WN's new reservation system aggressively cancels duplicate bookings
Mar 21, 2017, 3:24 pm
#91
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+1. This is a real thing in California. Hundreds of SWA flights per day between Norcal (SMF, OAK, SFO, SJC) and Socal (LAX, BUR, ONT, SNA, SAN). Lots of business and govt travel. Meeting times change, roadway traffic changes for the worse, weather delays move flight schedules, you name it. By removing some flexibility Southwest and tacit approval for double-booking, SWA is giving some of it's best customers (these biz/govt travelers) the middle finger. I don't see that as a good move.
Mar 21, 2017, 3:27 pm
#92
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Pretty much this. I only book trips that I intend to fly. Always have, always will. I will now book cheapest flight (on any airline except SWA as they are almost never the cheapest) as my "primary" flight, considering it a sunk cost if plans change. If there is a *chance* of meeting going late, connecting internal flight landing late, family changing vacation plan, etc, I will book my "contingency" flight on SWA (and yes, I'll go for the cheapest viable option there too, rather than risk getting reamed "last minute" at a ticket counter or not getting a seat home at all). Usually I won't need the contingency but as a saavy consumer (no, I don't consider it "fraud" to try and pay less of my hard-earned $ for a flight/product/trip and/or ensure that I will get home safely from a faraway place) will be appreciative that Southwest gives me the option...'til that of course is gone to and there will really be no reason to book SWA (as I'll book that on another airline as well).
If SWA considers me a bad customer and doesn't want my money, so be it. There are plenty of other airlines who will take my $ rather than fly empty jets around at enormous expense.
If SWA considers me a bad customer and doesn't want my money, so be it. There are plenty of other airlines who will take my $ rather than fly empty jets around at enormous expense.
Mar 21, 2017, 7:24 pm
#93
Join Date: Mar 2017
Posts: 12
There is even anecdotal evidence of SWA agents *encouraging* this practice in the past (i.e. see last post here http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/south...-yourself.html)
Mar 21, 2017, 7:36 pm
#94
Join Date: Mar 2017
Posts: 12
Not it all.
I booked two flights and intend to fly on one of them. Which one, I don't know yet. As soon as I know, I cancel the flight I *no longer* intend to use. Why? Because I want/need my points/$$ back. The entire time I'm acting in self-interest, and at the end of the day, it's in my interest to pay one flight's worth for one seat. I'm always going to end up cancelling any flight I won't use. That seat *will always* become available, so I reject the idea that I'm robbing them of inventory. SWA could probably even come up with a model to predict which seats will become available and overbook said flight, or adjust their ticket pricing models accordingly....oh wait...they already do that!!
What I am saying that my bookings are always aligned with my intentions...chock it up to 'game theory'.
Why does SWA think it knows my intentions better than I do, as their recent actions seem to suggest? It's a very slippery slope indeed.
I booked two flights and intend to fly on one of them. Which one, I don't know yet. As soon as I know, I cancel the flight I *no longer* intend to use. Why? Because I want/need my points/$$ back. The entire time I'm acting in self-interest, and at the end of the day, it's in my interest to pay one flight's worth for one seat. I'm always going to end up cancelling any flight I won't use. That seat *will always* become available, so I reject the idea that I'm robbing them of inventory. SWA could probably even come up with a model to predict which seats will become available and overbook said flight, or adjust their ticket pricing models accordingly....oh wait...they already do that!!
What I am saying that my bookings are always aligned with my intentions...chock it up to 'game theory'.
Why does SWA think it knows my intentions better than I do, as their recent actions seem to suggest? It's a very slippery slope indeed.
Mar 21, 2017, 9:01 pm
#95
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Not preventing flyers from doing this in the past can't be considered tacit approval? Even when in direct contrast with the T&Cs? If that's not looking the other way, I don't know what is. Basically my overall point is that Southwest is clearly not as full of "LUV" for the flyer/customer as it used to be.
There is even anecdotal evidence of SWA agents *encouraging* this practice in the past (i.e. see last post here http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/south...-yourself.html)
Mar 21, 2017, 10:28 pm
#96
Join Date: Mar 2017
Posts: 12
We'll have to agree to disagree. I understand that SWA is within it's rights to do what it is doing now per the T&C, but I appreciated their (previously) passenger-friendly stance.
Mar 21, 2017, 11:01 pm
#97
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Oh and sorry about this but it's a bit of a pet peeve of mine. It's "chalk" not "chock".
Mar 22, 2017, 2:29 pm
#98
Join Date: Mar 2007
Posts: 4,975
FYI - for now if you have a complicated same day / within 24 hour travel schedule its better to call in to book and explain to the rep what is going on. Yes, its kind of stupid, but the last rep I talked suggested this may help reservations stick.
I have some other close together travel where no cancellations have shown up yet so not sure what the formula is really. Similar to the ones that have been cancelled, but those have not been touched yet. Maybe it has something to do if you booked before or after the system change.
I have some other close together travel where no cancellations have shown up yet so not sure what the formula is really. Similar to the ones that have been cancelled, but those have not been touched yet. Maybe it has something to do if you booked before or after the system change.
Mar 22, 2017, 5:46 pm
#100
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Mar 22, 2017, 7:35 pm
#102
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Southwest may cancel ... any other reservations that it believes, in its sole discretion, were made without intent to travel.
Some may think that this will cause WN to lose customers. WN's marketing folks apparently don't just think but have made the business case for the reverse. By cleaning out the fraudulently-booked inventory and making it available for customers who really want the seats, WN will gain customers who, to date, have been disappointed because they can't find close-in inventory to book.
Those close-in customers will pay the the full freight, so doubtful that WN suffers.
Those making the fraudulent bookings are the customers who will either stop the practice, move to BS/Anytime for flexibility, or jump ship (which is fine w. WN). If they jump ship, they will fine that there is no other carrier which tolerates the practice.
Mar 22, 2017, 9:45 pm
#103
Join Date: Sep 2002
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Mar 22, 2017, 9:57 pm
#104
Join Date: Mar 2017
Posts: 12
Southwest *chose* not to catch people, until now. The technology has always existed (every other airline had it before SWA), and agents always knew this was going in. Stores that have cameras, prominent signs saying shoplifters will be prosecuted (i.e. not just in the "fine print"), security guards *are* trying to catch people. I reject the analogy on multiple grounds.
Mar 22, 2017, 9:58 pm
#105
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I did, however, explain one way in which customers could react in a way which increases the fraction of Southwest reservations dropped and which reduces revenue to Southwest.
These changes need to be studied keeping in mind the full chain of consequences, not just the direct effects.