Southwest Airlines

Not Verified | When Southwest Airlines first came out with the early bird special to purchase for early check-in, I thought it was a great idea. However, it sucks or is a scam. Seven times out of seven, I got in the worse boarding positions; only the very first time was I in "A" boarding category. My boarding positions were as follows (when I used the early bird check-in): A36, B15, B22, C1, B7, C10, B30. I will no longer purchase the early bird special. as it (clearly) does not check you in early for good boarding positions. Oh, as a side note, the last 3 check-ins I did without the early bird special, when I did it myself, my boarding positions were: A5, A8, A12. In case nobody knows, seat are not assigned, just boarding positions. So when they announce that they are boarding "A" passengers to board the plane, then A1-A36 passengers enter the plane first and get the pick of the seat, then B1-B36 and then C1-36. So you can imagine how bad the seats left over were, if you're in the "B" and especially the "C' categories. Don't buy the early bird special, it's not worth the extra money, especially when they cannot even guarantee that you'll be in the "A" category at all. I would recommend the airline because it's usually inexpensive, but I would not recommend purchasing the early bird check-in service, because it sucks, or is a scam for additional for nothing!

Not Verified | My entire plan was derailed because of airline staffing and delays. In the end I was instead flown to LAX and unable to secure transportation without spending 4xs what I had planned to because of the inconvenience. I believe it's fair to have the expectation that companies provide the service that you purchase on time. Safety issues I might understand but poor planning isn't acceptable. Use a different carrier ... bags fly free but you and your bags may to tardy for the party.

✅ Trip Verified | Worst experience on an airplane ever. I had been flying Southwest loyally for over 10 years. Today we had a flight from Hartford to Baltimore get delayed. In Baltimore I had a connecting flight to Sarasota. I asked the gate attendant if we would be in jeopardy of missing our connection to Sarasota. She said no that flight was also delayed. We arrived in the A wing , ran frantically to the B wing to make our connection. Myself and over 10 other passengers found the door to board closed, plane still there and we were denied access to the plane. Without our knowledge, Southwest changed our flights to a later flight without ever notified us all. They refused to let all of us on the plane that was still sitting there. I paid extra to be in the A group for priority boarding, but my reissued ticket has us in the C group, last people to board. When asked the attendant said it would cost an additional $40. I already paid the $40 on my original ticket and I know from past experience that whenever I changed my reservation I never lost my A status. Because Southwest made the changes, that did not happen. I will never fly them again. Thank you Southwest for sticking a loyal customer in the back of the plane. You denied us all access to our original flight, delayed our original flight, changed our reservation without our notice and stuck us in the back of the plane. Keep your travel voucher Southwest. You mistreated many customers today. I will try your new competitor Avelo which is actually cheaper or Jet Blue from now on. I am also going to cancel my Southwest credit card as you do not value my time and me as a customer.

✅ Trip Verified | I have now contacted Southwest 3 times with no satisfaction. Five members of my family were stranded in Chicago on their way to Florida due to canceled flights. After 3 days a family member drove to Chicago, 4 hours away to pick them up. Their luggage was returned 10 days later. The compensation for that was 1 $150 voucher. In a response to the canceled flights, the response was basically, it’s not our problem. They were out over $1000 in hotel and food bills plus the cost of loss time for someone to pick them up. Southwest sent a $150 voucher. I guess 5 people are supposed to split that. I am very disappointed with Southwest and their lack of consideration for the people who make this airplane profitable!

✅ Trip Verified | Terrible business model, if you reserve a flight six months in advance then cancel within a week you cannot get a refund, you are instead offered a credit which can be used to purchase another flight through Southwest Airlines, but only within the next 12 months. You are required to pay a higher price for a ticket to get a refund just in case you need to cancel the flight to actually get your money back.

Not Verified | Due to Covid nonsense when we booked a flight in January 2020 we had to cancel. We are getting married Nov 19 2021 and wanted to use our credit to fly for our honeymoon leaving Nov 23rd 2021 and the customer service is so unfair, that she states it expires on Nov 15th and that we can do our honeymoon before the wedding! So basically there’s nothing they can do for us.

Not Verified | I have flown Southwest for several years but currently looking at other options. The service, dependability, and customer service of the past has dramatically changed and not for the better. I just returned yesterday on a flight from Texas. It is not possible as evidenced by passengers exiting the flight and the time at which passengers are then boarded for cleaning and sanitizing to be completed per their stated protocol. That, and the discarded wrappers in the seat pockets, as well as a sticky substance, splashed on the back of the seat in front of me further validates this. In addition, I have definitely had it with checking in at the very moment possible only to board and find passengers who've already boarded saving seats for others further back in the boarding process, while flight attendants who are very obviously aware do not enforce their own boarding practice. I am extremely weary of being treated like cattle. Most airlines have already eliminated the change fees, the only other perk that Southwest offers that others do not is 2 free checked bags, but even that is barely worth it anymore. I expect that other airlines will soon follow suit, and when that happens, it will be the end of Southwest if they do not improve their current practices. I applied for, and have received the chase sapphire card which will allow me to accrue points that can be used for any of the airlines. In the meantime, I am looking at baggage shipping services as a way to deal with the baggage fees.

✅ Trip Verified | This is to the actual employees who were there and not your CEO who I find a big fat liar! Southwest employees, I know you had some problems weekend before last. I just want to say that my flights on the 15th from Reno to LAX and 16th from LAX to El Paso went so wonderfully. I was traveling with my 1 yr old granddaughter. You guys made it so much easier with her. We were running late due to extra time at security and you actually held up for us while we ran across the terminal. Your staff were amazing and so very nice! Thank you for that! I know times aren’t easy and your working while fighting for your own rights and freedoms, so I just want to say thank you for all your help. We will see you on our flights back the 1st and 2nd of November!

✅ Trip Verified | Still sitting in the airplane 2 hours after boarding. First hold up was supposedly because extra maintenance checks had to be done for over an clean flights. Second hold up was for weight and balance issues. They were literally moving 5 people around the plane and there were only 10 empty seats total. Then as we are pushing back from the gate the pilot comes on and says he is out of hours. We were 10 ft from the gate and he pulled back up and got off. 20 minutes later a new captain comes on and basically has to start all over. Just got word that they were topping off the gas. How is it you have to top off the gas if we were pushing from the gate 45 minutes ago. Southwest really needs to look at their management and processes. This is definitely a 1 star flight.

✅ Trip Verified | I cannot believe I trusted Southwest with a short flight. I am beyond frustrated at being delayed twice and hearing multiple people also have experienced this multiple times from Southwest. As an airline company, the one thing to get right is being able to adhere to scheduled times. There are many people who rely on flight times for all sorts of events. I will never fly Southwest again.