Southwest disappointment

[kristenrice]

I just realized another small snafu with our outbound (GRR-MCO) flight. Since we had been scheduled to leave at 6pm (and I am usually out of work by 5pm and home between 5:20 and 5:45, depending on traffic), I did not buy EBCI since I figured I would be home in plenty of time to check in. Well, now that we are departing at 5:40, there is the very real potential that I could be walking in the door (or still in the car!) when it is time to check in. I was already going to be cutting it close, but this move sealed the deal so I broke down today and added EBCI to our outbound flight as well.

 

[sam_gordon]

I just realized another small snafu with our outbound (GRR-MCO) flight. Since we had been scheduled to leave at 6pm (and I am usually out of work by 5pm and home between 5:20 and 5:45, depending on traffic), I did not buy EBCI since I figured I would be home in plenty of time to check in. Well, now that we are departing at 5:40, there is the very real potential that I could be walking in the door (or still in the car!) when it is time to check in. I was already going to be cutting it close, but this move sealed the deal so I broke down today and added EBCI to our outbound flight as well.

I don't fly SW often, but can't you check in via your phone (either web site or app)? Worst case scenario pull over, check in, then continue your drive home?

 

[Donna M]

There´s another positive to cancelling my SW tickets and moving to Delta, no check in while on vacation since I didn´t have EBCI.

 

[EACarlson]

I don't fly SW often, but can't you check in via your phone (either web site or app)? Worst case scenario pull over, check in, then continue your drive home?

Yes you can. I did exactly that when I checked in for a morning flight once. Pulled over to the side of the road, checked in, finished driving to work.

 

[kristenrice]

I don't fly SW often, but can't you check in via your phone (either web site or app)? Worst case scenario pull over, check in, then continue your drive home?

True...but honestly, I probably should have bought EBCI from the get-go since there was no way to assure that I'd be available at 6pm. I work on an ambulance and I am scheduled to be off-duty at 5pm. That in no way guarantees that I wouldn't take an emergency call at 4:50pm and be in the middle of the hospital at 6pm, in which case there is no way I would be able to check in (no service!).

 

[starry_solo]

True...but honestly, I probably should have bought EBCI from the get-go since there was no way to assure that I'd be available at 6pm. I work on an ambulance and I am scheduled to be off-duty at 5pm. That in no way guarantees that I wouldn't take an emergency call at 4:50pm and be in the middle of the hospital at 6pm, in which case there is no way I would be able to check in (no service!).

can you give a trusted friend your info and have him or her check in for you?

 

[FCDub]

can you give a trusted friend your info and have him or her check in for you?

I believe she's already bought EBCI, so no need for that.

 

[bsmcneil]

ARGH!

They've changed my flights again, this time leaving me no good options (and they didn't send an email for the second change - I just happened to be on my account). I'm so frustrated with them.

sorry to add on - but - !?!?!?!?! I thought to myself, "Well, let me make sure everything else is still the same." NOPE. My August flights have been changed (no email). I haven't had time to look at my October ones because I'm trying to reschedule August. Blah!

 

[kristenrice]

So here's my thoughts...

I looked at my friend's flight home on American and it would cost me about $250 (including seat selection, but flying with only carry-on's) for both my daughter and I to book that flight and fly with her. It departs around 7pm, connects in Charlotte (2 hr layover) and lands at home in GRR at 12:15am. Unfortunately, this would mean DD would miss a few classes the next morning (she is an A-student and this should not pose an issue for her or the school and she would easily be able to make up the work) and it involves an added expense, but it would allow us to stay with my friend for that last day and travel together. The downside is that I would imagine AA is fairly apt to change their schedule too and I don't want to spend $$$ only to end up flying at the same time that I would have been flying on my SWA flight that I booked for "free" (points). I know that I can cancel the SWA flight without penalty up until 10 minutes before departure. I would lose the $50 that I paid for EBCI, but that's a done deal at this point. What is the policy with American for flight changes? If they change the flight to something early (like departing before 5pm, which would be a 2-hour change) can I get a refund?

I'm thinking about booking the flight on American. If they change it to something earlier, then at least my friend will be flying out earlier too and I can cancel the flight, get a refund and stay on our SWA flight. Otherwise, if it doesn't get changed, we can all fly together, I can cancel my SWA flight, and it will have cost me an extra $300 ($250 for the flight and $50 for the EBCI that I didn't use). I'll get the points back and I can use them next year when I go with my other daughter

 

[EACarlson]

What is the policy with American for flight changes? If they change the flight to something early (like departing before 5pm, which would be a 2-hour change) can I get a refund?

Prior the the pandemic the threshold was a 60 minute change in any direction or a total travel time addition of 60 minutes. During the pandemic they changed the rules and it is now 4 hours, unless there are other significant changes, which are unlikely given your route.

 

[kristenrice]

Prior the the pandemic the threshold was a 60 minute change in any direction or a total travel time addition of 60 minutes. During the pandemic they changed the rules and it is now 4 hours, unless there are other significant changes, which are unlikely given your route.

That's good to know, thank you! I will talk to my friend (and my hubby) and see what they think. I'm not sure what the best course of action will be at this point. It's kind of a win-win situation, as long as the budget can support it....unless I am missing something.

 

[bakerworld]

And how long would it take to drive? If it's more than you'd be spending sitting in the airport, that's likely a losing proposition.

It would take 16 hours to drive - LOL - and that's if we don't run into any problems. We've driven twice. I really disliked it. Plus than we're driving past all these relatives who are like, "you should've stopped" = nothing positive IMO

 

[chaoskids]

They changed the times for both our inbound and outgoing flights for October. The changed our non stop flight to Orlando to one with a 3 hour layover. I used the app to change to one that worked better.

 

[kristenrice]

That's good to know, thank you! I will talk to my friend (and my hubby) and see what they think. I'm not sure what the best course of action will be at this point. It's kind of a win-win situation, as long as the budget can support it....unless I am missing something.

I missed something...

....I forgot the possibility that SWA could change again and my "later" flight could end up available again. If that happened, I would be stuck with the purchased AA flights with no recourse.

I did a little digging and I realized that the MCO-MDW leg of my itinerary was moved to a 6:50pm departure, from the 7:05pm departure that we were originally scheduled on, and it arrives in Chicago at 10:15pm. Unfortunately, the connection from MDW to GRR was also moved. It was originally scheduled to depart at 9:35pm (45 minute layover) but now, it is departing at 8:55, which means there would be no way to make the connection if we stayed on the the "late" flight out of Orlando. Right now, I can only hope that they move the 6:50 from MCO-MDW a little earlier. If they do that, I will try to switch to that one. If not, I am stuck with a 4-hour layover in Chicago.

 

[keishashadow]

On Saturday received email I had:

3 different flights cancelled &
another 3 had their 2nd time change.

Was good with the time change, 2 hours later. Not so on flights down. As indicated here, would miss the whole 1st day in parks.

All flights were booked on spirit as SWA was 3X more, factoring in all fees & taxes. Normally, deal with SWA. However, It does adds up when booking for more than a person or two.

Have found myself using spirit & allegiant this year for most of our travel. Just too many people out there with flight credits from last year clogging things up IMO

anyway, fixing the cancelled flight down took me 4+ hours. Continual disconnects etc. ugh!!!

made zero sense (for our benefit) to have an morning flight cancelled, then find yourself placed on one that doesn’t leave until 8 hours+ later. Especially, considering there was one available to still book an hour earlier that was cheaper.

Did get blowback they would change us as a one-time courtesy. Um, if so, how about the courtesy of refunding me the difference as it‘s a cheaper flight? Fat chance lol

 

[CookieandOatmeal]

I just flew a flight from hell on SW. Delayed over two hours and when we finally got to Orlando, they had to divert our flight to Tampa because they were running low on fuel. At that time they couldn’t land because of cloud cover and didn’t have enough fuel to circle around I guess. Ugh. A 2, almost 3 hour nonstop flight turned into a 5 hour, one stop ordeal.

 

[bsmcneil]

Frustratingly, as people have mentioned prices going down and getting funds back - all of my flights have been changed and I hadn't made updates ... so they're all listed as no change in price (which is nice so I don't have to pay extra - but I was hoping to save some). And now with the delta variant stuff, I don't know if I should make changes or just cancel.

 

[Dpflake]

I’ve had my flights with Southwest changed just once so far. I originally had my flight to MCO booked for 11:40am. The only other flight that would work for us was the flight leaving at 8:20am. I had the 11:40am flight booked so I could take care of a few things before leaving. All of the other flights had us getting to Orlando late afternoon/early evening. Which meant we would loose a whole day at Disney. Now because of the earlier flight we had to book a hotel near the airport the night before our flight. The flight returning to RDU I originally had booked leaving at 8:20pm. I wanted that flight so we could go to the parks before heading to the airport. The only late flight offered was 4:30pm. All of the other flights were before noon. Planning our trips to Disney is tedious and time consuming already. Having to keep rebooking flights and changing itineraries is frustrating. I’m keeping my fingers/toes crossed that our flights don’t change again.
I check Southwest’s app several times a day just to make sure my flights haven’t been changed again.

 

[sam_gordon]

I’ve had my flights with Southwest changed just once so far. I originally had my flight to MCO booked for 11:40am. The only other flight that would work for us was the flight leaving at 8:20am. I had the 11:40am flight booked so I could take care of a few things before leaving. All of the other flights had us getting to Orlando late afternoon/early evening. Which meant we would loose a whole day at Disney. Now because of the earlier flight we had to book a hotel near the airport the night before our flight. The flight returning to RDU I originally had booked leaving at 8:20pm. I wanted that flight so we could go to the parks before heading to the airport. The only late flight offered was 4:30pm. All of the other flights were before noon. Planning our trips to Disney is tedious and time consuming already. Having to keep rebooking flights and changing itineraries is frustrating. I’m keeping my fingers/toes crossed that our flights don’t change again.
I check Southwest’s app several times a day just to make sure my flights haven’t been changed again.

When do you leave? If more than about a month out, I'd check once a day.

 

[Dpflake]

When do you leave? If more than about a month out, I'd check once a day.

Sept 14-21