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

[Leigh L]

I'm sorry you lost your flight @MarBee.
I would try what @Gitelfor suggests. You never know.

Yesterday Spirit gave me a 2-month extension on a flight to Milwaukee they changed (and also added a 7-hour layover in Fort Lauderdale - totally not doable for a long weekend trip). My credits were due to expire in March, now exp is May (probably still won't get used but it's a little wiggle room).

 

[Kazi7]

I haven't canceled a SW flight booked on points for a long time. When I search, the web tells me that I should be able to have the $5.60 security fee held for future use or refunded? Is this accurate info? Even though it's not a lot of money, I might do something differently with the flight if I lose the $5.60.

 

[MarBee]

I haven't canceled a SW flight booked on points for a long time. When I search, the web tells me that I should be able to have the $5.60 security fee held for future use or refunded? Is this accurate info? Even though it's not a lot of money, I might do something differently with the flight if I lose the $5.60.

Just selected the option to refund it back to your card. You’ll see it refunded within a few days. No biggie

 

[MarBee]

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.

I'm sorry you lost your flight @MarBee.
I would try what @Gitelfor suggests. You never know.

Yesterday Spirit gave me a 2-month extension on a flight to Milwaukee they changed (and also added a 7-hour layover in Fort Lauderdale - totally not doable for a long weekend trip). My credits were due to expire in March, now exp is May (probably still won't get used but it's a little wiggle room).

Thanks! It’s not the end of the world but just stinks to leave the money out there. I will try giving them a call and see what happens.

 

[Gitelfor]

I'm sorry you lost your flight @MarBee.
I would try what @Gitelfor suggests. You never know.

Yesterday Spirit gave me a 2-month extension on a flight to Milwaukee they changed (and also added a 7-hour layover in Fort Lauderdale - totally not doable for a long weekend trip). My credits were due to expire in March, now exp is May (probably still won't get used but it's a little wiggle room).

Did you mean to say that your credits were extended on Southwest, not Spirit?

 

[Gitelfor]

Thanks! It’s not the end of the world but just stinks to leave the money out there. I will try giving them a call and see what happens.

FYI, for the credits to be extended with the $100 fee, they must have expired. If you have credits with different confirmation numbers, the best workaround is to consolidate into a single confirmation number by booking a new flight, as close in cost to the total of all credits. If you have a sizable credit, I would book a refundable fare. Keep in mind that all credits used will take on the earliest expiration date. Before doing so, however, I would confirm that Southwest will extend your credit(s), and if so, make sure that you get the name and document the date and time you spoke with the CSR. I don't know if there is any way they can document your record about the conversation, so that you don't run into any issues when trying to actually extend.

Please let us know how this all works out.

 

[Leigh L]

Did you mean to say that your credits were extended on Southwest, not Spirit?

No I did mean Spirit, but I figured if one airline did it, maybe others, such as SW, might do it too since they changed the flight.

 

[Gitelfor]

No I did mean Spirit, but I figured if one airline did it, maybe others, such as SW, might do it too since they changed the flight.

The reason I asked if you meant Southwest was that Spirit does not fly out of MKE, while Southwest does,

 

[Leigh L]

The reason I asked if you meant Southwest was that Spirit does not fly out of MKE, while Southwest does,

Sorry, my mistake : )
I meant flying to Chicago and driving to Milwaukee. Was planning to hopefully fly SW from MKE back to BWI.

 

[barb969]

I haven't canceled a SW flight booked on points for a long time. When I search, the web tells me that I should be able to have the $5.60 security fee held for future use or refunded? Is this accurate info? Even though it's not a lot of money, I might do something differently with the flight if I lose the $5.60.

Always get it back on your card. If you save it as travel funds it will expire in a year.

 

[nkereina]

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!!!

If the flight isn’t full and someone sits next to you making you uncomfortable, you also have the option to move seats at that point as well.

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?

As PP mentioned, the main option will be to wait for them to expire and then call request they be extended. If they are agreeable (I believe it’s discretionary), then they will issue it in the form of a voucher, minus a $100 fee per passenger. So that’s only worth it if your travel funds are greater than $100.

 

[Gitelfor]

Sorry, my mistake : )
I meant flying to Chicago and driving to Milwaukee. Was planning to hopefully fly SW from MKE back to BWI.

MKE AND ORD are so close to each other, people in southeast WI and northern IL often shop both airports for the best options, so it’s understandable to think of them interchangeably.

MKE used to have the most competitive fares, which often drew in many customers from IL. Now, it seems that more competition among airlines at ORD means much lower fares, than at MKE. However, MKE is so much easier to navigate quickly, and the parking cost is a fraction of that at ORD.

 

[Leigh L]

MKE AND ORD are so close to each other, people in southeast WI and northern IL often shop both airports for the best options, so it’s understandable to think of them interchangeably.

MKE used to have the most competitive fares, which often drew in many customers from IL. Now, it seems that more competition among airlines at ORD means much lower fares, than at MKE. However, MKE is so much easier to navigate quickly, and the parking cost is a fraction of that at ORD.

Thanks! I haven't been to ORD for more than a decade and never to MKE, I did interchange them

We do that here with IAD/DCA/BWI - although I typically avoid BWI since it's on the other side of DC- but these days it's one of the few airports to get a direct flight from on Southwest to anyplace we would travel.

 

[easyas123]

We do that here with IAD/DCA/BWI - although I typically avoid BWI since it's on the other side of DC- but these days it's one of the few airports to get a direct flight from on Southwest to anyplace we would travel.

We check all three as well, being in a part of MD that has has equal distance between BWI & PHL, I find that 90% of the time BWI SW flights have better times & prices. But it is nice to have so many airports to choose from in terms of options.

 

[karen4546]

We (my husband and I) have never flown SW, but fares near us are outrageous for March. So, we booked SW from MSY to MCO. My husband is wary about it because SW canceled our daughters' flight out of MSY in September while they were on the way to the airport.

is SW filling middle seats at this time? We purchased EB check in-has anyone had bad boarding group even though they purchased EB?

Our traveling party be my husband and I, My daughter, son-in-law, grandson (4), and my mother-in-law (72 no mobility issues). I think my daughter and SIL will be able to board early regardless of the EB but we bought it so we could all board together.

MSY is 5 hrs from our home but we booked a non stop flight and we will arrive at MCO around 9 am-the flights from our local airport arrive much much later and bags are a minimum of $30, so if this flight works out then we will book SW in the future. Fingers crossed

Tips flying SW are appreciated.

 

[Leigh L]

We (my husband and I) have never flown SW, but fares near us are outrageous for March. So, we booked SW from MSY to MCO. My husband is wary about it because SW canceled our daughters' flight out of MSY in September while they were on the way to the airport.

is SW filling middle seats at this time? We purchased EB check in-has anyone had bad boarding group even though they purchased EB?

Our traveling party be my husband and I, My daughter, son-in-law, grandson (4), and my mother-in-law (72 no mobility issues). I think my daughter and SIL will be able to board early regardless of the EB but we bought it so we could all board together.

MSY is 5 hrs from our home but we booked a non stop flight and we will arrive at MCO around 9 am-the flights from our local airport arrive much much later and bags are a minimum of $30, so if this flight works out then we will book SW in the future. Fingers crossed

Tips flying SW are appreciated.

My tip is to be flexible and have a backup plan, but I'd say that about any airline right now

My adult DD had a direct DCA (Washington DC) to MCO at Thanksgiving. I thought for sure that one would be safe being the holiday and all, but 2-3 weeks before they changed it to a stop in Atlanta. She was able to get her $ back (quickly too!) though since it was a significant change and we just changed up her plans and it was fine.

I haven't flown SW since the pandemic, but have flown them numerous times previously. We like SW, although it took us time to understand the boarding process. Now we buy EBCI as well!
(The lowest group we've had with the early bird I think is around B15ish? Usually higher though)

 

[Gitelfor]

We (my husband and I) have never flown SW, but fares near us are outrageous for March. So, we booked SW from MSY to MCO. My husband is wary about it because SW canceled our daughters' flight out of MSY in September while they were on the way to the airport.

is SW filling middle seats at this time? We purchased EB check in-has anyone had bad boarding group even though they purchased EB?

Our traveling party be my husband and I, My daughter, son-in-law, grandson (4), and my mother-in-law (72 no mobility issues). I think my daughter and SIL will be able to board early regardless of the EB but we bought it so we could all board together.

MSY is 5 hrs from our home but we booked a non stop flight and we will arrive at MCO around 9 am-the flights from our local airport arrive much much later and bags are a minimum of $30, so if this flight works out then we will book SW in the future. Fingers crossed

Tips flying SW are appreciated.

Southwest stopped blocking middle seats after November 2020. However, with your traveling party, you should be able to get seats with you all sitting together, with no stranger in a middle seat next to anyone in your family. If your boarding numbers are not among the first to board and select seats (A group), your young grandchild and two others will be allowed to board between the A and B groups, in Family Boarding. You will see adults and young children standing off to the side, and an announcement will be made for Family Boarding. Currently, they are allowing 10 people to board at a time, due to COVID.

Basic info about flying Southwest:

https://www.airfarewatchdog.com/blo...southwest-airlines-and-get-the-seat-you-want/
https://www.southwest.com/html/travel-experience/boarding-the-plane.html
Keep an eye on your flight 1-2 days before your travel dates. You can also call Southwest to confirm your flight will be operating, as scheduled.

I think you will like the Southwest experience and wish you a good trip.

 

[EACarlson]

is SW filling middle seats at this time? We purchased EB check in-has anyone had bad boarding group even though they purchased EB?

Our traveling party be my husband and I, My daughter, son-in-law, grandson (4), and my mother-in-law (72 no mobility issues). I think my daughter and SIL will be able to board early regardless of the EB but we bought it so we could all board together.

MSY is 5 hrs from our home but we booked a non stop flight and we will arrive at MCO around 9 am-the flights from our local airport arrive much much later and bags are a minimum of $30, so if this flight works out then we will book SW in the future. Fingers crossed

Tips flying SW are appreciated.

Southwest is filling every seat they can sell. I would expect, especially this far out, that you will have a decent A boarding group. With a group of six I would just plan on filling two rows, however you'd like. My personal preference is one group of three in front of the other. If you want to take the chance that there will be an empty middle seat, head straight to the back of the plane when you board.

 

[nkereina]

I haven’t been following the thread closely over the last few months, so just curious if anyone has had any similar scenarios. We know covid numbers are still high in many places and many states are still requiring quarantines upon returning home from traveling. Has anyone heard of any concessions from Southwest because of these things? I know that they are no longer converting funds to points and that the 2022 expiration extension ended, but curious if they’re offering anything else or working case by case since things aren’t really better.

My SIL was supposed to fly to WDW in March 2020. She canceled at the start of the pandemic, before SWA offered the 2022 expiration extension. As such, she’s coming up on her one year expiration for her travel funds and doesn’t expect she’ll be flying by then. She didn’t take the points because she’s not a RR member (she never flies and didn’t know about it) and she also had re-planned her trip for February, which means she could have used her travel funds anyway. But now with numbers being what they are, she would rather just reschedule when it’s a bit better. Of course, she hates the thought of losing her travel funds. Is calling SWA going to be a waste of time for her? Is she better off trying to get the extension after the funds expire and losing $100 per ticket?

 

[eeyore29]

Sorry if this has been covered... we cancelled an AUG 2020 trip so we have travel funds that will expire in SEP 2022. If we book a trip for this summer with those funds, but then decide to cancel it, do we still have until SEP 2022 to use the funds, or will attempting to use the funds move up the expiration date in some way?