New "dynamic pricing" for Early Bird
Aug 19, 2018, 7:26 pm
#46
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: home = LAX
Posts: 25,934
Other airlines (Alaska, American, etc) all seem to designate the 737-800 as 738. I'm don't know, though, what they use for 737-Max8, possibly a letter instead of the third digit.
Aug 20, 2018, 6:10 am
#48
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: Peoria
Programs: Southwest, Best Western Gold, La Quinta, Dollar
Posts: 819
I would think if someone paid for EBCI and got a mid-B, they probably bought their ticket very close to flight date or for some reason there were an unusually large number of BS or AT passengers who received their boarding number ahead of them (via EBCI). But just imagine what the boarding number would have been had they waited until T-24.
Aug 20, 2018, 7:50 am
#49
Join Date: May 2002
Programs: WN F9 HA UA AA IHG HH MR
Posts: 3,305
That would make little sense. Boeing makes a plane (even if WN doesn't use it) called the 777, and variations on it use 77 for the first two digits (for example, a 777-200 is typically designated the 772).
Other airlines (Alaska, American, etc) all seem to designate the 737-800 as 738. I'm don't know, though, what they use for 737-Max8, possibly a letter instead of the third digit.
Other airlines (Alaska, American, etc) all seem to designate the 737-800 as 738. I'm don't know, though, what they use for 737-Max8, possibly a letter instead of the third digit.
Aug 20, 2018, 8:41 am
#50
Join Date: Feb 2016
Location: San Diego, CA
Programs: Southwest A-List; Alaska MVPG; Hilton Diamond; Avis PreferredPlus; Marriott Bonvoy Platinum Elite
Posts: 920
I would think if someone paid for EBCI and got a mid-B, they probably bought their ticket very close to flight date or for some reason there were an unusually large number of BS or AT passengers who received their boarding number ahead of them (via EBCI). But just imagine what the boarding number would have been had they waited until T-24.
They could have been the last person to purchase EBCI -- possibly only putting them right in front of the first person to check in at T-24.
Aug 20, 2018, 10:54 am
#52
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: Peoria
Programs: Southwest, Best Western Gold, La Quinta, Dollar
Posts: 819
I think if it were me, I'd skip EBCI entirely if I was buying my ticket close to flight day. Its probably not worth the extra money for a slight bump in what I would have gotten anyway at T-24. Depending on how much WGA fares are that close to flight day, it might be worth it to spring for BS or AT+EBCI just for the extra points.
I only buy EBCI for my "return" flights, since I have no way to check in online when I travel (yes, I am the last one on Earth without a smartphone). I think I'd have a pretty poor boarding position without it.
Aug 20, 2018, 11:59 am
#53
Join Date: Mar 2011
Posts: 6,286
I'll find out in 11 days...........Our late March/Early April MSP/MCO/TPA flights are far and away the highest demand route we fly as it's the only date/ route that normally sells out days/weeks before the day of the flight.
I realize that selling out has no direct correlation with EBCI sales but IMO it's a decent indicator as most of our flights aren't even sold out. More passengers = more possible EBCI sales . The only way too know for sure would be to actually ask the people in line.
I'm not paying $100 for EBCI so if they raise the price I buy either one EBCI and save a seat or use T-24 for both.............either way I save $$
I realize that selling out has no direct correlation with EBCI sales but IMO it's a decent indicator as most of our flights aren't even sold out. More passengers = more possible EBCI sales . The only way too know for sure would be to actually ask the people in line.
I'm not paying $100 for EBCI so if they raise the price I buy either one EBCI and save a seat or use T-24 for both.............either way I save $$
Aug 20, 2018, 7:30 pm
#54
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Nashville, TN
Programs: WN Nothing and spending the half million points from too many flights, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 8,043
That is true. I bought a ticket on DL for just that reason. I got to my destination fine. Then my work schedule blew up. Two changes later, I was wishing I had the WN flight.
Aug 21, 2018, 9:13 am
#55
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Baltimore, MD USA
Programs: Southwest Rapid Rewards. Tha... that's about it.
Posts: 4,332
That's quite possible.
I think if it were me, I'd skip EBCI entirely if I was buying my ticket close to flight day. Its probably not worth the extra money for a slight bump in what I would have gotten anyway at T-24. Depending on how much WGA fares are that close to flight day, it might be worth it to spring for BS or AT+EBCI just for the extra points.
I only buy EBCI for my "return" flights, since I have no way to check in online when I travel (yes, I am the last one on Earth without a smartphone). I think I'd have a pretty poor boarding position without it.
I think if it were me, I'd skip EBCI entirely if I was buying my ticket close to flight day. Its probably not worth the extra money for a slight bump in what I would have gotten anyway at T-24. Depending on how much WGA fares are that close to flight day, it might be worth it to spring for BS or AT+EBCI just for the extra points.
I only buy EBCI for my "return" flights, since I have no way to check in online when I travel (yes, I am the last one on Earth without a smartphone). I think I'd have a pretty poor boarding position without it.
Smartphones aren't just good for checking in for your flight, they have a host of other incredibly useful features, especially for those who travel a lot. Mobile BPs eliminate the need to print out paper BPs, and every major airline, hotel chain, car rental agency, and ground transpo provider has either a smartphone app, a web site, or both to manage reservations and check booking status.
Of course, you can also go to the concierge desk or business center of most hotels in the US to find a way to check in at T-24 and/or print your boarding pass.
Also, before I had a smartphone, I could get limited internet connectivity on my old flip phone (on the Verizon network) and check in for my WN flights that way. It may still be possible with current flips, you might look into that and at least get yourself checked in at T-24 instead of paying the extra for EBCI. It's an option, not necessarily better than what you do now, but more options are always better than fewer.
Aug 21, 2018, 10:16 am
#56
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: VPS
Programs: IHG Diamond, Delta PM, Hilton Gold, Accor Gold, Marriott Silver
Posts: 7,270
I've had enough issues with mobile boarding passes on both WN and DL that I always print a paper back up just to make sure. But love using my smartphone during travel in so many other ways, and would find it still valuable even if the only thing I got out of it was push notifications of gate changes in hub airports.
Aug 21, 2018, 11:59 am
#57
Join Date: Mar 2011
Posts: 6,286
Southwest has updated the website, with EBCI references now referring to the upcoming price change on Aug. 29th. The only change to the FAQ is to the section regarding price.
To me, this seems less "dynamic" and more just "variable pricing."
To me, this seems less "dynamic" and more just "variable pricing."
Aug 21, 2018, 12:24 pm
#58
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: Peoria
Programs: Southwest, Best Western Gold, La Quinta, Dollar
Posts: 819
I probably should have mentioned I'm usually miles from civilization at T-24. Not much internet in the remote parts of San Bernardino County, for example.
Aug 21, 2018, 10:44 pm
#60
Join Date: Dec 2004
Programs: HP/US Gold, Hilton Gold, Starwood Gold
Posts: 711
I would fly WN even more often, but my employer will not pay for EBCI. Therefore, I usually just go with AA or AS and choose an assigned seat for business travel. I've tried talking to my employer's travel contact, but they will not budge (and I like my job so I had exactly one nice conversation about it).