Southwest Airlines fiasco (1 Viewer)

[FreeBaGeL]

Love the videos all over Twitter now of SW sending the cops in to threaten to arrest people waiting in lines at the Nashville airport. Should work out for them.

Seems like a "there's more to that story" scenario.

Not really. It's all on video. Cop kept saying "your tickets are cancelled, you no longer have a ticket. If you don't leave this area you'll be arrested."

He specifically said that SW had called them. They were apparently trying to move people to the non-secured side of the airport using this made-up BS. Point is, not a good look for SW, which probably goes out of business soon. Why would anyone ever fly with them again?

Yeah my first thought when I clicked on the video was that it was probably some embellished nonsense with a well timed start to the video, but it really wasn't.

I mean, I can KIND of see the logic stretch that the cop is using there, in that you have to have a ticket to be past security and when your flight is canceled and not re-booked you no longer have a ticket so you have to leave the secured area, but even if that's the way the law is intended to work (I'm not sure if it is or not) it's never worked that way in practice. Any time a flight has been canceled you try to get it taken care of from within the secured area. I've never heard of people being required to leave back to the other side of security for that.

I'm guessing the SW gate people just go overwhelmed with all the people and were trying to move a bunch of people they knew they wouldn't be able to help out of the way so they could board the flights that actually were operating. But yeah, not a good way to do that.

 

[Buckna]

Dang. I've been trying to increase my Southwest Airlines miles by using my SWA credit card more often. I only fly like once a year, but it has been nice not paying much, if anything for flights for the last five years or so.

Hope they don't completely implode before I need to fly somewhere again.

Same, I have a lot of CC bonus miles and a Companion Pass I was planning on using more of in 2023. SW is usually the cheapest for me but I always book well in advance and I rarely travel around the holidays. Traveling is stressful enough and my wife is a terrible flyer (lots of anxiety) so I do everything I can to not add more stress on top of that.

I’ve tried Spirit and some other budget flyers when it’s just me and never again, horrible experiences every time for me.

It's a little silly but @Buckna and I both are so point rich that I book two flights on the same day and I bet he does as well. The sw cancel policies as well as AA both let you get refunded up until boarding.

Yep, I often rebook as well as SW prices can sometimes come down. They make it super easy to refund your points bookings.

Edit: at some point I may skip getting a CP for a year or so, I’ve got so much Travel Bank credit with United now thanks to AMEX’s NLL Biz Plat’s this year. But Travel Bank credit doesn’t expire for 5 years so no rush to use it.

 

[The General]

Southwest facing generational PR disaster here if they don’t fix fast. Stuff that ruins a brand (I have only flown them a couple times but I know people used to swear by them).

Just saw an interview with someone who was associated with the airline (pilot spokesperson of some sort I think) and he was saying they have software that handles canceled flights and placing pilots and staff as flights are canceled. Some sort of matrix type thing. This matrix once they get past a certain number of cancelations can’t handle the complexity and stops working.

This spokesperson said that they had repeatedly told management about this problem.

Ouch.

Airline is blaming weather and and refueling company staff shortages from a company in Denver.

Good luck all what a bad way to spend the holidays.

 

[Capella]

Southwest facing generational PR disaster here if they don’t fix fast. Stuff that ruins a brand (I have only flown them a couple times but I know people used to swear by them).

Just saw an interview with someone who was associated with the airline (pilot spokesperson of some sort I think) and he was saying they have software that handles canceled flights and placing pilots and staff as flights are canceled. Some sort of matrix type thing. This matrix once they get past a certain number of cancelations can’t handle the complexity and stops working.

This spokesperson said that they had repeatedly told management about this problem.

Ouch.

Airline is blaming weather and and refueling company staff shortages from a company in Denver.

Good luck all what a bad way to spend the holidays.

Reddit has numerous pilots saying it is the computer system and management is using labor as the excuse/fall guys because they’re all cowards. I know who I believe.

 

[gianmarco]

Sucks this has happened to so many people. And I do wish there was some more accountability for all when this does happen. Maybe this is the incident that will finally make that so. There needs to be clear and easy recourse for flight cancellations across the board.

As to all the SW discussion, I'm not a business traveler so don't fly nearly as much as some do, but I do take probably 4-5 flights per year and sometimes more for vacations, short personal trips, or kid's travel stuff. I fly SW almost exclusively for a few reasons.

1) I get the SW credit card every couple years to get a Companion Pass. Timed right, I have it good for 2 years. That basically let's my wife and I travel for the price of 1 ticket. Since we're almost always traveling together, it's huge. Plus, being able to switch it 3 times in a year let's me travel with a kid or a friend if need be and then switch it back.
2) When I book with points, I can cancel and have those points fully refunded with no penalty up until 10 minutes before the flight. This is huge when it comes to traveling with the kids for events that we don't have a set time until maybe a couple weeks before.
3) There's never any change fees for switching flights. You only pay the fare difference. I HATE change fees.
4) There's no baggage fees.
5) I actually like the boarding process. I don't find it inconvenient. And the rare times I really want/need a good seat (i.e. a long flight to Hawaii), I'll pay the $30 for upgraded boarding and get on the plane as one of the first 15 passengers.
6) When the fare drops on a flight, I can get that refunded. It takes literally 2-3 minutes to do. So when I book a flight 6 months in advance, I intermittently check the fares (especially during sales), and then can often get $50 and sometimes more back on flights I've book.
7) Most of the places I fly, whenever I've checked, are more expensive on other airlines than SW from here. And that's usually not even including the baggage fees. I use Google Flights to check everywhere I fly (which if you don't regularly use, I highly recommend).

I think SW fares are highly dependent on where you live and when you book them which is why I think everyone's experiences can vary greatly.

Finally, I know everyone's situation is very different, but this is why we try to avoid any kind of travel during the holidays, both because of weather and the sheer volume of passengers.

 

[ChiefD]

Sucks this has happened to so many people. And I do wish there was some more accountability for all when this does happen. Maybe this is the incident that will finally make that so. There needs to be clear and easy recourse for flight cancellations across the board.

As to all the SW discussion, I'm not a business traveler so don't fly nearly as much as some do, but I do take probably 4-5 flights per year and sometimes more for vacations, short personal trips, or kid's travel stuff. I fly SW almost exclusively for a few reasons.

1) I get the SW credit card every couple years to get a Companion Pass. Timed right, I have it good for 2 years. That basically let's my wife and I travel for the price of 1 ticket. Since we're almost always traveling together, it's huge. Plus, being able to switch it 3 times in a year let's me travel with a kid or a friend if need be and then switch it back.
2) When I book with points, I can cancel and have those points fully refunded with no penalty up until 10 minutes before the flight. This is huge when it comes to traveling with the kids for events that we don't have a set time until maybe a couple weeks before.
3) There's never any change fees for switching flights. You only pay the fare difference. I HATE change fees.
4) There's no baggage fees.
5) I actually like the boarding process. I don't find it inconvenient. And the rare times I really want/need a good seat (i.e. a long flight to Hawaii), I'll pay the $30 for upgraded boarding and get on the plane as one of the first 15 passengers.
6) When the fare drops on a flight, I can get that refunded. It takes literally 2-3 minutes to do. So when I book a flight 6 months in advance, I intermittently check the fares (especially during sales), and then can often get $50 and sometimes more back on flights I've book.
7) Most of the places I fly, whenever I've checked, are more expensive on other airlines than SW from here. And that's usually not even including the baggage fees. I use Google Flights to check everywhere I fly (which if you don't regularly use, I highly recommend).

I think SW fares are highly dependent on where you live and when you book them which is why I think everyone's experiences can vary greatly.

Finally, I know everyone's situation is very different, but this is why we try to avoid any kind of travel during the holidays, both because of weather and the sheer volume of passengers.

Exactly what I was going to post. Thanks.

 

[IvanKaramazov]

My worst Spirit experience was flying back to Minneapolis from Phoenix (9 years ago or so). Flight was super delayed, we didn't get in until after midnight. Was travelling solo with my 9 month old and almost 3 year old. Waiting at luggage carousel for car seats to come. No car seats. In fact, only about 1/2 the luggage for all passengers arrived. Angry mob strolls down to the only Spirit employee in the whole airport. People are pissed and yelling at her. My turn comes, I calmly try and offer some condolences, for I know it is not her fault at all that **** went sideways. I explain that my luggage also didn't arrive, but more importantly, two car seats, that I need to take an uber home have also not arrived. They gotta have spare car seats in the back, right? Nope - her solution - I somehow get down to the 24 hour Walmart (8 miles away) and buy two new car seats, and Spirit will reimburse me for the expense. I stood there completely in awe of the ignorance. How the **** was I supposed to get 8 miles away to a Walmart with no car seats? Was I to leave my kids at the airport while I went? Fortunately, the car seats showed up like 20 minutes later - somehow, so we avoided me having to figure that **** out.

A year later we flew Delta. They lost our car seats. You go into baggage issue place, and Delta has free coffee and snacks. They immediately bring out two loaner car seats and asked where we were staying and that they would drop off our car seats when they arrived. Simple

Infant in your lap, toddler sitting in the back. Just like our parents did when we were kids.

It's not that big a deal.

 

[gruecd]

5) I actually like the boarding process. I don't find it inconvenient. And the rare times I really want/need a good seat (i.e. a long flight to Hawaii), I'll get one of my friends to pay the $30 for upgraded boarding and save six seats like a giant ******* so we can each get on the plane as one of the first 15 passengers.

FYP, GB.

 

[The General]

Southwest facing generational PR disaster here if they don’t fix fast. Stuff that ruins a brand (I have only flown them a couple times but I know people used to swear by them).

Just saw an interview with someone who was associated with the airline (pilot spokesperson of some sort I think) and he was saying they have software that handles canceled flights and placing pilots and staff as flights are canceled. Some sort of matrix type thing. This matrix once they get past a certain number of cancelations can’t handle the complexity and stops working.

This spokesperson said that they had repeatedly told management about this problem.

Ouch.

Airline is blaming weather and and refueling company staff shortages from a company in Denver.

Good luck all what a bad way to spend the holidays.

Reddit has numerous pilots saying it is the computer system and management is using labor as the excuse/fall guys because they’re all cowards. I know who I believe.

I mean this guy did this interview on a national show and was pretty clear where he was placing the blame.

The Feds are likely going to get involved at this point so SW better get ready for some rubber glove style probing.

 

[DA RAIDERS]

Normally I love SW...they are a little more expensive but by the time you add pick you seat fees, checked bag fees for spirit it's really not much more.

I thought SW was one of the less expensive airlines.

Same. I've flown them A LOT the past 15 years or so. I think their prices have increased a bit the last year or two where they are on par with other carriers. But they've never been the most expensive option for me...ever.

They are always in upper price tier for me, unless I’m buying 6+ months out. And their refusal to participate in most search engines is utter BS. I rarely fly them. And the boarding sucks.

 

[Scoresman]

Good riddance if this ruins them. How can people stand their boarding process? How is it in any way better than getting a guaranteed seat and on top of it you have to remember to check in exactly 24 hours before or you end up in a middle seat by the rear bathrooms. Just awful.

 

[Zegras11]

Normally I love SW...they are a little more expensive but by the time you add pick you seat fees, checked bag fees for spirit it's really not much more.

I thought SW was one of the less expensive airlines.

It used to be.

It hasn't been for a few years now. Around the same as everyone else.

Like a few have posted, I've been mainly SW for well over 10 years. Have the SW CC and have not paid for a flight and have had a companion pass the past 5-6 years. I put everything on that card.

Sucks that this is happening and all the passengers affected. I've never had any problems with SW until the pandemic started. Have had 3-4 flights where we get on and then it takes 30-45 minutes to leave after that. I'm on 8-12 flights per year.

I've never had a problem with SW Cust Svc. It's always been outstanding.

Won't fly United. 3 for 3 in disaster trips with them in past few years. Have had issues with Delta flights also and they won't refund the $2k on a trip to Spain right when the pandemic started.

 

[The General]

Good riddance if this ruins them. How can people stand their boarding process? How is it in any way better than getting a guaranteed seat and on top of it you have to remember to check in exactly 24 hours before or you end up in a middle seat by the rear bathrooms. Just awful.

I never got that either. I think it was quicker but was def weird to me as well.

 

[Zegras11]

Normally I love SW...they are a little more expensive but by the time you add pick you seat fees, checked bag fees for spirit it's really not much more.

I thought SW was one of the less expensive airlines.

Same. I've flown them A LOT the past 15 years or so. I think their prices have increased a bit the last year or two where they are on par with other carriers. But they've never been the most expensive option for me...ever.

They are always in upper price tier for me, unless I’m buying 6+ months out. And their refusal to participate in most search engines is utter BS. I rarely fly them. And the boarding sucks.

How does the boarding suck? It's the easiest thing ever.

 

[gruecd]

Good riddance if this ruins them. How can people stand their boarding process? How is it in any way better than getting a guaranteed seat and on top of it you have to remember to check in exactly 24 hours before or you end up in a middle seat by the rear bathrooms. Just awful.

Boarding process is fine if people don't try to game the system by saving seats or boarding early because they "need extra time."

 

[IvanKaramazov]

"I don't personally like how this carrier handles boarding, so I hope they go out of business."

 

[DA RAIDERS]

Normally I love SW...they are a little more expensive but by the time you add pick you seat fees, checked bag fees for spirit it's really not much more.

I thought SW was one of the less expensive airlines.

Same. I've flown them A LOT the past 15 years or so. I think their prices have increased a bit the last year or two where they are on par with other carriers. But they've never been the most expensive option for me...ever.

They are always in upper price tier for me, unless I’m buying 6+ months out. And their refusal to participate in most search engines is utter BS. I rarely fly them. And the boarding sucks.

How does the boarding suck? It's the easiest thing ever.

I’m usually traveling with 3 People. Last flight was with 4. Unless your a passenger with status with them(I’m not) you probably aren’t sitting together. Not a big deal now that my kid is older. But it mattered when she was young.
and on the last flight, the 4 of us checked in at the same time. Different boarding groups. So dumb.

 

[Zegras11]

1) I get the SW credit card every couple years to get a Companion Pass. Timed right, I have it good for 2 years. That basically let's my wife and I travel for the price of 1 ticket. Since we're almost always traveling together, it's huge. Plus, being able to switch it 3 times in a year let's me travel with a kid or a friend if need be and then switch it back.
2) When I book with points, I can cancel and have those points fully refunded with no penalty up until 10 minutes before the flight. This is huge when it comes to traveling with the kids for events that we don't have a set time until maybe a couple weeks before.
3) There's never any change fees for switching flights. You only pay the fare difference. I HATE change fees.
4) There's no baggage fees.
5) I actually like the boarding process. I don't find it inconvenient. And the rare times I really want/need a good seat (i.e. a long flight to Hawaii), I'll pay the $30 for upgraded boarding and get on the plane as one of the first 15 passengers.
6) When the fare drops on a flight, I can get that refunded. It takes literally 2-3 minutes to do. So when I book a flight 6 months in advance, I intermittently check the fares (especially during sales), and then can often get $50 and sometimes more back on flights I've book.
7) Most of the places I fly, whenever I've checked, are more expensive on other airlines than SW from here. And that's usually not even including the baggage fees. I use Google Flights to check everywhere I fly (which if you don't regularly use, I highly recommend).

exact same on all for me.

I'm 6'4", and pay the $15 or $20 fee to upgrade seating. Always get A16-35. It was that way until my CC usage made me an auto A Lister 3-4 years ago and I don't have to pay the fee.

I toggle between wife and son for the companion pass all the time. I've saved way over $10k by not having to buy a second ticket. It's gold.

 

[Zegras11]

Normally I love SW...they are a little more expensive but by the time you add pick you seat fees, checked bag fees for spirit it's really not much more.

I thought SW was one of the less expensive airlines.

Same. I've flown them A LOT the past 15 years or so. I think their prices have increased a bit the last year or two where they are on par with other carriers. But they've never been the most expensive option for me...ever.

They are always in upper price tier for me, unless I’m buying 6+ months out. And their refusal to participate in most search engines is utter BS. I rarely fly them. And the boarding sucks.

How does the boarding suck? It's the easiest thing ever.

I’m usually traveling with 3 People. Last flight was with 4. Unless your a passenger with status with them(I’m not) you probably aren’t sitting together. Not a big deal now that my kid is older. But it mattered when she was young.
and on the last flight, the 4 of us checked in at the same time. Different boarding groups. So dumb.

A little planning in advance corrects this easily. Put the 24 hour notice on your calendar. Text the 3 others to checkin in when you get your 24 hr notice.

Have them each get a SW acct and use the app and get notifications on phone also.

 

[Capella]

"I don't personally like how this carrier handles boarding, so I hope they go out of business."

No I didn’t like how we had a flight planned that got cancelled due to Covid early on in 2020 and then didn’t travel during the pandemic that year, then when we re-booked, somebody in our party caught Covid, our 1500 dollars in tickets got reduced to a 200 dollar gift card. That company can die.

Hard to explain this in a non-wonky way but we got screwed.

 

[massraider]

A little planning in advance corrects this easily. Put the 24 hour notice on your calendar. Text the 3 others to checkin in when you get your 24 hr notice.

Other airlines don't make you do this

 

[DA RAIDERS]

Normally I love SW...they are a little more expensive but by the time you add pick you seat fees, checked bag fees for spirit it's really not much more.

I thought SW was one of the less expensive airlines.

Same. I've flown them A LOT the past 15 years or so. I think their prices have increased a bit the last year or two where they are on par with other carriers. But they've never been the most expensive option for me...ever.

They are always in upper price tier for me, unless I’m buying 6+ months out. And their refusal to participate in most search engines is utter BS. I rarely fly them. And the boarding sucks.

How does the boarding suck? It's the easiest thing ever.

I’m usually traveling with 3 People. Last flight was with 4. Unless your a passenger with status with them(I’m not) you probably aren’t sitting together. Not a big deal now that my kid is older. But it mattered when she was young.
and on the last flight, the 4 of us checked in at the same time. Different boarding groups. So dumb.

A little planning in advance corrects this easily. Put the 24 hour notice on your calendar. Text the 3 others to checkin in when you get your 24 hr notice.

Have them each get a SW acct and use the app and get notifications on phone also.

We do this already.

 

[DA RAIDERS]

We also get free bags with AA and delta, simply by having their CCs

 

[krista4]

We also get free bags with AA and delta, simply by having their CCs

And an annual companion pass, on Delta at least.

ETA: It sounds like that Southwest companion pass thingie really is a great benefit, though.

 

[Scoresman]

Normally I love SW...they are a little more expensive but by the time you add pick you seat fees, checked bag fees for spirit it's really not much more.

I thought SW was one of the less expensive airlines.

Same. I've flown them A LOT the past 15 years or so. I think their prices have increased a bit the last year or two where they are on par with other carriers. But they've never been the most expensive option for me...ever.

They are always in upper price tier for me, unless I’m buying 6+ months out. And their refusal to participate in most search engines is utter BS. I rarely fly them. And the boarding sucks.

How does the boarding suck? It's the easiest thing ever.

I’m usually traveling with 3 People. Last flight was with 4. Unless your a passenger with status with them(I’m not) you probably aren’t sitting together. Not a big deal now that my kid is older. But it mattered when she was young.
and on the last flight, the 4 of us checked in at the same time. Different boarding groups. So dumb.

A little planning in advance corrects this easily. Put the 24 hour notice on your calendar. Text the 3 others to checkin in when you get your 24 hr notice.

Have them each get a SW acct and use the app and get notifications on phone also.

Or just fly another airline where you can reserve your seat from the start and not have to worry about all the extra steps you just posted.

 

[FreeBaGeL]

Good riddance if this ruins them. How can people stand their boarding process? How is it in any way better than getting a guaranteed seat and on top of it you have to remember to check in exactly 24 hours before or you end up in a middle seat by the rear bathrooms. Just awful.

I think this was more relevant prior to all the other airlines starting to charge for seat assignment. You can pay for early boarding and get just about any seat you want (and not have to remember to check-in 24 hours before) which is a similar price to buying a reserve seat on another airline.

The difference is if you decide not to pay the upcharge you do the 24-hour check-in boarding process, whereas on other airlines if you don't pay the upcharge you get assigned a random seat by the gate agent.

 

[Sand]

Love the videos all over Twitter now of SW sending the cops in to threaten to arrest people waiting in lines at the Nashville airport. Should work out for them.

Seems like a "there's more to that story" scenario.

Not really. It's all on video. Cop kept saying "your tickets are cancelled, you no longer have a ticket. If you don't leave this area you'll be arrested."

He specifically said that SW had called them. They were apparently trying to move people to the non-secured side of the airport using this made-up BS. Point is, not a good look for SW, which probably goes out of business soon. Why would anyone ever fly with them again?

Yeah - you have to have a valid ticket to get to the secure side. So this is pure BS.

That said I'm sure you have gate agents about to break. I feel for these folks - they should get massive bonuses for being on the front lines of this fiasco.

 

[Keerock]

i just read it’s the software that schedules the crews and that they can’t track their people to figure out who is working what flight

While this is mostly true, the reason they can't keep up is because they don't operate a hub-and-spoke model.

 

[Don Quixote]

Sorry - Got busy packing and have not checked back in. I’m on a different one connecting through. Currently sitting at gate and showing on time departure. Connection showing the same. Hopefully I get lucky and stays that way.

For anyone caring about my personal travels… made it to Dallas Love, at least. Connection home still on schedule too (knock on wood). Heard some war stories at the gate — some folks sitting next to me at the gate said their flight to San Antonio cancelled, and decided fly to Dallas to get them partially there and then drive the rest.

Dallas Love is relatively quiet with all of the cancellations (and it being primarily a Southwest hub). The board looks around 60-70% cancelled. Walked right up to the counter to order at the Whataburger with absolutely no line, which I’ve never experienced before.

 

[Sand]

I mean, I can KIND of see the logic stretch that the cop is using there, in that you have to have a ticket to be past security and when your flight is canceled and not re-booked you no longer have a ticket so you have to leave the secured area, but even if that's the way the law is intended to work (I'm not sure if it is or not) it's never worked that way in practice. Any time a flight has been canceled you try to get it taken care of from within the secured area. I've never heard of people being required to leave back to the other side of security for that.

I had a flight cancelled on me (mechanical) a few months back. By the time I disembarked the gate agent line was 40+ long. I hoofed it straight out the exit to the non-secure side and had the counter to myself. Rebooked on next flight and went back through security. I got back in and on the next plane before that line even came close to clearing. This probably won't work in Chicago, but in mid-major airports it does.

 

[belljr]

I mean, I can KIND of see the logic stretch that the cop is using there, in that you have to have a ticket to be past security and when your flight is canceled and not re-booked you no longer have a ticket so you have to leave the secured area, but even if that's the way the law is intended to work (I'm not sure if it is or not) it's never worked that way in practice. Any time a flight has been canceled you try to get it taken care of from within the secured area. I've never heard of people being required to leave back to the other side of security for that.

I had a flight cancelled on me (mechanical) a few months back. By the time I disembarked the gate agent line was 40+ long. I hoofed it straight out the exit to the non-secure side and had the counter to myself. Rebooked on next flight and went back through security. I got back in and on the next plane before that line even came close to clearing. This probably won't work in Chicago, but in mid-major airports it does.

So in an instance like that ...... do they just find your luggage?

 

[Zegras11]

Normally I love SW...they are a little more expensive but by the time you add pick you seat fees, checked bag fees for spirit it's really not much more.

I thought SW was one of the less expensive airlines.

Same. I've flown them A LOT the past 15 years or so. I think their prices have increased a bit the last year or two where they are on par with other carriers. But they've never been the most expensive option for me...ever.

They are always in upper price tier for me, unless I’m buying 6+ months out. And their refusal to participate in most search engines is utter BS. I rarely fly them. And the boarding sucks.

How does the boarding suck? It's the easiest thing ever.

I’m usually traveling with 3 People. Last flight was with 4. Unless your a passenger with status with them(I’m not) you probably aren’t sitting together. Not a big deal now that my kid is older. But it mattered when she was young.
and on the last flight, the 4 of us checked in at the same time. Different boarding groups. So dumb.

A little planning in advance corrects this easily. Put the 24 hour notice on your calendar. Text the 3 others to checkin in when you get your 24 hr notice.

Have them each get a SW acct and use the app and get notifications on phone also.

Or just fly another airline where you can reserve your seat from the start and not have to worry about all the extra steps you just posted.

Don't have to worry about extra steps or paying a lot extra to reserve a seat. I'm always in A15-A35. I always get a window seat

 

[Zegras11]

Normally I love SW...they are a little more expensive but by the time you add pick you seat fees, checked bag fees for spirit it's really not much more.

I thought SW was one of the less expensive airlines.

Same. I've flown them A LOT the past 15 years or so. I think their prices have increased a bit the last year or two where they are on par with other carriers. But they've never been the most expensive option for me...ever.

They are always in upper price tier for me, unless I’m buying 6+ months out. And their refusal to participate in most search engines is utter BS. I rarely fly them. And the boarding sucks.

How does the boarding suck? It's the easiest thing ever.

I’m usually traveling with 3 People. Last flight was with 4. Unless your a passenger with status with them(I’m not) you probably aren’t sitting together. Not a big deal now that my kid is older. But it mattered when she was young.
and on the last flight, the 4 of us checked in at the same time. Different boarding groups. So dumb.

A little planning in advance corrects this easily. Put the 24 hour notice on your calendar. Text the 3 others to checkin in when you get your 24 hr notice.

Have them each get a SW acct and use the app and get notifications on phone also.

We do this already.

If you check in right at 24 hours, you're not going to get a middle seat at all. Worst I've ever gotten is like B15 when I use to have to check in.

 

[Sand]

Good riddance if this ruins them. How can people stand their boarding process? How is it in any way better than getting a guaranteed seat and on top of it you have to remember to check in exactly 24 hours before or you end up in a middle seat by the rear bathrooms. Just awful.

Boarding process is fine if people don't try to game the system by saving seats or boarding early because they "need extra time."

I have it from reliable sources that Fort Lauderdale is a miraculous place. People come in, board early because they need a wheelchair, etc. and by the time they disembark they're completely healed!

If you find yourself in dire medical straits I highly recommend flying out of there.

 

[Scoresman]

I don’t know what airlines people fly where you have to pay to reserve seats. I’ve flown Alaska almost exclusively since ditching southwest and never pay extra. Alaska’s been pretty great in general.

Not having to remember to do the 24 hour check in and then wonder what seat you’re going to end up with, and not having to do that stupid lining up thing is a game changer. Just so much unnecessary BS just to board.

 

[Sand]

I mean, I can KIND of see the logic stretch that the cop is using there, in that you have to have a ticket to be past security and when your flight is canceled and not re-booked you no longer have a ticket so you have to leave the secured area, but even if that's the way the law is intended to work (I'm not sure if it is or not) it's never worked that way in practice. Any time a flight has been canceled you try to get it taken care of from within the secured area. I've never heard of people being required to leave back to the other side of security for that.

I had a flight cancelled on me (mechanical) a few months back. By the time I disembarked the gate agent line was 40+ long. I hoofed it straight out the exit to the non-secure side and had the counter to myself. Rebooked on next flight and went back through security. I got back in and on the next plane before that line even came close to clearing. This probably won't work in Chicago, but in mid-major airports it does.

I do everything in my power to only take carry ons. Situations like this are why. It makes navigating this minefield soooo much easier.

 

[Scoresman]

Normally I love SW...they are a little more expensive but by the time you add pick you seat fees, checked bag fees for spirit it's really not much more.

I thought SW was one of the less expensive airlines.

Same. I've flown them A LOT the past 15 years or so. I think their prices have increased a bit the last year or two where they are on par with other carriers. But they've never been the most expensive option for me...ever.

They are always in upper price tier for me, unless I’m buying 6+ months out. And their refusal to participate in most search engines is utter BS. I rarely fly them. And the boarding sucks.

How does the boarding suck? It's the easiest thing ever.

I’m usually traveling with 3 People. Last flight was with 4. Unless your a passenger with status with them(I’m not) you probably aren’t sitting together. Not a big deal now that my kid is older. But it mattered when she was young.
and on the last flight, the 4 of us checked in at the same time. Different boarding groups. So dumb.

A little planning in advance corrects this easily. Put the 24 hour notice on your calendar. Text the 3 others to checkin in when you get your 24 hr notice.

Have them each get a SW acct and use the app and get notifications on phone also.

We do this already.

If you check in right at 24 hours, you're not going to get a middle seat at all. Worst I've ever gotten is like B15 when I use to have to check in.

Except if for whatever reason you can’t check in exactly 24 hours before, you’re screwed. Internet down? Bad reception? Sorry. Even just a minute or two later and you’re in the C’s. So dumb. Just let people reserve seats. No need for checking in in advance at all.

 

[massraider]

ETA: It sounds like that Southwest companion pass thingie really is a great benefit, though

Best airline benefit there is, not even close, and you get it just by using credit cards.

 

[massraider]

I do everything in my power to only take carry ons. Situations like this are why. It makes navigating this minefield soooo much easier.

Checking a bag, with a connection?

I mean......I'm not going to listen to your sob story. You really don't know better??

 

[arrow1]

Normally I love SW...they are a little more expensive but by the time you add pick you seat fees, checked bag fees for spirit it's really not much more.

I thought SW was one of the less expensive airlines.

Same. I've flown them A LOT the past 15 years or so. I think their prices have increased a bit the last year or two where they are on par with other carriers. But they've never been the most expensive option for me...ever.

They are always in upper price tier for me, unless I’m buying 6+ months out. And their refusal to participate in most search engines is utter BS. I rarely fly them. And the boarding sucks.

How does the boarding suck? It's the easiest thing ever.

I’m usually traveling with 3 People. Last flight was with 4. Unless your a passenger with status with them(I’m not) you probably aren’t sitting together. Not a big deal now that my kid is older. But it mattered when she was young.
and on the last flight, the 4 of us checked in at the same time. Different boarding groups. So dumb.

A little planning in advance corrects this easily. Put the 24 hour notice on your calendar. Text the 3 others to checkin in when you get your 24 hr notice.

Have them each get a SW acct and use the app and get notifications on phone also.

As long as you're doing absolutely nothing at that second along with everyone else involved. Genius!

 

[Judge Smails]

Southwest is bizarre and sad. They used to be, by far, my carrier of choice. Now they are on my "Do Not Fly" list.

Their prices are the highest in the industry and now their customer service sucks.

Edit: Wait. I forgot that I'm flying on them in January. Lol

Hopefully the fuster cluck is figured out by then.

I have a companion pass for 2 months starting Jan 3rd so will be using them. But you’re right - how they went from low fare to one of the highest priced in the industry is dumbfounding

 

[ChiefD]

As one of my good friends once said:

"airplanes are just a bus in the sky"

 

[Zegras11]

Even just a minute or two later and you’re in the C’s.

this is BS

 

[Zegras11]

Normally I love SW...they are a little more expensive but by the time you add pick you seat fees, checked bag fees for spirit it's really not much more.

I thought SW was one of the less expensive airlines.

Same. I've flown them A LOT the past 15 years or so. I think their prices have increased a bit the last year or two where they are on par with other carriers. But they've never been the most expensive option for me...ever.

They are always in upper price tier for me, unless I’m buying 6+ months out. And their refusal to participate in most search engines is utter BS. I rarely fly them. And the boarding sucks.

How does the boarding suck? It's the easiest thing ever.

I’m usually traveling with 3 People. Last flight was with 4. Unless your a passenger with status with them(I’m not) you probably aren’t sitting together. Not a big deal now that my kid is older. But it mattered when she was young.
and on the last flight, the 4 of us checked in at the same time. Different boarding groups. So dumb.

A little planning in advance corrects this easily. Put the 24 hour notice on your calendar. Text the 3 others to checkin in when you get your 24 hr notice.

Have them each get a SW acct and use the app and get notifications on phone also.

We do this already.

If you check in right at 24 hours, you're not going to get a middle seat at all. Worst I've ever gotten is like B15 when I use to have to check in.

Except if for whatever reason you can’t check in exactly 24 hours before, you’re screwed. Internet down? Bad reception? Sorry. Even just a minute or two later and you’re in the C’s. So dumb. Just let people reserve seats. No need for checking in in advance at all.

then pay $15 and get auto check in when you purchase your seat. Always get an A when I had to do this.

 

[gianmarco]

So, here's a couple personal examples. Just pulled up our next 2 flights (both happen to be my wife and I'm not traveling on either).

STL to Omaha, my wife is taking that trip next month. Flight was $230 round trip. It's just over 1 hour non-stop. There is no other airline that makes that trip non-stop. The cheapest flight is on American and it's still $30 more and would take 4 hours with a stop in Chicago.

STL to Phoenix, she's taking that the following month. Flight is $560 on SW round trip. It's non-stop. There's only 1 airline, American, that makes that flight non-stop. Similar times. It's $550 with the cost to check a bag. Except it's not refundable/changeable like the SW flight. Or potentially less if I catch a lower fare.

And if I happened to be going on either of those flights, then we'd pay that same amount for 2 of us. It's basically twice as much to fly any other airline.

The above is basically what I find on almost every flight we book, so perhaps it's because of our location here, but still.

 

[Zegras11]

’ve flown Alaska almost exclusively since ditching southwest and never pay extra. Alaska’s been pretty great in general.

I've flown them to SEA twice. Seem well run. If this SW thing doesn't get resolved, can see making a switch here.

 

[Zegras11]

So, here's a couple personal examples. Just pulled up our next 2 flights (both happen to be my wife and I'm not traveling on either).

STL to Omaha, my wife is taking that trip next month. Flight was $230 round trip. It's just over 1 hour non-stop. There is no other airline that makes that trip non-stop. The cheapest flight is on American and it's still $30 more and would take 4 hours with a stop in Chicago.

STL to Phoenix, she's taking that the following month. Flight is $560 on SW round trip. It's non-stop. There's only 1 airline, American, that makes that flight non-stop. Similar times. It's $550 with the cost to check a bag. Except it's not refundable/changeable like the SW flight. Or potentially less if I catch a lower fare.

And if I happened to be going on either of those flights, then we'd pay that same amount for 2 of us. It's basically twice as much to fly any other airline.

The above is basically what I find on almost every flight we book, so perhaps it's because of our location here, but still.

companion pass always gets the boarding number right after mine.

 

[Scoresman]

Even just a minute or two later and you’re in the C’s.

this is BS

I’m going by multiple examples from personal experience. If you’re right on 24 hours, early-mid Bs is typical. Anything later and you’re late Bs, early Cs. I rarely get in the As if I login right at 24 hours.

 

[belljr]

Normally I love SW...they are a little more expensive but by the time you add pick you seat fees, checked bag fees for spirit it's really not much more.

I thought SW was one of the less expensive airlines.

Same. I've flown them A LOT the past 15 years or so. I think their prices have increased a bit the last year or two where they are on par with other carriers. But they've never been the most expensive option for me...ever.

They are always in upper price tier for me, unless I’m buying 6+ months out. And their refusal to participate in most search engines is utter BS. I rarely fly them. And the boarding sucks.

How does the boarding suck? It's the easiest thing ever.

I’m usually traveling with 3 People. Last flight was with 4. Unless your a passenger with status with them(I’m not) you probably aren’t sitting together. Not a big deal now that my kid is older. But it mattered when she was young.
and on the last flight, the 4 of us checked in at the same time. Different boarding groups. So dumb.

A little planning in advance corrects this easily. Put the 24 hour notice on your calendar. Text the 3 others to checkin in when you get your 24 hr notice.

Have them each get a SW acct and use the app and get notifications on phone also.

We do this already.

If you check in right at 24 hours, you're not going to get a middle seat at all. Worst I've ever gotten is like B15 when I use to have to check in.

Except if for whatever reason you can’t check in exactly 24 hours before, you’re screwed. Internet down? Bad reception? Sorry. Even just a minute or two later and you’re in the C’s. So dumb. Just let people reserve seats. No need for checking in in advance at all.

then pay $15 and get auto check in when you purchase your seat. Always get an A when I had to do this.

our last flight was $49 for auto check in.... it seems the auto check in price has fluctuated the last 2 times we flew SW

 

[FreeBaGeL]

I don’t know what airlines people fly where you have to pay to reserve seats

Delta, United, American. Maybe you've heard of them?

JetBlue, Spirit as well. Literally 6 of the 8 largest US airlines charge for seat selection, with the only exceptions being Southwest and Alaskan.