Southwest Airlines Community

Re. “a guy bleeding from his leg sitting in a wheelchair”   If the guy was literally bleeding from an open wound, from an infection control perspective, this is commonly and technically known as “bad” – especially if someone is boarding a crowded plane for a well-contained flight.   First of all, if the guy bleeding has an open wound, he himself is way open to bacteria and significant risk of infection, particularly in a crowded, closely contained, not very clean, commercial airplane environment.   Secondly, if this is an open wound, those who might come into contact with the guy, or his blood from a surface, are at risk of contracting anything he may be carrying. This could be any type of blood-borne illnesses like hepatitis B or C, staph, or any other virus the person may have. Blood is a fabulous transmitter for illness.   Additionally, bloodborne viruses can live outside the body and still cause infection. For example, the Hep B virus can live for as long as a week outside the body in dried blood, and Hep C for up to four days.    One might also think there is a decent chance that a guy boarding a plane with a bleeding open wound is not in the best of health or under the best of care. To allow a passenger to have an uncovered, bleeding wound, while boarding and flying on a plane is staggering to me.   And people usually look at me funny after I sit down, pull out my Lysol wipes, and clean every surface around me that I might touch.   Southwest – Apparently you have a new protocol to implement, and/or further training to provide your employees. ... View more

I wonder if they had a last minute craft swap?  Normally, they would not have said they had a seat, but maybe the computer system did not catch up with craft swap.  Some of the older 737s have only 4 seats on the exit row whereas most 737s have six seats.     I am sorry this happened to you and the lady you were sitting next to.  This is not typical, so I hope you will give the, another chance someday. ... View more

My typical policy is to never check bags because I seem to (mentally) need a lot of flexibility when I travel.  Flight delayed because of the incoming plane?  Look for another route.  Flight delayed because something wrong with the weather?  Consider bailing out and leaving the next day.  Connection problems requires an overnight stay?  Bag at hand means quicker to hotel and faster to sleep.  In a hurry when landing?  No waiting at baggage claim.  Cancelled flight with a driveable destination?  Abandon flight and first at rental car counter.   At 5’5”, I don’t have your stature challenge, and I have learned to pack as light as I can get 5 days of dress clothes in a standard roller bag.  I used to be on planes 2-6 times per week, so I wanted all the flexibility I could achieve.     But it certainly is a Southwest perk.  That is one of the best things about Southwest.  Lots of perks to choose from.  My personal favorite?  No change fees.   happy travels! ... View more

@Justinrhibbard wrote: By not allowing families 13 and under to board together, Southwest is blatantly and knowingly violating the law.      WRONG. Southwest allows families to board together, they just have to board in the same group as the last person in the group. Thus, family members in the high B and C groups cannot jump the line just because one person in the family has A-boarding. ... View more

@lindag, I have not seen many people being allowed to board wildly out of order (with the exception of A-Listers being able to board before the B group).  Most gate agents do not get too concerned if B18 boards before B16, but they typically would not let a C5 board when A1-A30 get called.    I often buy the Early Bird for family members on early flights so they can get a wall on which to prop their head for a nap, so even though a B10 boarding pass isn’t great, it would likely still get them a wall further back.     I like the open seating policy because of allergies, and I will move back if something triggers my nose (pets, perfumes), but I can understand how it might vex those who are not used to it.  But the full price SWA flights with early bird are typically less expensive than the basic fares on other airlines, so that is the main thing that keeps me coming back, even if I occasionally get a middle seat.  But I understand others want to have the opportunity to buy a specific seat; it is just not my mindset.   I also try try to give the seat savers the benefit of the doubt, hoping they are  together for some fun event versus just taking a regular old business trip like me.  They can have some fun, and we all get to the same place at the same time.     I hope your future travels go well, regardless of what seat on what airline.  ... View more

@Christravel, a decade of loyalty is no small thing. Please send me a private message so we can help save the relationship!    ... View more

@lebry001, The Customer Service group is likely tied up with rescheduling due to Tropical Storm Barry.  The storm is squarely across their flight routes.   Sorry that you have to wait; however, I have not seen much success in getting any airline to honor expired vouchers, so the answer may be as frustrating as the wait.  I am just letting you know my experience so that if you have other demands on your time, you may not want to wait.  I hope your travel emergency gets resolved quickly. ... View more

@ZevSupport wrote: I was once the dude in the middle seat, so instead of putting up with them playing a game and sharing photos, I opened a multiplayer Jeoprady app and we all played together! Super cool. Thats a cool way to pass time and as a lot of the FAs say make a new friend. Did the winner and runner up get to choose which seat they wanted for the remainder of the flight?  ... View more

@jreneew wrote: If you book a flight and pay for it using LUV vouchers, then rebook to a later date, after the LUV vouchers would have expired, will that cause problems during the rebooking process?   All travel must be completed by the expiration date. That means you cannot rebook after the vouchers expire.    Also, when you apply a voucher (or travel funds) to a booking, all funds on that new booking, including new money, take on the earliest expiration date of any funds applied.  ... View more

@TheMiddleSeat wrote: Do NOT check a laptop. As @CareforNOLA said carrying on should be ok.   --TheMiddleSeat Although the risk of losing a bag, or having an item go missing is very small in percentage terms, you'd need to weigh the benefit of checking it vs potential for loss.   Anyting worth high-dollar is recommended to carry-on, or with irreplaceable information same thing.     ... View more

Hmm-strange, and I don’t have any suggestions then.  I have to check in on Thursday for a Friday flight —also on an iPhone X.  I will let you know if I have any trouble from the app.     The odd thing I have seen in the last month was boarding positions 30 spots apart for two people booked on the same confirmation number at the same time with neither having an early bird.   Check in glitches can be troublesome, and unfortunately, they happen from time to time (without explanation). It is a small nuisance, thank goodness. ... View more

Thanks for the update.  @dfwskier had good advice. ... View more

Correct, no ID required for your children for the situation you described *assuming domestic travel* [*edit added text] ... View more

I lost a significant amount of my hearing from an autoimmune disorder. I can't hear soft noises or any higher pitched sounds such as a SMOKE DETECTOR, CARBON MONOXIDE DETECTOR, POLICE AND AMBULANCE SIRENS, TORNADO SIRENS, RATTLESNAKES, doorbells, kitchen timers, rattlesnakes, and etc... I am blessed with a hearing alert service dog that alerts me upon hearing such important sounds. I have never experienced a fire or CO2 poisoning in my home, but my service dog alerted me to a timber rattlesnake that was within 2 yards of my feet and a tornado siren (when visiting my elderly mother in Oklahoma).   This is the USA.  There are rights for people with disabilities in the USA.  My hearing alert service dog weighs 4.6 pounds and you may believe it is just a pet, but I depend upon my service dog to save my life.  I hope I never have to meet you or sit anywhere near you on a SW flight with my service dog. @LizF wrote: I lost a significant amount of my hearing from an autoimmune disorder. I can't hear soft noises or any higher pitched sounds such as a SMOKE DETECTOR, CARBON MONOXIDE DETECTOR, POLICE AND AMBULANCE SIRENS, TORNADO SIRENS, RATTLESNAKES, doorbells, kitchen timers, rattlesnakes, and etc... I am blessed with a hearing alert service dog that alerts me upon hearing such important sounds. I have never experienced a fire or CO2 poisoning in my home, but my service dog alerted me to a timber rattlesnake that was within 2 yards of my feet and a tornado siren (when visiting my elderly mother in Oklahoma).   This is the USA.  There are rights for people with disabilities in the USA.  My hearing alert service dog weighs 4.6 pounds and you may believe it is just a pet, but I depend upon my service dog to save my life.  I hope I never have to meet you or sit anywhere near you on a SW flight with my service dog.   Right, but that's not an emotional support animal. That's a real, legitimate service dog who provides true service that is vital to your health, life, and independence. Also, service animals are highly trained. An awful lot of ESAs are not.  ... View more

If you have searched these discussion boards, you have probably seen some tips.  You have to maintain the confirmation numbers and the name of the ticket holder.  The Airline will not provide them to you in any situation (so hopefully you can search emails if you didn’t write them down when you cancelled the original flights).    The funds can only be used for the ticket holder (cannot cross to a new person).   When you book a new ticket, choose Travel Funds as the method of payment.     Finally NEVER think that you can extend the expiration of the funds by booking a new ticket, then canceling it.  It has the opposite effect.  Any funds added in the newly cancelled tickets now have the old and earlier expiration date.     Hopefully this helps.   ... View more

I suspect that the vast majorty of the 163,000,000+ people that flew with Southwest last year disagree with you that the boarding process is broken. But as stated earlier, Southwest welcomes comments and suggestion from passengers.  ... View more

@TheMiddleSeat, My recent experience was that the parties with the same confirmation number were checked in simultaneously but were NOT given sequential numbers.  2 groups of 2 = 4 people on 2 confirmation numbers.  No EBCI.  3 were together in the A group and my youngest 15 y/o niece was in the late B group.  I would not have believed it if my sister hadn’t sent me screen shots.  It happened with all connections on a RT so 4 flights.  I had to go back and make sure I didn’t buy EBCI for 3 but not 4.  I can’t post the screen shots without showing their names so I cannot show you the proof (no photo editing tricks known by me).    Fortunately they were able to save a seat but I was really surprised.  Just not her day, and of course, endless teasing by her 2 older sisters. ... View more

@Kauaikidd , good info.  I like that sign off too! ... View more

If you use the digital boarding passes and download them to your Apple Wallet, make sure you get both of the passes.  If you swipe left when the first one pops up, you should see the second one. ... View more

DAL-BHM today.    The bad news? No WiFi.   The good news? Relatively short flight.   As someone noted, keeping low expectations is helpful.   <sigh> ... View more

@Schregardus wrote: Wha what is the exact (and I mean exact) usable storage space under an aisle seat on Southwest jet   Perhaps you should focus on the maximum allowed size of   items that would fit under a seat instead:   Personal item size limit: 18.5 x 8.5 x 13.5 inch ... View more

Excellent point, @DancingDavidE .  Not everyone buys “in bulk” like I used to — every time the schedule opened, I was getting one per week for all the new time periods that became available.  Thanks for clarifying. ... View more

@Balto_red, I agree with @DancingDavidE because there are too many great destinations to name.     If you are looking to get the most out of your companion pass, one key benefit to keep in mind is that you can change your companion up to three times per year.  The ability to change allows for so much flexibility, but one must plan it out so that the proper companion is designated for the winter holiday travel season.   enjoy your travels! ... View more

Yes, I can understand how that might frustrate you.  The airports typically are responsible for the internal transportation assistance such as carts and wheelchairs although some airlines keep wheelchairs on hand also (because they have determined that they cannot always rely on airport transportation).     Were you able to ask for assistance at the original gate and then unable to get any help?  The conundrum in asking is that while waiting to ask, time is lost, and while waiting for transport, and time is lost.     Last minute gate changes are typically due to weather or aircraft changes.  I have also seen changes overnight where one gate is posted when I go to bed and by the time I get up (even if just a few hours), the gate has changed....and it is always changed to the last gate of the terminal, which means it was probably a cost saving measure—-less fuel used to park at end rather than pull past all the other gates, but that change comes with a warning of a few hours.   Sorry this happened to you, and I recommend that you let the gate agent know about any hearing difficulties when you arrive at the gate so they can be aware and on the look out for someone who needs help.  (Gate agents often arrive at the last minute, so it may be helpful to perhaps carry a printed note that you could leave on the desk for them as you arrive.  No guarantees this would work, but it increases the odds).     I hope future flights go smoother for you.  ... View more

@SWDigits wrote: @Sonokeena wrote: The women then called the fight attendant who justified her actions saying it was allowed to hold seats. It's also strange that the person saving the seat sat in the middle and saved the window seat rather than sitting in the window and saving the middle seat.  Strange because I think most people, like you, would go for an open window seat before going for an open middle seat. @Sonokeena"obey flight crew instructions" supersedes all other policy in this regard. But be aware that a different crew might not give the same interpretation.   @SWDigitsexactly! This person wasn't playing the game correctly by sitting in the middle unless they were actually trying to save both seats, which we're digging the hole deeper if so.   I suspect that many more experienced Southwest travelers would also see this person sitting in the middle and go "harumph" and just keep moving back as a telltale sign of seat saving that they would be back in the open range area and sitting in a middle seat. Something is up, any normal person (excepting @TheMiddleSeat)would be in the window or aisle in that situation.       ... View more

If it was booked as a round-trip, I suggest calling customer service.  I am fairly sure that you can only cancel the back half of a round trip ticket online AFTER you have traveled the first half.  That was one of the reasons that I started booking a lot of one way tickets on routes where I might have a change.   safe travels, especially on the road trip. ... View more

Thank you for posting and hosting — the testimonial and the Medical Transportation Grant Program, that is.   What an uplifting story for a Monday! ... View more