New boarding policy: A-listers with B's or C's can board after A60
Jan 22, 2013, 10:15 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: SoCal
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Posts: 639
New boarding policy: A-listers with B's or C's can board after A60
Last night while connecting in SMF, they made the announcement that A and A+ with higher boarding #s can board after the A group. Has anyone else heard this or was it just one GA? I think it is a great idea for the times when you have your flight changed because of delays and your high A becomes a B/C
Jan 22, 2013, 10:21 am
#2
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: San Diego, Ca
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Took a couple of flights last week; heard the same announcement on the first, but not the second. Would have been ugly if attempted on the second, as the ENTIRE B group appeared to consist of A-listers, I had B-20 (even after checking in T-23:50), A group of BS, A+...
Jan 22, 2013, 12:00 pm
#3
Moderator: Southwest Airlines, Capital One
Join Date: Sep 1999
Location: California
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If correct, this change would take a lot of the sting out of the creation of $40 Upgraded Boarding.
Jan 22, 2013, 2:19 pm
#4
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: DFW
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Jan 22, 2013, 3:06 pm
#6
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: LAX
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Posts: 1,020
Nice, no more family pre-boarders sneaking on ahead of elites. Must really stink to get a B boarding pass as an A-Lister though.
One added bonus will be going standby for an earlier flight. No more middle seats in that scenario unless there's a ton of through passengers.
One added bonus will be going standby for an earlier flight. No more middle seats in that scenario unless there's a ton of through passengers.
Jan 22, 2013, 3:08 pm
#7
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: San Diego, Ca
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Please ask your colleague: what happens when the flight has a large number of A, A+, to where the B group consists primarily / entirely of A, A+?
Jan 22, 2013, 4:19 pm
#8
Moderator: Southwest Airlines, Capital One
Join Date: Sep 1999
Location: California
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This morning's flight had only 70 or so. Non-Evo 700. Wifi equipped but not working. It was like a trip in time back to the good old days!
Jan 23, 2013, 10:52 am
#10
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Texas
Programs: Frequent Flyer
Posts: 435
Yes - this was rolled out with the new BS $40 advance boarding option. Based on feedback from surveys, they have added this to assist those A+, A+ Preferred who may have inadvertently received a B boarding pass (due to changes to their itinerary or any other reason).
Disclaimer: I am a WN employee but not a WN spokesperson.
Disclaimer: I am a WN employee but not a WN spokesperson.
Jan 23, 2013, 11:17 am
#11
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: San Diego, Ca
Programs: AA 2MM LT PLT; AS MVP Gold75k; HHonors Diamond; IHG PLT
Posts: 3,503
As it is a popular flight, WN uses Evolve -800, so the sardine can is packed to the gills.
Gate Agent claimed that less than 40 people checked bags, was attempting to encourage people in high B, C to do so in advance, as there would not be overhead space.
While some claim to have never seen it, this is the reality at least some of us live.
Jan 23, 2013, 12:23 pm
#12
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: SoCal
Programs: AA EXP, HHonors LTDia, Marriott Plat
Posts: 639
Yes - this was rolled out with the new BS $40 advance boarding option. Based on feedback from surveys, they have added this to assist those A+, A+ Preferred who may have inadvertently received a B boarding pass (due to changes to their itinerary or any other reason).
Disclaimer: I am a WN employee but not a WN spokesperson.
Disclaimer: I am a WN employee but not a WN spokesperson.
Thanks!
Jan 23, 2013, 12:39 pm
#13
Join Date: Mar 2011
Posts: 6,286
Yes - this was rolled out with the new BS $40 advance boarding option. Based on feedback from surveys, they have added this to assist those A+, A+ Preferred who may have inadvertently received a B boarding pass (due to changes to their itinerary or any other reason).
Disclaimer: I am a WN employee but not a WN spokesperson.
Disclaimer: I am a WN employee but not a WN spokesperson.
Jan 23, 2013, 1:01 pm
#14
Moderator: Southwest Airlines, Capital One
Join Date: Sep 1999
Location: California
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Posts: 21,625
I have it on good authority that this is now official policy. I'm guessing we'll see an announcement of this together with the upgraded boarding. I'm a little surprised that Southwest did not announce it when it started, but they must have their reasons.
Jan 23, 2013, 1:08 pm
#15
Join Date: Mar 2011
Posts: 6,286
Southwest Airlines Offers New Boarding Option
I would presume that the new policy would be best communicated to A-List customers directly.