Southwest Rapid Rewards - Boarding number with last minute booking with A-List / Preferred?

What happens if you are an A-List / Preferred member and book a ticket within 24 hours of the flight? A-List/Preferred usually get the priority boarding pass numbers after BS but if WN has already allotted passes, what happens?

You might get lucky and snap up a decnet A boarding number if another person cancels their flight. As an example, if a passenger holding A23 cancels their flight, you might snag A23. If not, you will get a very high boarding number (or best available). That's why some of us purchase a BS fare when we're inside that 24-hour window to ensure an A1-15 boarding number (and the bonus points of course). I wish there was a way WN could fix this as I often book a fare within the 24 hour window and either pruchase a BS fare or take my chances on what the system will assign.

Thought that was the case. Only reason I would do this is that sometimes the last minute fares are amazing. For instance SJC-EWR was hovering around $300-400 each way for a long time then two weeks ago I noticed that fares for the route I wanted start going to mid $200s then the day off my return EWR-SJC it was $171 for WGA. That is a pretty large savings if you are ok with the later boarding number.

What happens if you are an A-List / Preferred member and book a ticket within 24 hours of the flight? A-List/Preferred usually get the priority boarding pass numbers after BS but if WN has already allotted passes, what happens?

From my recent experience (I am A-list preferred only since April),
- the 1 time i booked a ticket within 24hrs, I was ~B50
- the 4/5 times i changed a ticket few hours before the flight, I was ~A50 to ~B20
- the 2 times i changed my flight at the counter, I was at the end of the boarding process (even got something like C20 although I had booked Business select initially)

There is absolutely nothing wrong with walking up to the GA, the ones at the desk, showing your A+ status on the BP, explaining that you know last minute purchases do not get A-list assignments and saying that A+ ought to count for something and is there a way that they can move you up to at least A60a or something? (Try a sad puppy dog look.)

The worst that will happen is that they say no and you are exactly where you are. I have seen them sharpie marker boarding passes with better positions and even (aghast exclamation of breath) give out a blue boarding sleeve. If they do, try to limp a little.

There is absolutely nothing wrong with walking up to the GA, the ones at the desk, showing your A+ status on the BP, explaining that you know last minute purchases do not get A-list assignments and saying that A+ ought to count for something and is there a way that they can move you up to at least A60a or something? (Try a sad puppy dog look.)

The worst that will happen is that they say no and you are exactly where you are. I have seen them sharpie marker boarding passes with better positions and even (aghast exclamation of breath) give out a blue boarding sleeve. If they do, try to limp a little.
Good technique. I've found that they've offered to blue sleeve me more often than they've done the Sharpie cross-out thing though.

Amusing timing with the original post/question.

A-List Preferred; Flying on a RR1. I made a destination change to the existing res. at t-minus about 26 hours (still had RR availability). Printed the BP before leaving for the airport and had A-50. While checking my bag, asked the agent if she'd look to see if any lower numbers had been thrown-back. She totally understood the question, did a bunch of keyboard work & reported the best she could find was A-52. Very apologetic.

Didn't bother the GA or the counter folks once inside the TSA gulag @ MCI, and took my spot in-line. A pleasant/amusing surprise to find all 8 exit-row seats vacant on what went out as a totally full -300. And no nasty EVO seating.

As other threads have touched-on recently, the day is coming when Southwest will have to move towards assigned seating (for many reasons). They really have no practical means of offering any benefits of substance to frequent/premium fliers in the present environment.

While auto-check-in, fly-by lanes and CP are handy things, the total lack of any sort of premium seating for those willing to pay (directly or otherwise) is becoming a bigger drawback.

Good technique. I've found that they've offered to blue sleeve me more often than they've done the Sharpie cross-out thing though.

Never been offered either, personally. Couple times it's come up, I've been denied and just took my lumps in a middle seat in the back.

Never been offered either, personally. Couple times it's come up, I've been denied and just took my lumps in a middle seat in the back.

You make need to work on your sad puppy dog look.

While auto-check-in, fly-by lanes and CP are handy things, the total lack of any sort of premium seating for those willing to pay (directly or otherwise) is becoming a bigger drawback.

I agree, but I find it hard to believe that they would change the seating policy that helps them turn around planes faster than other airlines (or so I've heard).

To me, I feel like a great solution would be to add 6-8 larger seats at the front, and offer then to the first 6-8 BS and/or A-List passengers that wanted them. It would almost be like a 1st class upgrade on legacy airlines - the more you fly, the better chance you have of getting the awesome seat.

It wouldn't be a true first class experience, but it wouldn't be that different. Fly-by lanes, free drinks (thanks to coupons), boarding first, no bag fees, etc. It wouldn't be much different than domestic F on DL or AA.

I have been flying more and more recently (for business, but all on my own dime), which has made me consider which airline to try and fly the most to take advantage of the benefits that airlines offer. Though I can fly direct to almost anywhere on WN, I still am considering other airlines because I really like the idea of traveling in 1st class occasionally.

Obviously, airlines don't need to cater to me, but I can't be the only one who feels this way. If WN introduces a few larger seats with more leg room, and lets their most loyal passengers sit in them, I would definitely fly WN for every flight, and I'm sure there are others who would do the same.

Maybe I'm the only one :)

There is absolutely nothing wrong with walking up to the GA, the ones at the desk, showing your A+ status on the BP, explaining that you know last minute purchases do not get A-list assignments and saying that A+ ought to count for something and is there a way that they can move you up to at least A60a or something? (Try a sad puppy dog look.)

The worst that will happen is that they say no and you are exactly where you are. I have seen them sharpie marker boarding passes with better positions and even (aghast exclamation of breath) give out a blue boarding sleeve. If they do, try to limp a little.

Twice I asked the Ops Agent to board after A60. Shot down both times. I'll try the Gate Agent next time.

Southwest should add a policy that A-listers may always board after A60 with the families. That would be trivial to implement. @:-)

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There is absolutely nothing wrong with walking up to the GA, the ones at the desk, showing your A+ status on the BP, explaining that you know last minute purchases do not get A-list assignments and saying that A+ ought to count for something and is there a way that they can move you up to at least A60a or something? (Try a sad puppy dog look.)

The worst that will happen is that they say no and you are exactly where you are. I have seen them sharpie marker boarding passes with better positions and even (aghast exclamation of breath) give out a blue boarding sleeve. If they do, try to limp a little.

I tried this is LAS and they let me board after A60. I tried in PHX on a BS ticket that earned me C20 and was told no. In MDW they let me board after the last BS person with a C business select ticket. Go figure.

It's hit and miss. Certainly worth asking, IMO. The worst they can say is no.

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I tried this is LAS and they let me board after A60. I tried in PHX on a BS ticket that earned me C20 and was told no. In MDW they let me board after the last BS person with a C business select ticket. Go figure.

It's hit and miss. Certainly worth asking, IMO. The worst they can say is no.

Wait, I thought BS was guaranteed A1-A15? Or did you book BS and then downgrade to another ticket?

Wait, I thought BS was guaranteed A1-A15? Or did you book BS and then downgrade to another ticket?

I changed at the gate to an earlier flight where BS was sold out (PHX) or the boarding passes (BP #s 1-15, not positions A1-15) were released (MDW).

When I had a high boarding pass number I asked the Ops Agent if I can board after A60 and she had no problems with it. She actually told me to feel free to board anytime during the A's.

Agents should allow all A-list to board with families.

Agents should allow all A-list to board with families.

Agreed. It is a quite reasonable accommodation for your best customers in unusual circumstances. I do think, however, that they would rather you buy a BS ticket inside the T36 and this is a way to encourage that. We have also learned that that does not always work either.