“My wife and I flew from Tucson, AZ to San Diego, CA on
New Year's day to attend the Holiday Bowl on 1/2/2026. Our flight departed Tucson at 9:05 AM, approximately one hour later we were near the San Diego airport when the pilots were instructed by the San Diego flight tower to turn around and return to Tucson International Airport, where we remained for several hours until we were placed on a diverted flight and made the hour trip again to San Diego, finally landing and exiting the plane.
On our way back this morning 1/3/26, we had an 8:30 AM flight to return to TUS. We arrived at the San Diego airport 2 1/2 hours before our flight. We stood in line outside at your SW Airlines Skycap check-in area for an hour. There were ten stations there, yet only two skycaps were present to assist the throngs of passengers. You should have seen the inside ticketing/check-in area where passengers were trying to check-in, obtain boarding passes, and check luggage!
Upon returning home this afternoon, my wife received a $100.00 travel voucher via email. All I received was a lousy survey from SW Airlines. I have been a Rapid Rewards member for many years and even used points for one of the flights. E-mails to two corporate officers went unanswered. Would you feel valued?”
“Southwest was my favorite airline but I will no longer use them. Everytime I went to buy a ticket there is no nonstop. I finally gave up and stated using delta. I would rather pay more than have to make a stop. Good bye southwest. It was fun while it lasted.”
“Staff is snappy when you try to give them garbage they want. My seat when I got it was covered with so may crumbles. The seats are so close in front of you that u can't move or stand to pee. It has become a LA Metro bus ride! Donezo!”
“I did not have a good experience on my last trip. Flight attendants are there to assist you with anything you need during the flight, not to question where a passenger chooses to sit, regardless of how full or empty the flight is and especially not announce it over the intercom like she did. If Southwest wants passengers to be seated in specific seats for everyone’s comfort, then those seats should be assigned at the time the plane ticket is purchased. I felt called out”
“This is the most ridiculous thing I had to deal with , when you pay for 1st class tickets and don’t have assigned seats and another person who paid 3 times less , gets a seat way in front of me , just because my 5 year old Son got stuck in the bathroom … smh if I can ever avoid this airline , will not fly with them again … pathetic”
“Paid for priority to board after 7-8 “special”classes.
Fiancé of attendant boarded under this special class because he helped a lady in a wheelchair onto the flight and then also proceeded to take a priority seat.
He received more attention than anyone in the area and when another attendant got sick, he helped his fiancé serve passengers AFTER he had at least 2 bottles of alcohol.
I tried to wait for a break in the FAs conversation about her wedding in the Keys costing $15K for 20 people to ask for a drink and she proceeded to finish her entire conversation before moving towards the cart.
She was so busy talking, my husband was directing passengers back to their seat if the bathroom was occupied. She merely said to my husband, “ I wasn’t paying attention.”
I shared all of this with Southwest and they sent me a canned email and a “here’s a $50 voucher on us” response.
I was dismissed about my concerns and now I will NOT go quietly into the night”
“First we travel to Seattle and southwest is 45 minutes late because a crew member was late!!!!! Then we try flying back to Denver and it is delayed over an hour. Southwest is getting worse all the time. Guess I’ll be choosing another airline next time because their time must be more important then mine!!!!!!!!!!”
“Until they go to assigned seating don't bother. TERRIBLE experience for those who want to be seated together and type of seat. I heard they are changing in January 2026. If you are flying solo better but again not if you need a specific seat.”
“Flight delayed because of weather - this can’t be helped but Darlene at the gate was very professional , knowledgeable and efficient and got me rerouted within minutes - made what could be stressful an easy transaction given the circumstances.”
“INCIDENT: While we were standing to deboard, I am next to the last with the Flight Attendant behind me.
There was someone in the RR, When she attempted to push past the flight attendant asked her very nicely to just hold on a second people where trying to still get their luggage etc from the top bin.
Anyways the girl ignored the SW employee.
Result-when she bumped into me- I am tall so the arm of the seat hit the back of my legs and I went over backwards. The arms form 1st and 2nd chair was my landing spot across my rib area with my arm (purse still attaches and not light) landed between the 1st and 2nd seat. The flight attendant was so upset with that girl. She was wonderful to me. She was trying to grab my arm to help me and I was like my purse and she is like just leave it for a second and I told I cannot because it was still attached to my arm lol. So she helped take the purse so we could get my arm out.
If the girl could have just took a breath I could have moved into the seat isle for her to go by.
I am so flippin sore and a bit swollen on one side of my ribs. If the girl could have just waited 10 seconds this would not have happened.
I get it everyone was tired. There were 2 delays already. But truly what does kindness cost?”
“I’ve been a longtime customer with Southwest Airlines for almost 30 years. Within the past year or so 2 of my baggage’s have been destroyed, flight delays, and luggage delays. Ever since they’ve changed their fee policies, this airline has gone downhill. Not sure why this has been happening, but you can be sure that I’ll most likely will never fly their airline. There are other airlines out there that I’m going to look at and won’t put customers through this. I hope Southwest improves their customer service or otherwise they’ll lose great and loyal customers.”
“I’ve been an LOYAL Southwest person.. not just for flights but also for hotel booking and vacations etc. saving up points The Whole thing. They have made changes.. unpopular changes.. I’ve rolled with it.. seeing the positive.. customer service is everything to me! I’ve been treated great but slowly small things started to go down hill.. until finally I booked a hotel for an August date and they booked it for October instead.. I show up to the hotel and there was no booking obviously! I called Southwest hotels.. they would not help. NON REFUNDABLE EVEN THOUGH I DID NOT BOOK THAT DATE!!!! I’ve never asked for help! I’m diligent with my travel for work and personal! And the only time I REALLY needed the help they don’t help AT ALL? Really? I’m in sales and customer service.. I’m mortified on this! Don’t waste your loyalty on this company.. THEY DO NOT CARE?!!!!!! I’m so sad but it’s time I switch obviously. :(”
“The ticket counter determined my ticket was fraud it had my first and last name backwards. They laughed and made fun and giggled with each other when u told them I had no options with me out 409 for the soposed fraud ticket”
“This is the 3rd time I’m flying with southwest and again flight delayed for the 3rd time. I’m in the military reserves and I have to fly every months for my drills and only option I have southwest who fly more frequently but I have terrible experience with them every time. I don’t know I should blame me for pick this or blame someone else. And this time I asked them the reason for delay the guy told me he doesn’t have any reason for it. It just so frustrating every time I’m flying with them I had a feeling it will delay and this is exactly happened. This is my last time I’m flying with them. I even flew with spirit airlines many times which consider a bad experience but never had any bad experience like southwest.”
“I was having a difficult time finding round trip airfare for my grandkids and myself. I called customer service. Susan #973 picked up the phone immediately!! I explained my situation and she took her time booking the flights to my satisfaction, answering all my questions. She's a life saver. Now I can vist with my grandkids and have a wonderful vacation. Thank you so much!! You gave me my dream come true, and Sysan made it easy. I'm sure you'll give her employer of the month or something special....big hug from me!!”
“No less than 50% of the time Southwest flights are always delayed! I fly them on average once a month and try to fly them as little as possible for this reason. 50% of the time they are delayed by an hour or longer. They always blame it on whether. Not a good airline.”
“Flying with a 1-year-old is a lot of work, and I had my plans—however, my daughter said, “Not today.” It felt like she was on Red Bull or something! But thank God for the two amazing flight attendants on Flight 3390 from Orlando to Austin. Krysta and Kayla did everything within their power to make sure we had what we needed and that we didn’t inconvenience other passengers.”
