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

[Gitelfor]

On flight from MCO to BWI on 12/9 the young man seated directly in front of me prob around 16 yrs had his mask off the entire flight neither his mother or the FA told him to put mask on. He was leaning over to watch a movie with a sibling for most of the flight and I did feel he was uncomfortably close I spent entire time keeping my head as close to the window as possible. Also, Prior to the flight there was a man sitting in gate area who was not wearing a mask for at least an hour prior to boarding the plane he did wear mask to get on plane.

There was no social distancing durning disembarking.

Thanks for sharing your experiences. We have not flown for about a year, so we have been wondering about current conditions.

Southwest replies to complaints about experiences similar to yours by asking customers to DM their confirmation numbers, so that an official complaint can be filed. I don’t know if that action goes any further, i.e. with flight’s cabin crew, or if it is just to appease the concerned customer.

 

[Ninjagrrl]

Thanks for sharing your experiences. We have not flown for about a year, so we have been wondering about current conditions.

Southwest replies to complaints about experiences similar to yours by asking customers to DM their confirmation numbers, so that an official complaint can be filed. I don’t know if that action goes any further, i.e. with flight’s cabin crew, or if it is just to appease the concerned customer.

I can't speak to the masks thing, bc we always preboard and we always have bulkhead seats bc DS is in a wheelchair and needs to transfer.
However we just flew into MCO in early December on SW and can confirm that disembarking is still a free for all. We wait until everyone gets off the plane, then one of us goes to get the wheelchair from the jetway where they unload the gate check items. DS is 5, but looks much younger bc he is very small and thin due to his disability and he is also autistic. The FA's commented both times how amazing he was at mask compliance. I think they expected to have to be on us, but were pleasantly surprised and relieved that they didn't.

 

[mickeynut1]

For those who have recently flown Southwest (since all seats are available for purchase and middle seats no longer blocked), how has mask compliance been? Are the FAs making sure that passengers are correctly masked, when not actively eating or drinking?

I have seen photos and complaints on social media of unmasked/improperly masked passengers on Southwest flights. Of course, isolated incidents can happen, but I am wondering if anyone has personally experienced any episodes.

Also, has disembarking been organized, or has it been the same mass exiting, as pre-COVID?

I've flown 3 times since Sept and one flight the FAs were adamant and kept telling people to wear their mask when not actively eating or drinking, while the other 2 flights not much attention was given to it. As far as disembarking, that hasn't changed. People begin standing up/getting luggage from overhead bins almost immediately upon arriving at the gate and stand in the aisle waiting to deplane. Other than needing a mask and boarding in small groups of 10, flying is no different now vs pre-covid.

 

[MarBee]

Just making sure. We don’t know when they’re releasing the next batch of flights, correct?

 

[scrappinginontario]

Just making sure. We don’t know when they’re releasing the next batch of flights, correct?

I just checked now and the next date has not been released. This link shows the information you're looking for: https://www.southwest.com/air/flight-schedules/

 

[Orion Nebula]

God this is horrifying to read... SW will not work with anyone either. I paid cash and of course they won't help me out via moving Feb flight. Well unless I want to "pay them" 100 for each ticket. I was planning on re-booking my trip, or at the very least just driving. But I am stuck right now. /vent

 

[sethschroeder]

God this is horrifying to read... SW will not work with anyone either. I paid cash and of course they won't help me out via moving Feb flight. Well unless I want to "pay them" 100 for each ticket. I was planning on re-booking my trip, or at the very least just driving. But I am stuck right now. /vent

Just stopped in this thread what is your issue that they won't help with that they are charging for?

I easily moved around my flights without issue just a couple week ago to move from March to January.

 

[Gitelfor]

God this is horrifying to read... SW will not work with anyone either. I paid cash and of course they won't help me out via moving Feb flight. Well unless I want to "pay them" 100 for each ticket. I was planning on re-booking my trip, or at the very least just driving. But I am stuck right now. /vent

Perhaps if you call Southwest, they can give you an idea about how full your flights may be. Flying on a flight with fewer passengers would not pose as many risks, in my mind.

I know that Southwest is supposed to be sending emails to Customers who have upcoming flights to let them know if their flights will be full, and that full flights may be rebooked on other flights with lighter loads, by calling Southwest.

 

[teawar]

From BHM to MCO in the middle of December, the crew was very clear about masking expectations. Deplaning was the normal drill. Coming back, the crew made an announcement that everyone had to deplane in order from the front to the back, one row at a time. It worked well.

 

[nkereina]

Running into a new issue today - I'm trying to book a flight for 2/18/21. The flight is $126 and I have $129 in travel funds that expire same day (originally booked on 2/18/20, expiration is 2/18/21). Its my understanding that funds can be used if you fly ON the expiration date (as opposed to before), but is that not the case? When trying to book the flight, it accepted $101 of my travel funds and shows I owe $25, leaving the remaining $28 in travel funds on the table for some reason. Its one travel fund, not multiple. Its for me and the funds are in my name. Only the one payment method, no issue there. Any other thoughts? I'll try calling later, but thought I'd ask here while I'm waiting to do that.

 

[scrappinginontario]

My understanding is that travel must be completed at least 1 day prior to travel fund expiration date.

From the Southwest website: https://www.southwest.com/flight/travel-funds-search.html

 

[nkereina]

My understanding is that travel must be completed at least 1 day prior to travel fund expiration date.

From the Southwest website: https://www.southwest.com/flight/travel-funds-search.html

View attachment 548812

So that would make sense to me, except that its allowing me to apply $101 out of my $129 in travel funds. The whole credit expires on the date of the flight I'm trying to book. I would think none of it would work if I had to fly by the day before?

 

[scrappinginontario]

So that would make sense to me, except that its allowing me to apply $101 out of my $129 in travel funds. The whole credit expires on the date of the flight I'm trying to book. I would think none of it would work if I had to fly by the day before?

No idea. I'd either go with what it's allowing or do as you initially mentioned and call SW.

Hope you're able to use it!

 

[Lsdolphin]

Perhaps if you call Southwest, they can give you an idea about how full your flights may be. Flying on a flight with fewer passengers would not pose as many risks, in my mind.

I know that Southwest is supposed to be sending emails to Customers who have upcoming flights to let them know if their flights will be full, and that full flights may be rebooked on other flights with lighter loads, by calling Southwest.

I still don’t see how you can prevent someone from sitting in your row even if plane is not full...

 

[scrappinginontario]

I still don’t see how you can prevent someone from sitting in your row even if plane is not full...

You can't. It's SW policy that a customer can fill any available seat and since they're filling all seats a person can sit anywhere they wish where another person is not already sitting.

 

[Gitelfor]

I still don’t see how you can prevent someone from sitting in your row even if plane is not full...

The offer to allow a switch to a different flight with a lighter load is based on the fact that not all seats will be occupied, with a chance of there being some open middle seats; there are no longer any guarantees of open middle seats.

Generally speaking, if the flight is not full, there are usually more open middle seats in the back of the plane.

 

[Lsdolphin]

You can't. It's SW policy that a customer can fill any available seat and since they're filling all seats a person can sit anywhere they wish where another person is not already sitting.

I’m aware of that ...that’s my point...whether your plane is full or empty you have no control over someone sitting on top of you in that middle seat!!!

 

[MarBee]

So I have some travel funds I don’t think I’ll be able to use before they expire. (SW changed my flights so that I can’t use the dates/times the flights were changed to.) Does anyone have any idea what I can do with the funds? Donate them maybe? Buy a gift card or something?

 

[Gitelfor]

...

 

[Gitelfor]

So I have some travel funds I don’t think I’ll be able to use before they expire. (SW changed my flights so that I can’t use the dates/times the flights were changed to.) Does anyone have any idea what I can do with the funds? Donate them maybe? Buy a gift card or something?

Have you tried calling Southwest Customer Relations, since they made the change, which was not doable for your plans? Though, at this point, if you already cancelled the reservation, it may be too late. On a case-by-case basis, in the past, Southwest has extended funds that have expired within the past 6 months, after paying a $100 fee, per confirmation number.