Southwest Airlines Community

Doing the above is a great idea when nothing else works, but doing so removes the fare protection, meaning that you'll likely pay much more for the new flight. 😞   Another option is to search other carriers, and then request a full refund of the cancelled Southwest flight. This will also likely cost more. ... View more

At ATL, Southwest uses only concourse C, gates 1-7, 9, 10, 12-17, 20-22. At worst you'll have a maybe a 5-10 minute walk. ... View more

(Not what the OP asked, but to clarify...)   Hotel partner points transfers are still eligible for Companion Pass qualification, but only through March 31, 2017. ... View more

U.S. Department of Transportation regulations require that, as long as you've booked a non-refundable ticket 7 days ahead of your flight, you're entitled to cancel your reservation within 24 hours of booking for a full refund. If the passeneger has checked in and has a boarding pass, but it's less than 24 hours since purchase, the rule doesn't apply since it's less than the 7 day period.   Southwest's published rules however, appear not to require the 7 day advance purchase period:     For nonrefundable reservations within 24 hours of booking: If you call or cancel online at Southwest.com within 24 hours of booking, Southwest will offer you the option of refunding the airfare back to the original form of payment, or retaining the credit to be used toward future travel.   Meaning that, you are due a full refund if you cancel within 24 hours, even if you've been checked in or issued a boarding pass, even on a Wanna Get Away fare.   Senior Fares are refundable. Just like Anytime of Business Select, you're due a full refund back to the original form of purchase upon cancellation, regardless of timing.   One significant policy change effective for travel after May 9 limits that refundability however. You can receive a full refund only if you've made no change to the itinerary. If any change is made, you can cancel for travel funds only -- just like a WGA fare. So it's very important now to not ever change a refundable fare (Senior, Anytime, BS) but instead to always cancel for full refund and then rebook.   An exception to the refund policy is if you've used a Southwest Gift Card for the booking. The terms of the Gift Card say that any refunds -- even within 24 hours -- don't go back to the card, they become travel funds, linked to the specific passenger and valid for one year from date of original booking. Just like any regular Wanna Get Away fare cancellation, regardless of timing, and regardless of fare type.   Hope this helps!     ... View more

What airport is the connection? That will make a big difference.   They should be able to check your bag all the way through to your destination as long as you use the full-service bag check (not express bag drop or self-tag).   If your first flight is delayed, you'll be at the mercy of the agent for rebooking to your final destination, but if you explain the situation they should be able to help you. Good luck! ... View more

Make sure the kids get a chance to look out the window during take-off!  I love seeing the fascinated faces of children during take-off!!!  Thank you for choosing Southwest! ... View more

Official policy is that passengers with pets do not pre-board, but agents have discretion as you've discovered. ... View more

Unfortunately, the Groups department is under-staffed, so long wait times are common. Do you have over 10 people? That's required for a Group reservation. There are some benefits to using Groups, primarily concering the ability to change traveler names after booking and sometimes a lower fare than available online, but many people feel that the benefits outweigh the hassle. Good luck! ... View more

Technically, no. The Family Boarding policy only includes children up to age 6. But this is very dependent upon the ops agent. I suspect you won't have a problem, but you could run into an agent who makes you all wait until your assigned positions (assuming there's not another adult traveling who can wait separately with the 8 year old). Good luck!   Do families get to preboard? An adult traveling with a child six years old or younger may board during Family Boarding, which occurs after the “A” group has boarded and before the “B” group begins boarding. If the child and the adult are both holding an “A” boarding pass, they should board in their assigned boarding position. ... View more

Unfortunately, Southwest stopped allowing funds to be used by anyone several years ago. 😞   The fare rules are included in every confirmation email sent after booking, changing or cancelling a flight. Here's a sample from a flight I recently booked (emphasis mine):   Fare Rule(s): NONREF/NONTRANSFERABLE STANDBY REQ UPGRADE TO Y -BG WN Valid only on Southwest Airlines. All travel involving funds from this Confirmation Number must be completed by the expiration date. Unused travel funds may only be applied toward the purchase of future travel for the individual named on the ticket. Any changes to this itinerary may result in a fare increase. Failure to cancel reservations for a Wanna Get Away fare segment at least 10 minutes prior to travel will result in the forfeiture of all remaining unused funds. ... View more

No. Once completed, points cannot be transferred back into Chase Ultimate Rewards. ... View more

Vouchers are valid for the air travel porion only, not any taxes/fees.   From the website:   Southwest® LUV Vouchers: Southwest Airlines accepts Southwest LUV Vouchers for Passenger travel on Southwest Airlines purchased through Southwest Airlines, excluding the Southwest Airlines Group Desk and Southwest Airlines Vacations. Southwest LUV Vouchers may be redeemed at Southwest.com, through Southwest Airlines Reservations, and at Southwest Airlines Ticket Counter locations. To redeem a Southwest LUV Voucher, purchaser must have a Southwest LUV Voucher number and associated security code. Southwest LUV Vouchers Terms and Conditions: Southwest LUV Vouchers and air fare paid with Southwest LUV Vouchers are subject to the applicable incorporated terms, Contract of Carriage, and rules and regulations of Southwest Airlines. Southwest LUV Vouchers are valid as a form of payment toward future air fare only on Southwest Airlines through Southwest.com, toll-free Reservations 1-800-I-FLY-SWA (1-800-435-9792), or at any Southwest Airlines Ticket Counter. Southwest LUV Vouchers must be redeemed and all travel completed by the expiration date indicated. If applied in conjunction with any other accepted form(s) of payment, the earliest expiration date of all payments applies. Validity of Southwest LUV Vouchers will not be extended and any unused value will be forfeited upon expiration. Southwest LUV Vouchers are not redeemable as payment toward Government-imposed segment fees, Passenger Facility Charges, or September 11th Security Fees or as payment toward miscellaneous charges, Southwest Airlines Group tickets, Southwest Airlines Vacations packages, or travel either wholly or in part on other air carriers. Southwest LUV Vouchers and travel issued in exchange for Southwest LUV Vouchers have no cash value and cannot be exchanged for cash or other monetary consideration. Southwest LUV Vouchers will not be replaced if lost, stolen, or destroyed. To redeem a Southwest LUV Voucher, purchaser must have a Southwest LUV Voucher number and associated security code. If a balance remains after redemption, please retain this Southwest LUV Voucher number and security code for future use. Southwest LUV Vouchers are VOID if sold, altered, purchased, brokered, and/or bartered.   ... View more

Southwest does many things wrong, and, unfortunately, as they grow they move towards implementing more and more consumer un-friendly policies. But one thing they do not do wrong is their "no change fees" policy.   Unlike other carriers, they don't charge a fee to reuse funds from changed or cancelled flights - -even on non-refundable tickets. They do however place significant limitations on those funds. They always have -- this is not new.   It's easy to get tripped up when using them, and, sadly many phone reps just aren't great about communicating the details, which leads to confusion. (Especially concerning the initial expiration, which is one year from the date of purchase, not travel.)   Now, more than ever, it's up to the responsible consumer to fully understand the terms and conditions of every financial agreement they enter into.   Any class action regarding this is destined to fail. The tickets are non-refundable when purchased. This info, and the expiration date of the ticket/funds is communicated on every email confirmation when booking, changing or cancelling a ticket.   Q: There is a way to possibly recover some funds once expired -- was that option not offered to you? ... View more

Try adding or removing your middle initial from the "Enter Traveler Info" section at the top of the page.  If your did or didn't include it in your original reservation it will need to match on the new reservation when you try to used your funds.   ... View more

Hi @rquimby1965,   Sounds like there are only three seats left at the lower fare, so you can book those together, then book the fourth ticket separately. @chgoflyer did a good job of explaining how the system works - there are only a given number of seats available in each fare bucket, so once one bucket is sold out, the next one becomes available.   ... View more

Hi @Felecia_g_here,   Thanks for posting in the Southwest Airlines Community - I'm so sorry to hear about your voucher! Unfortunately, lost, stolen, and/or Southwest LUV Vouchers are not replaceable.    ... View more

Have you flown on Southwest?   Southwest uses open seating, not assigned seats. Passengers take any seat they like. ... View more

Unfortunately, unlike some other carriers, Southwest doesn't keep them in a "travel bank" that can be easily accessed. In order to access any travel funds, you need to know the associated confirmation number. You can use it to view the balance(s) here:   https://www.southwest.com/flight/travel-funds-search.html ... View more

No, they ended service to Branson a few years ago. 😞 ... View more

Call Customer Relations and they will be able to find the confirmation number for you. Then use it to check in at t-24 hours. ... View more

All purchases on the card, regardless of who makes them, will earn points in the primary account holder's Rapid Rewards account.   Alternately, she could open her own account and earn her own points.   ... View more

The voucher can be used by anyone -- it's not connected to his name. No transfer is necessary. ... View more

Excess Baggage Each piece of baggage in excess of the free baggage allowance specified above that is not in excess of 62 inches (L+W+H) and 50 lbs. or less will be accepted for a charge of $75.00 per item one-way. Excess baggage which is also overweight or oversized will be charged excess baggage plus the applicable oversize or overweight charge. ... View more

I've been in the travel industry almost 30yrs now and code for Southwest is WN.  As a travel agent we had to call them to made reservations when we could use our computer system to book all the other carriers because they Would Not pay computer surcharges to be a part of the system.  Also,  they didn't have ticketing agreements with other airlines so they Would Not allow us to issue any part of the trip with another portion on a different carrier on their tickets. Lastly, they Would Not transfer bags between themselves and other airlines.   They Would Not serve meals.  They were known as the Would Not airline to travel agents.  They haven't transferred bags...you must have been on a different airline?    ... View more