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

[Fangorn]

So nice to wake up to my wife asking me if I opened the SW email from Thursday.....my reply was no and that's when it started....now we aren't very frequent fliers of SW
as the other carriers JB and DL serve us very well. During the holidays especially during the Christmas/New Years time SW for the most part has given us the best bang for the buck.
They get me down and back from NY to MCO or TPA for sometimes prices that are so ridiculously cheap how could I say no. Take this year I purchased 4 non stop tickets NY to TPA and back Dec.23 coming back Jan.3 for $868!!! I get to pick my seat (we have always sat together rarely pay early bird) 2 check bags for free (yes we are the family with too many bags to count going through the airport) and always a non stop flight. I have read the stories you all talk about being inconvenienced with changing flights and the problems getting from one place to another and said thank God not me. Well it has finally happened to me so I guess I'm part of the family now. The major issue is like everyone else I paid for non stop and getting lay over and add insult to injury changing planes. Now my girls are spoiled I'm the first one to admit and when they find out I will not hear the end of it. I will hear Dad half the price half the quality, why do you have to be so cheap, this is why I want to fly JB or DL. I told my wife don't say anything to them as I don't want to hear it from now until we leave. Kids no matter what age just don't get it. My big one is in college$$$ my little one will be turning 16 so car, party etc... They just don't understand the value of the dollar. If the old man can save a buck here or there I'm going to do it. I'm just thrilled my wife told me she can't go on the flight because work now won't give her the day. She needs to take a late flight so lucky her she gets to fly on DL that night and I don't have to hear it from her. Wait till my offspring hear that they will definitely split in half.
So my question....to all the veteran SW fliers there is still a nonstop flight showing available later on Dec.23 can I change even though its way more than what I originally paid without spending more or roll the dice and maybe that my original flight goes back to non stop? Has that ever happened in the past?

You can change your flight to any available one with no increase in fare. You should be able to do that online, but may need to call. Either way it's simple.

Steve.

 

[shoreward]

So nice to wake up to my wife asking me if I opened the SW email from Thursday.....my reply was no and that's when it started....now we aren't very frequent fliers of SW
as the other carriers JB and DL serve us very well. During the holidays especially during the Christmas/New Years time SW for the most part has given us the best bang for the buck.
They get me down and back from NY to MCO or TPA for sometimes prices that are so ridiculously cheap how could I say no. Take this year I purchased 4 non stop tickets NY to TPA and back Dec.23 coming back Jan.3 for $868!!! I get to pick my seat (we have always sat together rarely pay early bird) 2 check bags for free (yes we are the family with too many bags to count going through the airport) and always a non stop flight. I have read the stories you all talk about being inconvenienced with changing flights and the problems getting from one place to another and said thank God not me. Well it has finally happened to me so I guess I'm part of the family now. The major issue is like everyone else I paid for non stop and getting lay over and add insult to injury changing planes. Now my girls are spoiled I'm the first one to admit and when they find out I will not hear the end of it. I will hear Dad half the price half the quality, why do you have to be so cheap, this is why I want to fly JB or DL. I told my wife don't say anything to them as I don't want to hear it from now until we leave. Kids no matter what age just don't get it. My big one is in college$$$ my little one will be turning 16 so car, party etc... They just don't understand the value of the dollar. If the old man can save a buck here or there I'm going to do it. I'm just thrilled my wife told me she can't go on the flight because work now won't give her the day. She needs to take a late flight so lucky her she gets to fly on DL that night and I don't have to hear it from her. Wait till my offspring hear that they will definitely split in half.
So my question....to all the veteran SW fliers there is still a nonstop flight showing available later on Dec.23 can I change even though its way more than what I originally paid without spending more or roll the dice and maybe that my original flight goes back to non stop? Has that ever happened in the past?

Are you departing from LGA or another airport? There is an early afternoon nonstop with availability on Dec 23 and a noonish nonstop on the return. You need to contact Southwest now, while there is space. Either call them or tweet @SouthwestAir for assistance. If they changed your flights without your acceptance, they will change to your preferred flights, on a space available basis, at no change in fare. Right now, you are in a good position, if acting promptly.

 

[ice cube]

Are you departing from LGA or another airport? There is an early afternoon nonstop with availability on Dec 23 and a noonish nonstop on the return. You need to contact Southwest now, while there is space. Either call them or tweet @SouthwestAir for assistance. If they changed your flights without your acceptance, they will change to your preferred flights, on a space available basis, at no change in fare. Right now, you are in a good position, if acting promptly.

Departing from LGA....another question what happens if I change to that flight and then as time goes by they make that one a lay over can I go back to the original flight again with no difference in cost? I would rather get there earlier rather than later if I have to fly with a lay over. They say as the day progresses the chances of getting screwed with a flight is greater.

 

[ice cube]

You can change your flight to any available one with no increase in fare. You should be able to do that online, but may need to call. Either way it's simple.

Steve.

I'm talking it over now with them and see what they want to do.....I told them time is ticking

 

[Fangorn]

Departing from LGA....another question what happens if I change to that flight and then as time goes by they make that one a lay over can I go back to the original flight again with no difference in cost? I would rather get there earlier rather than later if I have to fly with a lay over. They say as the day progresses the chances of getting screwed with a flight is greater.

That is always a possibility. But if SW changes your flight, they allow you to change to another flight without an increase in fare. You get only one "freebie" per flight, but in this scenario, if they change it again, it's a different flight, so you'd be able to change again to any available flight.

Note though, if they do end up changing your flight for a second time, there's no guarantee that the current flight you're on will be available at that time, or even on the schedule at all. In the before times, SW virtually never changed the schedule once it was released. Now they're having to adjust frequently. Thankfully, their policies and systems make it relatively simple for customers, even if it is frustrating to have plans changed on them.

Good luck!
Steve

 

[CarlyMur09]

You don’t want the hourly lot. It will cost a fortune. You want the daily or long term lot. The long term is the cheapest. The daily lot is a garage and it’s an advantage if it snows. Both are on airport property with plenty of signs.

All the terminals are in the same building. SWA is the first stop on the bus.

Can you walk from the daily lot? We've lucked out most time at PIT and stay in long term or extended, but still get rather close to the walkway into the airport. I think our main thing is just walkability to/from the terminals, especially if we're cutting it close,

 

[barb969]

Can you walk from the daily lot? We've lucked out most time at PIT and stay in long term or extended, but still get rather close to the walkway into the airport. I think our main thing is just walkability to/from the terminals, especially if we're cutting it close,

No, there are buses. There are no walkways. You could walk from the hourly lot, but it would cost something like $2.50 / hour

 

[Leigh L]

Both ends of our PIT-MCO trip in Dec got changed from nonstops to ones with one layover- one in BWI and the other in MDW.. timing wasn’t the greatest either since we initially had a early flight down and a late flight back up, but the timing changed it to late arrival and early departure.

after talking with the family through it and checking availability, it looks like BWI still had plenty of nonstops since a good chunk of the PIT flights were flying through BWI. So we made the decision to go ahead and drive down to Baltimore, fly down the night before our original day and fly back the day after. (PIT is an hour drive west for us, BWI is around 3 1/2)

We could have done day of flights and just stayed at Baltimore hotels, but we figured it made more sense to do it the way we are now and allows for more wiggle room.

now to try to make sense of parking at BWI...

Parking at BWI was pretty straightforward the time we went there, works like the other DC airports. You park and take a shuttle over to the terminal.

However, Reagan (DCA) has temporarily closed long-term parking (and I think Dulles too) and the hourly parking lot prices have been reduced. We did this from DCA in August and it was easy peasy. Looks like BWI has similiar processes, at least right now. If so, should be every walkable IIRC. I've only flown there once, but I've picked DS up there several times.
https://www.bwiairport.com/COVID19parking

 

[EACarlson]

Thanks to the schedule changes my family and I are getting an extra day in DEN next month. Rather than flying back into MKE at 1030 on a sunday night we moved our flight to arrive at 230 monday afternoon.

 

[teawar]

This may seem silly, but I can’t help but feel that SWA is conspiring against my family visiting MCO and Disney. We live in Birmingham and the flight schedule keeps changing (like everywhere else) to the point where I’m unable catch A flight without it conflicting with my work schedule as a teacher. Gone are the early, early morning direct flights on a Saturday and the late night return on a Sunday. Or the 6:00 at night direct flight. I totally understand the reasons the schedule keeps changing but this family wants to see the mouse! With our AP, we used to do some quick weekend trips but the schedule makes it impossible. I want to support SWA and WDW!

 

[scrappinginontario]

This may seem silly, but I can’t help but feel that SWA is conspiring against my family visiting MCO and Disney. We live in Birmingham and the flight schedule keeps changing (like everywhere else) to the point where I’m unable catch A flight without it conflicting with my work schedule as a teacher. Gone are the early, early morning direct flights on a Saturday and the late night return on a Sunday. Or the 6:00 at night direct flight. I totally understand the reasons the schedule keeps changing but this family wants to see the mouse! With our AP, we used to do some quick weekend trips but the schedule makes it impossible. I want to support SWA and WDW!

You situation is the same as everyone else. Flexibility is key right now and not allowing ourselves to be locked into the idea of certain flights. Realistically, until we board the plane, the flight is likely to change. If this isn’t working for you, now may not be the time to plan a trip to Disney. It’s just reality.

Our flights changed at least 4 times before I ultimately cancelled them as I could not cross the border to even board our flights.

For those travelling more than a week away, I would not make any major plans about travel dates as the changes you’re making now are likely to change many times between now and your travel dates.

 

[Ariel 1715]

Our October flight had at least 4 changes since booking and I am not counting out the possibility it could still change. Unfortunately since Covid and the fact that they are no longer getting Government help, all airlines are in trouble and are cancelling flights. I think flexibility is the key and if in my experience , if SW changes your flight to a connecting flight or a flight you don't like, contact them if you see a flight you like better. We used the callback feature twice and the agents were very helpful in getting us moved. Good luck everyone!!

 

[Lsdolphin]

Both ends of our PIT-MCO trip in Dec got changed from nonstops to ones with one layover- one in BWI and the other in MDW.. timing wasn’t the greatest either since we initially had a early flight down and a late flight back up, but the timing changed it to late arrival and early departure.

after talking with the family through it and checking availability, it looks like BWI still had plenty of nonstops since a good chunk of the PIT flights were flying through BWI. So we made the decision to go ahead and drive down to Baltimore, fly down the night before our original day and fly back the day after. (PIT is an hour drive west for us, BWI is around 3 1/2)

We could have done day of flights and just stayed at Baltimore hotels, but we figured it made more sense to do it the way we are now and allows for more wiggle room.

now to try to make sense of parking at BWI...

I actually like using the “Fast Park” at BWI. There are 2 of them although only one of them is currently open.

 

[teawar]

You situation is the same as everyone else. Flexibility is key right now and not allowing ourselves to be locked into the idea of certain flights. Realistically, until we board the plane, the flight is likely to change. If this isn’t working for you, now may not be the time to plan a trip to Disney. It’s just reality.

Our flights changed at least 4 times before I ultimately cancelled them as I could not cross the border to even board our flights.

For those travelling more than a week away, I would not make any major plans about travel dates as the changes you’re making now are likely to change many times between now and your travel dates.

I totally agree with what everyone is saying. I can’t imagine how the staff members are handling the huge amount of stress/pressure the on logistic coordination/scheduling teams. I definitely pack my patience whenever I call a business in regards to making adjustments/rescheduling. The customer service reps are dealing with so much, and everyone’s plans are important to them.

Flexibility is definitely the key, especially with travel. I have plenty of flights not take off, get rescheduled, land at different airports, get diverted, and all you can do is roll with it and have a back up plan ready to go.

Happy travels or travel planning everyone!

 

[starry_solo]

So nice to wake up to my wife asking me if I opened the SW email from Thursday.....my reply was no and that's when it started....now we aren't very frequent fliers of SW
as the other carriers JB and DL serve us very well. During the holidays especially during the Christmas/New Years time SW for the most part has given us the best bang for the buck.
They get me down and back from NY to MCO or TPA for sometimes prices that are so ridiculously cheap how could I say no. Take this year I purchased 4 non stop tickets NY to TPA and back Dec.23 coming back Jan.3 for $868!!! I get to pick my seat (we have always sat together rarely pay early bird) 2 check bags for free (yes we are the family with too many bags to count going through the airport) and always a non stop flight. I have read the stories you all talk about being inconvenienced with changing flights and the problems getting from one place to another and said thank God not me. Well it has finally happened to me so I guess I'm part of the family now. The major issue is like everyone else I paid for non stop and getting lay over and add insult to injury changing planes. Now my girls are spoiled I'm the first one to admit and when they find out I will not hear the end of it. I will hear Dad half the price half the quality, why do you have to be so cheap, this is why I want to fly JB or DL. I told my wife don't say anything to them as I don't want to hear it from now until we leave. Kids no matter what age just don't get it. My big one is in college$$$ my little one will be turning 16 so car, party etc... They just don't understand the value of the dollar. If the old man can save a buck here or there I'm going to do it. I'm just thrilled my wife told me she can't go on the flight because work now won't give her the day. She needs to take a late flight so lucky her she gets to fly on DL that night and I don't have to hear it from her. Wait till my offspring hear that they will definitely split in half.
So my question....to all the veteran SW fliers there is still a nonstop flight showing available later on Dec.23 can I change even though its way more than what I originally paid without spending more or roll the dice and maybe that my original flight goes back to non stop? Has that ever happened in the past?

so, what did you end up doing?

 

[AlohaNow]

I'm asking this here because you guys know everything! I have four passengers on a one-way SW record locator number and I need to cancel two of them from the itinerary. Can I easily do this online or do I need to call SW? I'm just nervous about hitting that 'cancel' button and messing the whole thing up! And I don't want to call if not necessary, with the wait times and the craziness that the CSRs must be experiencing. Thanks!

 

[zemmer]

I'm asking this here because you guys know everything! I have four passengers on a one-way SW record locator number and I need to cancel two of them from the itinerary. Can I easily do this online or do I need to call SW? I'm just nervous about hitting that 'cancel' button and messing the whole thing up! And I don't want to call if not necessary, with the wait times and the craziness that the CSRs must be experiencing. Thanks!

Unfortunately, you do have to call for this.

 

[AlohaNow]

Unfortunately, you do have to call for this.

Thank you, I figured as much. I just wanted to see if there was a way around it.

For informational purposes, SW changed our flights only once after we booked them about a month ago. We fly next week and I am now checking daily for any further changes. This will be our third trip on SW since July and just know that if you are traveling right now, pack patience, flexibility, and gratitude!

 

[focusondisney]

New targeted offers for the SW visa... spend $4000 in 3 months, earn 30,000 points & a companion pass good for 2021. When you sign into your SW account, not a general public offer. That is a really great offer. Too bad I already have the card & earned the CP last week.

 

[zemmer]

New targeted offers for the SW visa... spend $4000 in 3 months, earn 30,000 points & a companion pass good for 2021. When you sign into your SW account, not a general public offer. That is a really great offer. Too bad I already have the card & earned the CP last week.

Thank you for posting! With Thanksgiving travel, a Disney trip, and Christmas shopping in the next 3 months, we might be able to get a companion pass for the first time!