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

[Lsdolphin]

My 4/16 nonstop flight out of BDL was completely cancelled and I did not receive an email. Thank God I saw a post on Facebook and checked. Was able to get the last seats on the other nonstop that AM. Now I get an email that my return flight has changed from nonstop to a stop in Baltimore. Waiting on DH to decide if we should add a day to get a nonstop the next day or just take the one we have. Glad I took today off!!

good luck!

 

[KayW]

good luck!

Thanks! We decided to just go with what they put us on. In the end, I didn't want to change flights and then have to add a room reservation.

 

[Avery&Todd]

We have an early March flights from RDU to MCO which were originally booked in Sept when those flights came out and SW changed our departure time by 15 min earlier back in October, then I made a change to our return home flight in November and then SW changed our return home flights (again) on Jan 27th.

So that makes 2 changes by SW and 1 change my me.

on the last change SW made I rebooked our flight home and saved almost 40k points between our 3 tickets!

Im hoping that all changes are DONE *fingers crossed, knocks on wood* and we can just get there already! 17 days and counting!

 

[Lsdolphin]

Thanks! We decided to just go with what they put us on. In the end, I didn't want to change flights and then have to add a room reservation.

That’s what I did...added an extra night than they ended up canceling that flight and changing me back to the day before so as of now Im still booked for the extra day....

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

Are you suggesting that if a family has any kid older than 6 (while also having one under 6), they're not supposed to use family boarding? Because that really doesn't seem to be the words on SW's website and it seems to be what you're saying. Nor do I quite get the two adult thing (are you suggesting that single parents wouldn't be able to use family boarding if their kids are under 6 since they reference two adults? Logically, does it quite add up to you that if family boarding is meant for families with kids under 6 that making it more complicated for those families would be beneficial to any part of the boarding process?). If anything, a single parent with a kid under 6 (even if I have one over 6) probably can use the time since kids under 6 can be hard to direct and get into the plane (and fwiw, many of the families returning and using family boarding - I paid less attention departing - seemed to only have kids over 6 instead of one in each group like I had). At no point did anyone ask about the age of kids when scanning passes (though I presume they might've all come up on the screen - maybe not) - but I can't wrap my head around what seems to be your suggestion that because I was one adult and/or had one kid over 6, I wouldn't have met the requirements for (or benefitted from) family boarding.

As you mentioned what you diagnose as my mistake, you seem to be correct - though I had specifically asked about it since I was using the CP earned through the CC as well as points. I had understood that since reservations for a minor traveling with me would be connected to my boarding pass, this would make sense (and I think I literally wrote that out far before the trip in this long thread) and somewhere along the way I got it wrong. I now know that it's a poor use of the SW card, CP, points, etc and won't make the same mistake (and hopefully others can avoid it). I mean you said something like "everyone would do this" but I spent more funds purchasing the Business Select ticket than I would've had I simply purchased EBCI for the three of us (which I couldn't figure out how to do with the CP) and this seemed like the simplest/least expensive way to do what I needed (which was have time to board with my two kids as a single parent, managing one of them - the 5 year old - for their first flight ever). Obviously, yes, I could have bought all three of us Business Select tickets, even forgoing the Companion Pass and points I had earned over the previous 6-12 months. Maybe your implication is that if you have kids, you should spend as much money as possible?

A simple acknowledgement from a gate agent, "You seem to have your hands full" would have been representative of the typical good customer service and friendliness that Southwest is known for; that didn't happen. Not unlike Guest Relations at Disney Parks (or really any customer facing job anywhere), simply acknowledging a customer's story can go a long way to helping them feel like they had a positive interaction. In my current job, I'm regularly discouraged from making a problem that occurred - even if it's absolutely clear the customer made a mistake - about the customer's fault (and instead am told to say things like, "I'm sorry this didn't go as planned - how can I help in the moment?"). But, it's a stressful job (the gate agent), it's 5:30am, and I recognize she may not have had a ton of time to think on her feet to say anything like, "Yeah, this really does stink for you because you had an expectation and it's not being met, regardless of how we got there." At that point, it's not about "rectifying" a situation (this is where I often think people on the boards go wrong with expecting Disney to offer "pixie dust") so much as a positive interaction with another human (or, at the absolute least, not a negative interaction which is what I had). And if that's asking too much, then I do think it makes sense that I don't go out of my way to give them business (which I've been doing since just before covid). It's not a slight against the person or company - just an honest to god consideration of what they say at the end of each flight ("we realize you have a choice as to who you fly").

What I was saying is the older than six wouldn't qualify for Family Boarding under SWA's official policy. If that means you (general you) are uncomfortable with the other individual boarding in their position then you board at their position (as is the case with anyone) trust me you're far from the only one to be in that position. It actually used to only be "an" adult but they adjusted that to allow for 2. That has nothing to do with single parenting you may be confusing the wording and thinking you have to have 2 adults..no...it's just an allowance up to 2 when before it was just "an" adult.

This thread is very long and Family Boarding tends to bring up a debate which is what I was trying NOT to do. SWA has not put in their official policy that older than 6 are able to board during Family Boarding (they are actually generous there because most airlines Family Boarding is 2 and younger). It does happen but it's also not happened. I was simply responding to your comment that the gate agent should have suggested Family Boarding. I gave a reason why. On this thread it's usually best to stick with official stuff because individual situations may arise. There's no suggestion here involved, just me telling you official policy, me trying to explain why a gate agent, who you viewed gave you poor customer service, didn't just suggest Family Boarding. While sizing all varies most could probably see an 8 year old being older than 6. It's a long-drawn out discussion that was never intended to happen here, just a simple explanation offered for why the gate agent didn't do what you think she should have done.



With the Business Select everyone would do it I was meaning if someone could purchase 1 ticket but bringing along others without also purchasing Business Select for them everyone would do it...why wouldn't they? That's not anything towards you just a practical comment. Minors, connecting itineraries, etc wouldn't matter here because Business Select isn't formatted to extend benefits like that. It's strictly for Boarding positions A1-A15 (among higher point earning and a drink) and allowing others to Board there without purchasing a Business Select would dilute that benefit. But it's why I mentioned Upgraded Boarding which is done at the gate and you can select it for each flight in a variable price but sells the remainder of the Boarding positions in A1-A15 should there be any left.

I'm sorry you were misled. I didn't converse with you about this months ago (I wasn't really back on the thread at that time IIRC) so really don't know what transpired. I was attempting to clear things up in terms of the error and the customer service, I thought you were quite understanding given what your situation led to but in fairness to SWA with the customer service aspect that opened up a different conversation. FWIW I'm really big on just showing understanding and I can understand how in your shoes someone who doesn't act like they care is going to come across but I can also understand SWA's position here with your unique situation in how the tickets were purchased. I guess I didn't quite get that your only issue with the customer service was just her attitude because you mentioned that she could have just suggested Family Boarding (and that's why I responded about that) as that sounded like you were dinging them for both attitude and an inability to try and solve the problem. Although to me solving the problem would have been to tell you to purchase Upgraded Boarding and that early in the morning with tempers flaring I'm not sure that would have been as well received but would have been an appropriate suggestion. I agree with your "how can I help" comments but coming from a customer service background as well sometimes there is no way you can help or the way you can causes further anger on the guests part (like spending more money).

Anyways obviously me commenting made this worse so respectfully just going to let this go

 

[Gitelfor]

New travel advisory was issued for February 16-17, mostly for states in the Midwest.

 

[Lsdolphin]

Interesting how SWA is still showing just about all the direct flights between MCO and BWI as unavailable for both 4/9 and 4/10 and we are only halfway thru Feb. so I would expect many more people would be trying to book flights. This is prime Easter break time and yet they are only flying the smaller 737-700 planes instead of the larger 737-800 or 800 Max planes??,

 

[mickey916]

Interesting how SWA is still showing just about all the direct flights between MCO and BWI as unavailable for both 4/9 and 4/10 and we are only halfway thru Feb. so I would expect many more people would be trying to book flights. This is prime Easter break time and yet they are only flying the smaller 737-700 planes instead of the larger 737-800 or 800 Max planes??,

Definitely something odd happening. I also think it's weird my non-stop went from leaving at 4 pm to leaving at 10:10 pm...guessing that's a staffing issue...

 

[ultimatefans]

My April flight was still in tact yesterday so I thought maybe I was spared, but nope. My 1:50pm flight home was changed to a 7:25am flight. And no other flight that weekend into BUF or ROC (nonstop or connecting) can accommodate our party of 9. REALLY not looking forward to a 4:30am pickup and a stressful end to the vacation. Traveling with 7 teenagers is stressful enough! I don't get how SW can cancel flights that were almost fully booked. So frustrating. Hoping something opens between now and then. Let the stalking continue...

 

[DisneyRunner2009]

Our April flight departs 75 minutes later. There were five or six non stops yesterday. Some offered at $119. Today there are three non stops. They condensed their schedule quite a bit.

 

[Lsdolphin]

Definitely something odd happening. I also think it's weird my non-stop went from leaving at 4 pm to leaving at 10:10 pm...guessing that's a staffing issue...

Sounds like they just cancelled that 4 pm flight. I’m just wondering why if it’s a staffing issue they just don’t use the larger planes to accommodate more people and fly fewer planes...

 

[mickey916]

Sounds like they just cancelled that 4 pm flight. I’m just wondering why if it’s a staffing issue they just don’t use the larger planes to accommodate more people and fly fewer planes...

That would make a lot of sense to fly bigger planes at fewer times. What's odd is that there wasn't a 10 pm flight when I booked it originally I don't think. I think I booked the latest nonstop at the time..it seems they canceled the 4 pm and then added the 10 pm...I would think the 10 pm would be WAY less popular for people to book.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

Interesting how SWA is still showing just about all the direct flights between MCO and BWI as unavailable for both 4/9 and 4/10 and we are only halfway thru Feb. so I would expect many more people would be trying to book flights. This is prime Easter break time and yet they are only flying the smaller 737-700 planes instead of the larger 737-800 or 800 Max planes??,

Sounds like they just cancelled that 4 pm flight. I’m just wondering why if it’s a staffing issue they just don’t use the larger planes to accommodate more people and fly fewer planes...

I think it depends on route.

If I check my May dates (so not really Spring Break) there are a few though not many flights that use the 737-800 or MAX8 to Orlando. If I check let's say Vegas for the dates you listed (so Spring Break) they do fly the 737-800 or MAX8 plane from my home airport to Vegas depending on the time.

The 737-700 though make up a huge part of their fleet though. When I look at it they only have active 69 MAX8 planes, 207 active 737-800 but 444 active 737-700.

SWA looks at revenue though too, and anticipates whether a specific route AND time will net the need for a larger plane.

Air travel is sorta an up and down demand with the pandemic depending on variants, waves, rules in one's own area and their destination, etc and that probably makes it harder for them and more confusing for us lol on their decisions they make.

 

[Lsdolphin]

That would make a lot of sense to fly bigger planes at fewer times. What's odd is that there wasn't a 10 pm flight when I booked it originally I don't think. I think I booked the latest nonstop at the time..it seems they canceled the 4 pm and then added the 10 pm...I would think the 10 pm would be WAY less popular for people to book.

Seriously I would think so as well....but who knows what is going on with SWA right now....I’m just checking my flights a few times a day and that’s crazy too!

 

[ambula603]

Our April 11 return flight was changed from 1 PM to 10 PM! We were able to switch to 6 PM but it is not ideal because there are no available cars to rent from Port Canaveral and don't want to be stuck at the airport all day after our cruise. I had no idea it was such a big issue until I saw this thread. I am nervous it will continue to change!! Our departure flight also changed but it didn't affect us as much.

 

[cmarsh31]

Our April flights are an absolute disaster. Large group of Marching Band students, booked as a GROUP with SW, but had to split up in to multiple confirmation numbers because they only had xx of fares available - because that's how SW insisted we book - we didn't want to be 3 separate groups! Now the groups are on separate flights! As in, they put the chaperones on one flight and students on another... and this is fine because they're over 14. They absolutely refuse to help us or put us all on one flight, because "that's all that's showing available". THREE HOURS on the phone today. Nothing. This is the worst customer service we have ever experienced. Doesn't matter that we booked all 3 groups on one non-stop flight the day flights opened and there is still a non-stop flight. It somehow was filled with passengers who weren't on the original non-stop flight. Lucky them.

So if you see unattended teenagers running around random airports in April, apparently that's all good with SW.

 

[leeniewdw]

My RDU-MCO in 2 weeks is holding for now.

I did just look for RDU-MSY in late April, hoping case counts continue to trend down so I can feel comfortable visiting my 93 yo Mom (and stay with my older sister who has a husband with health issues). Anyway, it was odd to see that all the connecting flights go thru airports except ATL. I've never seen that. I wasn't surprised that there were no direct (I think that's been gone for a long time), but I've always flown via ATL on SW.

Turns out Delta has some very cheap flights into BTR which is actually closer to where they all live.

 

[KayW]

Our April flights are an absolute disaster. Large group of Marching Band students, booked as a GROUP with SW, but had to split up in to multiple confirmation numbers because they only had xx of fares available - because that's how SW insisted we book - we didn't want to be 3 separate groups! Now the groups are on separate flights! As in, they put the chaperones on one flight and students on another... and this is fine because they're over 14. They absolutely refuse to help us or put us all on one flight, because "that's all that's showing available". THREE HOURS on the phone today. Nothing. This is the worst customer service we have ever experienced. Doesn't matter that we booked all 3 groups on one non-stop flight the day flights opened and there is still a non-stop flight. It somehow was filled with passengers who weren't on the original non-stop flight. Lucky them.

So if you see unattended teenagers running around random airports in April, apparently that's all good with SW.

Oh no!! Is there anyway to put a chaperone or two with some of the groups of kids? Seems crazy! As a former high school and college band kid, they are the best and will rise to the occasion and show their leadership skills. Or they will break out the instruments in the airport and put on a performance

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

That would make a lot of sense to fly bigger planes at fewer times. What's odd is that there wasn't a 10 pm flight when I booked it originally I don't think. I think I booked the latest nonstop at the time..it seems they canceled the 4 pm and then added the 10 pm...I would think the 10 pm would be WAY less popular for people to book.

We almost always take the last non-stop flight back home for all of our vacations and generally it's almost always completely full with a few exceptions. My husband when he would travel took the last flight out back home and when he was in Maryland and Texas those were always non-stop and it was always completely full. When he was in California he took a stop (usually Vegas) because he didn't like dealing with LAX when going back to CA and they were full there as well.

A lot has to do with maximizing your time in whatever destination you're at. We live in the middle of the country so our flights aren't usually extraordinarily long and right now at least while getting in after midnight, 1am, etc isn't always the most ideal we offset that with what we gain (either cheaper cost or time on vacation usually both).

 

[mickey916]

We almost always take the last non-stop flight back home for all of our vacations and generally it's almost always completely full with a few exceptions. My husband when he would travel took the last flight out back home and when he was in Maryland and Texas those were always non-stop and it was always completely full. When he was in California he took a stop (usually Vegas) because he didn't like dealing with LAX when going back to CA and they were full there as well.

A lot has to do with maximizing your time in whatever destination you're at. We live in the middle of the country so our flights aren't usually extraordinarily long and right now at least while getting in after midnight, 1am, etc isn't always the most ideal we offset that with what we gain (either cheaper cost or time on vacation usually both).

I'm actually secretly happy my return flight got changed from 4pm to 10 pm!