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

[gr8ful]

For those of you who will be chasing a 2026/2027 SWA Companion Pass with me, DofC has an excellent article on the subject.

https://www.doctorofcredit.com/gett...ith-the-new-100k-card-signup-bonus-2026-2027/

Interestingly, the article states that the points earned from the spend made after the December statement closes will count toward the 135,000 points required for the 2026/2027 CP.

 

[(MrsM)]

Interestingly, the article states that the points earned from the spend made after the December statement closes will count toward the 135,000 points required for the 2026/2027 CP.

Can you explain why this is “interesting”?
This is exactly how it is supposed to work, isn’t it?

 

[tseitel]

Just flew BWI to Tampa last Friday. They started pretty early asking for people to check their carry ons. It got more frequent, and more forceful, and ending up with them saying the plane wasn’t leaving until 10 more people checked their bag.
If no one volunteered they would start picking from C group
Once onboard everyone was told they had to place their carryon on its side in the overhead bin.

 

[eticketplease]

For those of you who will be chasing a 2026/2027 SWA Companion Pass with me, DofC has an excellent article on the subject.

https://www.doctorofcredit.com/gett...ith-the-new-100k-card-signup-bonus-2026-2027/

Interestingly, the article states that the points earned from the spend made after the December statement closes will count toward the 135,000 points required for the 2026/2027 CP.

Yes that is how it works because after your December statement closes those next purchases even if they are made in December, would be on your January statement.

Points are awarded on your statement date, therefore they would count as points earned in January 2026. Since they are earned in 2026 and if you end up earning the CP it would be good for the rest of the year and all of 2027

 

[Sparrow'sLady]

I am right there with you.

I was always shocked with so many people dragging suitcases down the aisle when SW gave two free bags. Yes it takes some extra time once you land but I don't want to have to babysit a bag in the airport plus have to go through TSA screening with it as with my luck they would probably open every single one of my packing cubes.

Most people are not willing to put their ipad, laptop, chargers, meds and items of that nature in a check-in bag....they would never see them again.

When I return from Disney, I never place my souvenirs in my check-in bag. I take a 21" spinner for that reason. I am not about to supply TSA agents with Christmas gifts.

 

[eticketplease]

Just flew BWI to Tampa last Friday. They started pretty early asking for people to check their carry ons. It got more frequent, and more forceful, and ending up with them saying the plane wasn’t leaving until 10 more people checked their bag.
If no one volunteered they would start picking from C group
Once onboard everyone was told they had to place their carryon on its side in the overhead bin.

What boarding group were you in? Curious if they started telling people in the A group to turn it on its side that early.

 

[eticketplease]

Most people are not willing to put their ipad, laptop, chargers, meds and items of that nature in a check-in bag....they would never see them again.

When I return from Disney, I never place my souvenirs in my check-in bag. I take a 21" spinner for that reason. I am not about to supply TSA agents with Christmas gifts.

I’m not saying I don’t have a small carryon for necessities but it is something that can easily fit under the seat in front of me.

I have checked many breakable items in my checked bags and never had an issue including wine, ornaments and crystal items from overseas.

Unfortunately on short flights within Europe you can take wine onboard with you but once you are back in the U.S. you would have to dump the bottles as they are more than 100 ml/3.4oz

 

[tseitel]

What boarding group were you in? Curious if they started telling people in the A group to turn it on its side that early.I

I was A59

 

[eticketplease]

I was A59

Good I’m glad they are being proactive early!!

 

[gr8ful]

Can you explain why this is “interesting”?
This is exactly how it is supposed to work, isn’t it?

Yes that is how it works because after your December statement closes those next purchases even if they are made in December, would be on your January statement.

Points are awarded on your statement date, therefore they would count as points earned in January 2026. Since they are earned in 2026 and if you end up earning the CP it would be good for the rest of the year and all of 2027

Happy to hear this is the way it works. I thought I had read elsewhere that the spend needed to occur in 2026. Thanks for clarifying!

 

[eticketplease]

Happy to hear this is the way it works. I thought I read elsewhere that the spend needed to occur in 2026. Thanks for clarifying!

It’s still possible that it does require the spend in 2026. I believe I put that in my example earlier in this thread as if the spend is in 2026 it definitely counts. It all depends on your statement date. If your statement ends on the 5th or so that would be ideal as you have plenty of time for last minute XMAS gifts to count towards your spend and 2026 points.

 

[TheOneWithTheTriplets]

Happy to hear this is the way it works. I thought I had read elsewhere that the spend needed to occur in 2026. Thanks for clarifying!

Sometimes people aren't specific and just say "Spend in 2026" because that's when the statements have to close and the points have to hit.

What you for sure DON'T want to do is to mis-time your statement closing, hit the bonus with a statement close in December, and then have them hit the wrong year.

When I did my 2025-26 CPs, I called and had then change my closing date to very early in the month. That way, after I saw it close on 12/3/24, I had almost the whole month of December to spend knowing my next close was, for sure, 01/03/25 of the next year.

 

[leebee]

For those of you who will be chasing a 2026/2027 SWA Companion Pass with me, DofC has an excellent article on the subject.

https://www.doctorofcredit.com/gett...ith-the-new-100k-card-signup-bonus-2026-2027/

Interestingly, the article states that the points earned from the spend made after the December statement closes will count toward the 135,000 points required for the 2026/2027 CP.

So.... If I apply today (Sept 5th) will my closing date be around the 5th of the month? Meaning that any Christmas presents I buy after Dec. 5th-ish will post in January and therefore go towards the CP?

SORRY... I got all excited and posted before reading the rest of the thread!

 

[TheOneWithTheTriplets]

So.... If I apply today (Sept 5th) will my closing date be around the 5th of the month? Meaning that any Christmas presents I buy after Dec. 5th-ish will post in January and therefore go towards the CP?

SORRY... I got all excited and posted before reading the rest of the thread!

That's generally how Chase apps work. I looked at my last couple of personal cards and, in all cases, the first closing date is on the day before what would have been one month from application (so app 12/24, first close 1/23; app 4/10, first close 5/9).

You also have enough time that you can see what the closing date is on the card and call to change it if you don't like what's assigned.

 

[jimmymc]

Deboarding yes but I’m not sure about boarding as people may throw the bag that would have been at their feet up in the bin now

You'd be surprised how many people still keep it at their feet on Spirit and Frontier. It would still be a lot faster than the legacy airlines.

 

[LadybugsMum]

Direct or nonstop? If a direct, I’d still consider SW if the price is roughly the same. Nonstop, I’d go for Delta.

Nonstop. If I use SW, I will have us go into SNA

 

[dcfromva]

Just flew BWI to Tampa last Friday. They started pretty early asking for people to check their carry ons. It got more frequent, and more forceful, and ending up with them saying the plane wasn’t leaving until 10 more people checked their bag.
If no one volunteered they would start picking from C group
Once onboard everyone was told they had to place their carryon on its side in the overhead bin.

On its side like this?:

The new space bins allow up to 50% more carryon luggage. (But, it's a bad sign if so many people were asked to gate check their bags even with the space bins).

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

But, it's a bad sign if so many people were asked to gate check their bags even with the space bins).

It's kinda been figured out (at least to me based on recent reports and our own experience) that SWA is now like other airlines ever since they started more aggressively and preemptively asking for gate checked luggage in that they aren't necessarily thinking so hard about what bin space there will be.

Other airlines have frustrated passengers over the years where they board and find PLENTY of overhead bin space and yet the gate agents were insisting on gate checking. I still think SWA has on average more people using the overhead bin space but there seems to be a pattern that started back in spring where they are more and more just up front asking at the gate aggressively. I'd have to ask my husband who has flown quite a lot since spring but in the several flights I've taken I've not seen requesting/requiring carry on luggage to be gate checked to actually speed up boarding or deplaning, maybe others have noticed it being quicker IDK (which you'd think that would be their goal if they are going this route).

Purely just my own observation but I've noticed an uptick in people who are trying/forcing their way to deplane way out of what is considered the norm, meaning they are a few rows back and already in the aisle standing ready and not seemingly allowing people ahead of them the space to even get up and get their belongings from the overhead bin. Maybe that contributes to the deplaning not seemingly being faster.

 

[Sparrow'sLady]

On its side like this?:

The new space bins allow up to 50% more carryon luggage. (But, it's a bad sign if so many people were asked to gate check their bags even with the space bins).

Interesting. Those bags look smaller than a 21" spinner, but I am probably wrong.

I wish SWA (and other airlines) would enforce that your bag needs to go above where you are sitting. So many people get on the plane, use the overhead bins at the front and head towards the back. Many times, there is no bin space for the people who take those seats. People should be able to keep an eye on their own bags and not worry if somebody 10 rows back is messing with your stuff!

 

[eticketplease]

Interesting. Those bags look smaller than a 21" spinner, but I am probably wrong.

I wish SWA (and other airlines) would enforce that your bag needs to go above where you are sitting. So many people get on the plane, use the overhead bins at the front and head towards the back. Many times, there is no bin space for the people who take those seats. People should be able to keep an eye on their own bags and not worry if somebody 10 rows back is messing with your stuff!

I think in January with the assigned seats it will be less of a problem but I certainly agree it should be as close to the individual as possible.