Southwest Airlines Community

@jksobonya wrote: @chgoflyer wrote: @jksobonya wrote: @133431852 wrote: As I was reapplying for my TSA pre, I learned that I can use my Southwest points for the fee (9000 points). I went through the form on SW and made the purchase. It said something about mailing the code? Is it not transferred electronically or via email? I'd like to get it done now, since we live in the future with the internet and stuff. My question is: Do I have to wait for the snail mail to arrive to use the TSA-pre code I purchased? Thanks. When did you do this? The ability to redeem More Rewards has been suspended for some time due to the pandemic:   Due to circumstances resulting from COVID-19, we have temporarily paused the ability to redeem points in More Rewards. We are sorry for the inconvenience and hope to resume normal operations soon. Thank you for your patience and grace during this time.   ---------------   Still, once it's up and running again if I can get TSA pre-check for just 9,000 points, that sounds like an awesome deal!   --Jessica   I keep seeing this info mentioned here, but it's absolutely not true. More Rewards is still available. This is what I get when I log into the "More Rewards" portal, which is why I said what I said. The text from my previous post is verbatim right from this link when you click "Explore Rewards" -- https://www.southwest.com/rapidrewards/redeem-more-rewards      --Jessica   Again, More Rewards is currently limited to only those with a Southwest Rapid Rewards Visa card by Chase. ... View more

@dfwskier wrote: I see no registration requirement.   The only rule is that travel to Hawaii must be done no earlier than 15 days from the date you are fully vaccinated.   There is nothing on the site that says you need to prove it. To be safe, keep a copy of your CDC card with you.   https://www.gohawaii.com/travel-requirements   Edit add:  I checked again and people  and  coming to Hawaii from the far east must register, but not those coming from the US.         This is incorrect.   All travelers to Hawaii need to create an online account and register with the State of Hawaii’s Safe Travels program. This is where you'll upload your proof of vaccination, as well as complete your pre-entry health form and receive your QR code. That code should allow you to pre-clear at your departing airport, and avoid long lines at your arrival point.   This is a bit confusing, lots of details here:   Most-asked questions about the State of Hawaii’s Safe Travels Hawai‘i program   Southwest's info regarding pre-clearance here:   https://www.southwest.com/coronavirus/hawaii/         ... View more

@jksobonya wrote: @133431852 wrote: As I was reapplying for my TSA pre, I learned that I can use my Southwest points for the fee (9000 points). I went through the form on SW and made the purchase. It said something about mailing the code? Is it not transferred electronically or via email? I'd like to get it done now, since we live in the future with the internet and stuff. My question is: Do I have to wait for the snail mail to arrive to use the TSA-pre code I purchased? Thanks. When did you do this? The ability to redeem More Rewards has been suspended for some time due to the pandemic:   Due to circumstances resulting from COVID-19, we have temporarily paused the ability to redeem points in More Rewards. We are sorry for the inconvenience and hope to resume normal operations soon. Thank you for your patience and grace during this time.   ---------------   Still, once it's up and running again if I can get TSA pre-check for just 9,000 points, that sounds like an awesome deal!   --Jessica   I keep seeing this info mentioned here, but it's absolutely not true. More Rewards is still available.   However, More Rewards is currently limited to only those with a Southwest Rapid Rewards Visa card by Chase.   With regards to the OP's question: The Product Details (below) make it seem like you need the physical certificate, to be presented at your TSA PreCheck interview.   TSA Precheck is an expedited security screening program connecting travelers departing from airports within the United States with smarter security and a better air travel experience. Allows greater confidence in travel planning and a more predictable experience Facilitates a convenient, more efficient security screening process Available at over 180 airports When screening, no need to remove: shoes, laptops, 3-1-1 liquids, belts or light jackets. Receipt of the Code does not guarantee that an applicant's application for TSA Precheck will be approved, and no replacement Code will be issued or other compensation will be made regardless of your eligibility outcome.   How to purchase an authorization code for TSA Precheck: Redeem your points to receive a certificate with your authorization code Fill out a TSA Precheck application online or at an enrollment center Once you receive your certificate, schedule an appointment at your local TSA Precheck enrollment center Present the authorization code in lieu of payment ($85 for one-time use, expires in 5 years) Once points are redeemed for a Code, the Code is not returnable, exchangeable, refundable or redeemable for cash, credit or previously purchased items under any circumstances, even if lost stolen, destroyed or expired. All handling and upgraded shipping fees are non-refundable. Certificates expire; please review and note the expiration date printed on the bottom of your certificate. Certificates must be used before the expiration date. Offer subject to change without notice. TSA Precheck benefit not guaranteed on all flights or at all airports. Visit the TSA Precheck Website to find more details.   THIS AWARD IS FOR NEW APPLICANT'S ONLY.     In any case, you should direct your question to More Rewards, using their web form. They should be able to help you.     A final note: Be aware that using Rapid Rewards points for anything other than Southwest airfare is generally not an awesome deal. For example, you'll pay the equivalent of $115 to purchase the $85 TSA PreCheck.   [edited to add] I just noticed the OP referenced PreCheck renewal -- unfortunately the terms and conditions state the code is only good for new applicants. 😞     ... View more

@dfwskier wrote: Didn't know that     It was news to me too.  ... View more

@dfwskier wrote: @CupCrusher40 wrote: were   the   eariler     business    select? There is another way it could happen. When passengers cancel or no show for a flight their boarding positions become available again. When passengers cancel or no show their boarding positions become available.   So a passenger that checks in an 60 minutes before boarding would get A16 if the person holding A16 cancels 61 minutes before departure.   If a of A-List or EB purchasers group cancels less than 24 hours before departure time , then potentially lots of "better" boarding positions would become available    FYI: Actually, Southwest stopped the practice of re-using boarding positions quite some time ago (according to a Southwest rep in this thread over on FlyerTalk). ... View more

LOL. Southwest doesn't do involuntary denied boarding. They barely do voluntary denied boarding. Haven't for years. They'll just say it was weather and issue a refund of the fare paid. Expecting anything else is simply fantasy, sad as that is.                 ... View more

Southwest is overwhelmed and understaffed right now. Not an excuse, just a fact. They reduced staff during the pandemic, and haven't built that back up. Then they had multiple days of system outages, so the hits just kept coming.   They've eliminated the direct phone line to Customer Relations, so the only way to contact that department is via Twitter or Facebook. (They've also eliminated the ability to create a new post on their Facebook page, presumably so that agents can focus on direct messages.)   Some people are reporting quicker responses via Twitter, so creating an account there may be beneficial.   There are people reporting never receiving a response (except for the auto-reply) while there are people reporting a quick reply, so it's unclear what method they're using to prioritize requests (if any).   You could also use the "email" reply form.   Unfortunately, this is just how things are post-pandemic. To my eyes, the state of "customer service" across all industries is woefully inadequate. ... View more

Oh, sorry. I assumed by "buy points" you were referring to points purchases, not hotel reservation upgrades. ... View more

@gsking wrote:     Why buy points at all?   Mainly to get to a Companion pass.     Otherwise,  it doesn't really make sense.   Unless of course someone else is paying for the hotel.    Purchased points are not Companion Pass Qualifying.         ... View more

1) Southwest has devalued Rapid Rewards points multiple times. Generally they do so about every 2 years.   2) Points are sold through a 3rd party who presumably would like to make a profit. Even though they buy them from Southwest at a discounted rate, they'll always sell them for more than their value.  ... View more

100% inappropriate. ... View more

Maybe for the 100th anniversary they can choose a better sweepstakes promotion partner. 😉   ... View more

Southwest's Baby on Board section is somewhat confusingly written. If the infants have paid seats you won't need to show anything, but I suspect a photo copy of the birth certificate would suffice if you did. Immunization records are also acceptable for age verification (when traveling with a lap child).   The last names of the children and accompanying adult(s) do not need to match. ... View more

I mean, you could just log in to your loyalty account, which is how most companies handle sweepstakes.    ¯\_(ツ)_/¯   (Southwest is apparently using an outside 3rd party to provide the contest function for them.) ... View more

@bec102896 wrote: So after the horrific outage in July 2016 all affected were given a 50% off a future flight code. Wonder if they will do the same this time or proactive vouchers.        I doubt they'll do anything like that again.   This is definitely pulling focus from their 50th Anniversary celebration. 😞     ... View more

Just a note that if you're trying to refare any existing flights to take advantage of the sale, you'll need to CANCEL and then REBOOK using the promo code, not just use the CHANGE FLIGHT function.   This is verified on Points bookings, it may or may not apply to cash ones (I'm unable to verify).   The CHANGE function doesn't allow the use of a promo code, fyi. ... View more

I'm so glad I noticed this when comparing my booked fares. I just saved 9,000+ points canceling & rebooking 2 flight legs.   Note: I'm unable to verify if cancel / rebook is necessary for cash fares as I have no cash fares booked at the current time. ... View more

OK -- MAJOR CORRECTION TO THE ABOVE.   It would appear that, with the SAVE50 sale, you do actually need to CANCEL and then REBOOK (not CHANGE) in order to receive the correct sale fares -- for POINTS bookings.   Because the CHANGE function doesn't allow the use of a promo code, and the promo code is needed in order to receive the sale fares on points bookings, you'll need to cancel and then use the promo code when you rebook.     ... View more

  You don't need to enter the promo code for cash fares during the sale period, but you do need to for points bookings. Enter the code on the main Southwest webpage, right under the dates of travel. You can verify the sale price: you'll see a higher price with a strike-out, and the lower price shown. Yes, base fares did increase overnight (some significantly) but there are still some good deals to be found, especially near the end of October (in my research -- ymmv depending on routes).   ... View more

The only time you should need to use cancel / rebook is if your flight is "protected" (covered by a waiver that allows no-cost changes) and you've determined that the new fare would actually be lower than the one you have OR IF THERE IS A PROMO CODE INVOLVED AND YOU HAVE A POINTS BOOKING. (See below!)   (Or, if you're trying to take advantage of a new promotion that requires flights to be booked during a certain time period. You would need to cancel / rebook in that case.)   Otherwise, the change function should work. ... View more

You do this at the Southwest website. Look for the "Check In" button. ... View more

Assuming you mean points (Southwest doesn't use miles), yes. You can use your points to purchase fares for anyone. This is actually a great use of points, since they're fully refundable if you need to cancel -- vs having travel funds that are linked to a specific person only. ... View more

If you received a C position at exactly t-24, it's most likely that your flight is a continuing leg of another connecting flight or flights. Those who have booked the connecting flight can check in t-24 for their originating flight's departure, which is earlier than when you can check in. This gives them a better position for the connecting flight than is possible for you to receive. ... View more

I'd use Twitter dm for the quickest reply.   FYI: The "chat" function in the app has been down more than it's been up for the past several weeks (at least).   ... View more

Actually, no. You can't change it online.   You cannot change online the destination of outbound leg only of a round trip. (If you select only the outbound to be changed, you'll see the arrival airport "grayed out" -- unable to be changed.) You can change the initial departure airport, but the destination city will remain the same as the return flight's departure. (Accordingly, you can't change the departure airport on the return leg of a round trip either. )   You'll need to call and have the change made for you, or have the round trip split into two one-way flights, and then make the desired change to the outbound flight yourself.   Customer Relations should be able to split the reservation for you. Reaching out to them via Twitter or Facebook Direct Message is likely quicker than calling Customer Service.   Contact Customer Relations    Alternately, as suggested above, you could cancel only the outbound portion of your flight, then book the flight to the new destination using the travel funds from the canceled flight (paying any additional fare difference if necessary.) ... View more

@jksobonya wrote: @chgoflyer wrote: I'm no longer getting the emails, so I've stopped entering. Most of the prizes aren't really worth the trouble anyway. I will go back though and enter on June 18 when the prize pool is much larger.   I do have to wonder about whoever put this promotion together. Waiting for luggage is one of the least fun aspects of flying, so crafting a promo around it is pretty perplexing, IMHO. And making people enter all their info every day, and then click on three different items just to find out they've lost doesn't exactly engender positive feelings about Southwest. Plus some of those "prizes" are pretty silly, to the point of being insulting. 50 points, worth $0.60? That should be the default you win just for entering. smh I get my e-mails every day. And lol at clicking 3 times "just to find out they've lost..." Oh what a chore! Not everyone loses though 😉 It's just a game, lighten up!! If you refuse to play and then don't win as a result, you have no one to blame but yourself.    I'm happy with my 50 points, and if that's all I win, that's fine, but I'm optimistic. 😉 Several others have already won more!   --Jessica   I tried again today, and the email showed up immediately. (I still haven't received any for the last few days.)   I'm glad you're enjoying it.     ... View more

I'm no longer getting the emails, so I've stopped entering. Most of the prizes aren't really worth the trouble anyway. I will go back though and enter on June 18 when the prize pool is much larger.   I do have to wonder about whoever put this promotion together. Waiting for luggage is one of the least fun aspects of flying, so crafting a promo around it is pretty perplexing, IMHO. And making people enter all their info every day, and then click on three different items just to find out they've lost doesn't exactly engender positive feelings about Southwest. Plus some of those "prizes" are pretty silly, to the point of being insulting. 50 points, worth $0.60? That should be the default you win just for entering. smh ... View more