Southwest Rapid Rewards - DING Not Functioning

At my wits end with DING application. It previously worked fine and now it doesn't. I get the DING alert when new flights are available, so incoming information via internet does not seem to be the problem. The application itself pulls up fine on my PC desktop. When I click on the link though to take me to current specials, nothing happens. When I click on the yellow buttons, nothing happens. My laptop has no problem connecting to Southwest's website, just not through the DING application. To my knowledge, no changes have taken place on my computer. I have tested it using two different internet connections. I have been through all the "help" steps on the application. I have uninstalled and reinstalled several times. The version of the application I have is 1.05.005. I downloaded from the Southwest website the DING application marked for PC, not MAC. I have turned off all pop-up blockers several times. I have checked my firewall to make sure both Southwest's site and the DING application are not blocked there.

To add insult to injury, I have emailed Southwest four times and attempted to call their Customer Service hotline 14 times (line has been continually busy) and still don't have an answer. They do not appear to have a dedicated Technical Support line.

Problem: Information via DING appears to come in fine, but when I go to connect back in the other direction via link on the application, nothing happens.

If anyone has any helpful information, I'd love to hear it.

NCDixigirl -

Sorry to hear that you are having issues using DING!

If clicking on the links and/or buttons does nothing at all . . then most likely a "file types" setting has somehow been changed on your computer.

To verify and/or correct:

Go to "Windows Explorer" (ie:My Computer) and then choose Tools, Folder Options.

You will get a window with choices - click on the "File Types" tab.

Scroll through the list until you find:
URL:Hypertext Transfer Protocol

Click on this to highlight it, and then click on the "Advanced" button.
in the resulting window, under Actions - it should say "open".

If it does not - then you will need to click on NEW and in the field marked "Action" you will need to type in the word "open" (without the quotes) and then under "Application used to perform action" you will want to use the "browse" button to find your browser.

My assumption will be that you are using Internet Explorer . . so you would go to Program Files>Internet Explorer and find the file named IEXPLORE.EXE, click to highlight and then click the "open" button. then click "OK", "OK", and "Close".

If it already says "open" under actions . . then click "edit" and check to see that the "application used to perform action" is filled in with your browser info. If not follow the steps above to add.

This should resolve your issue. If this doesn't work please send me a PM and I'll see if I can come up with something else.

SWAVictor

Thanks so much for your reply. It sounds as though it will fix the problem, if I am able to step through the process. I am on Vista, which is still fairly new for me. Previously, I was using Windows XP Professional. I cannot seem to find the place I need to be according to your instruction. How do I get there from the control panel?

Thanks so much for your reply. It sounds as though it will fix the problem, if I am able to step through the process. I am on Vista, which is still fairly new for me. Previously, I was using Windows XP Professional. I cannot seem to find the place I need to be according to your instruction. How do I get there from the control panel?

Great question - I don't have access to Vista here, I only have XP.

I have a laptop with Vista at home, so I will try to check it out and post over the weekend . . .

Until then, wherever you go to see the saved files on your computer (like word docs, pics, etc.) if you are in that window and there is a "Tools" option, it should have the "Folder Options" choice . . .

I'll let you know what I find once I get my hands on a Vista PC.

I have the same issue, and have been having trouble with Ding! since about a month ago.
The same thing happens. I get the sound of the new message, but when I open the window and click on it it doesn´t respond nor any of the buttons on the Ding! window.
I tried to do the Tools-Folder Options thing but all the information is filled and I just clicked OK, no changes were made because I have Internet Explorer and that was what it said on the line.
I uninstalled it and installed it again and nothing happens.
Any other ideas?

Thanks

Explorer users might try downloading Firefox and give it a try, on the off chance that it might help.

I much prefer it to IE.

I have the same issue, and have been having trouble with Ding! since about a month ago.
The same thing happens. I get the sound of the new message, but when I open the window and click on it it doesn´t respond nor any of the buttons on the Ding! window.
I tried to do the Tools-Folder Options thing but all the information is filled and I just clicked OK, no changes were made because I have Internet Explorer and that was what it said on the line.
I uninstalled it and installed it again and nothing happens.
Any other ideas?

Thanks

sunnyside -

Are you running Vista also?
I've been trying to find the "file type association" settings in Vista and have been unable to do so.

As I said, I'm not very familiar with Vista (the laptop is actually my partners-so I don't really use it) - but I have always understood that version of Windows sometimes "overprotects" the user.

I'm wondering if there isn't some security or firewall setting in Vista (or in other security software - ie: McAfee, Norton, etc.) that may be causing the issue.

Have you both checked to ensure that your firewalls/security software recognize DING! as a program that is allowed to access the Internet?

I'm personally a bit stumped right now - so will have to get with my IT guys on Monday to see if they have any other suggestions - just trying to do a little fact finding to see if I can help to narrow it down.

I have DING! installed on my computer at work when I suddenly started getting a "!" over the tray icon. It says "Communication Error". So I installed DING! on my computer at home and have the same result. I am convinced this is a Southwest issue as the two computers I am using have absolutely nothing in common.

I have DING! installed on my computer at work when I suddenly started getting a "!" over the tray icon. It says "Communication Error". So I installed DING! on my computer at home and have the same result. I am convinced this is a Southwest issue as the two computers I am using have absolutely nothing in common.

Select the tray icon and right click. Select the "Connect Now" item and see what happens.

It was almost a month ago when DING stopped working properly. Before that it worked just fine on this very same laptop with Vista. Previously, I had no problems. I have checked every firewall. My DING application has no problems with incoming data. It's outgoing or when I click on the blue link to access today's specials where I get nothing.

Even when I click on the yellow buttons I get nothing. In the lower left corner it always says "Ready" indicating I am connected. At first I thought it may be because I was using my Blackberry as a tethered modem, so I tested it on other normal wireless networks.

I wonder if SWest sent out any kind of patch or update to this application around that time period. I have uninstalled and reinstalled several times to no avail. As I mentioned earlier, my attempts to speak with anyone at Southwest have been futile even though I have attempted 16 times by phone and three times by email. A callback was promised, but no one has called me.

In Vista and Win7, the file associations are now in the "Default Programs" control panel. See here (http://ask-leo.com/where_did_file_associations_go_in_windows_vista.ht ml) for details.

"Protocols" like HTTP are down at the bottom.

It was almost a month ago when DING stopped working properly. Before that it worked just fine on this very same laptop with Vista. Previously, I had no problems. I have checked every firewall. My DING application has no problems with incoming data. It's outgoing or when I click on the blue link to access today's specials where I get nothing.

Even when I click on the yellow buttons I get nothing. In the lower left corner it always says "Ready" indicating I am connected. At first I thought it may be because I was using my Blackberry as a tethered modem, so I tested it on other normal wireless networks.

I wonder if SWest sent out any kind of patch or update to this application around that time period. I have uninstalled and reinstalled several times to no avail. As I mentioned earlier, my attempts to speak with anyone at Southwest have been futile even though I have attempted 16 times by phone and three times by email. A callback was promised, but no one has called me.

try adding a few more "home" cities, and see what happens.

It was almost a month ago when DING stopped working properly. Before that it worked just fine on this very same laptop with Vista. Previously, I had no problems. I have checked every firewall. My DING application has no problems with incoming data. It's outgoing or when I click on the blue link to access today's specials where I get nothing.

Even when I click on the yellow buttons I get nothing. In the lower left corner it always says "Ready" indicating I am connected. At first I thought it may be because I was using my Blackberry as a tethered modem, so I tested it on other normal wireless networks.

I wonder if SWest sent out any kind of patch or update to this application around that time period. I have uninstalled and reinstalled several times to no avail. As I mentioned earlier, my attempts to speak with anyone at Southwest have been futile even though I have attempted 16 times by phone and three times by email. A callback was promised, but no one has called me.

NCDixiGirl -

There have been no patches or updates to the DING! client, or the backend systems that support DING! in a very long time.

I understand that you are frustrated - but as for your attempts to speak to someone at Southwest, I have been working with you directly via Flyertalk to try to get your issue resolved. An issue, might I add, that appears to be on your end - because we do not have a huge influx of Customers with this issue. It is very unlikely that you will get ahold of someone in Customer Relations, CS&S, or via the e-mail feedback form that will be able to assist with a technical issue on your PC.

It is very difficult to determine what may have changed on your PC that would suddenly be causing you a problem that wasn't happening before.
I've been trying to make suggestions, and even took time on my weekend to research where the settings are located on Vista (an OS that I am not familiar with). I still couldn't figure it out, and when I posted that - it seems that alanh has provided the answer. The suggestion that I made for the file associations has normally resolved this for Customers in the past.

Your system is viewing this as a "a program is attempting to access the internet" type of situation . . . and thats why it seems as though it could be a firewall type issue, if it is not the aforementioned file type settings.

Perhaps a call to Windows Vista support would be of more assistance.

Finally, I was able to fix this issue. Thanks to all who assisted. I finally did get a callback from Southwest, too. Here is what I did that works. Essentially, I changed my browser from Internet Explorer to Firefox and then back to Internet Explorer. For any who have Vista these are the steps:

Click on Start button in lower left corner
Go to Control Panel
Select Classic View link in the upper left corner (you will see icons instead of a list once you do and its just easier to see for this exercise)
Click on Default Programs
Click on link that says: Associate a File Type or Protocol with Program
Scroll until you see: HTTP URL:Hypertext Transfer Protocol (near very bottom)
Highlight it and click on "Change Program" in the upper right corner
Select another browser other than Internet Explorer (I selected Firefox which is also on my laptop)
Close screen and open DING application
Repeat process above to change it back to Internet Explorer

Like others out there, I'm also having problems with DING in the last month. I used to get offers a couple of times a week for airports in Reno and southern California. I haven't received a single offer in almost a month (although other people have received offers on their computers). I work on a mac using Firefox. I sent an e-mail to customer service about this issue. All I got back from them was a form letter saying how Ding works (I've used DING for quite some time....I know how it works!). So I can tell you that something has definetely gone awry in the last month. Any suggestions?

Like others out there, I'm also having problems with DING in the last month. I used to get offers a couple of times a week for airports in Reno and southern California. I haven't received a single offer in almost a month (although other people have received offers on their computers). I work on a mac using Firefox. I sent an e-mail to customer service about this issue. All I got back from them was a form letter saying how Ding works (I've used DING for quite some time....I know how it works!). So I can tell you that something has definetely gone awry in the last month. Any suggestions?

DING! offers come out at various times of the day - is it possible that you just haven't been near the computer when the offers have been available?

Use the "update registration" link and ensure that the cities you originally selected are still selected.

There is an offer out there right now, that lasts until 7:15 (central) this evening. It includes offers for LAS, ONT, RNO, SAN, and BUR. So, if you have any of these airports selected you should be seeing an offer.

Do you have "!" over the DING! icon in the system tray? If so, this would indicate a connection error - you could try "right click" and select "connect now".

You may also try right clicking and "Exit" . . then go to our Start Menu, find the Southwest Airlines folder and relaunch DING!.

If none of the above works - I would suggest an uninstall and re-install.

As I was saying, I used to regularly get offers until a month ago. Then nothing. Offers do appear on other people's computers, so I know the offers are out there.....I'm just not getting them. The airports currently on my list are RNO, LAX, ONT, BUR, and SNA. My DING did not show any offers today. There is nothing to indicate a connection error. I also tried relaunching DING, and nothing. I'll try reinstalling the program and see what happens. It's just odd that this problem started occurring when other folks were reporting problems as well.

My dad had this issue as well, he had to remove the program and re-install.
Good Luck.

As I was saying, I used to regularly get offers until a month ago. Then nothing. Offers do appear on other people's computers, so I know the offers are out there.....I'm just not getting them. The airports currently on my list are RNO, LAX, ONT, BUR, and SNA. My DING did not show any offers today. There is nothing to indicate a connection error. I also tried relaunching DING, and nothing. I'll try reinstalling the program and see what happens. It's just odd that this problem started occurring when other folks were reporting problems as well.

I totally agree that it's odd . . but sometimes programs get "interupted" by something that has changed on your PC (with or without your knowledge) and the best that you can do is to uninstall and re-install.

For example, on my home PC, I lost the ability to print anything from Outlook .. I would have to copy the e-mail and paste it into Word to print it.

I reinstalled Outlook, and whala! everything worked again.

Sometimes one program changes a registry setting that another program requires to function properly, and re-installing the "broken" program will reinstate the previous condition . . .of course, that could also cause something else to stop working correctly.

Ultimately, this is what happened with NCDixigirl . . something changed the file type association so that it was no longer working for DING!. She reset it, and now it works again.