Checked in exactly 24 hours before and got...B51 and B52!?
Jan 28, 2015, 2:35 pm
#18
Join Date: Feb 2010
Posts: 1,263
Jan 28, 2015, 2:49 pm
#19
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: CMH usually
Programs: AA PLT, WN A+ (and Sometimes CP) | Hilton Diamond | Avis Preferred | National Car Exec
Posts: 414
As others have said, if you're buying the one leg trip (MDW-CUN), everyone else who has a 2 or more leg trip to get to you (e.g. maybe MCI-MDW-CUN) has likely a 2 hour jump on your T-24 check-in time. At T-24, you are only ahead of the people that are non-A-List people flying the same one leg trip you are. Almost literally everyone else is ahead of you.
Your best bet is EBCI or paying the $40 if it's available for A1-15.
Your best bet is EBCI or paying the $40 if it's available for A1-15.
Jan 29, 2015, 4:46 pm
#20
Moderator: Southwest Airlines, Capital One
Join Date: Sep 1999
Location: California
Programs: WN Companion Pass, A-list preferred, Hyatt Globalist; United Club Lietime (sic) Member
Posts: 21,621
Dec 14, 2017, 11:43 am
#21
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: UA 1MM, Marriott LTP, Hilton Gold, Hyatt Explorist, Hertz PC
Posts: 1,003
I don't know if this has been discussed more recently but it just happened to me. I'm flying from SJC to ONT at 10am tomorrow. I checked in exactly at 10am on my mobile app and got B6. Are there so many people who either purchase the automatic check-in or are on the A list? I fly a couple of times on WN every year and this has never happened to me before.
Dec 14, 2017, 12:06 pm
#22
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: MCI
Programs: AA Gold 1MM, AS MVP, UA Silver, WN A-List, Marriott LT Titanium, HH Diamond
Posts: 52,570
The AT fare is what our corporate travel portal would show. In competitive markets, it's the fare likely in line with whatever the legacy carrier is charging for a very close-in booking.
Of course, even if I can only expense the AT fare, I will happily upgrade it to BS on my own dime. I never really *want* to fly an AT fare.
Of course, even if I can only expense the AT fare, I will happily upgrade it to BS on my own dime. I never really *want* to fly an AT fare.
Dec 14, 2017, 12:23 pm
#23
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: ATL
Posts: 1,919
I don't know if this has been discussed more recently but it just happened to me. I'm flying from SJC to ONT at 10am tomorrow. I checked in exactly at 10am on my mobile app and got B6. Are there so many people who either purchase the automatic check-in or are on the A list? I fly a couple of times on WN every year and this has never happened to me before.
- Buy a Business Select fare (ties up 25% of the A Group, A1-15)
- Aren't A List or A List Preferred (probably ties up at least another 25% of the A's, so A16-30)
- Didn't buy EBCI (probably ties up another 25%-50% of the As, so A31 to maybe even A60)
I'm checking my daughter and her boyfriend in at 3:30 today (exactly T-24 on two separate devices) for ATL-LGA and would be happy with B6 & B7.
Dec 14, 2017, 12:36 pm
#24
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: Rio Rancho, NM - USA
Programs: DL, UA, WN, Amtrak, Hyatt, Accor
Posts: 1,793
I nearly always pay for the early bird check-in these days. Yes, it's $15 each way but I don't have to worry about being at a computer exactly 24 hours ahead. Keep in mind "family boarding" is now after the As, so B-1 could have 70-80 pax ahead of you (60 or more in the A group plus all the families). I always pay early-bird if I know the flight will have "throughs," people who boarded at previous airports. Also, I believe early-bird numbers are assigned in order of when the ticket was purchased. Pax who buy their tickets months in advance get lower boarding numbers. The $15 fee irks me a little, but it's certainly cheaper than paying for checked luggage.
Dec 14, 2017, 1:21 pm
#25
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Chicagoland, IL, USA
Programs: WN CP, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 14,189
I don't know if this has been discussed more recently but it just happened to me. I'm flying from SJC to ONT at 10am tomorrow. I checked in exactly at 10am on my mobile app and got B6. Are there so many people who either purchase the automatic check-in or are on the A list? I fly a couple of times on WN every year and this has never happened to me before.
Dec 14, 2017, 2:14 pm
#28
Join Date: Oct 2015
Programs: HH Dia, Marriott Titanium, AA Gold, UA Silver
Posts: 192
Just pay the $40 at the gate--and it's always available, because the times I've done it, they actually give people duplicate boarding positions with others in A1-15, ie. 2 people with A5, A6, etc. ---it was confusing at first, but I guess WN's systems allow for it, at least that's what the GA told me
Dec 14, 2017, 2:19 pm
#29
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: USA
Programs: Chase Sapphire Reserve, WFBF
Posts: 1,573
This. Anyway, with CUN being a leisure destination there will likely be lots of groups sitting together (as opposed to singles taking just aisle/window) so you may have a shot. Look for 2 people who appear to be a couple sitting aisle/window of the same row and ask for the middle-- chances are good they will move over. On my last flight the very last guy on board ended up with an aisle seat that way (OTOH couple was two Customers of Size so he was not comfortable at all).
Dec 14, 2017, 2:22 pm
#30
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Blue Ridge, GA
Posts: 5,509
Just pay the $40 at the gate--and it's always available, because the times I've done it, they actually give people duplicate boarding positions with others in A1-15, ie. 2 people with A5, A6, etc. ---it was confusing at first, but I guess WN's systems allow for it, at least that's what the GA told me