Southwest Airlines Community

@Ezriah wrote: I was wondering, is it possible for a deaf person who cannot hear or speak to be a flight attendant? if a deaf person is actually becoming a flight attendant, I am sure they can find the way to able to communicate. Is this theoretical or do you know someone?   Definitely going to be some challenges. Especially on the single-aisle aircraft there isn't really a FA duty that doesn't require frequent verbal communication.   If this is serious the candidate may need to look at airlines with larger aircraft there could be a role, or else other positions at an airline if their goal is to work in aviation.       ... View more

@bec102896 wrote: If there are certain routes that only have a non stop one or 2 days a week I find them to be Saturday or Sunday so first search a random weekday (say Wednesday) if you don’t see a non stop search Saturday/Sunday then if you see a non stop then you will know usually the only non stop for that route is day specific for the schedule then you can just search flights on that particular day of the week. I know it’s a little extra work but once you see the trend of a schedule you can usually figure out what days a certain flight operates during that schedule.  You can also ask here and I’m sure some folks on here can help with telling you if a non stop from A to B exists.  That's a good method @bec102896 unfortunately the online tool can't be limited by day of the week or season (MDW to PNS for instance only during warmer weather but I fly the route only in January). ... View more

@Einhander wrote: But what I’m saying is if you fall let’s say $150 short for the 3 month period, then you would go back to 0 points? And then try again the next 3 months? No it is a one time bonus. You'll keep earning the regular spending.      ... View more

@allisonxo wrote: Does anyone know if the Graco Extend 2 fit 2-in-1 would fit? I’m traveling for a 1 day trip with my almost 3 year old and would prefer taking her car seat and installing on the plane as that’s safest but I’m unsure if it will be too wide.  Especially if you put the car seat in the window you'll want to be maybe towards the middle of the aircraft, you get a little extra room there compared to the front and back sections.   If kiddo will be flying often you may consider a safety harness - there's only one approved option: https://www.amsafe.com/kidsflysafe-com/   This may help on-board while allowing you to check the car seat. I had one kiddo that loved it and the second kiddo went straight to lap belt. Ants-in-his-pants couldn't stay in the harness.     ... View more

@CarlyeThornton wrote: Traveling is stressful enough as it is, and that’s why Southwest offers so many flexible policies to make the experience easier. How do you take advantage of these perks? I’m always boasting our two free checked bags policy to my friends and family. We love to have allllll the clothing options when travelling. I especially like taking swimwear and workout clothes that I never use. Couldn't take the extra gym shoes without the free checked bag though!     ... View more

@DancingDavidE wrote: @Niki_G wrote: I'm looking to fly out of either Buffalo or Rochester. I did check the low fare calendar. And, it just had an X over July 5th. I even checked flying out of Cleveland, but dame thing. Unfortunately, I may have to give up my discount and use another airline as I don't have the money to extend my vacation another day. Thanks! There must be a scaled back schedule on the 4th and 5th to/from PUJ, probably the planes are needed on domestic routes for holiday travel.   How's PIT for you?     These are the non-stops from PUJ, so you'd be connecting in one of these.   You could also try booking one-way to PUJ, and then "multi-city" on the return way back to get from PUJ through one of these cities, to BUF or ROC. There could be some combinations that open up that aren't on the pre-packaged list of destinations from PUJ.   Also if it was acceptable you might overnight on a multi-city route coming home in BWI for instance instead of staying in PUJ for an extra day, and get back earlier to BUF/ROC.   The graphic below is selecting PUJ as the origin and then checking non-stops to see which cities are directly connected with PUJ. This will show ROC/BUF as options for connections which don't work for you since this map is for all days, not date specific to the fifth which doesn't have service for some reason. *All of these non-stops might not be available on your date either, but there must be at least one open to get you to PIT, hopefully something convenient to BUF or ROC pops up.       ... View more

@Niki_G wrote: I'm looking to fly out of either Buffalo or Rochester. I did check the low fare calendar. And, it just had an X over July 5th. I even checked flying out of Cleveland, but dame thing. Unfortunately, I may have to give up my discount and use another airline as I don't have the money to extend my vacation another day. Thanks! There must be a scaled back schedule on the 4th and 5th to/from PUJ, probably the planes are needed on domestic routes for holiday travel.   How's PIT for you?     ... View more

Fun staff, companion pass, no change fees, and two free checked bags!     ... View more

@Lisahunt1231 wrote: Hello! I am looking to book a flight out of ATL on a Friday in May. It leaves at 8:05 am and arrives in Ft Lauderdale at 10:00. Then leaves for Montego Bay at 11:10am. We have always had a nonstop flight so want to make sure this is enough time for a layover in case first flight is delayed.  I read international flights board early? Any help you can offer is much appreciated. Thank you! TL;DR: If there is an earlier one go ahead and book it if it will help you not stress about your trip, but probably not necessary.   Full story - It will be tight if you are delayed. Is there an earlier option to standby from ATL to FLL? This may not be necessary - the timetable is built on Southwest expecting you to make it under normal circumstances. But try for it if you are having anxiety. Call in if weather is bad when the time for the flight comes and you may be able to change without paying for current fares.   An hour is usually enough - the "extra time" you hear about in articles is often with the other carriers flying 787, 777, A380's, etc. that carry many more passengers and it take a lot longer to board those huge aircraft. Southwest flying only 737's so the time might be a little longer for an 800/Max aircraft but generally sticking with the 30 minute time frame for any Southwest flight.   There is a minor extra amount of time for them to check that you have your passport but more like if boarding is 30 minutes prior then maybe it will be 40 minutes.       ... View more

@parpitt1 wrote: Bummer you had issues, that being said not alot of specific info is provided in your post When was the flight, March 10th? no date is provided? Was the baggage on the belt or at lost luggage, I mean if the SWA rep picked up the bag off the belt isn't a legit question for them to ask? Again, no details provided?  Since this a customer to customer forum you might want to contact SWA direct. (And provide specific details with dates, times, and names. Vagueness won't get you very far. Safe travels "Yeah I wanted to grab a sandwich, sorry I'm late." 😁 Have had this conversation a few times. Sometimes I'm not speedy getting to the carousel. It's fine (I'm reading between the lines that the luggage had been moved to the desk from the carousel already, but was there.)     ... View more

Is there a six-digit confirmation number listed on  your credit card transaction?   Then you can go here with the confirmation number and your name. https://www.southwest.com/air/manage-reservation/?clk=GSUBNAV-AIR-MNGRES     ... View more

@Waco523 wrote: I would like some help understanding the boarding process, and what to do when Southwest violates their own policy.   Case Scenario: Saturday 9 March 2024, Flight 2025 LGB-BNA, 737-700 143 seats. Departing Long Beach, non-stop to Nashville on an almost full flight, a large group (a school orchestra of about 50-60) was boarded immediately after Business Select - before the remainder of A and any of B group.  I'm not sure if they all had a boarding group assigned, but several accompanying parents had C-Group on their passes.  For additional context, it appeared that all of A & B group were full.  The Gate Agent announced that they would be boarding them early, but they would board the back of the plane (a standard practice at LGB) and seating them in the back.  Although, this still violates the boarding policy, I chose to be considerate and hopeful that seating would still work itself out...it did not.   The flight crew and gate agents were not coordinated, and no one managed this large boarding group.  I was able to board with family boarding (w/ my young son), but the rest of my family (3) were the last people to board - all with B35-37 boarding passes.   When I walked down the aisle, that large group had not boarded solely via the back door, but also the front; and they were not filling every seat back-to-front, rather they were fairly scattered throughout the plane ('mostly' toward the back).     What were/are my courses of action?     If I have to pay an additional fee to improve my boarding status, should I request a refund in equal amount for Southwest effectively downgrading my boarding status?   Anyone else experience such a thing? I have experienced this, it does usually go smoothly as the chaperones want the kids all together, and in light of the A-list and BS fare, etc. Southwest does want to prioritize those.   However I have also observed at BUR where there was front and rear simultaneous boarding that it is a melee, and people could get a better spot if they went to the back while the pre-boarders were still coming up the front entry with the ramp.   Unfortunately the combination of those two scenarios caused an issue this time.   I'd say this isn't the end of the world but feel free to reach out using the Contact Southwest Customer Service methods and you may be able to get a voucher.    As far as violating the rules, there is going to be some fine print about "follow the instructions of the staff" which will allow them to deviate when it is judged to be necessary. you may get a voucher after the fact.    This group boarding of young people on sports teams or school groups does happen occasionally, and probably especially right now during spring break time.   ... View more

@ZevSupport wrote: Wish SWA points worked for hotels/cars too! Your wish is my command: https://hotels.redeemrapidrewards.com/?utm_source=southwesthotels.com&utm_medium=text-link&utm_campaign=partner-placement&utm_term=global-navigation-hotel&utm_content=redeem-for-hotels   But it is also through a third-party, although different than the More Rewards provider:     ... View more

@skeeterks wrote: I booked a flight for some non-members for our trip and they have flight credits.  If I book another flight with the same non-members, how can I apply all the flight credits for each of us on the same reservation or do I need to reserve for everyone individually? You'll be able to use three forms of payment per online booking - how many others were there?   Also you can consider booking one-way tickets instead of round-trip to "increase" the number of methods of payment if you need to combine cash and travel credit.    In that case it might be pairs of two on the booking to use cash plus travel credit pax A and travel credit pax B.             ... View more

The system isn't perfect - but complaining to Southwest won't go too far, the legislation would have to be changed to require any sort of equivalent pre-boarding pass. That isn't a policy that Southwest can implement themselves.       ... View more

We have been through about five of these! Southwest Stroller Bag (swathestore.com)   They usually have them at the counter though, you don't have to buy them online.   I don't mean to say they aren't durable - they are definitely getting a workout.    Now we are only bringing the booster seats so on the tail end of it. No more strollers.     ... View more

@RobbyKC wrote: I am on a flight that is “not eligible for mobile pass”. As a result I can’t access my 2 free drinks for being A List Preferred. I don’t use them when traveling on business and finally on vacation and can’t use🙄 Ask the FA and they may be able to hook you up anyway if you explain the situation.     ... View more

@BearInThere wrote: I fly Southwest weekly and typically purchase an additional seat to be more comfortable. I’m a big guy and the seats have only gotten smaller. I don’t pre-board(it’s not on my boarding pass) and I don’t need a seatbelt extender.  I typically sit in the exit row and haven’t had a problem until this week. I was told I can’t sit in the exit row and forced to move even though I meet all of the criteria to sit in the exit row.  Can anyone provide clarification on this policy and point me in the direction of some documentation that prohibits me from sitting in the exit row?    Thanks!  The terms of the Customer of Size offer includes preboarding, there could be some mix-up here.   I'm not sure why it would or wouldn't print on your pass. That's an interesting wrinkle of course that you are obviously getting A-list status by flying weekly so you don't need preboarding to guarantee finding a spot with two seats.   I'm thinking as opposed to someone walking up and buying COS tickets that would have regular boarding position in the B or C groups and potentially not find two spots together.   I'd pursue the angle of whether the COS implies preboarding or not. Preboarding passengers are also not allowed to sit in the exit row regardless of disability.   Personally I'm a big but not too big guy and the empty middle seat tends to take care of itself.   Also make sure if the FA is there to help direct traffic move over and sit in the middle seat yourself while they stand in the aisle, then they'll hold the aisle for you at the same time it isn't possible for anyone to take the middle until the very end.   Or if you are taking the window encourage anyone who wants that aisle to take the middle temporarily while the FA is there.       ... View more

@dfwskier wrote: SW changed the app and chat s now "hidden," but here's how you can find it.   click on "helpcenter" click on "day of travel" cliuck on "I want to fly standby or make a same day change" and then a "chat" bubble will appear - allowing you to chat   I have to admit this is not a positive change. Is the chat limited to those activities?   I really enjoyed the chat when it first rolled out and was staffed.   Then when the bot came in it was no longer able to handle my "deep dive" requests, I already know how to do most of the basic activities that it was trying to help with as a bot.   Twitter still my go-to.     ... View more

@SoCalFlyer97 wrote: @dlockesf wrote: I'll be arriving from Mexico at LAX and transferring to a domestic flight.   I presume immigration and customs is at the Bradley terminal and the domestic flight leaves from T1.   Do I recheck my luggage at the Bradley terminal or do I have to take it to T1 myself?   Once you clear CBP, there appears to be a spot where you can re-check baggage there according the LAX map:     TBD on that one - since Southwest doesn't fly any international flights into LAX please clarify @dlockesf what airline you are bringing into LAX - since that may not be Southwest I wouldn't plan on having a Southwest luggage counter inside Bradley Terminal necessarily.   I would plan on taking it with you to T1 unless I'm mistaken.         ... View more

@Friasz1 wrote: One of the things I loved most about SW was that you could change flights at no cost. I knew this had changed, but not in the way I experienced last week. I booked what I thought was a flight for my kids from Denver to Las Vegas on Mar 10th. When I went to give them the checkin info I so I made a hug mistake and put it for the Mar 9th. I had to change the flight as my son was still in the middle of his baseball tournament. Originally I paid $150.42 for the 2 one ways. To change to the next day I had to $351.54. Totaling $501.96. This was a very expensive mistake. I expected to have to pay to change as I know you guys change that, but not pay over double what I originally paid. Unfortunately SW is no longer my favorite airline as this charged completely modified our family vacation.  This is the same as it has always been - there's not an explicit fee for changing (the legacy airlines at one point charged $100+ to make a change even if the fare was the same) - but you do have to pay the current fare. Especially if you realized the mistake the day before or same day then the fare difference has always had some tendency to be higher on short notice for airfare. If you had realized the mixup three weeks ago the fare may have been available at a lower current price.   In fact it is well-known among Southwest passengers that if the price drops after you purchased a ticket you can re-price it and take the extra as a flight credit.    I'm sorry this caught you by surprise - the last minute fares being high isn't universal but if the route has sold well the airline will be increasing the rate for those last few seats.   Even on partially sold flights the price often goes up in the three days prior to departure.    Here's a live example for ORD-DEN where Southwest is competing with United on this route and you can see the close-in dates are high and the further out are lower with some exceptions for Friday/weekends...but the idea holds.   I'd expect this pattern to roll forward each day with the higher priced flights close to the date and cheaper further out.         ... View more

@SoCalFlyer97 wrote:   4. If that still fails and you still paid the higher amount, it's possible there may be a serious glitch in the booking system related to your reservation. I would then try totally scrapping the original booking (i.e.: Cancel Flight) and do a fresh booking under a brand new confirmation number to see if you can lock in the lower pricing...Thank goodness that Southwest charges zero fees to cancel and rebook flights.   Since points are refundable this would be a great option as long as OP didn't purchase EBCI.     ... View more

@Invisibleman wrote: But as there seems to be no clear policy it seems every boarding is a crapshoot.  Will the Earlybird get me a decent spot?  Will there be Business Class upgrade at the gate.  Do I have the money for the upgrade.?  It shouldn't have to be like this.  Personally, I think any Senior Citizen should be afforded the convenience of early boarding, at LEAST the A1-15. There is a policy - if you need to be seated in a specific location you should tell the ticket counter or gate agent that, and you can preboard. I don't think you need to feel noble for not using the service - it's provided specifically for someone who has needs as you describe, go for it.     @Invisibleman wrote: Personally, I think any Senior Citizen should be afforded the convenience of early boarding, at LEAST the A1-15.  That's my humble opinion.  Thanks for listening.  Oh, BTW, I recently flew JetBlue out of necessity.  I never had before.  I ended up the D boarding, which I didn't even realize.  I went to the gate and asked if there was any upgrade boarding available.  The nice attendant asked for my ID, and handed me back an A boarding.  I asked how much I owe, and she said it was no charge.  She didn't say why she did that, but I appreciated it.  It really should be that simple and stress free. If the senior has any of the needs for accommodation then they also can go for it the policy is there for people that need an accommodation.    JetBlue a little different though - your seat assignment didn't change, but you can board early since you asked. Southwest obviously a little more complicated in this department since it is open seating and getting onboard earlier gets first access to seating.     ... View more

@tappingmom1 wrote: This is SWA baggage Policy: ... In total, a Customer is limited to check 20 pieces of checked baggage per flight. Whoa! 😳 ... View more

@jeremymSM1 wrote: I had already reached Companion Pass status last year for 2023 thru all of 2024.   Now with my +80,000 miles from the SW business card sign up and achievement...  it didn't push me over to all of 2025.   Here's my screenshot with no identifiable details: https://share.zight.com/X6uXXxym    Why didn't my companion pass rocket thru to 2025 like I expected?  Seems I shouldnt have gotten the SW biz card until 2025 if I wanted companion pass in2025 if I already had it for 2024. 😞   -Jeremy It resets January 1st of each year - so earning a big bonus in 2024 and other points already it sounds like you made it for 2024/2025 already - congrats!   Those points are not tier qualifying though, A-list and A-List Preferred are only from flights and with a little bit from credit card spending but not point for point, and none from the bonus points.     ... View more

@Pauly1969 wrote: I have 9 items 2 baggage and 2 boxes under size and under weight 50p it's that free and I have 7 boxes under weight 50p to 90p and under 80inches I taking a one way trip I came across some thing paper that says weight size and allowance it say if it's not over weight 51 to 100 pound and under 80 inches cost $75.00 per item only on a one way flight i just need to know that's is true As noted below $75 may be out of date. I'm not quite tracking the 9 items but then it says 2 baggage and 2 boxes and then 7 boxes so that's 11 pieces - do you mean 2 traditional luggage items that are "included" as your two free items, and then nine additional items of which two are at the $100 rate as additional complying items and 7 are at the overweight/size category $125...   So I think approximately $1,075 but I'm not confident with the sizes/weights and quantity so please re-review but hopefully this is enough to get you started. (And most likely considering using shipping services, or even Southwest Cargo.)         ... View more

There used to be a group to contact but the last I've seen is that everything is through partnerships and they are not taking unsolicited requests right now.     ... View more

@Niki_G wrote: I'm trying to find a round trip flight from New York state (on June 27th) to Punta Cana, returning on July 5, 2024. Every time I search I only get flights to Punta Cana and and error message for the return flight. Why is that? If the flight from Punta Cana is leaving later in the day it may be hard to get a connection back to NY allowing enough time for customs, etc.   Which NY airports are you considering?   Can you use the low-fare finder to see if moving travel by a day would work if there is a different schedule on other days of the week?             ... View more