Absolute proof Early Bird is a CON !
Sep 2, 2014, 6:46 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Roswell, GA
Programs: BA Gold-Virgin Gold-Delta MM-Hilton Diamond-Hyatt Globalist-Marriott Gold-IHG Plat Amb-Accor Nobody
Posts: 259
Absolute proof Early Bird is a CON !
My wife and I had separate MCO-MDW-MCO reservations. Both booked within 5 minutes of each other, both EXACT same fare.
I paid for early bird, my wife did not.
On the return I was allocated A38, my wide checked in online 3 hours before departure and was assigned A17 !
Now, currently neither of us has any FF status with SW, although I was A list a couple of years ago.
So from what I can see, there is a 'glitch' in SW's system ? Should I just contact SW and ask for my early bird payment back ? or does this have wider interest to others ?
I paid for early bird, my wife did not.
On the return I was allocated A38, my wide checked in online 3 hours before departure and was assigned A17 !
Now, currently neither of us has any FF status with SW, although I was A list a couple of years ago.
So from what I can see, there is a 'glitch' in SW's system ? Should I just contact SW and ask for my early bird payment back ? or does this have wider interest to others ?
Sep 2, 2014, 7:19 am
#3
Join Date: Dec 2013
Posts: 195
If anything, it's proof that once a boarding pass in cancelled maybe that number shouldn't be recycled, to stop people from incorrectly believing the system is a con.
You got two high-A boarding passes, one you paid for and one through sheer luck, and you're outraged about this? What a world.
You got two high-A boarding passes, one you paid for and one through sheer luck, and you're outraged about this? What a world.
Sep 2, 2014, 7:49 am
#4
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Roswell, GA
Programs: BA Gold-Virgin Gold-Delta MM-Hilton Diamond-Hyatt Globalist-Marriott Gold-IHG Plat Amb-Accor Nobody
Posts: 259
If anything, it's proof that once a boarding pass in cancelled maybe that number shouldn't be recycled, to stop people from incorrectly believing the system is a con.
You got two high-A boarding passes, one you paid for and one through sheer luck, and you're outraged about this? What a world.
You got two high-A boarding passes, one you paid for and one through sheer luck, and you're outraged about this? What a world.
SW say .... "We'll automatically check you in and assign your boarding position within 36 hours of your flight's departure - that's 12 hours before general boarding positions become available. " They don't say but we can still give others an earlier boarding position, with the exact same fare basis, even though they didn't pay for Early Bird.
Sep 2, 2014, 7:50 am
#5
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Roswell, GA
Programs: BA Gold-Virgin Gold-Delta MM-Hilton Diamond-Hyatt Globalist-Marriott Gold-IHG Plat Amb-Accor Nobody
Posts: 259
Sep 2, 2014, 9:04 am
#7
Join Date: Feb 2010
Posts: 1,263
I have had family members get A16-A20 within a few hours of boarding. I can think of 3 times that it has happened within the past year. Seems like if you miss checking in at T-24, it is best to wait until a few hours of the departure time to check-in.
Sep 2, 2014, 10:15 am
#8
Join Date: Oct 2001
Programs: LTP, PP
Posts: 8,698
If anything, it's proof that once a boarding pass in cancelled maybe that number shouldn't be recycled, to stop people from incorrectly believing the system is a con.
You got two high-A boarding passes, one you paid for and one through sheer luck, and you're outraged about this? What a world.
You got two high-A boarding passes, one you paid for and one through sheer luck, and you're outraged about this? What a world.
Here is another, more serious infraction:
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/south...-position.html
I agree this is no big deal personally put it can leave a bad taste in customer's mouths that do not know the ins and outs of WN...
Sep 2, 2014, 11:28 am
#9
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Dallas, TX USA
Programs: Rapid Rewards/AAdvantage
Posts: 1,245
Its proof of an inane IT department that does whatever without consulting marketing or operations to gauge the impact or customer perception.
Here is another, more serious infraction:
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/south...-position.html
I agree this is no big deal personally put it can leave a bad taste in customer's mouths that do not know the ins and outs of WN...
Here is another, more serious infraction:
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/south...-position.html
I agree this is no big deal personally put it can leave a bad taste in customer's mouths that do not know the ins and outs of WN...
Last edited by john398; Sep 2, 2014 at 11:28 am Reason: typo
Sep 2, 2014, 11:51 am
#10
Join Date: Jul 2013
Posts: 5,813
- A D-Group would seldom be necessary, but wouldn't be a disaster. After all you're still getting on in the order you paid/signed in for.
- They could also go to C61+ and just extend the C group, they wouldn't need that many more positions.
- They could add another pole and put 70 in each group, they wouldn't need to issue 60-70 for every flight or only issue them for B and C groups, keeping the A group the same size not to disadvantage any displaced A-Listers or family boarding (but that's another subject).
Reusing canceled boarding position is about the worst choice they could make. Note that they don't recycle A1-15.
Sep 2, 2014, 11:57 am
#11
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Dallas, TX USA
Programs: Rapid Rewards/AAdvantage
Posts: 1,245
There are many possible solutions.
Reusing canceled boarding position is about the worst choice they could make. Note that they don't recycle A1-15.
- A D-Group would seldom be necessary, but wouldn't be a disaster. After all you're still getting on in the order you paid/signed in for.
- They could also go to C61+ and just extend the C group, they wouldn't need that many more positions.
- They could add another pole and put 70 in each group, they wouldn't need to issue 60-70 for every flight or only issue them for B and C groups, keeping the A group the same size not to disadvantage any displaced A-Listers or family boarding (but that's another subject).
Reusing canceled boarding position is about the worst choice they could make. Note that they don't recycle A1-15.
Anyway those are some good ideas
Last edited by john398; Sep 2, 2014 at 12:15 pm Reason: typo
Sep 2, 2014, 12:01 pm
#12
Suspended
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Alki. Seattle, WA
Programs: WN~A List Pref, CP, Hyatt-Diamond, Hilton Diamond, ANT~a Dave Matthews Addiction thing
Posts: 723
I think this is almost perfect practice for people flying WN with no status
The only add i would make, if you miss T-24, but remember at T-23, T-18, T-12, etc. check in. If your happy with the boarding pass position, great. If it's terrible, 2-5 hours Berle the flight, start "playing the game" to try and get a lower spot.
Sep 4, 2014, 9:42 am
#15
Join Date: Dec 2004
Programs: Hyatt Globalist, Marriott Titanium, UA Silver, Hilton Gold, Hertz Pres Circle
Posts: 1,509
My wife and I had separate MCO-MDW-MCO reservations. Both booked within 5 minutes of each other, both EXACT same fare.
I paid for early bird, my wife did not.
On the return I was allocated A38, my wide checked in online 3 hours before departure and was assigned A17 !
Now, currently neither of us has any FF status with SW, although I was A list a couple of years ago.
So from what I can see, there is a 'glitch' in SW's system ? Should I just contact SW and ask for my early bird payment back ? or does this have wider interest to others ?
I paid for early bird, my wife did not.
On the return I was allocated A38, my wide checked in online 3 hours before departure and was assigned A17 !
Now, currently neither of us has any FF status with SW, although I was A list a couple of years ago.
So from what I can see, there is a 'glitch' in SW's system ? Should I just contact SW and ask for my early bird payment back ? or does this have wider interest to others ?