Southwest Senior Option

[budafam]

Does a senior HAVE to choose this option or can they fly as a regular passenger.

 

[Shelly F - Ohio]

No you can fly as a reg. person. But senior fares are sometime lower.

 

[NotUrsula]

Note that SWA Senior Fares are an age-verified category. If you have not formally verified your age with the airline, and you purchase a Senior Fare, you will not be able to check in online or via EBCI -- you will have to check in at the ticket counter and show ID that proves your age. The good news is that once you do that, the airline will attach your age verification to your Rapid Rewards account, and you won't have to do it in future when travelling on a Senior Fare.

You can also verify age in advance of a first-time Senior Fare purchase (or well in advance of your flight), either by going to an airport ticket desk and having a CS rep add the info to your RR account, or by mail. Here are the details:
http://www.southwest.com/html/customer-service/faqs.html?topic=age_verified

 

[tinka-belle]

The senior fares on SW are refundable fares too, sometimes higher, sometimes lower than the Wanna-Get-Away nonrefundable fares. Check both ways, seniors can purchase either one.

 

[robhawk]

Note that SWA Senior Fares are an age-verified category. If you have not formally verified your age with the airline, and you purchase a Senior Fare, you will not be able to check in online or via EBCI -- you will have to check in at the ticket counter and show ID that proves your age.

Found that one out the hard way!

 

[NotUrsula]

Note that SWA Senior Fares are an age-verified category. If you have not formally verified your age with the airline, and you purchase a Senior Fare, you will not be able to check in online or via EBCI -- you will have to check in at the ticket counter and show ID that proves your age.

Found that one out the hard way!

Yes, but even the hard way, you only have to deal with it once -- after that your age should be on record as verified, and then you can check in online just as with any other fare category.

 

[budafam]

Thank you! I had no idea about the verification process.