How to guarantee A1 boarding pass?
May 19, 2015, 7:54 pm
#16
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: LAS
Posts: 1,323
Thanks all for the input! Are the "luv" seats the two seats in the exit aisle? If so, yes, that's why I want A1! . . . , if I am A2 and A1 takes it (yes, I've seen just one person take one of the two seats without someone with them, which makes NO sense to me), then I might as well have kept my discount fare at A42... it's a gamble for sure!
To each their own.
May 20, 2015, 7:37 pm
#17
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 403
Well there are other variables like you get 4,000 more points, which is worth a future short flight, and helps toward a companion pass. Plus double points for southwest visa. Anyway I called southwest (whats with the hold times lately, man!) and he said it is based on who bought the business select seat earliest, not who checks in first. Obviously clueless.
May 20, 2015, 10:15 pm
#19
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: SJC/SFO
Programs: WN A+ CP, UA 1MM/*A Gold, Mar LT Tit, IHG Plat, HH Dia
Posts: 6,284
Wouldn't A-List and A-List Preferred passengers holding BS tickets be assigned boarding numbers at T-36 hours, thus putting them ahead of virtually all general members checking in at T-24?
May 20, 2015, 10:34 pm
#20
Join Date: May 2005
Posts: 4,871
No. As noted repeatedly on this site, BS boarding order is assigned by check-in order starting at T-24. Status isn't a factor.
May 20, 2015, 11:26 pm
#21
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: STL, MO-US and A , SWA A-List, Marriott LTTE, Hilton Gold, Hertz PC
Posts: 1,883
Hi, sorry if this has been asked before but perhaps the system has changed. If I buy business select, and am the first person to check-in 24 hours in advance, and it's an originating flight, would I almost certainly get A1?
I'm going for those two seats on a long flight, so that's my goal! Is my thinking correct here? I know it can't be guaranteed of course, but is this the idea? First come first serve?
I'm going for those two seats on a long flight, so that's my goal! Is my thinking correct here? I know it can't be guaranteed of course, but is this the idea? First come first serve?
May 21, 2015, 12:09 am
#22
Join Date: Oct 2010
Programs: My opinions are my own and not that of my employer(s)
Posts: 1,411
And when only two show the rest is refunded... Genius at work. WN has some exploits that could be abused.
May 21, 2015, 7:22 am
#23
Join Date: Jul 2001
Posts: 3,975
And it doesn't take connecting pax who had a head start at check-in.
May 21, 2015, 8:44 am
#24
Join Date: Oct 2001
Programs: LTP, PP
Posts: 8,698
I once had a 3 hop SJC-LAX-BWI-ISP trek back across the US, all with BS fares. Only able to get 2 BP's at check-in due to their system limitations.
Late, all legs of course during the 2013 meltdown, no time to get the 3rd BP at LAX and when I got to BWI, it was past the time of scheduled departure when I asked for my last BP. I was told I was not checked in, Agent did something and out spit C35 or so. Complained and got a blue sleeve...
May 21, 2015, 10:18 am
#25
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: Chicago, IL
Posts: 349
Sort of an aside, but I have only once ever even CONSIDERED upgrading for $40 at the gate. The scenario was:
1. I bought the flight day-of, after T-24 (there was still WGA availability thankfully).
2. Checked in and received C-10, so I knew the flight was pretty full.
3. Flight was MDW-PHX (so, pretty long)
4. First flight of the day (no throughs)
5. I am 6'3" (legroom is a concern).
6. Gate agent confirmed on-the-spot (pre-purchase) that were I to pay the $40, I would receive A-1.
That is pretty much the only scenario I would end up paying (horrible boarding pass, long flight, no throughs, guaranteed A-1). In this one case, I went ahead and did it, so I could get the infinite legroom seat. In pretty much every other scenario, I would not be willing to pay the $40. Why are people so crazy about the seating?!?! Even being 6'3", I can fit in a regular seat ok. Most of the seats are pretty much the same! There is usually no real difference between A20 and B20. People get all bent out of shape over the smallest things.
1. I bought the flight day-of, after T-24 (there was still WGA availability thankfully).
2. Checked in and received C-10, so I knew the flight was pretty full.
3. Flight was MDW-PHX (so, pretty long)
4. First flight of the day (no throughs)
5. I am 6'3" (legroom is a concern).
6. Gate agent confirmed on-the-spot (pre-purchase) that were I to pay the $40, I would receive A-1.
That is pretty much the only scenario I would end up paying (horrible boarding pass, long flight, no throughs, guaranteed A-1). In this one case, I went ahead and did it, so I could get the infinite legroom seat. In pretty much every other scenario, I would not be willing to pay the $40. Why are people so crazy about the seating?!?! Even being 6'3", I can fit in a regular seat ok. Most of the seats are pretty much the same! There is usually no real difference between A20 and B20. People get all bent out of shape over the smallest things.
May 21, 2015, 12:59 pm
#26
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Chicagoland, IL, USA
Programs: WN CP, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 14,192
May 21, 2015, 7:10 pm
#27
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: ATL
Posts: 1,920
Thanks all for the input! Are the "luv" seats the two seats in the exit aisle? If so, yes, that's why I want A1! Call me anti-social, but I hate sitting next to a stranger especially on a long flight. If my wife and I can secure the luv seats for a 6+ hour flight (including layover), I'll gladly pay for that. The problem is, if I am A2 and A1 takes it (yes, I've seen just one person take one of the two seats without someone with them, which makes NO sense to me), then I might as well have kept my discount fare at A42... it's a gamble for sure!
May 22, 2015, 8:04 am
#28
Join Date: Feb 2015
Posts: 62
So I just made A-List yesterday on my BS fare. So if I'm reading this thread right if I fly BS I still have to make sure to check-in at T-24 if I want to be A1?
If I fly WGA then I essentially don't have to worry about checking in at all because I'm automatically before all EBCI?
If I fly WGA then I essentially don't have to worry about checking in at all because I'm automatically before all EBCI?
May 22, 2015, 4:21 pm
#30
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: SNA
Programs: Bonvoy LTTE/AMB, AmEx Plat, National EE, WN A-List, CLEAR+, Covid-19
Posts: 4,966
Ditto, and I'm almost always in one of the penultimate rear aisle seats (more chance of an empty row or middle on the always-full intra-California routes I fly).
(Based on what I saw aboard over the time it took to make A+ 3 years in a row I once speculated what people around here really meant when they claim they'd needed "extra legroom" and/or complained about the Evolve seating (which I also have no trouble with, even on long flights), and I got a lot of isht for it; let's just say it had more to do with "width" than "height"
)
(Based on what I saw aboard over the time it took to make A+ 3 years in a row I once speculated what people around here really meant when they claim they'd needed "extra legroom" and/or complained about the Evolve seating (which I also have no trouble with, even on long flights), and I got a lot of isht for it; let's just say it had more to do with "width" than "height"
)