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

[DrJenski]

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.

We’re stuck here at MCO. I guess both Disney and Southwest need to hire more IT professionals!!

 

[Shelly F - Ohio]

We’re stuck here at MCO. I guess both Disney and Southwest need to hire more IT professionals!!

Your stuck because of the pilot strike. Alaska airline pilots walked off and SWA and Spirit are now cancelling a ton of flights just in case.

 

[DrJenski]

Your stuck because of the pilot strike. Alaska airline pilots walked off and SWA and Spirit are now cancelling a ton of flights just in case.

Our pilots were here at gate on time. One was pissed off and went on a mini rant. Computer systems are not communicating with each other to share needed paperwork.

 

[Leigh L]

Our pilots here also quite early. We are taking off about 90 to 2 hrs late from DC to mco once boarding process is done.

 

[mla973]

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

So the “rule” is that we have to board as a group, even though that’s not how we were assigned (split between A and B)?

 

[georgina]

So the “rule” is that we have to board as a group, even though that’s not how we were assigned (split between A and B)?

No. I think what previous poster meant was if you all want to board together you have to do the B group. It is fine for one adult to use the A pass and the other 2 use B's. A person should be able to save the other 2 seats if they are not too close to the front rows.

 

[mla973]

No. I think what previous poster meant was if you all want to board together you have to do the B group. It is fine for one adult to use the A pass and the other 2 use B's. A person should be able to save the other 2 seats if they are not too close to the front rows.

Thank you! Just got a notice that we’re delayed 3 hours and 20 minutes so now we have plenty of time to figure it out.

 

[VandVsmama]

Bought our plane tickets for our October trip on Southwest on 3/30. We're flying from PHX. Got direct flights both going to MCO and going back home. Round trip cost including paying for Early Bird Check In ended up $500 per person, which is what I expected.

We're traveling on Saturdays. SW has 3 direct flights per day PHX-->MCO. Also has 3 direct flights per day MCO-->PHX.

1 person in our group is blind, so I think maybe to be on the safe side, I should list him in the reservation as visually impaired. Won't need extra assistance at airport or gate because his wife takes care of that (she's going on the trip, too!).

Am remotely concerned about possibility of us having our flights shifted/moved around by SW closer to our travel dates because the blind friend & wife really need to travel together on same flights, and preferably on same flights as we are...hence, that's why we purchased the tickets all together on the same confirmation #/reservation instead of 2 separate purchases. this is the 1st time in forever (like, >10 years) that they've flown anywhere, so they're a little anxious about the process.

 

[EACarlson]

So the “rule” is that we have to board as a group, even though that’s not how we were assigned (split between A and B)?

If you have split boarding numbers and want to board together you are to board with the worst position. https://www.southwest.com/help/day-of-travel/boarding-process You can certainly board individually, in the order on your boarding passes.

No. I think what previous poster meant was if you all want to board together you have to do the B group. It is fine for one adult to use the A pass and the other 2 use B's. A person should be able to save the other 2 seats if they are not too close to the front rows.

It will probably be fine but it is against the law to use someone else's boarding pass to get on the plane. Please don't suggest that people do unethical and illegal things.
There is no seat saving on SW planes. If your group has A60, B1 and B2. If an A lister wants to sit in seats you've "saved" there is nothing you can or the FA will do about it.

 

[Muhlenberg]

Bought our plane tickets for our October trip on Southwest on 3/30. We're flying from PHX. Got direct flights both going to MCO and going back home. Round trip cost including paying for Early Bird Check In ended up $500 per person, which is what I expected.

We're traveling on Saturdays. SW has 3 direct flights per day PHX-->MCO. Also has 3 direct flights per day MCO-->PHX.

1 person in our group is blind, so I think maybe to be on the safe side, I should list him in the reservation as visually impaired. Won't need extra assistance at airport or gate because his wife takes care of that (she's going on the trip, too!).

Am remotely concerned about possibility of us having our flights shifted/moved around by SW closer to our travel dates because the blind friend & wife really need to travel together on same flights, and preferably on same flights as we are...hence, that's why we purchased the tickets all together on the same confirmation #/reservation instead of 2 separate purchases. this is the 1st time in forever (like, >10 years) that they've flown anywhere, so they're a little anxious about the process.

You'll be fine if you are all on the same confirmation number. My mother, who's basically blind but could see big things, traveled with us a lot, and I never checked the visually impaired box. However, I always checked the "can walk but needs wheelchair/assistance" box as it was too far to walk in the airport. That allowed her, and me as her assistant, to pre-board.

You might want to check that box so he can get wheelchair assistance. (The visually impaired box probably also allows pre-boarding.)

There was only one time when we ALMOST were not sitting together. And that was because the flight times were changed 7 times and we were almost last to board. Someone had to move so I could sit next to her. I think they understood that she needed help during the flight and they didn't want to provide it. ;-)

 

[mla973]

If you have split boarding numbers and want to board together you are to board with the worst position. https://www.southwest.com/help/day-of-travel/boarding-process You can certainly board individually, in the order on your boarding passes.

It will probably be fine but it is against the law to use someone else's boarding pass to get on the plane. Please don't suggest that people do unethical and illegal things.
There is no seat saving on SW planes. If your group has A60, B1 and B2. If an A lister wants to sit in seats you've "saved" there is nothing you can or the FA will do about it.

Thanks for the additional info. It was delayed again and again, so we made a last minute pivot to drive the 18 hours. Wish me luck!! Already canceled for a full refund. Now I don’t have to worry about delays on the way home either.

 

[VandVsmama]

You'll be fine if you are all on the same confirmation number. My mother, who's basically blind but could see big things, traveled with us a lot, and I never checked the visually impaired box. However, I always checked the "can walk but needs wheelchair/assistance" box as it was too far to walk in the airport. That allowed her, and me as her assistant, to pre-board.

You might want to check that box so he can get wheelchair assistance. (The visually impaired box probably also allows pre-boarding.)

There was only one time when we ALMOST were not sitting together. And that was because the flight times were changed 7 times and we were almost last to board. Someone had to move so I could sit next to her. I think they understood that she needed help during the flight and they didn't want to provide it. ;-)

Thanks for that information! He’s able to walk just fine so I only checked the visually impaired box.

 

[Lsdolphin]

I can’t even believe this! Got text message at 11:45 pm that my flight at 6:15am from BWI has been cancelled! I tried going online and there is NOTHING available until Tuesday and I checked Disney website and no availability for me to change my resort reservation til end of April on...and it looks like SWA will only allow up to 14 days to reschedule my flight...Ive been on hold since 11:50 pm and disconnected 2x....if I just cancel and reschedule for May rates are a lot higher than what I’ve already paid...and of course only more expensive rooms left at Disney...came to Baltimore last night and am staying in hotel at BWI just so I’d be here for my early flight. So now out for that expense as well!

 

[Lsdolphin]

Now apparently the Disney site is down so I can’t even try to get something rescheduled! I guess I should have gotten the travel insurance since now I’ll have to pay the penalty fee just to change reservation... still on hold with southwest ...nothing available to change to online for tomorrow or Monday.

 

[Lsdolphin]

OMG Im still on hold with SWA! Have been on hold since 11:50 pm and it’s now 4:02 am. Worst experience ever with this airline!
thinking I’m going to have to hang up at 7:00 am if they haven’t answered in order to call and deal with Disney resort reservation...

 

[Lsdolphin]

Help! I’m still on hold with SWA it’s been over 5 hrs. Does anyone know any other way to contact them? There are no longer any flights available today or tomorrow showing online.

 

[Elle23]

Help! I’m still on hold with SWA it’s been over 5 hrs. Does anyone know any other way to contact them? There are no longer any flights available today or tomorrow showing online.

I am so sorry you are going through this. What a nightmare!

I’m kind of regretting having just purchased tickets for SWA for our June Disneyland trip!

What is going on with SWA?!!

 

[Lsdolphin]

I am so sorry you are going through this. What a nightmare!

I’m kind of regretting having just purchased tickets for SWA for our June Disneyland trip!

What is going on with SWA?!!

supposedly current issues due to “technical difficulties “ due their having delays and cancella from the weather and most of the flights this week have already been full due to spring breaks and Easter....so there are no flights to reschedule....but now I also have the issues with penalty fees and rescheduling with Disney...I really am frustrated with SWA as I’ve had issues with my last several flights with delays and cancellations but this is the worst eve!
And...I’m still holding!

 

[EACarlson]

I am so sorry you are going through this. What a nightmare!

I’m kind of regretting having just purchased tickets for SWA for our June Disneyland trip!

What is going on with SWA?!!

Peak travel weekend, idiotic decision to roll out a system "upgrade" on a Friday night during spring break, weather issues in FL and no excess capacity in staff to recover.

 

[xipotec]

Peak travel weekend, idiotic decision to roll out a system "upgrade" on a Friday night during spring break, weather issues in FL and no excess capacity in staff to recover.

Ill take it one step further, its management maximizing “profits” with a system that has almost no flexibility built in for weather any more.

Airlines have plenty of planes, but as we see across the country, they do not want to pay the labor to fly them. They prefer to give that money to stock holders.

The entire companies flight schedile ahould not crash just because of weather on the other side of the country. But its what happens now everytime.

I had an 8 hour delay 2 months ago, on Delta at the Delta HUB….tones of planes just sitting around….no pilots to fly them, no crew to staff them. We essentially waited for a crew to fly in from another route to replace the crew that didn't make it from our connecting flight.
They just will not hire enough staff.