Southwest Airlines Community

I would suggest that you invest in one of the Southwest blue bags for $15 (maybe $10? I forget) and you can put the car seat attached to the base inside the bag and it will be easily handled as one item - I'd curbside check that myself, but that's up to you.   If the car seat goes into the stroller, then instead I would take the stroller and car seat through the airport and put them in a blue bag for gate check together, then you can use them to get out of the airport too.   Agreed with the seat belt straps - if you'll be driving a limited amount or taking taxis/uber/lyft it works well to just use the belts instead of bringing the base along with you. If you'll be driving a long time in a rental car over several days, maybe the base makes sense.         ... View more

Or look for flight numbers that originate at your destination. Oviously your plans may not be that flexible in all cases, but it is one of the factors that I consider but have quite a few options being home base at MDW.   1) For multiple flights that work for me, choose one on a 737-800.   2) Prefer flight numbers originating with my ticket.   3) if it gets that far for a tie-breaker, on-time statistics.   ... View more

One of my strategies for this @elizbeeds is to take a screen shot of the confirmation screen in case no receipt shows up. It's easier on iPhone or iPad, but for a computer screen some can take a capture or else take a photo with your phone...better to have a backup in place if no email arrives. ... View more

Sorry to hear that @nutsoverSWA you have had a bad run in the luggage department.   The gate agent won't re-issue a boarding pass, but they will probably check your identification if you are allowed to deplane.   You can get up and use the plane restroom during the break after the through passengers are counted. And I'd encourage you to bring a snack from the origination airport for later. ... View more

I didn't get the graphic links, but I think this policy generally applies for size and content: https://www.southwest.com/html/customer-service/baggage/carryon-bags-pol.html   Nothing specific about coolers, other than of course it shouldn't have any liquids in it when you go through TSA and it will need to fit in the overhead bin or under the seat in front of you once you board.   No restrictions on the food temperature either that I'm aware of, but it may be difficult to get a sufficient quantity of ice once you are airside in the terminal. Ice packs would be allowed by TSA if they are completely frozen.   Southwest doesn't serve meals, so you may want to put a sandwich in there for the flight! ... View more

The passport idea is great, and if you have Global Entry that ID card is also valid at the TSA checkpoint in lieu of a driver's license. (I actually had been planning to use mine as primary ID at TSA if Illinois didn't sync up with the Real ID requirements.) ... View more

Worked for me this week, I think the functionality is restored. ... View more

@LindseyD @jan8776 this worked for me on my booking yesterday, I think schedule downloads may be back in action. ... View more

I'll add that if you take it as a carry on TSA may wish to have it out of the box during screening. ... View more

  The Early Bird position is assigned at 36 hours, and then you can "claim" it whenever you like prior to the flight - you are no longer beholden to the 24-hour check-in, Early Bird has already assigned your number waiting for you to view it anytime.   Technically you do still need to "check-in" which lets Southwest know that you intend to fly and for you to claim your boarding pass, but this won't affect your Early Bird position.     ... View more

Your Rapid Rewards account is only a membership, it's not a credit card or debit card.   Any refunds or credits from flights would be retained by Southwest using the confirmation number and the name on the reservation.   If you mean the Rapid Rewards Chase Visa, then it is a regular Visa with the rewards coming in the form of Southwest points.     ... View more

Midway for reference does actually open at 3:30 a.m. for security. For a 5:55 a.m. flight yesterday I came in at 5 a.m. no problems with carry-on and had time for breakfast and coffee.   60-90 minutes should be ample for domestic flights at that time of day and to check luggage. ... View more

I kind of doubt it, from the client side I haven't ever seen an option to combine points and cash for a single booking. The usual recommendation is to buy the extra points so that you could book things straight through in one reservation.   Depending on the relative prices today that might be an option to cancel and re-book all on points.   I'm not sure of the reason for requiring straight through on revenue flights, other than it's a pain to go retrieve checked bags and go through security again, and if the first leg is delayed or cancelled then you'd benefit from having everything in one reservation but I'm interested to hear if there is a reason from TSA or the international security organizations to do it that way.   I think part of that maybe was related to the old ticketing system, but you'd be better able to find out more details about that and let us know if that was the complicating factor...maybe its not an issue now? ... View more

It must be the points booking that threw things off so badly, it goes much more smoothly when its cash/voucher and you are all settled up the minute you walk away from the desk.    Thanks for sharing, members on the board will know to avoid bumping from points fares in the future, or make sure that it gets recorded correctly.   Although I did have a funny one on a voluntary bump earlier this year from Raleigh where the gate agent forgot to check-in my wife while still giving her a boardings pass. The flight attendants went through the cabin row-by-row taking names to find out who was on the plane that hadn't checked-in. We were joking that it couldn't be us because there were two of us - they would be looking for two people right? I guess they had only checked me in. To make it worse we were sitting way towards the back. ... View more

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.       ... View more

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. ... View more

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. ... View more

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?         ... View more

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! ... View more

Very limited upside to waiting, especially if the current price seems reasonable.       ... View more

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. ... View more

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. ... View more

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. ... View more

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. ... View more