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

[nekonekoneko]

It's so weird, I was hopping around days and I could have sworn there were a couple non stops on weekdays, too. I bet my browser hadn't totally refreshed yet.

Saturday and Sundays is at least better than just Saturdays? Maybe????

Maybe! But it doesn't help me, when I'm planning on leaving for Disney on a Wednesday.

 

[JKMastalski]

We usually fly out of phl on SW also. Newark is closer for us, but since SW stopped flying out of Newark, we've been going out of PHL to use our SW points. What a letdown. We used to fly direct PHL to MCO, Las vegas, and New Orleans, all of them now have stopovers.

I know, its so frustrating. I live only about 30 min from PHL, so its my go-to airport. Not happy with SW lately lol

 

[Leigh L]

If my DH has travel funds expiring April 18, 2022, can they be used for a flight booking for summer? Or do they have to be used before that date? ( I think we're still good?)

He had that original 9/7/22 date SW issued back in 2020 but I think we may have partially used some of his funds last year and it converted to the new expiry date.

 

[LadybugsMum]

If my DH has travel funds expiring April 18, 2022, can they be used for a flight booking for summer? Or do they have to be used before that date? ( I think we're still good?)

He had that original 9/7/22 date SW issued back in 2020 but I think we may have partially used some of his funds last year and it converted to the new expiry date.

No, the funds must be used - that is the flights completed - by that date. And yes, the expiry date would have changed if you used the funds and then canceled the flight.

 

[Leigh L]

No, the funds must be used - that is the flights completed - by that date. And yes, the expiry date would have changed if you used the funds and then canceled the flight.

Thanks for the quick response! I was hoping it was we could book before 4/18, I think I was mixing it up with Frontier or Spirit's policy and their 3-6 month expiration if you don't book something.

I think maybe a quick weekend trip to visit his dad is in DH's very near future, lol.

Thanks again

 

[nlenguyen]

I am noticing more 1 or 2 stop flights than before. We come from phx and usually there is one or two direct flights but that has slowly dwindled

 

[Cruzin’Sisters]

What time would I need to be at MCO for a Saturday 9:45 a.m. Southwest flight? I know checking bags and going through security is terrible at MCO but we’ve never left on a Saturday morning before and always arrived by Magical Express. We have TSA precheck and will be coming from a Universal resort by Uber. we want to have a time to grab fast food breakfast before the flight.

I just got back from Orlando on a Saturday. Got there 2 hours before my flight. Checked bags curbside and the lines were long. They were twice as long inside so do it! Had a bite to eat then TSA. If you have pre-tsa, you should be ok with 2 hours before.

 

[Peaseblossom36]

Does it make a difference if I add on early bird check in later than my initial purchase? It didn’t show up on the screen to add when I bought the tickets but I am now getting emails about adding it.

 

[PCFriar80]

Does it make a difference if I add on early bird check in later than my initial purchase? It didn’t show up on the screen to add when I bought the tickets but I am now getting emails about adding it.

I would do it sooner vs. later. The longer you wait, the more travelers who purchase flights in your fare category [and EBCI] will be ahead of you.
No one really knows the magic behind the EBCI assignment, but higher fare paying customers will get priority over the lower fares regardless of the purchase date.

 

[Neener16]

A friend of mine went through security etc and was then notified his SW flight was canceled. No other flights going out tonight. JetBlue was charging $1000/person and that flight is iffy. It was only a weekend trip, but I do know they had plans to meet grandchildren and tickets for Disney for tomorrow. They ended up by just deciding to go at another time. We fly out a week from Sunday, I am more than a little nervous. Airport is Hartford.

 

[EACarlson]

Does it make a difference if I add on early bird check in later than my initial purchase? It didn’t show up on the screen to add when I bought the tickets but I am now getting emails about adding it.

The way it is supposed to work is that at 36 hours before scheduled take off, SW automatically checks in all A list Preferred members and their companions, then A list members and their companions, then those that bought EBCI in the order they purchased it. In theory the fare bucket (Anytime vs WGA) is irrelevant except as a tie breaker between two people that purchased EBCI at the same second. So yes it does make a difference adding EBCI when purchasing the tickets and adding it later.

 

[mla973]

Just checked in for my flight. We did EBCI, and my son (who is 11) ended up in Group A, while my husband and I are in Group B. Can I adjust this at the gate? I don’t want my son to board, then families, then the rest of us. Can I swap an adult to be “alone” in Group A so my son boards with a parent?

 

[EACarlson]

Just checked in for my flight. We did EBCI, and my son (who is 11) ended up in Group A, while my husband and I are in Group B. Can I adjust this at the gate? I don’t want my son to board, then families, then the rest of us. Can I swap an adult to be “alone” in Group A so my son boards with a parent?

I would just swap boarding passes, by rule the three of you should be boarding with the lowest boarding number.

 

[Peaseblossom36]

I would do it sooner vs. later. The longer you wait, the more travelers who purchase flights in your fare category [and EBCI] will be ahead of you.
No one really knows the magic behind the EBCI assignment, but higher fare paying customers will get priority over the lower fares regardless of the purchase date.

Ah, that’s frustrating. I couldn’t find the option to purchase it when I bought the tickets and was short on time to search around. I went with business so hopefully won’t knock us down too much.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

Ah, that’s frustrating. I couldn’t find the option to purchase it when I bought the tickets and was short on time to search around. I went with business so hopefully won’t knock us down too much.

Did you purchase Business Select?

If you purchased that you'll be assigned A1-A15 there would be no need to purchase EBCI

 

[Peaseblossom36]

Did you purchase Business Select?

If you purchased that you'll be assigned A1-A15 there would be no need to purchase EBCI

I did. Won’t I still need to check in how ever many hours before the flight? I’m worried about needing to remember that.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

I did. Won’t I still need to check in how ever many hours before the flight? I’m worried about needing to remember that.

https://www.southwest.com/getbusinessselect/index.html

It automatically checks you in at 36 hours in advanced though you will need to go through the check in process at 24 hours in advance in order to get your actual boarding pass. The system will assign you a boarding position anywhere between A1-A15 which should depend on when you purchased your ticket.

The reason you were not able to purchase it when you bought your tickets is EBCI isn't an option when you purchase Business Select because you're already getting the automatic check in (Same for A-listers, it's not an option).

https://www.southwest.com/help/booking/earlybird-checkin

Customers who have purchased electronic tickets at the Wanna Get Away® or Anytime fares can benefit from purchasing EarlyBird Check-In®. Priority boarding privileges are already included with the purchase of Business Select® fares and are a benefit of being a Rapid Rewards® A-List Preferred or A-List Member or a Passenger on a reservation that includes an A-List Preferred or A-List Member.

EarlyBird Check-In® Customers will receive boarding positions after Business Select Customers and A-List Preferred, as well as A-List Members and Passengers on the same reservations as A-List Preferred and A-List Members.

NOTE: EarlyBird Check-In® should not be purchased for (1) for Passengers on the same reservation as an A-List or an A-List Preferred Member as they will receive priority boarding or (2) Unaccompanied Minors since they will preboard the flight. Please review our unaccompanied minor policies for more details.

 

[Peaseblossom36]

https://www.southwest.com/getbusinessselect/index.html

It automatically checks you in at 36 hours in advanced though you will need to go through the check in process at 24 hours in advance in order to get your actual boarding pass. The system will assign you a boarding position anywhere between A1-A15 which should depend on when you purchased your ticket.

The reason you were not able to purchase it when you bought your tickets is EBCI isn't an option when you purchase Business Select because you're already getting the automatic check in (Same for A-listers, it's not an option).

https://www.southwest.com/help/booking/earlybird-checkin

Customers who have purchased electronic tickets at the Wanna Get Away® or Anytime fares can benefit from purchasing EarlyBird Check-In®. Priority boarding privileges are already included with the purchase of Business Select® fares and are a benefit of being a Rapid Rewards® A-List Preferred or A-List Member or a Passenger on a reservation that includes an A-List Preferred or A-List Member.

EarlyBird Check-In® Customers will receive boarding positions after Business Select Customers and A-List Preferred, as well as A-List Members and Passengers on the same reservations as A-List Preferred and A-List Members.

NOTE: EarlyBird Check-In® should not be purchased for (1) for Passengers on the same reservation as an A-List or an A-List Preferred Member as they will receive priority boarding or (2) Unaccompanied Minors since they will preboard the flight. Please review our unaccompanied minor policies for more details.

Wow! I feel silly for not reading through everything when I purchased, thank you! I’ve only flown once before so don’t have a lot of experience with it, this time my biggest concern was with tickets being refundable so I just kind of jumped on it. Thanks!

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

Wow! I feel silly for not reading through everything when I purchased, thank you! I’ve only flown once before so don’t have a lot of experience with it, this time my biggest concern was with tickets being refundable so I just kind of jumped on it. Thanks!

No worries! SWA can be easy but also complicated at the same time, even harder when you're not flying a whole lot, it's totally understandable

 

[Leigh L]

May the Force be with everyone today flying SW! App and website down to retrieve boarding pass this morning. Kiosk worked.

At gate and 2 gates down an announcement was made that they can't board due to system being down.

I'm waiting for the same announcement since we board in 2 minutes and no movement here.

Eta, the other gate said updates every 15 minutes while they wait for paperwork.

Wanted to give heads up for anyone traveling this weekend.

Edit: App is finally up! (Been trying since 3:30 am) But multiple announcements about inability to board. "Hopefully soon" they're saying.