r/SouthwestAirlines

Yes, I know it gets old but I want to add my voice to the discussion.

Flew for the first time since "The Change" and absolutely hated it. My flight was half-empty but I was still stuck in a middle seat on the back of the aircraft because I didn't upgrade my seat. And no, the flight attendant would not let me move.

I boarded on group 8 and groups 3 through 6 were empty, what a joke.

Such pettiness just to punish me for not having paid up.

Buying a ticket is no longer enough for Southwest, you need to play their extortion game to have a decent flight experience.

Also, did I mention that my flight was two hours late due to an engine malfunction and that our aircraft did not have outlets?

Southwest, you used to be great and be loved but you have lost my business. I hope you fail.

Last night, I flew from STL to SFO. I get sick real easy so I wipe down my tray table and stuff like that when I board an airplane. Last night, an older flight attendant saw us wiping down the tray table and told us that it is illegal to use wipes and told us to stop.

I have been disinfectant wipes on airplanes for at least six years without issue. I did an internet search and found that disinfectant wipes are permitted on a plane. Is it a new Southwest rule that disinfectant wipes are not allowed on their planes?

Haven't flown SW since the new assigned seating. Hearing horror stories of them changing your chosen seat after you've checked in/last minute. Have 2 choice seats I paid for and picked during booking. How often do these get changed that I need to check my reservation? Because if we get both moved to middle seats in the back row or something, I want to go back in and re-choose seats I want. ??

I was looking at a couple flights coming up and a nonstop showed "unavailable" to buy but when I clicked on "view seats" there were at least 2 dozen seats showing available.

Has this happened to anyone else?

I just signed up for the Sapphire card to benefit more travel options than SW. We do fly SW more than others being that it's at the least hectic airport in our city. .. we fly like twice a year. We drive to destinations more, lately.

My annual is up. Would you say it's worth keeping for the $99?

Lately we haven't had to check bags.. but I can see how that can offset the price.

Is it just me or is the starlink WiFi actually worse than the old WiFi? Is it actually even using starlink, or is this just some weird marketing “partnership” with tmo, but the same tech?

I flew JSX a few months ago and they had starlink and it was crazily good - like having home internet while in the air. When I heard Southwest was getting starlink, I was excited, but it actually seems a lot worse.

Flying tomorrow night from San Diego to San Juan, Puerto Rico with a 10 minute layover in Orlando where we have to change planes. It's a single ticket flight, so this is Southwest's doing, not ours. Please tell me this is do-able. Also, already hanging my head in shame for having to book the cheapest available flight and not noticing this before. Thanks!

I never buy basic economy but I was recently affected by big tech layoffs, so here we are.

I’m flying with my 12-year-old daughter 2x in the next month on SW basic economy fares. One trip my husband will also be with us. SW says they try to seat kids 12 and under with their parents but are they actually doing this?

I’m anxious about us being split up but I also don’t have $$$$ to upgrade. Just wanted to see what others have experienced. Thanks!

Edited to add: Asking about actual experiences, not vibes. And no I would never try to guilt someone into moving. If they are actually splitting families up I will be forced to upgrade before traveling.

Having not flown since 2019 (thank you COVID), I recently returned to the air thanks to a new assignment. I previously flew Southwest often enough to have earned a Companion Pass. I just completed 6 scheduled flights. I offer these observations:

Aircraft: All fairly new with no obvious sign of wear and tear in the interior. I remember the planes as previously being a bit worn on the interior.

Boarding: Very few "gate lice" now. Folks seemed to generally pay attention to their assigned groups and follow the process. Certainly far more boarding options: Preboard, Military, Priority, A-List Preferred, A-List, and then Group 1 thru 8.

Carry on restrictions: Fanny packs and other small items now seem to count against your two item limit (well written about on this forum). Since bags no longer fly free, folks try to cram as much as possible into the overhead bins.

Flight attendants: What the heck happened here? Gone are the friendly employees who actually seemed (for the most part) to enjoy their job.

Credit cards: How many different credit card programs does an airline need?

Fees: Fees and fees and fees......

Bottom line: Just another airline, no longer price competitive. Often more expensive than American on some routes/days.

Currently flying DEN-SAN and the flight attendant stopped 3 people during boarding for having a suitcase, backpack and belt bag. She told them they had to put the belt bag in the backpack or suitcase or it could be a $5000 fine for both of them if the FAA caught them with more than 2 items. I’d never heard this!

Edit - I know the 2 item limit is a FAA rule, I’d just never heard a specific amount for a fine.

I got an iguana in PR an invasive species but he’s trained and still a baby and my best friend, I leave soon back to Texas and don’t wanna leave my baby behind, and can’t afford to pay money to get him thru he’s about 5in long please help anyone

We bought 3 seats, my seat was an aisle. About an hour ago they changed my seat to a middle seat, not in the same row as my neighbors. The email said they had to change planes. My flight is at 5AM in the morning. I specifically chose an aisle seat because I'm claustrophobic and I get panic attacks. I plan on getting there really early to try and get it changed back but how fucked am I?

Flight out of BWI. There is a massive storm coming in but we had plenty of time to board and get in the sky as long as planes were not backed up on the runway.

It just blew me away on the time it took to load this plane. Is an hour common these days ? We were not fully loaded and getting our Emergency talk until 20-25 minutes past our scheduled departure time. Probably sleeping in the “plane change” airport if we end up getting out of here