A couple’s first anniversary trip turned into a nightmare after booking a hotel through Southwest Hotels. They had no idea that the platform works with third-party providers like Booking.com, and the booking process never made this clear.
Hotel Booking Turns Into Chaos
When they arrived in Las Vegas, the couple discovered that their hotel room had been cancelled without any notice. It was a busy holiday weekend, leaving them stranded and scrambling to find another place to stay.
A Long, Frustrating Night
They searched for hours and finally got a room at 2 a.m., nearly missing their planned reservation. To make matters worse, Southwest’s customer service did not help. Calls kept dropping, and when they reached a manager, the line was filled with static.
No Support from the Partner Site
Eventually, they were redirected to the booking partner’s automated system, which asked for a PIN they never received. The system showed no record of their reservation, even though they had a valid Southwest confirmation.
Disappointing Resolution
The couple finally managed to book a more expensive, lower-quality room and spent weeks exchanging emails with customer service. Southwest later refunded $200 to cover the price difference, but the experience left them disappointed and frustrated.
Lack of Accountability
This incident shows that Southwest Hotels failed to take responsibility for its partners’ actions. Customers deserve transparency, especially when their special occasions are on the line.
