A-List Standby is free for ANY earlier flight starting March 8, 2017
Nov 6, 2018, 9:55 pm
#151
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2000
Location: RDU
Programs: AA LT Gold, DL SM, HY Disc, Marriott LT Gold
Posts: 12,507
What are peoples' experiences about when the upgrade actually clears? Let's presume an on-time flight with 10-15 empty seats as an example. Will they clear the standbys before boarding begins, or after boarding ends?
Nov 7, 2018, 4:56 am
#152
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: ORD, MDW or MKE
Programs: American and Southwest. Hilton and Marriott hotels primarily.
Posts: 6,460
My experience is that if there are at least 3-4 seats open, your upgrade will clear in time for you to board after A's and before B's if you are A-list.
Nov 7, 2018, 10:10 am
#153
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: ATL
Posts: 1,921
This morning MDW-ATL, held a boarding pass for the 1:30p and wanted to go standby on the 6:25a
At Ticket desk I was put on the standby list, TA said there were empty seats and I was the only one on the standby list so far (it was 4:45a
) and told me to check with the GA. I also checked 2 bags.
Got to the gate at about 5:00a, checked with the GA and she gave me a C-23 boarding pass. Went and had breakfast (the eggs in the Pizza Place breakfast sandwich are awful, fake, pulled them out after one bite), boarded after A-60.
At Ticket desk I was put on the standby list, TA said there were empty seats and I was the only one on the standby list so far (it was 4:45a
) and told me to check with the GA. I also checked 2 bags.Got to the gate at about 5:00a, checked with the GA and she gave me a C-23 boarding pass. Went and had breakfast (the eggs in the Pizza Place breakfast sandwich are awful, fake, pulled them out after one bite), boarded after A-60.
Dec 10, 2018, 8:23 pm
#154
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: SNA
Programs: Bonvoy LTTE/AMB, AmEx Plat, National EE, WN A-List, CLEAR+, Covid-19
Posts: 4,966
So apparently regardless of status or how early you get onto the SB list, PAX who've missed their previous flight bump you on the list; I dropped from # 1 to # 11 last week trying to get to SAN.
But I can't believe 10 people all missed a late-afternoon flight like that, there must be other reasons I kept getting bumped- so here's my questions for FT:
- What determines ranking on the SB list?
- Is there any way togame predicate that in one's favor?
But I can't believe 10 people all missed a late-afternoon flight like that, there must be other reasons I kept getting bumped- so here's my questions for FT:
- What determines ranking on the SB list?
- Is there any way to
Last edited by kennycrudup; Dec 10, 2018 at 8:24 pm Reason: damned hashtag 'matching'
Dec 11, 2018, 8:52 am
#155
Join Date: Jul 2013
Posts: 5,813
Yes they will accommodate passengers who mis-connected, were delayed or cancelled before the rest of the standby list. You may also drop if someone with higher status is added to standby ( A-List Preferred vs A-List or possibly crew deadheading/commuting). There may be other factors.
It is also possible that some people are purposely missing their flights to get on a later flight and taking a chance that there will be seats.
It is also possible that some people are purposely missing their flights to get on a later flight and taking a chance that there will be seats.
Dec 11, 2018, 12:49 pm
#157
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: SNA
Programs: Bonvoy LTTE/AMB, AmEx Plat, National EE, WN A-List, CLEAR+, Covid-19
Posts: 4,966
NRSAs can bump SBs? I get those needing to get to work, but NRSAs too? 
Yeah, which gave me an idea- but when I run the math in my head, "one" would have to buy an AT/BS day-of (at least after the midnight "impossible-trip" sweep) for the one they'd like to try to make, "miss" that one then get the refund or TTFs. Lot of effort with no guaranteed success. (That being said, there is one use-case that now springs to mind.)
Huh. I get it, after all WN is doing us a favor here, but now I'm curious- what's below us? Who's at the top? I'm sure it's totally proprietary, but there's got to be some anecdotal hints, no?
It is also possible that some people are purposely missing their flights to get on a later flight and taking a chance that there will be seats.
Huh. I get it, after all WN is doing us a favor here, but now I'm curious- what's below us? Who's at the top? I'm sure it's totally proprietary, but there's got to be some anecdotal hints, no?
Dec 11, 2018, 1:09 pm
#158
Join Date: Jul 2014
Posts: 339
NRSAs should not be above revenue customers - but those who are “positive space” (NRMRs - non revenue must rides, crew deadheads or interview candidates for example) usually already have a seat allocated on the plane so they shouldn’t show on the standby list.
There is one category of NRSA who MAY be at the top of the standby list above revenue customers - SWA has 4 NRSA standby categories from what I remember (letter A-D) and those with letter A standby priority who have been approved for traveling for an emergency - may be ahead on the list. It’s been awhile since I worked at SWA but those are the specifics I remember
There is one category of NRSA who MAY be at the top of the standby list above revenue customers - SWA has 4 NRSA standby categories from what I remember (letter A-D) and those with letter A standby priority who have been approved for traveling for an emergency - may be ahead on the list. It’s been awhile since I worked at SWA but those are the specifics I remember
Dec 11, 2018, 11:59 pm
#159
Join Date: Jun 2015
Programs: VX Gold/WN Companion
Posts: 682
Yes. Plenty of times I have been cleared and given a boarding pass on a standby flight in time to board between A/B group when there were seats available. Other times it is the game of who is gonna bump who for the one last no show after boarding is done. Been both the bumper and bumpee.
Dec 12, 2018, 9:24 am
#160
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: STL
Programs: Southwest A+/CP, Hilton Diamond, National Executive Elite
Posts: 170
NRSAs should not be above revenue customers - but those who are “positive space” (NRMRs - non revenue must rides, crew deadheads or interview candidates for example) usually already have a seat allocated on the plane so they shouldn’t show on the standby list.
There is one category of NRSA who MAY be at the top of the standby list above revenue customers - SWA has 4 NRSA standby categories from what I remember (letter A-D) and those with letter A standby priority who have been approved for traveling for an emergency - may be ahead on the list. It’s been awhile since I worked at SWA but those are the specifics I remember
Dec 12, 2018, 12:41 pm
#161
Join Date: May 2016
Location: ATL
Programs: DL GM, Marriott Titanium
Posts: 1,241
I'm also curious about what people's experiences are. I've used the benefit probably close to 20 times now and at all but a handful, the GA went ahead and printed me a boarding pass for the earlier flight when I went up to the counter, which have all been before boarding starts. (Once at OAK and once at SNA I cleared T-10 and was the last to board, and once I didn't clear at all at SNA. )
Dec 12, 2018, 2:40 pm
#162
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: 21,624
Dec 12, 2018, 4:28 pm
#164
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: ORD, MDW or MKE
Programs: American and Southwest. Hilton and Marriott hotels primarily.
Posts: 6,460
I seem to be regularly on sold out routes. I have many times not been cleared ( that's ok - my bags went ahead of me and are waiting instead of the ridiculous MDW bag wait ) and many times cleared in time to board in the middle of B's and a few times cleared in time to board after A-60.
Dec 12, 2018, 4:56 pm
#165
Join Date: Jul 2014
Posts: 339
NRMRs show up on the cleared standby list on the app AFTER they have been cleared and given a boarding pass, but not before. I was #1 on standby in OKC a few weeks ago after my flight was canceled, and 4 crew were cleared ahead of me first, while I did not get a seat.
Most of the time, when an employee is NRMR, they can check in 24 hours prior just like everybody else and receive a boarding pass in whatever order they checked in, again just like a regular customer. And in most cases of NRMR, you know days or weeks in advance that you're going to be must riding, either as part of your line or for work if corporate