would result in nearly all the needed points at the beginning of a calendar year time period.   That Marriott program is no longer eligible for companion pass points, but the idea is to earn the credit card bonus early in a year and then complete the remainder of the points as soon as possible in the same year so that you get CP for thet remainder of the first year, and all of the next.   Without that Marriott program there won't be many people doing that in January any longer, but if someone flys every week and throws in a Business Select fare every once in a while, and reimburses business expenses to their rapid rewards credit card, i can see it being earned in February or March with the bonus points, or by June or July for a road warrior reimbursing a lot from their credit card even without the bonus.   I'm sure many people are renewing theirs in September, October, November, and some nervous people in December. ... View more

Tier qualifying points, which should be for A-list or A-list preferred status.   I did mix that up, for companion pass you count the more general base points from all earning sources, here are a few other ways to get additional points:   https://www.southwest.com/rapidrewards/how-to-earn   60,000 from your bonus, 3 flights x $600 x 6 pts/$@WGA = 10,800 points...you'll be looking for the remaining 40,000 poins from spending on the credit card and other Rapid Rewards incentives.   If companion pass was a priority, you could upgrade some of your flights to Business Select and earn 12x points instead of 6x, and the cost is obviously higher...you can see that this would yield you 20,000 to 30,000 points towards CP or more, so maybe it would be doable then without spending $3,000 per month on the credit card.   There is also a 1x bonus for buying flights on the credit card, so that's an extra 1,800 points.   But overall if the plan relies on buying Business Select when you otherwise wouldn't do that, you'll need to figure out if spending some extra money will be balanced out by how often you'll have a companion with you vs buying tickets for the companion like usual.   ... View more

Earning the bonus will be a big chunk of it - so although you may not plan on renewing the CP in future years, the hurdle in 2018 may be smaller.   At 3 RT flights in a year and an average price $300 per trip that's $900 spent on flights, at WGA fare 6x points you get 5,400 points.   If all of these will be business select then the points will start to add up at 12x point value for fares that are 2-4x higher.   You can pick up some TQP from some of the cards but not all...but in a nustshell as they say at Southwest, you'd need the balance of points to come from spending which could be quite a bit depending on your flight habits.   "Easy" if you own your own business or maybe if you travel a lot...?   Once you have it I'm sure you'll try to fly a little more, and after you reach the hurdle you can start using some of those bonus points to fly more, with a companion.   ... View more

I think the problem is with consistent enforcement and that some of the airports will be lenient in this area, the wording in the policies is pretty clear to me that they don't allow the earlier boarding, that you would have to bump backwards to the highest common denominator.   See if you agree: https://www.southwest.com/html/generated/help/faqs/boarding_the_plane_faq.html         ... View more

Just to clarify - you already have your new identification in your married name?   On another thread it was suggested to go to twitter @SouthwestAir for this one. They'll ask you to DM with them - don't put your confirmation number on public channels.   They can probably get things synced up faster than calling the 800 number.   For less than two weeks the timing isn't great, but a Southwest employee posted this also:   Welcome to the Southwest Airlines Community and congratulations on your marriage! You will need to contact Southwest to change the name on your reservation. You will need to submit copies of your old and new state-issued identification cards or a copy of your marriage certificate. You can send the information to the Customer Relations/Rapid Rewards Department by mail at: P.O. Box 36647, Dallas TX, 75235 or by fax to 877-506-0154. Please include the confirmation number associated with your reservation. ... View more

In hindsight - it won't come up again if you maintain companion pass, but in case anyone else is reading - you might have considered booking him on points at the beginning as a backup, then when you earn companion pass cancel that one and your points are returned, and add your husband as companion.   It would work with cash too as long as he'd be traveling without you to use the travel funds that you would get back when you canceled the original flight. ... View more

Yes, you can add him as long as there are seats on the flight.   If it shows sold out, keep checking as there is often a little movement on availability closer to the date.     ... View more

This sounds like an error on their Rapid Rewards account - i.e. the name you typed in didn't match the look up name of the RR account.   It ironically might have worked if you just left off the RR information, but then they lose the ability to login and make changes themselves which is nice to have.   Can you have them log in and verify the name as shown in RR account? ... View more