GotoTravelGal

We experienced this recently too, flying to Florida, where there were a lot of people in wheelchairs who boarded first. My husband was A1 and he was probably 5 rows back in the plane! Craziness! I think the only real benefit is the extra points you earn and the write-off as a business expense, which are really the only two reasons we did it anyway.

Proudelitist

You have to be smart about it. Don't buy it for anything other than the first flight of the day. East or Central time. If you buy it after the whole cascade has started somewhere, the value of BS goes down immediately. Come on man, that's amature stuff. Kettle, even.

The other solution is to do what I do, and avoid WN like the plague. It really offers nothing in terms of "exlcusive" perks.

pinniped

So...did you get a middle seat in the back of the plane or are you just freaking out about nothing?

If my only choices are AT or BS, I buy BS every time. (Nothing more annoying that *not* being able to buy it when there only AT seats left.) I've never had a bad seat, I've always used the extra points, and I've either had the drink or found someone who wanted it.

Sounds like your expectations were out of line with the product. This has been discussed before: calling it "Business Select" when the airline industry in most parts of the world has long used "Business Class" to mean something else. But....whatever...

Super80Fan

You might not like the product but I doubt WN thinks it's a joke if they continue to sell this product. They obviously have some takers.

flyer4512

I pay in miles so it's always refundable. Seems a pretty steep price to pay to get a refund vs being able to reuse the funds

danielonn

Just take the Exit Row problem solved and get your drink problem solved.

obunewbie17

While i do want the early boarding position -- and I think we all get a bit of joy seeing A1 or A2 on our boarding pass...when i purchase business select I care more about the multipliers on the reward points i get for the flight. (coming from a person trying to get status for the first time after changing jobs to a traveling role)

pinniped

I suspect that most BS buyers are looking at a choice between AT and BS. In that context, it's just moving from a refundable fare to a slightly higher fare with a better multiplier, a free drink, and better boarding position.

The segment of BS travelers who booked weeks in advance when cheap WGA fares were also available is probably pretty small.

toomanybooks

Are they aware of the money they might save on WGA tickets?

hiker72

You were probably on a bad flight.

Usually you are greeted on the plane by the captain, who escorts you to your plush, double wide first class seat. The flight attendant then comes over to offer a glass of '61 Lafite. I was upset on my last flight since all they had was '05 Petrus, but I digress.

Allan38103

If you fly a lot ("a lot" is whatever you define) you're better off getting the cheaper WGA fare. Check in on time and use the techniques posted elsewhere in this forum, and you'll get an acceptable seat. The price difference just isn't worth it.

Over time you'll save enough to buy a whole new ticket (or two, depending on how much you fly.)

joshua362

I just re-watched the HBO series East Bound & Down, one of my all time favorites and noted this dialogue in the last ep aired 2013 or so:

…Southwest Airlines
Kenny Powers: Ya know, Southwest Airlines has a hub in Albuquerque.

There’s no first class on the airline obviously, but they do have that Business Select option.

You get the coupons for the premium drinks, and the priority access to be first on the plane.

They even offer Double Rapid Reward points for your miles there. Hopefully I’ll stack up a bunch of those, from all the times I’ll come out there and visit.

I’m gonna miss you guys.


http://www.ebadquotes.com/chapter-29...west-airlines/

Wish there was video. Near the end of Season 4, Ep 8, "chapter 29". Miss this show.

Kenny P gets it! Why do others seem to struggle....