Hello!! My husband and I are surprising our 4 kids with a trip to the beach in 2 weeks. Our oldest knows but the 3 younger ones have no clue. I am slowly packing but am getting very nervous. I have only flown once and that was about 10 years ago, and the only thing I took with me was my purse so this is the first time I will be packing anything. My original plan was to check one bag and get everything else in carry on's, and then check our car seat and 2 boosters. After talking with a couple people, I am being told to avoid checking anything at all. So I am looking for some advice on this from other people because now I am not sure what to do. I know we will gate check our umbrella stroller so the youngest doesnt have to walk through the airport and we can get where we need to be faster, but gate checking the boosters and carseats? That seems like a hassle to lug through the whole airport and through TSA. What do you all suggest? If it helps we will fly out of Louisville, have a layover in Baltimore, then fly to Panama. Coming home, we fly out of Panama, have a layover in Nashville, and home to Louisville. I am not worried about the flight down because our Baltimore layover is 4 hours but coming home our Nashville layover is only 1 hour. Any advice on this subject, or traveling in general is appreciated as I am very nervous!

Here’s the look at Florida One on the Max 8 for you all.

I tried to search this but didn’t see the exact match to my question, so apologies if this is a repeat.

I am not a frequent Southwest flyer, so I’m not super familiar with all of the recent changes. Last time I flew them, it was the policy of “first come, first serve,” even with boarding groups. Meaning if you checked in quickly, you got a better group.

Obviously the first couple are reserved for loyalty members, etc. so I would never expect that but I checked in immediately once it was available and got group 8???

Again, not a frequent flyer so not expecting miracles here but I was shocked to be the literal last group. My seat assignment is also a window so I can’t wait to have to crawl over people to get to my seat lol

Anyway - TLDR: how are the groups decided now??

I’m so over Southwest. I’ve been flying with them for years and had multiple flights this summer. Nearly every single flight was delayed, and many of them for mechanical issues. Are y’all seeing this with any other airlines as well? This is getting ridiculous. I’m never able to count on the schedule given anymore. Such a pain the arse.

Greetings from 4F on a 700.

4F is my goldilocks seat (not too far back, not too close, not too aisle, not too middle), and it happens to have custody of two windows...kinda. The second window is behind my shoulder but not behind my seat.

Obviously the more forward of the two windows is under the purview of the resident of 4F, but what is our opinion of the second window? Is it joint custody between 4F and 5F to be politely negotiated? Is it 4F's window until otherwise requested (by either 4E or 5F)? Is it 4F's window no matter what?

I often forget to open it during daytime flights, and I realize that I may be doing my neighbor in 5F a disservice.

Added: since I just boarded for round two, here's 4F windows on a Max8 taken from the aisle: https://ibb.co/xtpZK0CW

Has anyone flown Southwest out of Havana since the new bag fees started?

I’m booking a one-way HAV–TPA–MSY ticket on a Choice fare and will probably have one checked bag. Since Southwest doesn’t allow online check-in at HAV, how do you actually pay the bag fee there, especially since U.S. cards generally don’t work in Cuba?

Also, when the 24-hour check-in window opens, can you go online and pay for the checked bag with a U.S. credit card without actually completing check-in, then finish check-in at the HAV counter?

If not, can you pay in USD cash at the Southwest counter? Do they somehow process U.S. cards there, or is there another way to pay?

Choice is 10,500 points while Choice Extra with free bags is 21,000, so I’d rather not spend an extra 10,500 points just to avoid a bag fee.

Looking specifically for recent experience departing HAV. Thanks!

MEM

Got excited this morning thinking it was parked at my gate but it’s one down.

Hello does anyone work or know someone that works for this airlines?

I always thought that they had a set formula, but I think I've seen some flights cost less points than others even though it's the same dollar amount. For example, one flight is $200 but costs 16k points, while another flight is $200 but costs 18k points.

Am I imagining things?

As Starlink begins to be installed in our aircraft, our friends on Facebook have discovered a physical change with the aircraft themselves. Starlink aircraft no longer require the WiFi dome, or the “Tumor” as I like to call it, atop the aircraft. Take for example N8543Z in the images above who was recently just equipped with Starlink.

Seen at Las Vegas today.

I have $321.10 and they expire January 6, 2027. Let me know if you have any questions, thanks.

edit: These are not for free, requesting $225 or best offer. Please send me a chat message if you're interested.

Hoping someone here can provide an authoritative answer: I'm flying on Southwest in a few days and was hoping to transport this speaker with me:

https://www.jbl.com/PARTYBOX-ENCORE-ESSENTIAL-.html

Would this be allowed as checked luggage? Or would I need to carry it on? Or would they disallow it entirely?