Southwest Rapid Rewards - Can someone explain this to me? (one good and one bad BP, both with EBCI)

Can someone please explain SW Early Bird seating to me? I thought I understood it but after our last flight from LAS, I'm not sure. Husband and I both got early bird both ways. Flight to LV we got A-26 and 28. From LV we got A-25 and B-23. I booked these flights at the same time, maybe 5 minutes apart. Why in the world were we so far apart? The other couple we were with had the exact same scenario, she got A-26 and he got B-26, and they booked their flights several days after we did. Seems everyone we asked had a different answer.
We always fly SW, but this last trip has me questioning if it's time to make a change. On a 4 1/2 hour flight we only received 1 opportunity for a drink. Not even offered water. No peanuts or pretzels were given. When bringing the snacks around they always let you take two. This time when my husband reached for a second snack, the FA physically grabbed his hand, saying he needs to see if there is enough for everyone. That's fine, just don't grab his hand. Just a bad SW experience this time around.
Pam

Sounds like the EBCI failed for the second passenger. B26 is just too far down the list to be credible as a genuine EBCI result.

papamela, welcome to FlyerTalk!

I agree that it sounds like an EBCI failure. If you read enough in this forum, web site bugs are a common complaint.

I am also concerned about the service failures. I fly WN a lot, up to 100 flights per year, and I have never had the type of service you mentioned unless there were weather or turbulence concerns in which the captain ordered the flight crews to remain seated.

I would follow up with customer service and at least let them know what happened. You can do this on the web or you can PM our resident WN representatives. I like Southwestwhit. She has resolved several issues for me. There is Southwestgabe and a couple of others.

papamela, feel free to PM me your confirmation number. I'd be happy to take a look at this for you.

As I mentioned in another thread some time ago, I recently had B20 which was found to be a legitimate EBCI result.

As I mentioned in another thread some time ago, I recently had B20 which was found to be a legitimate EBCI result.

And the associated A positions could be serendipitous early boarding by unknowing persons taking the place of a canceled A-list position.

southwestgabe...I will send a PM. Thanks for your help. I do really like SW and hopefully this was just 1 bad experience.
Pam

I wonder what EBCI bought on my flight today.

In the preboard area, I had a chance to get a good look at the boarding screen. There were 40 throughs and 15 BS. I am A+ and had A-27 the worst I have had in a long time. There was one preboard, me as COS.

Add that up and A-28 who would have boarded after me had 67 people and my extra seat on the plane in front of him. Who knows where A-list ended and EBCI began. The screen also said there were 96 boarding passes issued. 96+40+my XS is 137.

That means the last boarding pass issued was B-36. Almost every B got a middle seat.