Sneaky SWA

Had a flight from LAS to MDW (major SW hub) that was to leave at noon non-stop. Got an email that my flight was changed, moved about an hour but connecting in Phoenix for some reason.

Logged on to change the flight, see they just moved the original flight back 25 mins, but apparently decided to kick me off of it onto a connecting flight. Was able to change to that direct flight.

 

Ya that's happened to me before too. I was not happy but got my original nonstop back.

Of course now, the nonstops I used to take are almost 3x the price.

 

Yep. One has to monitor any change. For me, I usually am happy when I get a change of flights as I can fine tune without fee to any new flight within 2 weeks or so on the same two cities. Sometimes, between two different airports such as a switch from MDW to ORD.

BTW, you described the original flight as "non-stop" but the new flight as "direct." Those are actually different types of routes. A direct flight can have an intervening stop but no plane change.

Cheers, FAB

 

THANK YOU

1) People continue to use the term for direct when it could be a nonstop, or a plane with a stop along the way. Drives me crazy.

2) Yes, when they make a change, it usually is a win-win for the customer if they are paying attention. Log in, look at all the options and pick the one YOU want.

3). Yes, sometimes the "cancelled' or changed flight comes back. Not because they are playing games, but sometimes something gets cancelled/moved and some automated system moves people. Then somebody else reinstates the flight or... well... shit happens when you have as many flights as they do.

 

I do not know, but I suspect that computers make the changes when their timetable changes. And that there's likely some logic algorithms controlling it. Like: can't assume customer can go earlier, push them later. Or.. change from 737-800 to 700, which holds fewer passengers... can't fill any equipment over XX% based on pricing strategy, so bump to next best thing. (These are hypotheticals - not suggesting they're actual rules. I've been rescheduled earlier, later, etc.)

 

After reading this thread I checked our nonstop flight in September. They moved it up from 5:30 pm to 2:35 pm. Nice surprise! Didn’t get an email informing us. Now if they’ll move it up to 11:30 am like it used to be.

 

Last June had a SW flight MDW to LAS booked, got an email that they changed the flight to MDW to BWI to RDU to LAS!?!
Needless to say rebooked to a MDW to LAS and of course didn't cost me anything since they changed it, even got a later flight that cost a lot more!

 

Both of my flights for our upcoming trip got moved. One was moved to a similar time but a connecting/direct flight (not sure which one; I changed it right away) the other was moved to an earlier time with a connecting/direct flight (again, I didn't pay attention).

I changed the first one to a later nonstop that still gets in earlier than the one they provided. I decided five minutes later that I would rather go earlier. We have a cabana reserved and I want to enjoy the whole day. I called and they told me they could do nothing for me since I had "touched" the reservation once already. I get it, but it made me a little angry that they could not help me by moving me to the earlier flight. They said that I could call "Customer Relations" during the work day and possibly get it changed.

The next day, a change came to our return flight. I went in and made sure I only made "one touch" to the reservation. At the same time, I checked the flight out and the sale prices actually made it cost less than when I originally purchased by $39. It was refundable also, because it was a "Business Select" flight. I book those when there is a low difference in pricing.

I guess all is well that ends well, but they could be a little more helpful with all these changes they are making! Now time to see what happens when they get to our next couple of trips...

 

GOOD NEWS

The emails with changes are now readable. Thanks.

 

They changed my 2pm flight home from LAS with one connection at BNA to an 8:55am with two stops and only 40 minutes to connect on the second stop. Only options to change to for free that day are 6 am which is not workable for me. If I avail the free change to leave a day earlier, is there a way to change back or am I stuck with my choice unless Southwest makes changes again? I know I can refund and rebuy with points but fares have skyrocketed since my original booking.

 

Yesterday they changed one of my nonstop 2 hr flights from LAS to PDX to a 6.5 hr flight with 2 stops in California. So I looked and there was a nonstop leaving LAS about the same time as the one they changed me to. Huh? I switched to that, so all is well. I don't understand why they didn't select that one in the first place. If they are rescheduling a nonstop flight and there is another nonstop available, do they really think you'd rather have one with 2 more stops and three times the amount of travel time? The new flight is actually preferable to my original one and more expensive. But if I would have been stuck with the one they gave me, I would have cancelled the whole trip. I cringe every time I see an email from them.

 

Their algorithm seems to favor moving people to less favorable flights. It does not just move you to a later flight; it moved one of mine later and one earlier in the latest round. The only constants were that they took me off of nonstops and put one routes with stops.

 

had something similar on a flight to New Orleans for September, except they screwed it up and had ending in Houston rather than our final destination on the way home! . called and they switched it no problem

 

The also moved my PDX to LAS flight on that same trip to an earlier time with a stop in Arizona. Instead of 7 pm to 9 pm, they gave me a 6 pm to 11pm. I was able to grab a 3-5 that same afternoon. Probably the flight I wanted in the first place, but I was too cheap to book it. Haha SW, you sneaky bastards.

 

I think when they makes changes, sometimes the nonstop is not there, or is close to full. There must be a reason they would take up seats on other flights for the passenger instead.

 

Just got an email that my flight back from Vegas October 1 has been changed. Fortunately, it's just a slight time change and I still have the non-stop. But, for kicks, I checked my flight to Vegas on September 27 and saw that the one I booked is no longer listed. I don't see the same flight number or same departure time, yet I haven't received an email. Has anyone encountered this before? Calling Southwest is useless these days given hold times. Should I just go ahead and cancel my flight and rebook, or wait a couple of days to see if that email comes through to see what new flight their "algorithm" chose?

 

I would wait it out myself to see if they give you the free to switch to another flight no matter the price difference option

 

Apparently I'm faster than they are. Just got the email for the 9/27 flight. Again, still non-stop, so all's good. And, as someone else mentioned, the emails are a hhhheeeeelllllll of a lot easier to understand than they used to be. My God, they used to be terrible.

 

UGH! I also just got an email about my Sep 28 flight, which is great because now I can choose the nonstop that was 3x as much. I go to change it and first that 1030 nonstop is gone. There is an 8am nonstop but it won't let me choose it. turns out it's cheaper than what I originally paid, so I don't want to change it "free of charge" I cancel my original flight and now it still won't let me choose the nonstop. What is going on? It keeps giving me an error and says to call SWA. Ya right, not waiting on hold.

 

Happened to me last night, and for the first time, they moved me into more favorable flight times & kept everything non-stop.