Flying on / after nex gen system cutover day (May 9)
May 6, 2017, 12:23 am
#16
Join Date: May 2016
Location: ATL
Programs: DL GM, Marriott Titanium
Posts: 1,241
Ah thanks for the reminder. I'm flying out of ONT next week 5/10 and was hoping to use the A-list free standby. Will play it by ear though and see how things work out on transition day. Hoping for the best, though ONT isn't a station with normal WN international traffic and I've never seen more than 2 agents at the ticket/checkin counter, so hoping that it won't get too backed up there...
Also waiting to see if they're going to be cautious and send the notice email message out to 5/10 flights. Got the same message as OP for a 5/9 itinerary (appreciate WN's proactiveness here!)
Also waiting to see if they're going to be cautious and send the notice email message out to 5/10 flights. Got the same message as OP for a 5/9 itinerary (appreciate WN's proactiveness here!)
May 6, 2017, 4:39 am
#17
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: STL
Posts: 1,546
I have an award flight NRT-DEN-STL on UA on the 9th. Originally I was left with a 7 hour layover at DEN so I booked an award flight DEN-STL on SW to give me about a 2 hour layover. Then UA opened up award availability for an earlier DEN-STL flight so I changed to that and canceled the SW ticket. I think I made the right choice, I don't know that I want to be flying Southwest on the 9th.
But then I'm flying Southwest the 14th. But that's a work trip, I won't be upset if there were to be a complete nuclear meltdown and that flight gets canceled
But then I'm flying Southwest the 14th. But that's a work trip, I won't be upset if there were to be a complete nuclear meltdown and that flight gets canceled
May 6, 2017, 6:56 am
#18
Join Date: Oct 2001
Programs: LTP, PP
Posts: 8,699
I don't think it's going to be that big of a deal. All international flying has had it for years and even in stations without int'l (DAL for example) still check in pax for int'l itineraries. As most check in from home and such, I really don't think it will be that different from a normal day with just a few oddities here and there.
A notice to print boarding passes at home when probably 90% already do is hardly inspiring and confident !
May 6, 2017, 11:08 am
#19
Join Date: Mar 2011
Posts: 6,286
I personally don't see any humility in the statement.
Travel notice
You're traveling during the launch of our next generation reservation system. While we don't expect any impacts to your journey, we recommend printing your boarding pass at home or downloading it in advance of arrival using our mobile app. We also recommend getting to the airport early if your schedule allows in order to ensure a smooth travel experience. We look forward to seeing you onboard soon!
You're traveling during the launch of our next generation reservation system. While we don't expect any impacts to your journey, we recommend printing your boarding pass at home or downloading it in advance of arrival using our mobile app. We also recommend getting to the airport early if your schedule allows in order to ensure a smooth travel experience. We look forward to seeing you onboard soon!
Nothing will go wrong. But if it does, it's your fault for not printing your boarding pass at home and getting to the airport super early.
Seriously though, if they "don't expect any impacts to your journey" (impacts?) then why even sent the notice?
They expect impacts to your journey.
May 6, 2017, 12:22 pm
#21
Join Date: Mar 2011
Posts: 6,286
Because, duh.
I'm mocking the language of the advisory. Not that they sent it.
As I said earlier:
On one hand, I'm glad that Southwest is actually proactively issuing warnings. On the other hand, I've never seen them do anything like this before, so I have to wonder what level of unease it took for them to actually do so.
Travel notice
You're traveling during the launch of our next generation reservation system. While we don't expect any impacts to your journey, we recommend printing your boarding pass at home or downloading it in advance of arrival using our mobile app. We also recommend getting to the airport early if your schedule allows in order to ensure a smooth travel experience. We look forward to seeing you onboard soon!
You're traveling during the launch of our next generation reservation system. While we don't expect any impacts to your journey, we recommend printing your boarding pass at home or downloading it in advance of arrival using our mobile app. We also recommend getting to the airport early if your schedule allows in order to ensure a smooth travel experience. We look forward to seeing you onboard soon!
Travel notice
You're traveling during the launch of our next generation reservation system. While we're confident things should go smoothly, you may experience delays or other unintended impact to your travel during this time. To help reduce any disruption, we recommend printing your boarding pass at home or downloading it in advance of arrival using our mobile app. We also recommend getting to the airport as early as possible if your schedule allows. We apologize in advance for any inconvenience you may experience, and ask for your patience during this transition. We look forward to seeing you onboard soon!
You're traveling during the launch of our next generation reservation system. While we're confident things should go smoothly, you may experience delays or other unintended impact to your travel during this time. To help reduce any disruption, we recommend printing your boarding pass at home or downloading it in advance of arrival using our mobile app. We also recommend getting to the airport as early as possible if your schedule allows. We apologize in advance for any inconvenience you may experience, and ask for your patience during this transition. We look forward to seeing you onboard soon!
May 6, 2017, 10:08 pm
#23
Join Date: Nov 2006
Posts: 133
In stations like LAX for example with existing international service, the agents suggested to me that May 9 will be a non-event there since the majority have been using Altea for a while.
Also as mentioned, there is a huge amount of extra staff that will be available to ease the transition.
Also as mentioned, there is a huge amount of extra staff that will be available to ease the transition.
So if I'm flying domestic from LAX with no checked bags and printing boarding passes from home, the possible snafus on May 9th *should* be a nonevent for me? I am trying to sort out whether to switch my flight to Delta because I HAVE to be in JAX on May 9th.
May 7, 2017, 8:32 am
#24
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: DEN
Programs: UA 1K, AA EXP, WN A+, Marriott LT
Posts: 893
It sounds like this is concern mainly with international flights, not domestic?
So if I'm flying domestic from LAX with no checked bags and printing boarding passes from home, the possible snafus on May 9th *should* be a nonevent for me? I am trying to sort out whether to switch my flight to Delta because I HAVE to be in JAX on May 9th.
So if I'm flying domestic from LAX with no checked bags and printing boarding passes from home, the possible snafus on May 9th *should* be a nonevent for me? I am trying to sort out whether to switch my flight to Delta because I HAVE to be in JAX on May 9th.
If you have a longer layover, you're probably fine. If it's a 45 min connection, then I'd think about moving to DL if you must be in JAX on Tuesday.
May 7, 2017, 10:31 am
#25
Join Date: Nov 2006
Posts: 133
As stated above by 737MAX8, the Altea system has been in production use for international itineraries for a while...
....I think the biggest hurdle is the unfamiliarity with the new system...
....In stations like LAX for example with existing international service, the agents suggested to me that May 9 will be a non-event there since the majority have been using Altea for a while.
....I think the biggest hurdle is the unfamiliarity with the new system...
....In stations like LAX for example with existing international service, the agents suggested to me that May 9 will be a non-event there since the majority have been using Altea for a while.
. . . Southwest is moving domestic flights to a new IT system that international flights have been operating on since Southwest started flying internationally. While there probably won't be technical issues with the new system on Tuesday, there will be about 90%+ of Southwest's workforce using a brand new system. Things like checking people in, upselling to BS, clearing standbys, and getting the flight out on time are all things these users will be doing for the "first" time on Tuesday--so I'd expect things to move a little more slowly.
If you have a longer layover, you're probably fine. If it's a 45 min connection, then I'd think about moving to DL if you must be in JAX on Tuesday.
If you have a longer layover, you're probably fine. If it's a 45 min connection, then I'd think about moving to DL if you must be in JAX on Tuesday.
So it sounds like scheduled flights will go out - with the understanding that there could be delays getting them out and pax should beware of longer checkin times and close connections...?
I did not get the email that lougord99 did - would Southwest have sent this advance notice to all pax they thought might be affected?
Because my flight on Tuesday 9th is out of LAX - one stop with no aircraft change at ATL - through to JAX ! Later arrival into JAX is no problem.
I think I might be safe on this one - thoughts?
May 7, 2017, 8:49 pm
#26
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
May 8, 2017, 7:04 am
#28
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: BWI
Programs: Marriott LTT, WN A, Hertz PC
Posts: 575
I'm traveling tomorrow too, nonstop luckily, and I got that email too. I thought it was pretty cryptic and almost pointless since they recommend following those procedures during normal times. I'll be sure to obtain my BP right at T-24 today though!
May 8, 2017, 8:32 am
#29
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: STL
Posts: 1,546
No, the exact opposite. Southwest is moving domestic flights to a new IT system that international flights have been operating on since Southwest started flying internationally. While there probably won't be technical issues with the new system on Tuesday, there will be about 90%+ of Southwest's workforce using a brand new system. Things like checking people in, upselling to BS, clearing standbys, and getting the flight out on time are all things these users will be doing for the "first" time on Tuesday--so I'd expect things to move a little more slowly.
If you have a longer layover, you're probably fine. If it's a 45 min connection, then I'd think about moving to DL if you must be in JAX on Tuesday.
If you have a longer layover, you're probably fine. If it's a 45 min connection, then I'd think about moving to DL if you must be in JAX on Tuesday.
The new system works, but right now, it handles what, maybe 5% of their total flights? Now they're asking it to do 100% overnight. I sure as hell hope it can scale up and they don't have any capacity issues. Hopefully they did plenty of stress testing and threw some beefier servers at it.
If the decision were up to me, I'd slowly ramp up - start with flights originating from a few smaller airports, then bring a hub or two online if that goes well, and go from there. I guess that wasn't technically feasible.
May 8, 2017, 9:33 am
#30
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: USA
Programs: AC SE100K, F9 100k, NK Gold, UA *S, Hyatt Glob, Bonvoy Titanium
Posts: 5,195
Historically, media coverage and an actual meltdown to put this in motion.
I can tell you from recent WN int'l experience that there are numerous agents at airports that don't have nonstop int'l service that are completely clueless when it comes to any issue with the new system. Their internal helpdesk can help, but a simple checkin issue took two agents and their helpdesk 90min (with nobody behind me able to be helped by those workers).
If today or tomorrow is complicated by weather, cancellations, or missed connections requiring an overnight and reticket the next day, things will get interesting.