Southwest Airlines Community

I believe you should be able to do this. Go into the "My Flights" section online and you can change only the return flight, and then as you select the desired flight you should be advised as to what payment is required to make the change.   You cannot combine cash and points, but my understanding is that the "cash equivalent" methods should be able to combine with a supplemental cash payment, up to maybe three modes of cash equivalent payment can be combined.   You aren't giving up your existing flight until you change to the new one, so you might as well click through and see what it says before any more of the Wanna Get Away fares are sold and the prices go up. ... View more

Yes, the bonus process should start after that second billing statement. ... View more

@rhamill45 Make sure that what you saw wasn't that you hold off earning the spend threshhold in January. SWA only knows that you spent the money during a particular billing cycle, not that you have paid Chase at any particular time.   Pointsguy and other sites elaborate on how to get a jump start on 2017 earning by deferring that bonus point award into the next year, but you would not have any of the 2016 points to start from.   I hope it worked out that you got the CP for 2017. Next time you might need to take a day trip to push it over if you are close in late December.     ... View more

I wanted to clarify @richkendziorski - If you haven't flown yet - the upgrade to "Business Select" gives you upgraded boarding position and a beverage on that flight. It also gives you 12x points instead of 10x (anytime) or 6x (wanna get away) and is refundable.   Earning points obviously only apply when you paid for a fare instead of redeeming points for that fare.   It isn't the same as "Business Class" on other airlines where the seats are different or other amenities. Southwest is a single class of service on every flight.   At times when I need a Business Select fare because that is all that is available - usually due to last minute schedule changes - I would always purchase it and earn the 12x points instead of redeeming my points for that price of fare. ... View more

They still need to check in - if you are attempting to save two seats it will be a lot more comfortable for you if they are in the B's or early C's instead of last to board.   You may be subject to some grumbling if you are holding a row for the last two people to board! ... View more

You will still likely be able to sit together in the B-Group, although not necessarily having your choice of window seats. If you don't opt for Early Bird, be sure to check in exactly 24 hours in advance of the flight to get the best position available.   My experience is mixed - most of the times I have seen people move if a family ends up getting on late in the boarding. You have to ask though, people are less likely to jump up if you don't initiate. You can check with the flight attendant who may also be able to ask on your behalf if it comes to that.     ... View more

I also suggest calling, which has worked for me in the past. ... View more

A-List check-in is also before the Early Bird check-in, so if the difference you are talking about is from A16 to A30, that could be the difference.   Especially if the route has a lot of business travelers there could be many A-List people. ... View more

I see! Our little one is past her 20th leg already, but we had exclusively brought her on as a lap baby until this most recent flight.   The flight wasn't sold out so the gate agent told us it would be fine to bring the car seat on board which we tried...it was handy to have a secure seating for her, we may try that again.   I'll look into this and check back. Although we'll probably stick to lap baby for now, it will be good to know the options.   @LindseyD I had another idea for a dedicated board - "traveling with kids!" ... View more

Regarding the questiong about "revenue" flights - the companion pass could be earned by points, but also by number of flights taken - only flights that were paid for would count towards the total, if your boss takes any flights that are paid for with points then these won't count as revenue flights.   ...But it sounds like you were pursuing the points method. Hopefully he made it. If he turns out to be close again next year, consider a strategic upgrade to business select to bump up to 12x points if it is that close. ... View more

Let us know how it worked out @RockSquad. I would consider 18k points to be a little ways away, but within striking distance when you posted in November.   I had understood that the points for a flight would apply on 12/31 even if they posted the next day but I'm interested to have that clarified. Credit card points would come on the billing cycle, but as you mention those aren't applicable for preferred status.   One approach for next year - assuming you fly for business a lot to be in range of preferred - if you have to reimburse the lowest fare Wanna Get Away, maybe you can pay the extra out of pocket to upgrade to Business Select a few days ahead of time to earn the 12x points on one or two flights while you only expense the WGA fare to the client.   As another poster mentioned - to maximize flexibility for a case like this, book separate one-way tickets so that you don't have to upgrade the round trip to Business Select, you could do it individually for each leg.   I'm fortunate to fly out of Midway so I had many low-cost options when I was in a similar position and looking to make a day trip at the end of 2016. Crunching the numbers to earn the points it was cheaper to take a short day trip to MSP on a Business Select fare than take a longer WGA fare to get the points.   Anyway - I hope it worked out for you! ... View more

@sarahsmith do you know if points can be used for the child fare? Ours is still only 9-months so we have a while as a lap baby, but I'm thinking ahead... ... View more

I think it serves a perfectly fine niche where business travelers on those 18% of more frequent routes will book the later return flight but might finish up their appointments early.   There's not enough time to do anything else in the city so head back to the airport - if you can get on the earlier flight without paying extra then great, if not you end up working at the airport just like usual.   I'm not sure why the grief about adding this perk, certainly it will be used less than other benefits but it isn't worthless. I think it formalized what might have been allowed in some cases at the gate agent's discretion before this benefit was announced. If it doesn't apply to you, then who cares?   Regarding the OP, the "Stories" section is meant to be about experiences, I agree you are in the right place as a discussion topic and not as a story. A story about how a flyer did or didn't standby for an earlier flight on the same day would be a pretty boring story anyway.   @coolwz i think you are right, this is a way to maintain the time of day fare structure while letting frequent customers travel one flight earlier without making them pay a couple hundred bucks.   ... View more

Thanks for clarifying @chgoflyer - I didn't realize that passengers who apply for TSA Pre but not through Global Entry wouldn't also have an equivalent ID card, I'll be sure to specify Global Entry Card in the future in any responses. ... View more

I think to summarize, two bags that are under 50 lbs weight (including ski gear as one of them) would be cheaper than one overweight bag including everything since you get two free checked bags, and one of them can be ski equipment.   ... View more

I can't speak to the 8-week (or less?) waiting period, but the trigger should be on the first complete billing cycle that you have spent the required amount. ... View more

TSA Pre is never guaranteed, but but my wife and I have successfully used the approach to re-print at the counter in the past to have the KTN added, and earn PreCheck on a boarding pass.   I would bring the TSA card with you and not rely on looking it up from your profile.   You may also be able to call SWA tonight or in the morning (use your A-list phone number if you are A-list) and have the KTN added to the reservation in advance and then download again or reprint tomorrow. ... View more

There wouldn't be an unlimited accomodation if the flights were on time...i.e. he didn't make it to the gate even though planes were on schedule, or decided to run downtown for lunch and try to catch a later flight.   SWA would certainly rebook if the inbound flight to Dallas was late and that caused him to miss.   I'd like to think they would help him out if he just missed the flight due to illness or other inability to make it to the next gate, connection was too tight, etc...AND as long as he showed up at the gate shortly after take-off for the missed flight.   I'm sure there must be some cutoff where he'd have to buy a new ticket to the original destination as a no-show.   If he wanted to stay in Dallas as the other poster mentioned, plans change that's fine - double-check, if there are wanna get away fares for the same price remaining to Dallas, just change the reservation and make it official. No change fees! Otherwise as a courtesy let the gate agent know that he isn't going to show so they don't wait for him or hold his spot.     ... View more

Also Fritos for the gluten-free crowd, yay! ... View more

Yes, you'll have a credit online using the six-digit code and your name. Just make sure the expiration dates will work.   Keep an eye on the schedule so that you can book right away when the new dates are released and get another Wanna Get Away fare.   At that time you'll have the credit applied and pay any difference in fare. (Or retain credit if the future flight is cheaper.)   David   ... View more

If you don't fly often and this is a nervous process for you then maybe the early bird for everyone is the least amount of stress for a moderate upcharge (remember all that money you saved on free checked bags compared to the competition!). Also if you might have trouble checking in exactly 24-hours prior then this might be a good safety net.   A slight modification of the poster above - most people on the plane are not going to begrudge you saving a seat or two for your kids. Maybe have one of younger kids also do early bird so that two people get on in A-group or early B-group and each of you can hold a spot pretty easy. The middles don't go that quickly so really you just need two or three earlier boarding spots, but not for the 12-yo as you won't have any trouble saving that middle seat.   As the person mentioned above, it would probably work to just check-in at the 24-hour mark exactly and see how it goes, people on-board are usually accomodating for children to sit by parents, or at least by their sibling. Just ask nicely and let the flight attendant help if you are really stuck. Not sure if you are looking at 2x2 (need two aisle/windows) or 3+1 (need three aisle/windows). Maybe the local airport has a generous interpretation of "six year old" family boarding but you'd want to have a backup plan in place in case they are firm on it.     ... View more

A sort of "A16.5" position for the companion...add a half to insert them into the order after the primary. ... View more