Southwest Airlines Community

Sorry about your experience. But I think that's an anomaly. And it seems reactionary to take your business elsewhere after a single incident. Keep in mind that you could experience a rude gate agent with any carrier. ... View more

It is their call. Keep in mind that these inconsistencies happen because all flights are different, and there's certainly information you or I don't and will likely never know. Crew time outs, connections down stream, etc. I totally understand that it's hard not to take these things personally, and it's never fun when you're on the receiving end, but ultimately if your husband had been at the gate before t-10 he would have been able to board. ... View more

So, he was denied boarding at 7:40am? Or at 8:01am? ... View more

The latest Southwest email (that includes the CP changes and no-show policy update for points bookings) includes a vague reference to "New ways to redeem RR points," so I suspect some changes to More Rewards are coming -- or possibly even a new points-redemption partner altogether.   ... View more

It does look like the Travel section of More Rewards has been removed, or in the case of Rental Car redemptions, is "down for maintenance." Chase is still showing Travel redemption in their marketing materials for SWA credit cards, so presumably it will return at some point. Maybe.     ... View more

Yes. And since vouchers can't be used to pay the taxes and fees portion, you can choose to have that refunded to the credit card used when you cancel.  ... View more

Travel funds are what you have when you cancel a flight. They're held under the confirmation number.  ... View more

Vouchers are never extended.   If you're referring to travel funds, you can call and ask the value be reissued as a voucher. The usual fee is $100, which is deducted from the balance, but there are reports some fees are being waived. The voucher will be valid for 6 months from date of issue.  ... View more

Also, while not particularly helpful in this situation, something to keep in mind for the future. Even though you received notifications that your flight was delayed, you should still arrive at the airport in time for the original departure. Often with lengthy delays Southwest will do a plane swap and the flight will end up going out more or less on time. That didn't happen here, but being at the airport earlier might have enabled you to be moved to a different itinerary that may have got you home that evening. (This of course is completely dependent upon the airport and the frequency/availability of flights.)   Unfortunately, as you're discovered, air travel is particularly fraught potential issues this summer.  ... View more

You mention that your cousin received "bonus points," but not how many. Since the referral offer sometimes includes less points than the "usual" sign-up bonus, some who receive the referral navigate to a different page which offers a larger bonus. Doing so means the person making the referral receives nothing. This is often the cause of the issue you are reporting.     ... View more

The policy is relatively new, and the website is correct. And the reps you've spoken with are wrong. Definitely a training issue.   From this page: Tiers & More A-List     ***If there’s an open seat on a different flight that departs on the same calendar day as your original flight and it’s between the same cities, you can get a seat on the new flight free of airline charges. If there isn’t an open seat on this different flight, you can ask a Southwest Gate Agent to add you to the same-day standby list for a flight between the same city pairs that departs on the same calendar day prior to your originally scheduled flight, and you will receive a message if you are cleared on the flight. For both the same-day change and same-day standby benefits, you must change your flight or request to be added to the same-day standby list at least 10 minutes prior to the scheduled departure of your original flight or the no-show policy will apply. Based on the flight status contact preference selected during booking, the message regarding your standby status will be an email or text message with a link to access the boarding pass via the Southwest app, mobile web, or you can visit a Southwest Gate Agent to print off the boarding pass. If there are any government taxes and fees associated with these itinerary changes, you will be required to pay those. Your original boarding position is not guaranteed. Important: These benefits are available only by seeing a Southwest Gate Agent or calling 1-800-I-FLY-SWA®. If you change your flight through any other channel or to a flight that does not meet the requirements outlined above, you will be responsible for the difference in price.   ... View more

Also, if it's close remember to put the back into the overhead compartment wheels out. ... View more

Here's a hopefully helpful suggestion: Do as they say, then cancel that flight. You'll then have a credit in the new name. Use this credit along with your other credits to book the travel you need, as all will be under the same name. ... View more

To be clear, you will have to contact Southwest to request the refund. Upon cancellation the full amount will be converted to travel funds. Once you reach out they'll refund the refundable portion.  ... View more

In case it's not obvious from the above posts, anyone can get around the "no taxes/fees" rule on Vouchers by applying them to a booking and immediately cancelling it (refunding the taxes/fees back to the credit card used), then using the resulting Travel Funds to make the final purchase, and Travel Funds have no such restriction.   As noted above, be careful with passenger names as Travel Funds are only usable by the originally named passenger. ... View more

@JEG wrote: I agree with the flyer. Southwest changed the flight, and changed its promise. It should make good on this.    You might want to read the OP again. Southwest didn't change anything. ... View more

Preboarders always board before Business Select. This is so Southwest complies with federal regulations governing air travel rights of the disabled.   The seats in row 1 are almost always going to contain preboarders. Those using a wheelchair, crutches, or are in a cast, or who have other mobility issues, will often be placed there by flight crew.   As noted above, paying for Business Select just for the boarding position doesn't make sense. For a number of reasons, not the least of which being that you can purchase Upgraded Boarding at the gate and receive a similar A1-15 position for much less cost.   Southwest no longer transports emotional support animals. And families with kids don't preboard, they board after the A group.   There are, of course, more than 6 seats with extra legroom on a Southwest plane. But for some people, inexplicably, the only desirable seats are in row 1. Personally, I've never understood the attraction. There is limited overhead storage, no under seat storage, and the seats are noticeably narrower than others on the plane (partially due to the awkward tray table location in the armrests). That row is almost certain to be full, even on flights that aren't. Plus there's the risk, after seated, of being moved to accommodate a late-connecting handicapped traveler. In my opinion, the downsides far outweigh the upsides.   I often board at mid-A (or later) and easily score my preferred seat in the exit row -- one that also offers extended legroom, but without the negatives of row 1.   Sadly, it's frequently repeated here -- often by the same particular customers --  that, "'fake preboarders' stole their seat!" Seats they mistakenly thought they were entitled to as a BS purchaser. Which, of course, simply isn't the case. You'd think that after multiple experiences this would become obvious.   Business Select offers benefits which may be of value to you. For many those are primarily refundability and increased points earning. Buying it specifically for the boarding position -- and expecting that position to guarantee you a seat in row 1 -- is simply a mistake. ... View more

@kJung wrote: I too have travel funds expiring.  Normally I don't change reservations after making them, but recently SW has been forcing changes, and giving us AWFUL connections, hence the changes to other airlines.  This has happened to me more than twice in recent memory!   So, it seems the solution to the problem is to not book on SW until they fix their current flight issues, or improve the possibility of not losing your hard earned money due to THEIR changes.   If Southwest made any changes to your flight you can request a full refund, back to the original form of payment.   ... View more

In general, I've found its usually best to book directly with the hotel chain, as it eliminates many of these types of issues. ... View more

Southwest's (and it's partner's) offers are often targeted. This means that some people will receive different offers than other people do. And some people may not receive any offer at all. If an offer is targeted, it will say in the fine print something to the effect of "offer is only valid for member receiving this email ..."   For example, previously a single points purchase offer included 35%, 40% & 45% versions sent to different segments of members. Lately though, the points purchase offers have tended to be the same for all members, tiered, based on number of points purchased.   As mentioned up-thread, buying points is usually a bad idea, except in some specific situations (like needing just a few points to "top off" for a particular fare purchase, or when "refundability" is a priority.)     ... View more

Unfortunately, as you've discovered, even with a "delay" a flight can still go out more-or-less on time. The factors that cause delays can come and go, and planes can be swapped to accommodate need. Even with a posted delay you still need to be at the airport in time to board your flight as originally scheduled. This is one of those unfortunate realities of air travel (now exacerbated by post-pandemic staffing complications) that seasoned travelers learn to take in stride. ... View more

Yes, the A-List function that recognizes you by your phone number (or entering your A-List number) has been down for the last several days. ... View more