Another question re: Southwest

[buzz5985]

Looking for alternatives from Boston. How is Southwest for Changing/or canceling flights???

Example - I purchased roundtrip from Song 2 weeks ago - already my flights have changed - and no email from Song - learned about it on these boards.

So I am trying to figure out - if Southwest stands by it's schedule. I understand if a plane is only half full, and canceling it, but the plane I was booked on for October only had 27 empty seats and that number includes the exit rows. (I know because I am showing DS how important math is LOL, we added and subtracted!!!)

 

[nhrenee]

Try this link :Southwest schedule changes

 

[feenie]

We have never had a problem with Southwest canceling our flights. Out of Manchester the flight that goes down in the morning turns around and comes back in the afternoon.....
(I just wish they would extend their schedule!!!!!) (we need to book Sept 7-18)

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

I fly them always and I have yet to have a schedule change or cancellation. They don't however, fly out of Boston.
Nashua or Providence are your most logical options for SWA.

 

[dcfromva]

buzz5985
SWA doesn't allow you to book your flight more than a few months in advance (they just don't release the schedule). Right now, they go up through Sept 8th.
I have not had a schedule change on any of my flights on SWA, yet (we generally take 4 or more flights on SWA a year).
On our most recent flight on UAL (11-21 April), our outbound flight was changed by 15 mins and our inbound flight was cancelled (and no, they didn't tell us about it). We had no seating assignments until reaching the airport and then we were assigned 3 center seats, rows apart (for a 5 hour flight), both DH and DS were wistfully thinking about the unassigned seats at SWA. (We were able to get our seats reassigned together 20minutes before departure, but it did cause some anxiety on DS's part while we were waiting).
We used to fly DH's Mom and our nephew down from BDL to DCA at summertime on USAIR. I don't think we ever had a flight that wasn't changed to a less convenient time of all the flights they ever took. We switched over to SWA (BDL to BWI) and we have never had the schedule changed on us.
I don't know if SWA ever changes their schedule after it has been published, but my sense is if they do, it is a lot less frequently than other airlines.

-DC

 

[debster812]

Buzz--

We flew SWA from PVD on January 25th this year. There were 24 people scheduled on the flight, and 18 ended up showing for the flight. If this was a flight that did not SCREAM: CANCEL ME, I don't know what is. I think SWA turns so many of their planes around, that they really need to fly them to where they are scheduled to be. It was an awesome flight, with PLENTY of room, hee hee.

I have flown them quite often in the past 3 years and have never had any scheduling changes.

Go for it

Debbie

 

[prncess674]

SWA is less likely to cancel a flight because they fly a point to point system while most other airlines fly a hub and spoke system.

SWA Example:
Plane A may fly MCO-MSY-IAH-LAS
Even if MCO-MSY is nearly empty that same plane is scheduled to go MSY-IAH that afternoon, so they would have to cancel all subsequent flights as well, which is not likely.

Other Major Airline Example:
Plany Z will fly MCO-IAH-MCO (In this example IAH is the hub or home city of the airline)
If MCO-IAH cancelled it wouldn't be a tragedy because the major may have another plane in reserve at the hub that could be used for the other leg of the trip.

SWA cancels a whole lot less flights than the majors and I highly recommend them. It is a little unnerving for first time flyers not being preassigned seats but it works out better in the end.

October only had 27 empty seats and that number includes the exit rows. (I know because I am showing DS how important math is LOL, we added and subtracted!!!)

counting the number of open seats on reserved seating airlines
online seat maps is never a good way to determine how many seats are actually sold. For example, the first few rows of coach are always held for elites on certain airlines (example- Continental). If Joe Flyer were to look at the map these seats would appear "occupied" but if I looked at the map online logged into my elite account then those seats not already held by other elites would appear vacant. Also airlines hold back several rows of seats for airport assignment (not just bulkhead and exit row). There is a secret formula they use. For instance only 80% of the seats are available for pre-assignment. Once 80% are assigned every other person is told seats will be assigned at the gate.

 

[Pinnie]

I have been flying SWA for quite a few years and never once have I ever had a flight cancelled. Of course there have been delays due to weather, etc. but I have yet to have a bad experience on that airline.

Also, sign up for their rapid rewards program. It is one of the BEST FF programs around!!!

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