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

[TheOneWithTheTriplets]

Still astronomical, but not as bad as I was imagining.

Right! I logged in and thought," Oh, that's only double what I paid for similar flights last year, not that bad."

After the various delays, I was expecting really, really rough numbers and these only sucked a lot.

 

[TheOneWithTheTriplets]

Did my morning check to see if I can get points back on my SW flights: my flight booked yesterday went from 22k to 42k points!!

Now, I sure as heck hope that floats back down, but glad I at least have it booked with a semi-reasonable pricepoint.

 

[bjscheel]

Did my morning check to see if I can get points back on my SW flights: my flight booked yesterday went from 22k to 42k points!!

Now, I sure as heck hope that floats back down, but glad I at least have it booked with a semi-reasonable pricepoint.

Saw this and decided I'd better hop on too and not delay since I can always get points back. I almost forgot to use my 15% off code, but fortunately I remembered partway through and obtained nonstop tix to MCO for 17,500 each way per ticket. That's fine because the plan this year is for the kids to pay their own way (except for room) so 70k points for DH and I isn't a big deal, but I recall I was able to fly the 6 of us last time for 88000 points TOTAL.

Now something else sad I found out yesterday, that SW stopped doing nonstops Des Moines to St. Louis. One son-in-law is from St. Louis and DD and SIL had been thinking they could just do the 1 hour flight on points once in a while for visits, now it will include a layover in Chicago

 

[TheOneWithTheTriplets]

Saw this and decided I'd better hop on too and not delay since I can always get points back. I almost forgot to use my 15% off code, but fortunately I remembered partway through and obtained nonstop tix to MCO for 17,500 each way per ticket. That's fine because the plan this year is for the kids to pay their own way (except for room) so 70k points for DH and I isn't a big deal, but I recall I was able to fly the 6 of us last time for 88000 points TOTAL.

Now something else sad I found out yesterday, that SW stopped doing nonstops Des Moines to St. Louis. One son-in-law is from St. Louis and DD and SIL had been thinking they could just do the 1 hour flight on points once in a while for visits, now it will include a layover in Chicago

The code is the only reason I have enough points for these flights, it's been clutch! I'm curious to see if these flights follow other trends and dip down about 4 months ahead, but, with all the uncertainty right now, I'm not banking on it.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

Now something else sad I found out yesterday, that SW stopped doing nonstops Des Moines to St. Louis. One son-in-law is from St. Louis and DD and SIL had been thinking they could just do the 1 hour flight on points once in a while for visits, now it will include a layover in Chicago

I hate to be the bearer of bad news but that seems to have been announced last August (2025) with an end date of early March so it's been quite a while. I know you may only have found out yesterday though.

Short flights are always hard on any airline to make enough money. Honestly, I have no idea how much money SWA makes for KC to STL, they are the only airline to do non-stop from KC to STL. It would honestly be a longer process for us to fly there than to drive there if you include driving to the airport (45mins-ish), getting there in advance for the flight, the flying part, the landing, etc and the airport isn't usually anywhere near where we're going in STL when we visit my husband's family. And the flight pricing never is less than the gasoline costs (even if you add in a rental car if we don't drive our own).

It's about a 4 hour or so drive from our house to STL airport, where we are normally going it's about 3 to 3 1/2 hour drive. It's an hour or so longer (meaning 5+ hours) I think from Des Moines depending on where you're at there (that is from airport to airport). We have used STL as a connection point back to KC and it's usually painful with delays and whatnot, where we talk about a drive would have been faster. The only unknown which can create a delay in driving is how many semi trucks are on I-70 and of course construction along I-70.

 

[han22735]

Just looked as we needed a flight home on 11/11(i know its a holiday) and its 70k points a person..lol Definitely booking another night and flying out the 12th. Only 17500 points.

 

[enzy65]

Booked last night for our November cruise, it took a long time online. I have never in my life spent this much money on airfare. I really just wanted to cancel the vacation but DH says no we are going.
IND to FLL nonstop RT sucky flight times $974.00 + 400.00 for baggage
I thought baggage fees were 35, well no they are 45/55.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

I thought baggage fees were 35, well no they are 45/55.

That changed eff 4/9 announced a couple days before that. Multiple airlines did it, the airlines' reasoning was the fueling costs increase, I doubt they'll reduce back down though (it's an easy target for airlines to recoup costs and be able to maintain it long after the issue ebbs).

 

[ADisneyQueen]

Are there anymore codes I could use for my flights for a percentage off? I already used my 10 off code percent from my SW visa card on my March flights.

 

[TheOneWithTheTriplets]

Are there anymore codes I could use for my flights for a percentage off? I already used my 10 off code percent from my SW visa card on my March flights.

My husband and I each got one code per card year. Check your account around the time your annual fee is due and you should see the new code load. These still work even if the card has subsequently been closed.

 

[DisneyRunner2009]

I forgot airfare opened yesterday for early December. I was doing my daily price check and I was informed. I looked at my departure date and saw $700 one way for choice fare. Basic was unavailable. I did this . I'll be holding off for now. Might have to head down a day early.

 

[DebbieB]

I booked PIT-MCO on the day early December opened. It was 36,000 points, which is higher than usual but since I’m using points, I figured they will probably go down and I’ll do a change. I checked yesterday, it’s 79,000 points or $888! That’s crazy!

 

[han22735]

For once we are happy SW just changed our Aug flight to MCO....was a 5:05 am flight and now its 6:05am. We'll get an extra hour of sleep.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

We flew this morning with the updated boarding process

1) Boarding Pass will reflect ALP (A-List Preferred) as the Boarding Group. SWA did clarify it extends to Companion and it did for me.

2) Priority Boarding is before that which I think SWA clarified a bit back. Neither flight this morning had any Priority and neither were completely full though Houston to Costa Rica was more full than KC to Houston. Both flights had no one in the window seat in our aisle so I moved over to the window.

There was a woman in KC with her husband who requested to Pre-Board but either hadn't flown since the changes to assigned seating or had but was still trying to get it to work like open seating. She did have a walker but could walk on her own likely just not super far as she was in a wheelchair for the boarding process. She was asking if they could be seated as close to the front as possible. She was sent to the gate agent at a different gate as the one we were at was not a normal SWA gate. She got huffy when she was moved up only to row 19 (we were on a 700 series) but they did explicitly say "you'll have the three seats to yourself" so they, the other gate agents, might have tried to find a row in her booked seating class that would give them room without someone in the row with them. My guess is she booked a lower fare and just assumed SWA would move her where she wanted. The gate agent at our gate apologized and said the front is paid extra seats and she was like I don't know what Southwest is doing these days. The gate agents were super friendly with her and the other wheelchair passenger (who must be a regular as she was even hugger by one of the gate crew) which I was glad for after hearing how some have been treated poorly but still likely going to take a while for people to adjust. She still Pre-Boarded but it was only her and another passenger so not long lead time in boarding.

Haven't had this but the Houston to Costa Rica flight had 3 pilots deadheading. It was interesting because it was 3, majority of the time I've only been on a flight where there was 1 pilot.

 

[Music City Mama]

Has anyone run into this? I've been looking at a flight in early October. It's been telling me for weeks that "Basic" is unavailable despite any seats being taken in row 17 --> back. Five seats have been taken in extra leg room and a little less than half in preferred. The next tier up, Choice, has a one way fare of $441! Most other flight times are around $100-$150 less than that, but those times don't work for me. Any idea why Basic would be blocked out/unavailable? Do you think it will eventually open up? I will suck it up and get the Choice fare if I have to, but I just don't get the lack of Basic availability when none of the seats are taken.

 

[Smilelea]

Has anyone run into this? I've been looking at a flight in early October. It's been telling me for weeks that "Basic" is unavailable despite any seats being taken in row 17 --> back. Five seats have been taken in extra leg room and a little less than half in preferred. The next tier up, Choice, has a one way fare of $441! Most other flight times are around $100-$150 less than that, but those times don't work for me. Any idea why Basic would be blocked out/unavailable? Do you think it will eventually open up? I will suck it up and get the Choice fare if I have to, but I just don't get the lack of Basic availability when none of the seats are taken.

Small sample size, but from the flights I’ve followed, basic has eventually opened up.

 

[disny_luvr]

What’s the price of a checked bag? I literally just booked flights to Vegas a few minutes ago and on the site I thought it said $35/bag, but upthread I thought I saw $45/bag. Can anyone clarify? Thanks!

 

[ibob52]

Major U.S. airlines, including American, Delta, United, and Southwest, significantly increased checked luggage fees in early April 2026. Most airlines raised fees by $10 per bag for domestic and short-haul international flights to cover rising operating costs and jet fuel prices.

• American Airlines: Increased fees for tickets booked on or after April 9, 2026, starting at $45 for the first bag when prepaid, and $50 at the airport.
• Delta Airlines: Raised fees by $10 starting April 8, 2026, making the first bag $45 and the second $55
• United Airlines: Increased fees for tickets purchased on or after April 3, 2026, with first- and second-bag fees rising by $10
• JetBlue: Increased fees at the end of March/beginning of April 2026, setting the first bag at $39–$49 depending on peak travel times.
• Southwest Airlines: Hiked fees by $10, First bag = $45 and Second bag = $55 beginning . April 9, 2026

 

[disny_luvr]

Major U.S. airlines, including American, Delta, United, and Southwest, significantly increased checked luggage fees in early April 2026. Most airlines raised fees by $10 per bag for domestic and short-haul international flights to cover rising operating costs and jet fuel prices.

• American Airlines: Increased fees for tickets booked on or after April 9, 2026, starting at $45 for the first bag when prepaid, and $50 at the airport.
• Delta Airlines: Raised fees by $10 starting April 8, 2026, making the first bag $45 and the second $55
• United Airlines: Increased fees for tickets purchased on or after April 3, 2026, with first- and second-bag fees rising by $10
• JetBlue: Increased fees at the end of March/beginning of April 2026, setting the first bag at $39–$49 depending on peak travel times.
• Southwest Airlines: Hiked fees by $10, First bag = $45 and Second bag = $55 beginning . April 9, 2026

Thank you!

 

[TheOneWithTheTriplets]

Any idea why Basic would be blocked out/unavailable? Do you think it will eventually open up?

Small sample size, but from the flights I’ve followed, basic has eventually opened up.

I also agree that every flight I've watched, basic has eventually opened up.

I will add that 4-5 months out has been the sweet spot. For my July '25, Nov '25, and Apr '26 flights, I booked on opening day, checked daily, and about 4 months out was when basic opened up and overall prices dipped. In all of those cases, I was able to get points back, often significant points, compared to opening day.

That said, we're in a new landscape with the current state of oil prices, Spirit going out of business, etc. I would be disappointed but unsurprised if the trend didn't hold for flights in the end of 2026.