Southwest booted me off my flight!

[lurkernj]

So they gave you $1200?!? Score! You need to take your friend out to dinner .

I'm in disbelief myself, part of me is waiting for the phone call saying there was a mistake. I'll feel better once the check is inhand. I will indeed do something nice for her.

 

[Greysword]

While it seems SWA didn't have to do this according to the rules, it does seem like it's the fair way to do it.

This is an interesting comment.

Why would WN not have to do this by the rules?

 

[brettb]

While it seems SWA didn't have to do this according to the rules, it does seem like it's the fair way to do it.!

This is an interesting comment.

Why would WN not have to do this by the rules?

(d) The requirements of this section apply to passengers with “zero fare tickets.” The fare paid by these passengers for purposes of calculating denied boarding compensation shall be the lowest cash, check, or credit card payment charged for a ticket in the same class of service on that flight.​

OP didn't pay cash for her ticket. I would have thought that would make it a "zero fare ticket." If somebody on that flight paid cash (or check or credit) for it before the prices rose or during a sale, that could have been $99.

I don't know if SWA says their rewards points have no cash value. From a consumer perspective, they certainly do - but it depends on whether you're booking a Wanna Get Away ($1/60), Anytime ($1/100), or Business Select fare ($1/120). And this case certainly isn't spelled out in 250.5.

I don't see why SWA couldn't have calculated the value according to (d) of 250.5 that I quoted above. And, like I said, that rule doesn't seem fair when points proportional to a cash price are exchanged for a "zero fare ticket." SWA based their compensation on the cash value of the points OP exchanged which *is* fair.

Does this make sense?

 

[Lewisc]

Good question. Points used is directly proportional to the price of the ticket. Does that mean the ticket does show a fare?

Southwest almost always gets (cons) volunteers. Southwest didn't follow the required procedure in asking for volunteers first nor where they willing to give you a cash (check) payment. Paying you the maximum you think you might be entitled to makes the most sense.

I'm not sure the rest of us can be sure that's the way Southwest will handle the situation in the future.