Flight just got canceled
Aug 26, 2014, 10:29 am
#31
Join Date: Mar 2011
Posts: 6,286
Consensus here (and elsewhere, among frequent flyers) is that Southwest's flight status notification system is unreliable at best.
My personal experience includes sometimes receiving timely notifications about delays; never receiving notification despite the delay being posted on the monitors; receiving them late -- including after landing (presumably sent while in the air); and receiving multiple, conflicting notifications that didn't reflect reality.
I always add my cell phone number when booking (which isn't automatic, for some unknown reason), and I often take the additional step of signing up for "flight status messaging."
Contrast this with recent experiences on United, where text notifications were received at the exact same time I saw the monitors being updated, and a pop-up message from the app appeared on my smartphone. (Not to mention a pop-up message from Google Now.)
My personal experience includes sometimes receiving timely notifications about delays; never receiving notification despite the delay being posted on the monitors; receiving them late -- including after landing (presumably sent while in the air); and receiving multiple, conflicting notifications that didn't reflect reality.
I always add my cell phone number when booking (which isn't automatic, for some unknown reason), and I often take the additional step of signing up for "flight status messaging."
Contrast this with recent experiences on United, where text notifications were received at the exact same time I saw the monitors being updated, and a pop-up message from the app appeared on my smartphone. (Not to mention a pop-up message from Google Now.)
Aug 26, 2014, 10:35 am
#32
Join Date: Oct 2001
Programs: LTP, PP
Posts: 8,698
Its just silly/lazy/incompetent for an automated process not to work 100% of the time to all people, all of the time. IT auditors call that a "test of one".
Definite best wishes to your continued luck, I've taken to trip it and flight aware on critical trips instead.
Aug 26, 2014, 11:33 am
#33
Join Date: May 2005
Posts: 4,870
Cool story, bro. Just wish it was anywhere near consistent. Which it isn't.
Aug 26, 2014, 12:05 pm
#34
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Dallas, TX, AA 3MM EXP, WN
Posts: 1,808
People like the OP still like to Wine when the airlines tell them they are delayed. Yes you heard me Wine(not Whine). They just get too fed up when someone is doing them a favor letting them know about the delay and changing their flight for them without waiting in a long line at the airport.
Aug 26, 2014, 12:06 pm
#35
Join Date: Jul 2014
Posts: 210
What I'm having trouble understanding is why some "consistently" get them, and others don't get them at all. Doesn't make sense.
If it were truly an incompetent and inconsistent system, then NOBODY would get them consistently. I guess what I'm saying is that there must be some sort of valid explanation for some to ALWAYS get them, and others to NEVER get them. Kind of leaves me scratching my head.
Has anyone tried calling WN to see what's up?
Aug 26, 2014, 12:17 pm
#36
Moderator: Southwest Airlines, Capital One
Join Date: Sep 1999
Location: California
Programs: WN Companion Pass, A-list preferred, Hyatt Globalist; United Club Lietime (sic) Member
Posts: 21,620
I get delay notifications consistently too. Sometimes after I am on the plane. 
Aug 26, 2014, 12:30 pm
#37
Join Date: Mar 2011
Posts: 6,286
Your sample size is actually very small.
If it were truly an incompetent and inconsistent system, then NOBODY would get them consistently. I guess what I'm saying is that there must be some sort of valid explanation for some to ALWAYS get them, and others to NEVER get them. Kind of leaves me scratching my head.
You're familiar with Southwest's IT, right?
Also, it's important to note that the vast majority here is not saying they NEVER get them. They're saying that they're unreliable and inconsistent.
Yes. And have been told that they recognize the importance of our Customer observations and opinions, and we have included our concerns in our monthly summary, which is distributed to our Senior Leadership.
Aug 26, 2014, 7:17 pm
#39
Join Date: Jul 2014
Posts: 210
My point was that if it's inconsistent, then it's inconsistent for all. So let me rephrase the latest item you quoted me on...
Why would SOME always receive them, SOME inconsistently receive them, and SOME never receive them. Inconsistent is inconsistent. Inconsistency doesn't play favorites as far as I know.
Aug 26, 2014, 11:02 pm
#40
Join Date: Mar 2011
Posts: 6,286
Also, I'll note that, in the multiple discussions on this board regarding this topic, the people reporting that they SOMETIMES get them are far outnumbered by those that say that they ALWAYS get them.
Last edited by ursine1; Aug 27, 2014 at 9:05 am Reason: fixed backwards mistake!
Aug 27, 2014, 5:10 am
#41
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Nashville, TN
Programs: WN Nothing and spending the half million points from too many flights, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 8,043
Aug 27, 2014, 6:37 am
#42
Join Date: Oct 2001
Programs: LTP, PP
Posts: 8,698
The first thing that comes to mind, as I mentioned, is Southwest's stellar IT.
Also, I'll note that, in the multiple discussions on this board regarding this topic, the people reporting that they ALWAYS get them are far outnumbered by those that say that they SOMETIMES get them.
Also, I'll note that, in the multiple discussions on this board regarding this topic, the people reporting that they ALWAYS get them are far outnumbered by those that say that they SOMETIMES get them.
Aug 27, 2014, 8:26 am
#43
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Chicagoland, IL, USA
Programs: WN CP, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 14,184
I sometimes get them. I think I get more now percentagewise than I used to.
Have to always input my cell number in each reservation; may start asking for a text to see if that helps.
And I have to put cell number in ALWAYS when booking; it never sticks. Quite annoying.
Have to always input my cell number in each reservation; may start asking for a text to see if that helps.
And I have to put cell number in ALWAYS when booking; it never sticks. Quite annoying.