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

[bjscheel]

Woke up early to check in for flight this morning- when the time came it said "Airport check in required. Unable to complete the check in process." Online it just says there is an error.

Called- wait time 77 minutes so I left callback number. Also in the chat queue. I do have the promotional companion pass, I don't know if that is the problem?

ETA see I'm not the only one per a FB Southwest group.

ETA2: Saw on twitter to keep retrying. Didn't do it continuously, but did try at the right time I guess, got A41 at 1 hour 20 minutes after.

 

[eticketplease]

Woke up early to check in for flight this morning- when the time came it said "Airport check in required. Unable to complete the check in process." Online it just says there is an error.

Called- wait time 77 minutes so I left callback number. Also in the chat queue. I do have the promotional companion pass, I don't know if that is the problem?

ETA see I'm not the only one per a FB Southwest group.

ETA2: Saw on twitter to keep retrying. Didn't do it continuously, but did try at the right time I guess, got A41 at 1 hour 20 minutes after.

My flights never got booked but they took all of my flights and gift cards.
It kept stating there was an issue with my credit card but it shows multiple charges went through and then immediately refunded except for 1 time where I was charged without a refund.

So card was charged.
GC was depleted
Flight Credits gone
and NO Ticket!

 

[wisblue]

Southwest flights dropped for 3/5/26 - 4/6/26 at 7:46 EST 8/14/26

I was stalking the site at that time and logged in immediately hoping for flights from MKE to MCO for the week before Easter when our schoolteacher daughter has her break.

The lower class fares were all gone and fares for the other classes would produce a round trip cost of $1300-$1500.

The week before the round trip is about $450.

I know from experience that spring break is extremely busy and fares are usually a little higher than normal. But, unless something changes we will be going at a different time, even if it's during the summer, which we usually avoid like the plague.

 

[Lsdolphin]

I was stalking the site at that time and logged in immediately hoping for flights from MKE to MCO for the week before Easter when our schoolteacher daughter has her break.

The lower class fares were all gone and fares for the other classes would produce a round trip cost of $1300-$1500.

The week before the round trip is about $450.

I know from experience that spring break is extremely busy and fares are usually a little higher than normal. But, unless something changes we will be going at a different time, even if it's during the summer, which we usually avoid like the plague.

Maybe price out another airline….not like SWA is such a bargain anymore.

 

[eticketplease]

I was stalking the site at that time and logged in immediately hoping for flights from MKE to MCO for the week before Easter when our schoolteacher daughter has her break.

The lower class fares were all gone and fares for the other classes would produce a round trip cost of $1300-$1500.

The week before the round trip is about $450.

I know from experience that spring break is extremely busy and fares are usually a little higher than normal. But, unless something changes we will be going at a different time, even if it's during the summer, which we usually avoid like the plague.

We are going the same time frame and yes they are high.
It is $200 more per person RT to go first class on Delta but then that is not direct.

 

[focusondisney]

I was stalking the site at that time and logged in immediately hoping for flights from MKE to MCO for the week before Easter when our schoolteacher daughter has her break.

The lower class fares were all gone and fares for the other classes would produce a round trip cost of $1300-$1500.

The week before the round trip is about $450.

I know from experience that spring break is extremely busy and fares are usually a little higher than normal. But, unless something changes we will be going at a different time, even if it's during the summer, which we usually avoid like the plague.

At every opening there are always some flights from some cities that open without the lowest fares. Your flight most likely was 1 of them today. Keep checking. They always show up eventually.

 

[eticketplease]

Just an update I was able to get my funds back and the good news is they are still not expiring credits.

Only 10 people have booked on my two flights so I think I’m going to hold off and book when hopefully it drops.

 

[wisblue]

Maybe price out another airline….not like SWA is such a bargain anymore.

The problem with that is that there are no nonstop alternatives from MKE to MCO. We would be travelling with a small grandchild so
having to make a connection would make the whole trip less convenient.

 

[Sparrow'sLady]

Between Beak and Barrel and waiting on SW to drop flights I've been having a blast this morning

Not to go off-topic, but I read Beak and Barrel has delayed its reservations. Hopefully you were at least able to get your flights sorted.

 

[eticketplease]

Not to go off-topic, but I read Beak and Barrel has delayed its reservations. Hopefully you were at least able to get your flights sorted.

Thanks I'm going to book them later hoping prices drop since the credits expire 6 months to a year from purchase now.
I'm thinking it is better just to wait a little bit then to book first and then get a refund like we did in the past.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

With respects to points back vs paying for luggage unless it's only a couple of hundreds points back I would take points back over luggage not costing money for that trip.

For me luggage is a personal option vs what the points represent. Meaning I can do things to lessen how much checked luggage I need to check (like combining my stuff with my husband) or decide if I really need to checked luggage but the points back help me for future trips and can sit there collecting over time.

Granted for a Disney/Universal trip I check luggage because I get icky from day after day after day in the parks but normal travel I can easily adjust.

 

[EACarlson]

The problem with that is that there are no nonstop alternatives from MKE to MCO. We would be travelling with a small grandchild so
having to make a connection would make the whole trip less convenient.

Drive the 80 minutes to ORD. You can get non stops from both United and American at ORD, or you can get usually cheaper fares on nonstops from MDW on SW or Delta.

 

[eticketplease]

Drive the 80 minutes to ORD. You can get non stops from both United and American at ORD, or you can get usually cheaper fares on nonstops from MDW on SW or Delta.

I don't know how far from MKE @wisblue is but they wanted to make it more convenient with the grandchild travelling.
As much as I would rather have a direct flight, I will take one that has a layover if it avoids having to drive 80 minutes to a different airport.

That is just my take though.

 

[EACarlson]

I don't know how far from MKE @wisblue is but they wanted to make it more convenient with the grandchild travelling.
As much as I would rather have a direct flight, I will take one that has a layover if it avoids having to drive 80 minutes to a different airport.

That is just my take though.

Everybody has their own calculus on what matters most to them. I live 85 minutes north of MKE, and 15 minutes from a small airport that does not have MCO service. I usually drive the 85 minutes to MKE to take the nonstop on SW, but I will also take the layover if it makes financial sense. And knowing that once I get to ATL or CLT, there are lots of flights from there to MCO. I've also driven the 3 hours to MDW to get a dirt cheap nonstop.

 

[han22735]

Anyone have an a clue why?? I checked in for my flight for tomorrow. When purchased on release day I added EBCI for my wife and daughter but not me. A few weeks ago after the CC changed I added it to mine to use up the two free EBCI. Well looked just now...I got A60 wife and daughter got B7/8...all the same fare.

 

[pooch]

Just nothing makes sense in this world!!!

 

[focusondisney]

Anyone have an a clue why?? I checked in for my flight for tomorrow. When purchased on release day I added EBCI for my wife and daughter but not me. A few weeks ago after the CC changed I added it to mine to use up the two free EBCI. Well looked just now...I got A60 wife and daughter got B7/8...all the same fare.

Maybe the system looked for a single EBCI party for that spot. The next groups, your family included were probably made up of multiple people. Instead of breaking them up, the system searched for a single flyer to plug in there. So instead of your wife getting A60 & your daughter B1, it placed a single person there. I’ve also read it’s possible someone had booked EBCI then cancelled or changed flights so you got lucky & put in their spot. Just a few guesses.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

Anyone have an a clue why?? I checked in for my flight for tomorrow. When purchased on release day I added EBCI for my wife and daughter but not me. A few weeks ago after the CC changed I added it to mine to use up the two free EBCI. Well looked just now...I got A60 wife and daughter got B7/8...all the same fare.

If you're all on the same reservation:

My best guess here is you got a slot from someone who cancelled or changed their flight. There was a previous example where someone had boarding positions separated but not the same situation as yours as theirs was like having someone in between them. Yours looks to have clearly you checked in differently than your wife and daughter.

I *think* this is even more the case since you explained you added both your wife and daughter in one transaction but then later added yours so the system (and again this is my guess) had already kept note of the timing of when your wife and daughter's order (meaning exact time in the mass of other people who had purchased EBCI in the same fare class as you). Normally this would have meant you were behind your wife and daughter as far as priority BUT if someone cancelled or changed their flight it can insert someone else in that place thus giving someone an unexpected better boarding position than anticipated. This can happen too if someone checks in a the 24 hours spot and unexpectedly gets a better boarding position-historically that is because someone else cancelled or changed their flight.

 

[han22735]

If you're all on the same reservation:

My best guess here is you got a slot from someone who cancelled or changed their flight. There was a previous example where someone had boarding positions separated but not the same situation as yours as theirs was like having someone in between them. Yours looks to have clearly you checked in differently than your wife and daughter.

I *think* this is even more the case since you explained you added both your wife and daughter in one transaction but then later added yours so the system (and again this is my guess) had already kept note of the timing of when your wife and daughter's order (meaning exact time in the mass of other people who had purchased EBCI in the same fare class as you). Normally this would have meant you were behind your wife and daughter as far as priority BUT if someone cancelled or changed their flight it can insert someone else in that place thus giving someone an unexpected better boarding position than anticipated. This can happen too if someone checks in a the 24 hours spot and unexpectedly gets a better boarding position-historically that is because someone else cancelled or changed their flight.

I guess that's a possibility. Another wrench to throw in...our daughters friend is also coming with us...booked after and same fare class...got A53. Lol at least I also have the priority card so I could use 2 free upgraded boarding redemptions and got them to A14/15. Thank God it was free since it cost $204 for the upgrade.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

I guess that's a possibility. Another wrench to throw in...our daughters friend is also coming with us...booked after and same fare class...got A53. Lol at least I also have the priority card so I could use 2 free upgraded boarding redemptions and got them to A14/15. Thank God it was free since it cost $204 for the upgrade.

Honestly I think we tend to underestimate how many people change or cancel their flights. I'm not saying it's always the case here when we end up with wonky or unexpected boarding positions (sometimes the system is just being the system lol) but it is still something that happens.

Just using my husband he's had to change countless flights this year due to business adjustments. He had to cancel just over 24 hours in advance a few weeks ago (he has A-list Preferred at the moment so that could have really netted someone a great boarding position) and just yesterday he had to have his work travel agency company change completely a flight. Originally he was due to fly from CA to KC the week of 25th but a work trip to Texas got moved from next week to the week of the 25th so now he's flying from CA to TX to KC as a multi-city reservation. Obviously that one was further out but yeah a lot of movement going on. I'm not sure how business travelers will do with assigned seating as it's not so easy to make those on the fly changes with that but yeah just using my husband as one data point.