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

[DanceDisney23]

I've never used Jetblue. Do they have multiple different priced seating options as is being speculated for the SW change?
Honestly I had no idea other airlines offered price adjustments.

Here is a seat map for a JetBlue flight from BOS to MCO. Core is what you can select for free if you booked economy or economy extra. Core preferred or even more space will have an additional fee.

If you booked basic economy, you will have to pay for any seat selection, and I’m not sure whether you can upgrade to even more space from basic economy.

Here is a comparison of the three economy categories:

 

[jkelly86]

Interesting that this promo ends on the day the March 2025 schedule opens….

Yes, that is also interesting timing! Also, it makes me wonder if this change will "bog down" the process of purchasing tickets on release day.

 

[jkelly86]

I did not realize you could "buy" A-List for the year. Never saw a link to do that.

I think it's a targeted offer when a RR member is close to qualifying for the following year.

 

[ultimatefans]

I've never used Jetblue. Do they have multiple different priced seating options as is being speculated for the SW change?
Honestly I had no idea other airlines offered price adjustments.

View attachment 881209
Here is a seat map for a JetBlue flight from BOS to MCO. Core is what you can select for free if you booked economy or economy extra. Core preferred or even more space will have an additional fee.

If you booked basic economy, you will have to pay for any seat selection, and I’m not sure whether you can upgrade to even more space from basic economy.

Here is a comparison of the three economy categories:

View attachment 881210

Adding a bit more info - you can pay for an Even More Space seat when booking Blue Basic, although the price for the seat will be higher than when booking a Blue fare. When booking Blue Basic and not paying for a seat, one will be assigned at the gate. A few times we've gotten lucky with getting an Even More Space seat in this situation, but that's just luck of the draw. Sometimes they'll upgrade someone else that paid for a seat and put you in their original seats (this has also happened to us). You could also be put by yourself in a middle seat in the back of the plane. It all depends on the gate agent and how much finagling they want / are able to do. Time will tell if Southwest will have the same procedure or do this differently.

Blue and above fares can adjust the booking when the price goes down and get a travel fund, same as Southwest. (Blue Basic fares cannot be adjusted - there is a $100pp fee when cancelling) The travel fund must be used within a year of when it was created, but the travel does not need to happen within a year. This is more generous than Southwest's previous policy, but not as generous as the current policy where the SW credits never expire. Also all JB travel funds can be combined for one booking, so I don't run into the "max of 3 different payments" that can happen with SW credits.

I used to fly almost exclusively Southwest, but have switched over to JetBlue as my preferred airline, even though their booking technology is really frustrating at times - Southwest's booking process is far superior. It is achievable for me to reach Mosaic status with the JB credit card and the travel benefits are amazing. The changes Southwest is making puts it more in line with the way JetBlue does business - I'm very interested to see how this all shakes out.

 

[focusondisney]

I've never used Jetblue. Do they have multiple different priced seating options as is being speculated for the SW change?
Honestly I had no idea other airlines offered price adjustments.

Adding to what @DanceDisney23 said, the fee for the extra legroom window & aisle seats is a few dollars higher than an extra legroom middle. I haven’t booked Core Preferred, but I would assume it’s the same there too.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

I used to fly almost exclusively Southwest, but have switched over to JetBlue as my preferred airline, even though their booking technology is really frustrating at times - Southwest's booking process is far superior. It is achievable for me to reach Mosaic status with the JB credit card and the travel benefits are amazing. The changes Southwest is making puts it more in line with the way JetBlue does business - I'm very interested to see how this all shakes out.

I wonder too how it will work out for the airports and routes that JetBlue dropped. They lasted about 2 years at KCI before leaving last month and we never got the opportunity to fly them. SWA just dominates here and is very influential at the airport, however.....this change will now make them much more bland in terms of what sets them apart. We do have Spirit and Frontier here but they are not anywhere near high market share and I'm not thinking they will suddenly gain huge ground.

One thing that may still boost SWA is their RR program even as devalued as it has gotten over the years is still the best IMO not just from an earning aspect (like all my cat food purchases through Petsmart earn RR points as an example) but from a redemption aspect as their points go further than most other airlines. That said I don't know how assigned seating, changes, credits, and more will interact with that.

 

[TexasErin]

I wonder too how it will work out for the airports and routes that JetBlue dropped. They lasted about 2 years at KCI before leaving last month and we never got the opportunity to fly them. SWA just dominates here and is very influential at the airport, however.....this change will now make them much more bland in terms of what sets them apart. We do have Spirit and Frontier here but they are not anywhere near high market share and I'm not thinking they will suddenly gain huge ground.

One thing that may still boost SWA is their RR program even as devalued as it has gotten over the years is still the best IMO not just from an earning aspect (like all my cat food purchases through Petsmart earn RR points as an example) but from a redemption aspect as their points go further than most other airlines. That said I don't know how assigned seating, changes, credits, and more will interact with that.

I buy all of my dog food from Petsmart. How are you earning RR points for it? That would be helpful, especially if I can also use my Disney Visa.

 

[scrappinginontario]

Is it possible to ask we keep discussions in this thread about Southwest? Only asking as now it's overlapping with Jet Blue information and with all the changes coming to SW it might be easier if we try to keep this discussions to one airline.

Please let me know if you disagree and I can remove this request.

TIA!

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

I buy all of my dog food from Petsmart. How are you earning RR points for it? That would be helpful, especially if I can also use my Disney Visa.

You log into your SWA account navigate to Rapid Rewards Shopping, then locate Petsmart, log into your Petsmart account if you want TREATS points, and so long as you do this you'll earn RR points as well. There's a ton of other retailers you can buy. Most of the time I'm not earning much points but it's passive points meaning I'm just buying something I would already buy.

Step 1


Step 2
A new window opens, you can see present promotions and look up a store


Step 3 input what store or item you're wanting


Step 4
A new window opens up which in this case would be Petsmart's website and just go through purchasing like normal.



You should get an e-mail advising you that a purchase has been tracked through the RR program.

Here's a recap of some of my earnings strictly from Petsmart for me personally, you can tell not too much except when there's been some bonus (like 3 points per dollar or something like that) but hey points are points

 

[Sparrow'sLady]

Interesting that this promo ends on the day the March 2025 schedule opens….

More like planned timing.

 

[richsole]

I don’t know if this is the right place to post.

 

[barb969]

Anybody get this email? It’s a scam, right?

 

[LadybugsMum]

Yes, it appears so. The website is still saying 8/22 and with the announcement of assigned seating, they need more time to get the website updated.

 

[richsole]

We just got back from a nice trip to Italy but my only souvenir was a case of covid and am just climbing out of that fog. But I fear I’ve not the IQ points to answer my seeming dilemma.

Happily we are planning a mid April trip to DW. A faithful and almost always satisfied Southwest customer I dutifully watch their booking calendars for when to book as promptly as possible. So I think I’ve figured out that the next window opens 8/22 through 4/7. Therein my problem, as our flight needs are only a few days after that. Does this mean that I will have to wait to last minute to book? If so, this will test my Type A thinking to the max!

Any solutions I’m missing other than booking with someone else? TIA

 

[Neener16]

Anybody get this email? It’s a scam, right?

I also would say it’s a scam. I always hover over the sent by email address and you can usually tell if it’s fake by the bizarro email address. dze54gf5HJGD@em.vet.cornell.edu is one that I recently received. It was supposedly from UPS.

 

[Neener16]

We just got back from a nice trip to Italy but my only souvenir was a case of covid and am just climbing out of that fog. But I fear I’ve not the IQ points to answer my seeming dilemma.

Happily we are planning a mid April trip to DW. A faithful and almost always satisfied Southwest customer I dutifully watch their booking calendars for when to book as promptly as possible. So I think I’ve figured out that the next window opens 8/22 through 4/7. Therein my problem, as our flight needs are only a few days after that. Does this mean that I will have to wait to last minute to book? If so, this will test my Type A thinking to the max!

Any solutions I’m missing other than booking with someone else? TIA

I am assuming the very short window (March 2025 - April 2025) is because they will be transitioning to assigned seats at that time. I really don’t know if there is any good solution. If you can, wait until August and see when the next reservation window will be. It could be shortly after and you could maybe be the among the first to experience assigned seating.

 

[ultimatefans]

We just got back from a nice trip to Italy but my only souvenir was a case of covid and am just climbing out of that fog. But I fear I’ve not the IQ points to answer my seeming dilemma.

Happily we are planning a mid April trip to DW. A faithful and almost always satisfied Southwest customer I dutifully watch their booking calendars for when to book as promptly as possible. So I think I’ve figured out that the next window opens 8/22 through 4/7. Therein my problem, as our flight needs are only a few days after that. Does this mean that I will have to wait to last minute to book? If so, this will test my Type A thinking to the max!

Any solutions I’m missing other than booking with someone else? TIA

Southwest fares are typically available at least 6 months ahead, so you shouldn't need to wait until the last minute. We don't know yet when the next release window will be after 8/22, but it's usually listed shortly after the current release date. So you should know soon after 8/22 when you'll be able to book flights past 4/7. Sometimes release dates are only a few weeks apart. But with all of their changes coming up, their typical patterns might be out the window.

I hope you recover well!

 

[richsole]

I am assuming the very short window (March 2025 - April 2025) is because they will be transitioning to assigned seats at that time. I really don’t know if there is any good solution. If you can, wait until August and see when the next reservation window will be. It could be shortly after and you could maybe be the among the first to experience assigned seating.

Thanks so much. I spoke to an agent today who understandably could not give much advice. I think I properly sent a FB message to them as well as to X.

Happily Jet Blue has begun flights out of my local airport. While I know SW is hurting and I’ve been a faithful customer for many years, they’re going to have to respond to this issue effectively and sensitively.

 

[richsole]

Southwest fares are typically available at least 6 months ahead, so you shouldn't need to wait until the last minute. We don't know yet when the next release window will be after 8/22, but it's usually listed shortly after the current release date. So you should know soon after 8/22 when you'll be able to book flights past 4/7. Sometimes release dates are only a few weeks apart. But with all of their changes coming up, their typical patterns might be out the window.

I hope you recover well!

Thank you. It’s been a bear. Appreciate your good will and good advice.

 

[CAPSLOCK]

Can anyone familiar with BNA let me know if all the SW flights are usually in the same terminal? We'll have a short (45min) layover on an upcoming trip, not sure how concerned I should be about it.