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

[eticketplease]

Interesting, so your card benefits will allow seat selection even at Basic fare level…didn’t realize. I was going to change my level of card but after getting a hint as to the big increase in annual fees coming, I didn’t know if it was worth it since I only fly 4-5 times a year. Thanks for sharing.

The Priority or the business equivalent, Performance Business allow you to select a standard or preferred seat at booking and you can upgrade at 48 hours if there are any extra legroom seats available.

The other cards only allow you to select a seat 48 hours of your flight. The lowest AF cards are standard only and the middle tier is Standard or Preferred.

I would hold on to the priority card as even if they raise the fee you would retain the existing $149 fee until renewal anyways. Perhaps when they refresh it with a new fee they will also increase the SW credit. Right now the Priority card (Highest tier) is only $5 more than the Plus card (lowest tier) if you factor in the $75 SW credit. You also receive 4,500 more SW points not sure how much they are valued these days but if they are valued at $0.005 That is an additional $22.50 in value which is why it remains a keeper but stored in my sock drawer as I don't have to use the card except once a year to trigger the $75 credit.

 

[katallo]

Hopefully they will now clarify handicapped seating procedures

 

[Marrila]

Hopefully they will now clarify handicapped seating procedures

I'm guessing pre-board to your reserved seat. Just like all the other reserved seat airlines do.

 

[katallo]

Thank you

 

[Wood Nymph]

I am curious to see how assigned seating will work. I can foresee a problem for us with the new system. My husband and I both have separate SWA accounts. And as far as I know, we can't book a flight together if we are using rewards points. The flights need to be booked separately using the individual accounts. That means we run the risk of not being able to get seats next to each other.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

I am curious to see how assigned seating will work. I can foresee a problem for us with the new system. My husband and I both have separate SWA accounts. And as far as I know, we can't book a flight together if we are using rewards points. The flights need to be booked separately using the individual accounts. That means we run the risk of not being able to get seats next to each other.

If you book with points using one person's RR account during the booking process to purchase both tickets during that one transaction you'll be on the same reservation (you just input the other person's RR account information for the purposes of being able to easily pull up the flight information for that other person).

We've been using my husband's account for hmm about 10 years now to book flights for the both of us on the same reservation (sans when we had the Companion Pass or used a promotional Companion Pass which works a little different) with points only seldom using cash or SWA gift cards. I have my own RR account, he has his, we just use his because he racks up the points a lot more with work travel.

 

[eticketplease]

I am curious to see how assigned seating will work. I can foresee a problem for us with the new system. My husband and I both have separate SWA accounts. And as far as I know, we can't book a flight together if we are using rewards points. The flights need to be booked separately using the individual accounts. That means we run the risk of not being able to get seats next to each other.

If you don't have enough points for two on a round trip but do have enough each for 1 on a round trip you can do what we do.
We book a one way ticket on Person 1's RR account and then we book the way back on P2's RR Account.

Sometimes the price is more for one leg than the other so we would look at who has more points before booking of course.

 

[focusondisney]

I am curious to see how assigned seating will work. I can foresee a problem for us with the new system. My husband and I both have separate SWA accounts. And as far as I know, we can't book a flight together if we are using rewards points. The flights need to be booked separately using the individual accounts. That means we run the risk of not being able to get seats next to each other.

You can book a ticket for anyone with rapid rewards points, so no problem booking both from 1 account. In addition to booking 1 leg under each account, you can also transfer points between the 2 of you if you prefer to do it all under 1 account.

https://support.southwest.com/helpc...transfer-Rapid-Rewards-points-to-someone-else

 

[eticketplease]

You can book a ticket for anyone with rapid rewards points, so no problem booking both from 1 account. In addition to booking 1 leg under each account, you can also transfer points between the 2 of you if you prefer to do it all under 1 account.

https://support.southwest.com/helpc...transfer-Rapid-Rewards-points-to-someone-else

Unfortunately this costs $5 for every 500 points with a minimum of 2,000 transferred.

 

[Lsdolphin]

November points just dropped significantly in both directions, even lower than what the "big sale" numbers were last week (two weeks ago? time is a blur).

It's sure a hassle having to cancel and rebook for Basic flights: we're on points, so everything is fully refundable. It's more that, when I cancel, there's that worry voice in the back of my head telling me that someone else is going to grab the lower point flight in the 30 seconds I'm canceling. Hasn't actually happen, but that doesn't stop the anxiousness, unfortunately.

Only problem is that if you cancel you lose EB if you purchased it.

 

[focusondisney]

Unfortunately this costs $5 for every 500 points with a minimum of 2,000 transferred.

Thank you! I was trying to see if there was a fee & couldn’t find that info. It was probably right in front of me & I missed it.

 

[eticketplease]

Thank you! I was trying to see if there was a fee & couldn’t find that info. It was probably right in front of me & I missed it.

No, I was intrigued about it and actually went through the steps. It's not obvious until you reach that last page.

https://www.southwest.com/account/rapidrewards/points/transfer-points

 

[pooch]

I really like that Jet Blue lets you pool points. On SWA, I book one ways so we are on the same confirmation number. Last year we took the whole family (7) and I had 3 different confirmation numbers each way but managed to get all 7 each way with points. Gotta love $11.20 R/T per person for non stops!

 

[eticketplease]

I really like that Jet Blue lets you pool points. On SWA, I book one ways so we are on the same confirmation number. Last year we took the whole family (7) and I had 3 different confirmation numbers each way but managed to get all 7 each way with points. Gotta love $11.20 R/T per person for non stops!

United does this as well. I wish more carriers would do this. It would allow one with a few points to contribute to the trip even if it was just a few

 

[TheOneWithTheTriplets]

Only problem is that if you cancel you lose EB if you purchased it.

Yeah, I don't add EBCI until I'm locked in on a flight. I know that puts me farther down the line, but my goal is just to sit together, not to be near the front, and I regularly rebook for lower prices. Sucks that it's that much more complicated now with Basic fares...

 

[kristenrice]

I'm reviewing all of the changes (again) and I am looking ahead to my next potential flight on SW which won't be until next October. I am willing to pay to sit in an aisle in front of the wing. This means that my new target budget will be the Choice Preferred fare since it is the cheapest way to secure an aisle seat near the front when booking the ticket.

I loved the fact that SW had free checked bags because I would often check my carry-on bags on the way home from vacation, just to have less hassle in the airport. We rarely have a non-stop option and I like to stay as hands-free as possible. I do not even own a piece of luggage that is considered "checked" size. All of my suitcases are 22" or smaller so now I am in the market for a larger suitcase. From here on out, when I fly SW, I will probably still check a bag....but I am not sure what I should do.

I have the SW Visa Card (Plus, $69 AF) but we RARELY use it. It has <$150/mo in use but I have kept it open and used it for SWA purchases and "bonus" offers when they had them in the past. With the upcoming changes, I do not see a tangible benefit in keeping the card. If I combine the 3000 RR points earned per year with the $35 "free" bag that I'd receive, is it really even a break-even with the annual fee? I am the only one in the family that travels so it's not like there are multiple people flying on a reservation and taking advantage of the free baggage allowance. It seems like going forward, I should close the SW card and simply pay the $35 checked baggage fee, and that is if I decide to even check a bag. The Plus card does not gain me any benefit for my seat selection since I "need" a preferred seat and it only allows for a standard seat selection 48 hours prior to check in. Am I missing something?? I don't want to close a card that I've had for 12 years if I can still get a tangible benefit from it, but it seems like it no longer has use for me. I primarily use my Capital One Venture card now and I can use points for travel expenses on any airline with that card.

 

[Wood Nymph]

If you don't have enough points for two on a round trip but do have enough each for 1 on a round trip you can do what we do.
We book a one way ticket on Person 1's RR account and then we book the way back on P2's RR Account.

I think this is what I'm going to have to do. I had been using my RR account to book trips because I have the Reward credit card. And we almost always book one way fares. It is easier to use up travel funds that way. But if we want to travel together on one reservation number using his RR points then he will have to add me rather than me adding him to the ticket.

 

[eticketplease]

I'm reviewing all of the changes (again) and I am looking ahead to my next potential flight on SW which won't be until next October. I am willing to pay to sit in an aisle in front of the wing. This means that my new target budget will be the Choice Preferred fare since it is the cheapest way to secure an aisle seat near the front when booking the ticket.

I loved the fact that SW had free checked bags because I would often check my carry-on bags on the way home from vacation, just to have less hassle in the airport. We rarely have a non-stop option and I like to stay as hands-free as possible. I do not even own a piece of luggage that is considered "checked" size. All of my suitcases are 22" or smaller so now I am in the market for a larger suitcase. From here on out, when I fly SW, I will probably still check a bag....but I am not sure what I should do.

I have the SW Visa Card (Plus, $69 AF) but we RARELY use it. It has <$150/mo in use but I have kept it open and used it for SWA purchases and "bonus" offers when they had them in the past. With the upcoming changes, I do not see a tangible benefit in keeping the card. If I combine the 3000 RR points earned per year with the $35 "free" bag that I'd receive, is it really even a break-even with the annual fee? I am the only one in the family that travels so it's not like there are multiple people flying on a reservation and taking advantage of the free baggage allowance. It seems like going forward, I should close the SW card and simply pay the $35 checked baggage fee, and that is if I decide to even check a bag. The Plus card does not gain me any benefit for my seat selection since I "need" a preferred seat and it only allows for a standard seat selection 48 hours prior to check in. Am I missing something?? I don't want to close a card that I've had for 12 years if I can still get a tangible benefit from it, but it seems like it no longer has use for me. I primarily use my Capital One Venture card now and I can use points for travel expenses on any airline with that card.

Since you have had the card for 12 years you could certainly close it and open a new priority card to get the bonus points.
That card has a higher AF but after the $75 SW credit it is only $5 more. This would allow you to get the seat you would like at booking even if booking a basic ticket plus your free bags.

Otherwise since you are checking a bag just keep the card and don't use it as it will effectively be paying for your checked bag and if someone else will travel with you on a trip then it would provide more value.

https://www.southwest.com/customer-enhancements/assigned-seating/

Scroll down and click on "Cardmember Benefits" sorry I don't know how to get the direct link.

 

[eticketplease]

I think this is what I'm going to have to do. I had been using my RR account to book trips because I have the Reward credit card. And we almost always book one way fares. It is easier to use up travel funds that way. But if we want to travel together on one reservation number using his RR points then he will have to add me rather than me adding him to the ticket.

Yes and as long as you are on the reservation you would still get the free bags so this is good.