Post all SW questions concerns, etc. here...

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

And just like EBCI, upgraded boarding is getting more popular. Especially now that you can book
it online. Family members flew in early December & upgraded was full & not offered on one of their flights.

Just based on this thread with people sharing experiences after it was added to the app (instead of having to do it at the gate) and seeing other experiences it does seem like purchasing Upgraded Boarding is much more used. I don't think it was as well utilized when it was at the gate. I can see why from SWA's viewpoint they saw cash on the table, adding it to the app gives it that visibility.

 

[Rich M]

Another thing that might work (I hope someone will correct me if I'm wrong) is to take your chances with the 24-hour check-in. If you get a poor boarding group, you can try upgrading one person to the A-list which would give you an A1-15 spot. That person (it sounds like it would be your wife) can board first and grab 3 seats together (I would put bags on the seats so they don't appear "available.") While SW technically doesn't condone seat saving, I've done it numerous times (admittedly with only one seat) and never had an issue. If someone asks you if a seat is available, you just say no. And the A-list availability isn't guaranteed. But it is another option.

With the number of EBCIs being increased (with the new way that fares are broken out and the fact that SW credit card members get a certain number free), I fear that the days of the 24-hour check-ins getting mid-As is past. However, I did check in two minutes passed the time for my flight last week, got C13, and still got an exit row seat. It probably helped that I was a solo traveler, but it did make me want to go out and buy a lottery ticket.

Just remember that this persons experience is there own. Saving seat is not permitted and you can always get someone who wants to make it a big deal and will just take the seat weather or not a bag is in it or not. I have seen it happen. Don't rely on bad habits and bad planning of others to accommodate your vacation.

 

[disny_luvr]

Hi!

I have four LUV vouchers that expire in April. I plan on buying plane tickets for flights we don't intend on taking so that I can cancel them and get the refund back as a credit. My question is, I need to pay about $30 in (tax? - I'm not really sure what for). When I cancel these flights, am I out that money, or does that go back onto my credit card or do I get it as a travel credit?

Thank you!

 

[crazywig]

Hi!

I have four LUV vouchers that expire in April. I plan on buying plane tickets for flights we don't intend on taking so that I can cancel them and get the refund back as a credit. My question is, I need to pay about $30 in (tax? - I'm not really sure what for). When I cancel these flights, am I out that money, or does that go back onto my credit card or do I get it as a travel credit?

Thank you!

The taxes go back on your credit card. I've converted expiring LUV vouchers this way several times.

 

[disny_luvr]

The taxes go back on your credit card. I've converted expiring LUV vouchers this way several times.

Awesome, thank you!

Can I cancel the flight right away, or should I wait a day or two?

 

[crazywig]

Awesome, thank you!

Can I cancel the flight right away, or should I wait a day or two?

I did it right away! I had a bunch to convert for different accounts and it went perfectly.

 

[disny_luvr]

I did it right away! I had a bunch to convert for different accounts and it went perfectly.

Thank you for your help! I just canceled the flights and we are good to go! Now to book the flight we actually plan on taking.

 

[han22735]

so I booked my first SW flight. It is a nonstop flight from O'hare Chicago to Orlando.

I just realized they don't have assigned seats, damn it. If I knew, I would have never booked it. we are a family of 4, with 2 boys (7 and 10 years old).

I am kind of freaking out now.
I plan to do the early check in 24 hours in advance.
I don't mind sitting away from them as long as my wife is close to the kids.

What are the chances of that actually happening?
Thanks

I would absolutely buy EBCI for your wife's and 1 kid's ticket. That way they get on earlier. Have your wife sit in the aisle seat and the kid the window seat. No one will sit between them. Then when you board with kid 2 they sit with the wife and you where you can. This has been my strategy for years and its never failed.

 

[DaviVascaino]

I would absolutely buy EBCI for your wife's and 1 kid's ticket. That way they get on earlier. Have your wife sit in the aisle seat and the kid the window seat. No one will sit between them. Then when you board with kid 2 they sit with the wife and you where you can. This has been my strategy for years and its never failed.

what a great idea. thank you!!!

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

I would absolutely buy EBCI for your wife's and 1 kid's ticket. That way they get on earlier. Have your wife sit in the aisle seat and the kid the window seat. No one will sit between them. Then when you board with kid 2 they sit with the wife and you where you can. This has been my strategy for years and its never failed.

I would caveat that with head towards the back still. True middle seats are much less desirable (and even more so sitting next to a kid)..when I'm with my husband I always get the middle seat. However, passengers can still opt to sit there if they want to and there may be reasons they do so (such as overhead bin space, getting off the plane faster especially if they have a connection, flight time, etc). Being further back lessens this chance.

 

[TheOneWithTheTriplets]

I would caveat that with head towards the back still. True middle seats are much less desirable (and even more so sitting next to a kid)..when I'm with my husband I always get the middle seat. However, passengers can still opt to sit there if they want to and there may be reasons they do so (such as overhead bin space, getting off the plane faster especially if they have a connection, flight time, etc). Being further back lessens this chance.

Another vote in favor of heading to the back because chances are that's where your solo seat will end up, too. If they head back, you'll all end up closer together.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

Another vote in favor of heading to the back because chances are that's where your solo seat will end up, too. If they head back, you'll all end up closer together.

That's a good point about being closer together

 

[scrappinginontario]

I will check if they have EBCI.

If they don't, it seems as long as I do the 24 hours check in, I should be probably good??

Thanks

Just a note that you will want to be watching the seconds and click to check-in at exactly the 24 hours mark as many will be doing this and the BG numbers go up very quickly.

 

[katallo]

Has anyone heard an update on the SW Pilot Strike?
https://finance.yahoo.com/video/southwest-airlines-pilot-association-president-213502331.html

 

[honeymo78]

The vote isn't scheduled until May so the only updates we'll have before then are on mediation/negotiations and the next mediation isn't until Tuesday.

 

[Crystal2732]

I just checked in for our flight right at the 24 hour mark. I got the last 3 A boarding passes for me, DH, and DS 10, but DD 8 is B01. What are the chances they'd let her board with the rest of us at the end of the A group before family boarding? If not, would the counter agents be able to swap boarding passes for her and my husband so I could board with the kids at the end of A and he could join us after family boarding?

Worst case scenario, one of us will just wait and board with her at the beginning of B boarding but I'd love to be able to get three seats for sure before family boarding.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

I got the last 3 A boarding passes for me, DH, and DS 10, but DD 8 is B01. What are the chances they'd let her board with the rest of us at the end of the A group before family boarding?

SWA's policy is you are more than welcome to all Board together if you want to Board at the last position.

This has come up in the past regarding this situation and we are unable to tell you something that would go against SWA's own policy. It's not up to us anyhow.

Options also include purchasing Upgraded Boarding which fills in the leftover A1-A15 slots.

https://www.southwest.com/help/day-of-travel/boarding-process



ETA: I should also note you need to use your own Boarding passes, do not give your Boarding pass to one of your children and then have the gate agent scan the pass belonging to your child for you. Everyone needs to use their own Boarding passes

 

[Crystal2732]

SWA's policy is you are more than welcome to all Board together if you want to Board at the last position.

This has come up in the past regarding this situation and we are unable to tell you something that would go against SWA's own policy. It's not up to us anyhow.

Options also include purchasing Upgraded Boarding which fills in the leftover A1-A15 slots.

https://www.southwest.com/help/day-of-travel/boarding-process

View attachment 733584

ETA: I should also note you need to use your own Boarding passes, do not give your Boarding pass to one of your children and then have the gate agent scan the pass belonging to your child for you. Everyone needs to use their own Boarding passes

Thanks!

I definitely don't plan to just give our daughter one of our boarding passes and totally get that our only option might be for one of us to wait until B boarding starts and board with her then. Fx there won't be too many family groups and we can still manage to sit together.

I was just wondering if anyone had ever been in a situation like this before and had luck with either being allowed to board together or getting the desk agents to actually swap the boarding passes so DD 8 has A59 and DH gets B01. But I suppose even if this has been done for people in the past, that's no guarantee in the future. We'll just ask about options at the desk when we get there and see what they say.

 

[georgina]

Just remember that this persons experience is there own. Saving seat is not permitted and you can always get someone who wants to make it a big deal and will just take the seat weather or not a bag is in it or not. I have seen it happen. Don't rely on bad habits and bad planning of others to accommodate your vacation.

(Semantics) Southwest does not prohibit seat saving.

Yes, you can get a real pain who wants to sit there, best to head towards the back, etc, but most people if you say I'm saving for my spouse, will honor it.

Comments from southwest when people complain -

'As all flights on Southwest are open seating, it is not uncommon for Customers to save a seat(s) for their travel companion(s) in a later boarding group. We don't have a policy for or against saving seats, as long as the boarding process isn't delayed and other Customers are not inconvenienced.'

https://community.southwest.com/t5/Check-In-Boarding/Saving-Seats/td-p/70948

 

[Rich M]

(Semantics) Southwest does not prohibit seat saving.

Yes, you can get a real pain who wants to sit there, best to head towards the back, etc, but most people if you say I'm saving for my spouse will honor it.

Or maybe just get Early Bird for everyone so you can make sure that everyone can sit together.