A-List gets boarding number B26
May 25, 2017, 9:31 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: SJC/SFO
Programs: WN A+ CP, UA 1MM/*A Gold, Mar LT Tit, IHG Plat, HH Dia
Posts: 6,285
A-List gets boarding number B26
I checked in last night for a flight at about T-23:59. I got boarding order B26. I'm A-List! A partner on the same flight who's a no-status flyer checked in seconds earlier and got B16. WTH?? 
May 25, 2017, 9:42 am
#2
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: DCA
Programs: UA US CO AA DL FL
Posts: 50,262
Hopefully the mods will be along to merge this with one of the other dozen threads on the same topic.
If you search for those, you will find the answers.
Those answers won't make you happy, but they are the answers. No need to start yet another thread on the same topic.
If you search for those, you will find the answers.
Those answers won't make you happy, but they are the answers. No need to start yet another thread on the same topic.
May 25, 2017, 10:19 am
#3
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: SJC/SFO
Programs: WN A+ CP, UA 1MM/*A Gold, Mar LT Tit, IHG Plat, HH Dia
Posts: 6,285
I saw other threads. They seemed focused on discussing whether numbers around A40 were reasonable. (They are.) B26 is materially worse, and the fact that it seemed sequenced relative to a non-status passenger checking in indicates to me that WN failed to give me the published benefit of an early-reserved boarding number. I'm curious if there's any history of WN being willing to fix this for the current flight, and what I need to do to prevent it from happening again.
May 25, 2017, 10:27 am
#4
Join Date: Oct 2001
Programs: LTP, PP
Posts: 8,699
I saw other threads. They seemed focused on discussing whether numbers around A40 were reasonable. (They are.) B26 is materially worse, and the fact that it seemed sequenced relative to a non-status passenger checking in indicates to me that WN failed to give me the published benefit of an early-reserved boarding number. I'm curious if there's any history of WN being willing to fix this for the current flight, and what I need to do to prevent it from happening again.
May 25, 2017, 10:47 am
#5
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Blue Ridge, GA
Posts: 5,512
That the system is spastic and unstable is always disillusioning.
May 25, 2017, 10:47 am
#6
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: DAY
Programs: Rapid Rewards, Skymiles, Hilton HHonors, SPG/Marriott Rewards
Posts: 4,948
If you are A-list, why are you checking in a T-24? As mentioned, you can board after the A and before the B group.
May 25, 2017, 12:46 pm
#7
Join Date: Mar 2011
Posts: 6,286
For what it's worth, you should call or write Southwest and let them know. Lots of glitches with the new system, and the "A-lister not getting A-list position" is one that has been reported before. If anything, this thread should be merged into the post May 9th Travel one. My understanding is that there is nothing they can do to fix your position at this point, however as has been stated you can always board between A&B.
May 29, 2017, 7:36 pm
#10
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: SJC/SFO
Programs: WN A+ CP, UA 1MM/*A Gold, Mar LT Tit, IHG Plat, HH Dia
Posts: 6,285
Followup
WN agents confirmed the problem was my A-List status was not associated with my ticket. Why that happened is a mystery. I'd purchased the ticket 3 weeks before departure and was already A-List at time of ticketing. And as I suspected, there was nothing they could (or were willing to) do about it after check-in. How "the computer" assigns BP numbers is a divine mystery to them. Thankfully the problem did not repeat with my flight today. I got my boarding pass last night with the much more satisfying number A26.