Southwest Airlines had a tough finish to 2022 because it canceled hundreds of flights across the Christmas holidays and suffered what might be the largest operational meltdown in its historical past.
Now the provider is extending olive branches to a number of teams of affected flyers. Besides providing refunds to vacationers, Southwest can also be giving factors to pick out vacationers and increasing the qualification interval (and for choose vacationers, the profit interval) for A-List elite standing and Companion Pass. Some of this information was first reported by Thrifty Traveler and View from the Wing.
Here’s what you should know.
25,000 Southwest factors as an apology
On Jan. 3, 2023, some Southwest members reported receiving an electronic mail entitled “A message from Southwest CEO Bob Jordan.” Several TPG staffers acquired this electronic mail, together with senior reporter Zach Griff, who was touring as a bunch of 4 over the vacations. Here’s a screenshot of the e-mail Zach acquired:
Zach acquired codes for every of the 4 vacationers in his occasion. Each of the 25,000-point codes is value about $375 based mostly on TPG’s valuations. Zach mentioned he acquired codes for 25,000 bonus factors per passenger along with:
- Full refund for the canceled flights.
- $250 per traveler Southwest journey credit.
- Refund for last-minute substitute flights on Hawaiian Airlines.
It’s unclear how Southwest decides which passengers get these emails with codes. But, we suspect that Southwest should be within the technique of sending these emails. And it appears chances are you’ll get the e-mail even for those who already accepted journey credit, refunds and expense reimbursements. So, in case your journey was affected by Southwest’s vacation operational points and you have not gotten an electronic mail but, maintain checking.
Related: How to redeem factors with the Southwest Rapid Rewards program
A-List and Companion Pass extensions
Some Southwest members whose Companion Pass, A-List or A-List Preferred standing expired on Dec. 31, 2022, acquired an electronic mail about an extension. A Southwest spokesperson instructed TPG, “Members who had been both impacted by or susceptible to being impacted by the operational challenges acquired an electronic mail final week.”
The spokesperson went on to state:
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“For our Members, A-List, A-List Preferred and Companion Pass Members that had not but certified or requalified for A-List, A-List Preferred or Companion Pass for 2023, we have now prolonged the date by which they have to requalify from the tip of December, (as is typical yearly) to the tip of January 2023.”
So, Southwest is extending the qualification interval by way of Jan. 31, 2023, for all members who hadn’t but certified or requalified for Southwest elite standing or Companion Pass by the tip of 2022.
Although Southwest is extending the qualification interval for all members, solely choose vacationers will get their A-List, A-List Preferred and Companion Pass advantages prolonged by way of Jan. 31, 2023.
However, my Companion Pass expired on the finish of 2022, and I did not get an electronic mail about an extension, nor do I see an prolonged Companion Pass in my account.
I requested Southwest about this and acquired the next response:
“If you had the Companion Pass in 2022 and had been impacted throughout our operational occasion, then your standing ought to be prolonged to Jan. 31. When you go to make a reserving in January, it is best to have the ability to see and have the power so as to add your companion (tell us for those who don’t see it).”
As such, Southwest is just extending elite standing and Companion Pass advantages by way of Jan. 31, 2023, for vacationers affected by the airline’s vacation operational points.
However, notice that Southwest telephone brokers have given some vacationers conflicting info. TPG’s Emily Thompson did not have any vacation journey booked with Southwest, but a number of Southwest telephone brokers instructed her that her Companion Pass, which expired on the finish of 2022, could be prolonged by way of January 2023. Both brokers defined that the extension would take a number of days to seem in all eligible accounts.
A Southwest spokesperson instructed us that solely those that had journey affected by the operational meltdown would see elite standing and Companion Pass extensions. So if you did not have any bookings to journey with Southwest through the affected interval and do not see an extension in your account, you may possible solely get an extension of your qualification interval (not your profit interval).
Related: Wondering what occurred to your favourite Southwest route? Here’s what to know
How does the elite-qualification extension have an effect on Companion Pass incomes?
All Southwest members who did not qualify for a Companion Pass by the tip of 2022 may have further time to earn a Companion Pass legitimate by way of the tip of 2023. If you had been counting on flights or different actions on the finish of 2022 to earn a Companion Pass, you now have till the tip of Jan. 31, 2023, to succeed in the qualification necessities.
You would possibly marvel what this extension means for those who had been trying to earn a Companion Pass legitimate by way of the tip of 2024 by incomes 135,000 Companion Pass qualifying factors in early 2023. Southwest confirmed to AwardWallet that “all incomes exercise in January 2023 may even rely towards your 2024 Companion Pass (earned in 2023, legitimate by way of 2024).”
If you are trying to rapidly earn the Southwest Companion Pass, now’s an excellent time to earn the sign-up bonus on any new Southwest bank cards you’ll have opened on the finish of 2022.
Bottom line
While there is no method to make up for misplaced time with family and friends through the holidays, it is nice that Southwest is providing refunds, bonus factors and standing extensions to passengers affected by its operational meltdown. It’s the correct factor for the airline to do after wrecking many journey plans over the vacations.
However, it is disappointing that Southwest’s telephone brokers gave some vacationers incorrect info. These vacationers presumably known as in after studying different web sites reporting that Southwest would prolong elite standing and Companion Pass for all members. However, a Southwest spokesperson instructed TPG the airline was solely extending elite standing and Companion Pass advantages for vacationers affected by Southwest’s operational points over the vacations.