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

[TheOneWithTheTriplets]

I absolutely hate the new system because one loses their seats. I wish you could update your ticket with the lower price and not have to worry about trying to get your seats back. I’m eating points because I don’t want the possibility of losing my preferred seats in a flight that’s filling up. I hope they tweak the system so seats don’t disappear. I have a hard time walking so I need the closer seat. I deliberately upgraded to the Priority card so I could select my seat….I want to KEEP it when I adjust my ticket to save points!! (I know a lot of you have been able to get your seats back but that “not knowing for sure” is what is stopping me from trying.)

Didn't someone up these say they could do it for you on the phone where your seats stay held?

I don't mind moving and moving back, so I haven't bothered. It's in the back of my head that someone here said they called to get the points back without changing the seats.

 

[han22735]

I absolutely hate the new system because one loses their seats. I wish you could update your ticket with the lower price and not have to worry about trying to get your seats back. I’m eating points because I don’t want the possibility of losing my preferred seats in a flight that’s filling up. I hope they tweak the system so seats don’t disappear. I have a hard time walking so I need the closer seat. I deliberately upgraded to the Priority card so I could select my seat….I want to KEEP it when I adjust my ticket to save points!! (I know a lot of you have been able to get your seats back but that “not knowing for sure” is what is stopping me from trying.)

I agree its harder now but we just did this. Change to the cheaper flight...get the points back...pick new seats then immediately after modify back to the seats we had before. Took 2 minutes.

 

[MarBee]

Can someone check me on this/tell me the best plan please…?

I have not flown SW in a couple of years. DH has a Premier and a Plus card. I also have Premier and Plus.

I was going to book us a trip all (2 teens and 2 adults) on DH’s points. It states that we can get preferred seats (depending on availability) at the 48 before checkin mark if we book Basic fare.

Under the Choice fare, we can select standard seating at booking.

A few questions:
1) are these benefits extended to the whole party? (Booking for 2 adults and 2 teens)
2) if I get preferred seating at the 48 hour mark, and the flight is showing it’s mostly empty, is it better to gamble on the cheaper fare getting the better seat?
3) why is the preferred seat at 48 hour mark not extended to the higher choice fare?
4) both offer Group 5 boarding. How many groups are there now? Meaning, does Group 5 mean I’ll be checking my carry-on?

I realize that most of these questions are subjective, but I’m just looking for a best guess answer from the regulars please

 

[MarBee]

Deleted- accidentally posted twice

 

[georgina]

I absolutely hate the new system because one loses their seats. I wish you could update your ticket with the lower price and not have to worry about trying to get your seats back. I’m eating points because I don’t want the possibility of losing my preferred seats in a flight that’s filling up. I hope they tweak the system so seats don’t disappear. I have a hard time walking so I need the closer seat. I deliberately upgraded to the Priority card so I could select my seat….I want to KEEP it when I adjust my ticket to save points!! (I know a lot of you have been able to get your seats back but that “not knowing for sure” is what is stopping me from trying.)

We booked SW to Tampa for tomorrow after American canceled our Orlando flight. I wasn't home, so DH did it. He screwed up a middle name of one passenger, and we were told after 2+ hours on hold, that the name couldnt be fixed over the phone because he would lose his seat. So he needs to go to the ticket counter for a 7 AM flight. Yay.

American wanted to rebook us with a layover in Miami. No thanks. It was a crazy day, first tried a Delta flight to MCO which sold out too fast, then tried something else. It is cheaper to Uber from Tampa to a Disney resort than to get an off brand rental car.

 

[Threehearts]

Can someone check me on this/tell me the best plan please…?

I have not flown SW in a couple of years. DH has a Premier and a Plus card. I also have Premier and Plus.

I was going to book us a trip all (2 teens and 2 adults) on DH’s points. It states that we can get preferred seats (depending on availability) at the 48 before checkin mark if we book Basic fare.

Under the Choice fare, we can select standard seating at booking.

A few questions:
1) are these benefits extended to the whole party? (Booking for 2 adults and 2 teens)
2) if I get preferred seating at the 48 hour mark, and the flight is showing it’s mostly empty, is it better to gamble on the cheaper fare getting the better seat?
3) why is the preferred seat at 48 hour mark not extended to the higher choice fare?
4) both offer Group 5 boarding. How many groups are there now? Meaning, does Group 5 mean I’ll be checking my carry-on?

I realize that most of these questions are subjective, but I’m just looking for a best guess answer from the regulars please

I just flew SW, 4 flights over 2 days, and I would not be sure that any SW plane these days will be mostly empty. Completely full or close to full seems to be the norm these days on the SW flights I take. I usually take the earliest flight of the day but my recent flights were noon departures.

Just don't depend on choices of seating. If you want the seats and it is very important to you, I would recommend paying the extra to secure them. I wish I had, but then it was too late to change with a full plane.

 

[crazywig]

Can someone check me on this/tell me the best plan please…?

I have not flown SW in a couple of years. DH has a Premier and a Plus card. I also have Premier and Plus.

I was going to book us a trip all (2 teens and 2 adults) on DH’s points. It states that we can get preferred seats (depending on availability) at the 48 before checkin mark if we book Basic fare.

Under the Choice fare, we can select standard seating at booking.

A few questions:
1) are these benefits extended to the whole party? (Booking for 2 adults and 2 teens)
2) if I get preferred seating at the 48 hour mark, and the flight is showing it’s mostly empty, is it better to gamble on the cheaper fare getting the better seat?
3) why is the preferred seat at 48 hour mark not extended to the higher choice fare?
4) both offer Group 5 boarding. How many groups are there now? Meaning, does Group 5 mean I’ll be checking my carry-on?

I realize that most of these questions are subjective, but I’m just looking for a best guess answer from the regulars please

1) yes
2) I've flown four segments in the past month (to and from Florida) and all the flights were packed. I have priority visa and was able to move to extra leg room on half those. I book preferred with the priority card and those seats at booking are pretty full tbh.

group 5 will be your max boarding number, it could be lower depending on what seat you're in.

I wouldn't book a basic seat counting on upgrading at all.

 

[Tink3815]

Has anyone booked their seat and a customer of size seat on a basic fare using your Priority Credit Card and was able to choose a complimentary preferred seat selection at booking.
A Southwest rep told me that I would have to do a choice booking and pay the extra for both seats . I don't think she gave me correct information.

From their website

• Both seats should be purchased in the same fare class (i.e., Choice, Choice Preferred, Choice Extra, or Basic).
• When available, primary Cardmembers with a Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card or a Southwest Rapid Rewards® Performance Business Credit Card will be able to select a Preferred or a Standard seat at the time of booking. If no Preferred or Standard seat is available, Cardmembers will be assigned a seat in accordance with the fare rules of the ticket purchased.

 

[crazywig]

Has anyone booked their seat and a customer of size seat on a basic fare using your Priority Credit Card and was able to choose a complimentary preferred seat selection at booking.
A Southwest rep told me that I would have to do a choice booking and pay the extra for both seats . I don't think she gave me correct information.

From their website

• Both seats should be purchased in the same fare class (i.e., Choice, Choice Preferred, Choice Extra, or Basic).
• When available, primary Cardmembers with a Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card or a Southwest Rapid Rewards® Performance Business Credit Card will be able to select a Preferred or a Standard seat at the time of booking. If no Preferred or Standard seat is available, Cardmembers will be assigned a seat in accordance with the fare rules of the ticket purchased.

I'd be willing to bet if you step through the booking you'll see you can choose preferred.

 

[Wood Nymph]

Can someone check me on this/tell me the best plan please…?

I have not flown SW in a couple of years. DH has a Premier and a Plus card. I also have Premier and Plus.

I was going to book us a trip all (2 teens and 2 adults) on DH’s points. It states that we can get preferred seats (depending on availability) at the 48 before checkin mark if we book Basic fare.

Under the Choice fare, we can select standard seating at booking.

A few questions:
1) are these benefits extended to the whole party? (Booking for 2 adults and 2 teens)
2) if I get preferred seating at the 48 hour mark, and the flight is showing it’s mostly empty, is it better to gamble on the cheaper fare getting the better seat?
3) why is the preferred seat at 48 hour mark not extended to the higher choice fare?
4) both offer Group 5 boarding. How many groups are there now? Meaning, does Group 5 mean I’ll be checking my carry-on?

I realize that most of these questions are subjective, but I’m just looking for a best guess answer from the regulars please

I have the SWRR premier card and everyone that I buy a ticket for receives the benefits, including one free checked bag. If you want to sit together than buy the Choice fare and pick your standard seats. They will be behind the exit row but if you book the flight early, you could get pretty close to the exit row. I've found that at the 48 hour mark there aren't very many preferred seats together, unless, of course, you have an empty flight.

If you really want a preferred seat than spend the extra to purchase it. The availability of "free" preferred seats is limited, with most of them being middle seats. But be warned that you can lose what you paid if you try to change the flight.

SW will not lower the price for the extra legroom seats at the 48 hour mark. They will fly with those seats empty and not let anyone sit in them for free.

Group 5 is not great. A whole lot of people go ahead of you, including all the window seat passengers. The issue is really space for your carryon. That can be an issue. Usually, only the people with the highest boarding groups are asked/forced to gate check their bags.