[marcyst]

Yesterday I was on a Southwest flight from Dallas to San Antonio at 7am, and was picked up from my hotel at 5:30am-long day for sure. I flew to San Antonio, went to my business meetings and was booked on a flight from San Antonio to Tampa via Houston at 6:05pm-arriving in Tampa (my home) at 10:45pm. I got to the airport in San Antonio and through security and noticed a nonstop flight to Tampa that had not boarded yet. I didn't book that flight to begin with because I thought my business meetings would last longer than they did. The nonstop flight would have gotten me home around 7pm or so. I went up to the gate attendant and asked if there were empty seats (I did not check luggage). She said there were and so I asked if I could be switched to the nonstop flight. She said certainly- for $286.00. I explained I was an A-list customer and flew Southwest a lot, had been up very early, and would really appreciate getting on the nonstop flight and home earlier. If they had empty seats- why would I have to pay $286.00? I have already paid Southwest thousands in multiple business trips over the past few weeks. She said too bad. She could have cared less in fact. So, I did not get on that flight, my 6:05pm flight was delayed, and I didn't land and get home until 1am, meaning I was up straight for 20 hours. This is no way to treat business travelers and I will NEVER EVER fly Southwest again. USAir or Delta would have switched me no problem at the last minute. And NO Cost.