Post all SW questions concerns, etc. here...

[dez1978]

Thanks! On the app I do see my tracker says “Congratulations” on earning the bonus for $12,000. When I tap “See rewards details” it says that I have 110,000 points pending. So all seems good hopefully.

Ugh mine does not have this

 

[GingerPilot]

I'm not sure it's entirely that. SWA has been routinely adding back routes, some being purely seasonal but others just being added again. If it was a staffing issue primarily they would be reducing routes completely and reducing the number of flights going out. As is when I look at PHL for the other poster's question they appear to have plenty of staff to operate a good amount of flights with connections per day so I'm guessing it's more to do with profitability and seeing that they can pick up travelers in those connection points while concentrating on Saturdays being their more heavy non-stop routes likely seeing that Saturdays can still routinely sell enough seats to make a non-stop (and 4 of them which is a good amount IMO) more worthwhile.

I can assure you that there is not enough staffing in philly, or anywhere else, to do anything except optimize every single airplane and every single seat. Saturdays are typically the lowest volume day for airlines (few business travelers, only leisure travelers typically) and thus they have more aircraft to operate to less desirable leisure destinations. Air travel is a dumpster fire right now, and the airlines are having to figure out what to cut just to survive a typical wee, much less a holiday or a weather event. The airlines can’t hire pilots and flight attendants quickly enough, and at southwest those are very desirable positions but they’re still behind. Then you have mechanics, gate agents, reservations agents, baggage guys, catering company etc.., the entire system is so strained from coming to a stop and then a rather violent launch they have to cut schedules and change the way they do things.


now if someone wants to apply for a part time job at an airport for an airline I bet everything is available and you’d be helping your fellow traveler and getting flight benefits.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

I can assure you that there is not enough staffing in philly, or anywhere else, to do anything except optimize every single airplane and every single seat. Saturdays are typically the lowest volume day for airlines (few business travelers, only leisure travelers typically) and thus they have more aircraft to operate to less desirable leisure destinations. Air travel is a dumpster fire right now, and the airlines are having to figure out what to cut just to survive a typical wee, much less a holiday or a weather event. The airlines can’t hire pilots and flight attendants quickly enough, and at southwest those are very desirable positions but they’re still behind. Then you have mechanics, gate agents, reservations agents, baggage guys, catering company etc.., the entire system is so strained from coming to a stop and then a rather violent launch they have to cut schedules and change the way they do things.


now if someone wants to apply for a part time job at an airport for an airline I bet everything is available and you’d be helping your fellow traveler and getting flight benefits.

I didn't say the airlines were fully staffed..I said that wouldn't be the reason for them cutting out non-stop flights from PHL in August and September when at the moment they do have non-stop flights throughout the week. We're talking about August and September not right now.

If you look right now at least on SWA's main page so if there are staffing issues out of PHL that prevent them from offering (key word there) non-stop flights they don't appear to be affecting them right now (screenshot shows offerings until 1/31/22 from PHL to MCO):



However SWA has opted (whether it's normal or newer) to drop the non-stops everyday switching to offering only the 4 non-stops on Saturday but maintain numerous connecting flights from PHL to Orlando in August and September throughout the days and on Saturday.

The poster was asking about late summer/early fall travel which is why I mentioned my home airport because for the summer months (june, july and august) they are increasing the number of flights out of our airport for the summer travel. The poster wasn't talking about right now this very moment. You'd have to be living under a rock (no offense) to not know about the present issues with staffing of which go into covid territory and this thread is NOT the one for that conversation

 

[GingerPilot]

I didn't say the airlines were fully staffed..I said that wouldn't be the reason for them cutting out non-stop flights from PHL in August and September when at the moment they do have non-stop flights throughout the week. We're talking about August and September not right now.

If you look right now at least on SWA's main page so if there are staffing issues out of PHL that prevent them from offering (key word there) non-stop flights they don't appear to be affecting them right now (screenshot shows offerings until 1/31/22 from PHL to MCO):
View attachment 637493


However SWA has opted (whether it's normal or newer) to drop the non-stops everyday switching to offering only the 4 non-stops on Saturday but maintain numerous connecting flights from PHL to Orlando in August and September throughout the days and on Saturday.

The poster was asking about late summer/early fall travel which is why I mentioned my home airport because for the summer months (june, july and august) they are increasing the number of flights out of our airport for the summer travel. The poster wasn't talking about right now this very moment. You'd have to be living under a rock (no offense) to not know about the present issues with staffing of which go into covid territory and this thread is NOT the one for that conversation

demand for winter travel and summer travel are two separate beasts. In the summer they have to make sacrifices and forecast what they have available and shift to other seasonal markets. Just because they can do it today does not mean that with summer travel schedules they have the ability. I’m not here to debate but I think it’s important the general public have some understand if what is going on out there “on the line”.

All, please be kind and understand the travel industry is doing its best. It’s rough out there.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

demand for winter travel and summer travel are two separate beasts. In the summer they have to make sacrifices and forecast what they have available and shift to other seasonal markets. Just because they can do it today does not mean that with summer travel schedules they have the ability. I’m not here to debate but I think it’s important the general public have some understand if what is going on out there “on the line”.

All, please be kind and understand the travel industry is doing its best. It’s rough out there.

What SWA has told us for KCI is summer travel is economically looking up in comparison to summer 2021 but not yet at the 2019 levels. I'm comparing summer to summer travel with the same airport and was using KCI as an example, there's no sacrifices being made, they anticipate more travel than summer 2021 and have added flights on for that reason.

I feel like we're getting away from the poster's question which was about non-stop lack of options for their home airport to Orlando in August or September. They are keeping numerous daily connections from PHL to Orlando just not daily non-stop. That signals to me that it's more about picking up passengers elsewhere (although totally my opinion) because if they could fill the non-stop routes fully they would keep them, SWA even pre-pandemic was all about full flights. It takes more time to operate flights with stops and presumably more crew to do so but if it nets them more money they'd do it and passenger count is a big part of that.

A few pages back I said in a nutshell people should be understanding in response to someone else's post so definitely don't have to tell me. For the sake of this thread which is really just a more point blank informational thread I'll politely leave it at that so we don't continue to go back and forth

 

[Gitelfor]

My home airport is mid-sized. For many years, when Southwest was the “only game in town” for nonstop flights to MCO, there was a multitude of daily nonstops, as well as additional service on Saturdays. As ULCCs came into the market, added nonstops on the route, and drew customers with their barebones lower fares, Southwest could no longer charge it’s customary fare, as when it held a “monopoly” on the route. As competition increased, Southwest decreased its weekday nonstops to MCO, but kept the extra flights on Saturdays, to meet demand, and which usually flew/fly at capacity.

Southwest, like all carriers, allocates available aircraft and staff to where it can generate the most revenue. Empty seats and ridiculously-low fares just don’t fly. They forecast future demand, using data purchased from various sources, including OTAs, which can provide info on future demand, based on flight searches.

In the end, every airline will base service on how it can generate the most revenue, sometimes to the dismay of its customers, when service from their home airport is cut or decreased in frequency.

 

[dez1978]

Talk to SWA, if you happen to have A-list call that number. It's part of SWA's RR program so they would be the one's to speak with.

I mentioned a bit back about a promotional companion pass we got that works from yesterday or the day before until end of Feb. Originally it said you had to go through a link or something like that and book a flight from there. My husband only discovered that after we had ironically had him book a flight to help keep his A-List a few hours prior. I had him call the A-list line and the person said they were trying to hook it up with the system because they could see he had in fact booked a flight but because it was a specific promotion they weren't completely positive it would work out but they were hopeful it would. In the end though it did and the promotional companion pass (that we're not even sure we'll be using because omicron...annoyingly) shows up on his account.

So I tried this and their line is those points all are issued by Chase and I need to speak with them.

 

[lvdis]

Next set of dates (through 11/5/22) scheduled to open March 3. Just saw this on Southwest's website.

On March 3, 2022 we will open our schedule for sale through November 5, 2022. This date is subject to change! Please check back frequently.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

So I tried this and their line is those points all are issued by Chase and I need to speak with them.

Ugh. Yeah I don't think that's right. Especially as you talked to Chase and they were like "huh?". Can you reach out to SWA via FB?

 

[dez1978]

Ugh. Yeah I don't think that's right. Especially as you talked to Chase and they were like "huh?". Can you reach out to SWA via FB?

I spoke with them on the phone and via their chat. Would FB be a different group of people?

This was from the chat:Bonus Points for new Cardmembers as well as Anniversary Points come directly from our Partner, Chase. Chase displays these points on your monthly statement and deposits them with the points you earned from net spending activity (they do not appear as a separate transaction in your Rapid Rewards account). If you have questions, you can call Chase Customer Relations at 1-800-792-0001.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

I spoke with them on the phone and via their chat. Would FB be a different group of people?

Likely a different group since social media is used so often I can't imagine they could keep up with the chat and phone with just the same people but that's my guess.

These days I find social media to be one of the quicker ways to get a hold of people. I've even done an exchange last summer from a company via FB and they sent me the return label and did the ordering of the color I wanted all via that. Then I had an issue with a workout machine I bought, I sent a video to them via a FB message and they got back to me almost immediately and helped me out. Not saying this method will get you the answer you're needing but I don't think it hurts to try.

 

[dez1978]

Likely a different group since social media is used so often I can't imagine they could keep up with the chat and phone with just the same people but that's my guess.

These days I find social media to be one of the quicker ways to get a hold of people. I've even done an exchange last summer from a company via FB and they sent me the return label and did the ordering of the color I wanted all via that. Then I had an issue with a workout machine I bought, I sent a video to them via a FB message and they got back to me almost immediately and helped me out. Not saying this method will get you the answer you're needing but I don't think it hurts to try.

I'll give it a shot. Thanks

So a follow up question. I need to book flights for 7. Since it seems I won't be getting the otehr 50K points I needed, which would be my best way to do this? I have just over 65K ponts. Total is 78K points each way for 7 or $1105. I could either use points to book 6 of the 7 flights one way and my SW card for the rest of it. Or I could buy the SW gc at Sams and save 10% that way (I'd pay for those w my SW card too). If I buy the gc would I earn miles on the $1000 purchase at sams and then miles on the flights as well? Or would I earn more by just paying directly at SW with my SW card?

 

[EACarlson]

So a follow up question. I need to book flights for 7. Since it seems I won't be getting the otehr 50K points I needed, which would be my best way to do this? I have just over 65K ponts. Total is 78K points each way for 7 or $1105. I could either use points to book 6 of the 7 flights one way and my SW card for the rest of it. Or I could buy the SW gc at Sams and save 10% that way (I'd pay for those w my SW card too). If I buy the gc would I earn miles on the $1000 purchase at sams and then miles on the flights as well? Or would I earn more by just paying directly at SW with my SW card?

If you buy SW GC on your SW CC you would get the 1x points for the purchase from Sam's, then whomever is flying would get the BIS points for actually taking the flight. You would earn more SW points by buying the flights directly from SW since you would earn 2x or 3x depending on which card you have, then again whomever is flying would get the BIS miles.

 

[Gitelfor]

Does anyone by chance still have the email about the 2nd 50K points if you spent 12000 in the 1st year? I must have deleted mine, but now SW is saying my account isn't eligible for that. So I was trying to copy the exact wording

There is a disclaimer about the offer not being available to those who hold a Chase RR credit card at the time of application; nor is the bonus offer available to those who held the card during the last 24 months, for which a bonus offer was received. By any chance, do either of these eligibility requirements apply, possibly explaining the current issues with the bonus offer? Probably not your issue, but they are strict with terms and conditions, as well as when spend occurs.

 

[Avery&Todd]

WOOT!! next date for new flight schedule is out:

 

[Avery&Todd]

If you look right now at least on SWA's main page so if there are staffing issues out of PHL that prevent them from offering (key word there) non-stop flights they don't appear to be affecting them right now (screenshot shows offerings until 1/31/22 from PHL to MCO):
View attachment 637493

hey!! where did you find out this information on flights from PHL to MCO?? I would like to find it for my local airport..

Thanks!

 

[dez1978]

If you buy SW GC on your SW CC you would get the 1x points for the purchase from Sam's, then whomever is flying would get the BIS points for actually taking the flight. You would earn more SW points by buying the flights directly from SW since you would earn 2x or 3x depending on which card you have, then again whomever is flying would get the BIS miles.

So each person flying would earn miles individually? Not all to my account? Only like 3 of us have RR numbers. Sorry for so many questions. I've not tried to book like this before and I don't want to screw it up.

There is a disclaimer about the offer not being available to those who hold a Chase RR credit card at the time of application; nor is the bonus offer available to those who held the card during the last 24 months, for which a bonus offer was received. By any chance, do either of these eligibility requirements apply, possibly explaining the current issues with the bonus offer? Probably not your issue, but they are strict with terms and conditions, as well as when spend occurs.

That might be it. I got it a couple of days after I was approved for the card, but before I actually recieved the card in the mail so I assumed it applied bc why would they still be sending me offers for a card I'd already been approved for. I'm an idiot apparently. Which sucks because when budgeting for this trip I'd counted on those miles for this trip. Flights for 7 is costly.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

hey!! where did you find out this information on flights from PHL to MCO?? I would like to find it for my local airport..

Thanks!

TBH I have played around with their website before on this and found that just google searching southwest (airport name) to (airport name) worked the best.

So if I search PHL to MCO in google by saying "southwest PHL to MCO" the first option is this page: https://www.southwest.com/routes/flights-from-philadelphia-to-orlando

Scroll down the page.

From there it does give "other popular destinations from philly" as an easy way.

I don't know why but just going to SWA's route section of their website doesn't produce the page you want unless it's part of one of their popular destinations listed at the time. Unless someone else has found a better way that's just how I've done it in the past when questions pop up about flight options. Hope that helps!

 

[Avery&Todd]

TBH I have played around with their website before on this and found that just google searching southwest (airport name) to (airport name) worked the best.

So if I search PHL to MCO in google by saying "southwest PHL to MCO" the first option is this page: https://www.southwest.com/routes/flights-from-philadelphia-to-orlando

Scroll down the page.

From there it does give "other popular destinations from philly" as an easy way.

I don't know why but just going to SWA's route section of their website doesn't produce the page you want unless it's part of one of their popular destinations listed at the time. Unless someone else has found a better way that's just how I've done it in the past when questions pop up about flight options. Hope that helps!

you're a GENIUS!!
I googled exactly what you said and this is what popped up for RDU to MCO - I was hoping for more nonstops but I guess we can't all get what we want!:

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

That might be it. I got it a couple of days after I was approved for the card, but before I actually recieved the card in the mail so I assumed it applied bc why would they still be sending me offers for a card I'd already been approved for. I'm an idiot apparently. Which sucks because when budgeting for this trip I'd counted on those miles for this trip. Flights for 7 is costly.

That's why I mentioned that in my first comment. I think it's really easy to bypass that little nugget when looking at offers. I think Chase used to be more lenient on this but people churn cards more than they used to so I think they put these things in to slow that down a bit. I actually never asked my husband if he got that offer. He's the one with the SWA CC but I am an authorized user on his. I do not have a SWA CC in my name. I really hope you qualify though and if you ask at least you'll find out. I hate mysteries myself.

So each person flying would earn miles individually? Not all to my account? Only like 3 of us have RR numbers. Sorry for so many questions. I've not tried to book like this before and I don't want to screw it up.

Yes the miles are earned on an individual passenger basis. Before booking the flights just have those people sign up for a RR account so they can at least earn something. The good news is RR points used to expire if you didn't activate your account (which was super easy to do) once every 24 months but SWA made a change to that and points don't expire. There's no reason anymore to not have your own RR.

______________________________________-
For a future reference when it comes to booking people's tickets you can use your points towards a purchase of someone else's tickets. That's what we've been doing for a while since my husband has a crap ton more points than I do. But the downside to that is you don't earn miles when flying on a ticket purchased with points.