New "dynamic pricing" for Early Bird
Sep 8, 2018, 1:55 pm
#106
Join Date: May 2005
Location: PHX
Programs: AA Gold, WN A+ & CP, HH Diamond, Hyatt Platinum, National Executive Elite
Posts: 3,246
Sep 8, 2018, 2:18 pm
#107
Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: BNA (Nashville)
Programs: HH Diamond
Posts: 6,229
Will you know the EBCI cost before you book the ticket? I can't remember if it tells you.
There has to be a price benefit to deal with Southwest's no assigned seat policy, so I need to know what EBCI while comparison shopping.
I gotta say though, my last few flight searches have found WN to be the highest priced, even with luggage fees and preferred seating fees on other airlines.
Its great for WN that they are commanding a price premium for their product, but it doesn't mean I have to pay it.
There has to be a price benefit to deal with Southwest's no assigned seat policy, so I need to know what EBCI while comparison shopping.
I gotta say though, my last few flight searches have found WN to be the highest priced, even with luggage fees and preferred seating fees on other airlines.
Its great for WN that they are commanding a price premium for their product, but it doesn't mean I have to pay it.
Sep 9, 2018, 12:57 am
#108
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: 21,625
Sep 9, 2018, 7:40 am
#110
Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: BNA (Nashville)
Programs: HH Diamond
Posts: 6,229
I did a dummy booking without logging in and it tells you the EBCI amount after you have picked your flights. It is on the screen where you have to put your personal information and payment information in.
I can deal with that as it is before purchase. But it is annoying that it is unknown until that point. I will simply add $40-50 to the fare when I am doing a quick comparison.
If I recall correctly, it was non refundable either. I cancelled an award booking and the $5.60 fee was refunded but not the EBCI.
Thanks!
I can deal with that as it is before purchase. But it is annoying that it is unknown until that point. I will simply add $40-50 to the fare when I am doing a quick comparison.
If I recall correctly, it was non refundable either. I cancelled an award booking and the $5.60 fee was refunded but not the EBCI.
Thanks!
Sep 10, 2018, 9:03 am
#112
Join Date: Feb 2014
Posts: 921
As far as not knowing the actual price; as you mentioned just figure EBCI is going to add $25 more per person, and be happy if it's lower.
Sep 10, 2018, 10:57 am
#113
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: 21,625
If I had not been preoccupied I might have thought of a tactic to beat the price increase: Buy a cheap trip with EBCI for a distant date. Later use Change Reservation to change it to the trip you want to fly. I did this once and the EBCI was preserved as long as the record locator remained the same. It might still work to port EBCI for one city pair to another and save 5 dollars.
Sep 10, 2018, 11:39 am
#114
Suspended
Join Date: Nov 2015
Posts: 1,808
Sep 10, 2018, 11:53 am
#115
Join Date: Feb 2016
Location: San Diego, CA
Programs: Southwest A-List; Alaska MVPG; Hilton Diamond; Avis PreferredPlus; Marriott Bonvoy Platinum Elite
Posts: 920
We recently flew ELP-PHX-SAN. My wife had EBCI. The flight out of ELP was delayed due to monsoon/t-storm. It was delayed enough that (while we might have actually made out cnxn in PHX) WN proactively moved us to the next PHX-SAN flight and refunded my wife’s EBCI with an email that said something like “we noticed that you weren’t able to use your EBCI benefit.” The email came that day, and IIRC, the funds were refunded within 48 hours.
I point it out only because there wasn’t actually a flight cancellation involved.
Sep 10, 2018, 12:51 pm
#116
Join Date: Oct 2001
Programs: LTP, PP
Posts: 8,700
Wow! If they only did that with the 90% of BS fare boarding benefit I lost during the 2013-2014 meltdown years, I shudder to think how much I would have been ahead...
Sep 10, 2018, 1:07 pm
#117
Join Date: Mar 2011
Posts: 6,286
If I had not been preoccupied I might have thought of a tactic to beat the price increase: Buy a cheap trip with EBCI for a distant date. Later use Change Reservation to change it to the trip you want to fly. I did this once and the EBCI was preserved as long as the record locator remained the same. It might still work to port EBCI for one city pair to another and save 5 dollars.
I wonder how it works now. Anyone have a data point?
Sep 11, 2018, 7:31 am
#118
Join Date: Jan 2015
Posts: 48
When did this change? I recently purchased flights for my daughter on Delta, and my son & daughter in law on AA, and paid an upgrade on all flights to be able to pick their seats in advance. The daughter flying Delta could only bring a carry on for free, on the AA flight I think they were able to check one bag each to Cancun.
Sep 12, 2018, 10:01 am
#119
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: home = LAX
Posts: 25,934
When did this change? I recently purchased flights for my daughter on Delta, and my son & daughter in law on AA, and paid an upgrade on all flights to be able to pick their seats in advance. The daughter flying Delta could only bring a carry on for free, on the AA flight I think they were able to check one bag each to Cancun.
Sep 13, 2018, 7:57 am
#120
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: Peoria
Programs: Southwest, Best Western Gold, La Quinta, Dollar
Posts: 819
As a single flyer, I think that's a terrible idea.
I think as a single flyer, the advantages of assigned seating are minimal (and actually there are some downsides which don't apply to those travelling together), but if forced to board after the groups, I would probably choose to move to a different airline.
I think as a single flyer, the advantages of assigned seating are minimal (and actually there are some downsides which don't apply to those travelling together), but if forced to board after the groups, I would probably choose to move to a different airline.