Southwest Travel Benefits
 

Can someone please explain what travel benefits are available to employees at SWA? Thanks.

Unlimited travel for you, spouse, kids until 19 or 21 if in college, two parents on SWA and ability for same folks to purchase ID90s on tons of other carriers.
Companions get a limited number of segments per month if you go that route.
Buddy passes are earned by the “swag” program that gives you points for attendance and when the company meets goals for the year. They are good for 12 months and can travel one round trip or two one way segments on SWA. You are taxed on the imputed dollar value of the points earned. Each pass is ~$35-40 depending on your tax situation. You can also use the points for Rapid Rewards points and buy confirmed tickets or on $100 visa gift cards and buy tickets on other carriers.

Travel listings are not subject to seniority, only status (EE, family, other pass) and check in time up to 24 hrs prior.
If traveling with the EE, all riders in the group get employee status.

Perfect. Thanks!

6 month wait for zed fare

I believe if kids are in school, bennies can go up to age 26.

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Kind of off topic but does SWA still offer cabin only jumpseat to PT135 pilots? Thanks.

Can we ride on your planes?

Forget about the industry standard practice of being able to list for First or Biz - coach is the only option. If coach is full but premium seats remain, don't count on getting on.

And spare me the "bring a box of chocolates" nonsense - we shouldn't have to grovel.

Easily the worst OA pass agreements in the industry.

It's under 24. Medical is up to 26.

"Unmarried Children ages 19 up to the age of 24 are eligible if they meet the aforementioned criteria for children under age 19 and maintain five consecutive months of enrollment in an accredited school as a fulltime student as defined in the rules of such school."

Hey 4th, don’t you remember? EVERY seat on SWA is in First Class!!! If the single class cabin is full, and you can not utilize the jumpseat, you aren’t going. There aren’t any other seats. Except the lav, of course.

Century Post.
 

Because I know you all were looking forward to it, I will confirm; my previous post was my 100th here on APC. Eleven years it took me. I must be a slow reader.

wtf is this guy talking about?

id90's maybe?

As slow a reader as it took you to put on your flight gloves? :D

Hey, the gloves went on quickly, it was the briefings that killed you! 🤗 🤮

The fact that you don't have any idea what I'm talking about only confirms the problem.

So many here have no/little knowledge of the way the rest of the airlines work, or what is industry standard.

Yes, I'm referring to ZED (not Id90 - not for a long time). Most carriers allow ZED listings from other airline employees in F, J or Y (first, biz and coach). But here at good ol' SWA, the Pass Dept fails to see the need to even ask for this type of agreement, instead telling me to "bring some chocolates for the crew" if I want a chance at something other than coach for 12 hours.

How about just negotiating the agreement to allow us to list for Biz (or F), so we don't have to beg?

How about just negotiating the agreement to allow us to list for Biz (or F), so we don't have to beg?[/QUOTE]


I’m not working for SWA but I think the problem is that the company can only get agreements for the class they offer themselves. So if you don’t have a business or first class, you don’t get an agreement with anybody else. That’s only hearsay, so I stand to be corrected.

That’s the way it was explained to me when I asked about it. No reciprocal premium seating.
In any case, is it really worth it for the .1 percent of the time when an open first or biz seat exists and the crew doesn’t upgrade you anyway just for being staff?

Ehh.. ran into this problem on Hawaiian. They will leave your ass if no coach seats are available. Even if all of first class is open. Flight attendants have no power to move you.

It is a problem when traveling international. Not only do you look like a cheap bastard with your economy listing for a 16 hour flight to SIN, they don't upgrade on status on international. Economy can be full while premium seats go empty. I have been left behind in this situation where I've been unable to purchase a premium ZED.

The box of chocolates thing doesn't work...I've tried it.

Why do I think that's just laziness on account of our Pass Bureau people? Don't they know that ALL of our seats are First Class??? :cool: :D

Wasn't someone here telling us about regional airlines, all having separate agreements from their mainline partner, flying only 50 seaters and having access to buy first or business ZED fares?

Gotcha. I get it now.


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And that right there folks is the source of so many problems at this airline. Hiring such a large percentage of those that have zero clue of what “industry standard” is.

It is SOOO much harder to get upgraded to even business class than it was just 10 years ago. Most of the time it doesn’t happen and I’m fortunate to get put in premium economy.

Times have changed.

It used to work years ago. Not so much anymore.

We got coach on Cathay while the FA who worked for an obscure commuter flying single class SAAB 340's in Australia was able to list for - and received - First Class.

That bull**** excuse that we can't list for premium cabins because we only have coach is just that - bull****. And an excuse.