No more SW for me...
Dec 15, 2018, 9:53 am
#76
Join Date: Jul 2016
Location: Dallas, TX
Programs: WN A-List Pref, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Gold, IHG Plat
Posts: 460
Interesting idea, though it does go against WN’s ethos (those who check in first get better boarding, those who buy EBCI first get better boarding). That said, if you are buying a few days ahead of time for an outrageous fare, shouldn’t you be buying BS anyway? Is there any reason to buy AT plus EBCI?
Dec 15, 2018, 11:58 am
#78
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: DAY
Programs: Rapid Rewards, Skymiles, Hilton HHonors, SPG/Marriott Rewards
Posts: 4,944
Dec 15, 2018, 2:30 pm
#80
Join Date: Mar 2011
Posts: 6,286
Your guess is as good as mine. The only reason I can think of is if BS is not available.
There's no evidence to suggest the OP bought AT. And, as I said, if he did, his EBCI would have been given priority over WGA, so the fact that he received a B position suggests he bought WGA.
There's no evidence to suggest the OP bought AT. And, as I said, if he did, his EBCI would have been given priority over WGA, so the fact that he received a B position suggests he bought WGA.
Dec 15, 2018, 3:21 pm
#81
Join Date: Jul 2009
Programs: none
Posts: 1,668
Friends don't let friends fly SouthWest. Ok, old stuff, but I have only flown SW a couple times. After purchasing Early-Bird have a "B" boarding position. No thanks, ever again. I will get a paid seat on all my flights elsewhere. Yes, I understand that no one cares except me and I will not be missed... As if my $750.00 r/t PIT to FLL is not enough.
Dec 15, 2018, 3:53 pm
#82
Join Date: Dec 2015
Location: Kansas City
Posts: 129
Really? Because the last flight I booked was on AA. I had to pay $50 extra per person to be able to even select a seat and still the only seats that could be selected without paying even more money were behind the exit rows. I am sure the AA 738 max I have heard so much about will make up for it though.
Dec 15, 2018, 3:58 pm
#84
Join Date: Dec 2015
Location: Kansas City
Posts: 129
OP, thank you for your post. I'm sure some WN lurkers are seeing this development and reporting it to management. As we speak, they are probably combing their records for all the flights you took, and adjusting their system-wide schedules to account for the lower demand this will cause, especially on the PIT-FLL route. Even if they don't drop the route entirely, the can at least substitute a lower-capacity aircraft and realize that cost saving.
Is that so bad?
Dec 16, 2018, 9:07 am
#85
Join Date: Jul 2016
Location: Dallas, TX
Programs: WN A-List Pref, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Gold, IHG Plat
Posts: 460
As @ursine1 pointed out, the scant info we have lead me to believe the OP purchased a WGA fare. Hence my comment about the cost difference. Clearly, for most people, BS fares don't represent good value and the reasons why have been beaten to death many, many times.
I also used to think your way about the importance of seat assignments, and specifically the value of getting prime seats through elite status. But the convergence of features between the elite programs and the cramming of ever more seats with AA, DL, and UA made me strongly reconsider just how much I really valued seat assignments (and all the other elite benefits). In the end, it's not as bad as I thought it would be and the rest of WN's policies really make me value the RR program, enough so that I'm letting my AA Plat status expire for the first time in a long time.
I know that still puts me in the minority, but I think that minority is growing more rapidly than the Big 3 want to admit. My fear is that they won't notice, since planes are as full as ever and consumer demand hasn't shifted significantly away from them.
I also used to think your way about the importance of seat assignments, and specifically the value of getting prime seats through elite status. But the convergence of features between the elite programs and the cramming of ever more seats with AA, DL, and UA made me strongly reconsider just how much I really valued seat assignments (and all the other elite benefits). In the end, it's not as bad as I thought it would be and the rest of WN's policies really make me value the RR program, enough so that I'm letting my AA Plat status expire for the first time in a long time.
I know that still puts me in the minority, but I think that minority is growing more rapidly than the Big 3 want to admit. My fear is that they won't notice, since planes are as full as ever and consumer demand hasn't shifted significantly away from them.
Dec 16, 2018, 10:40 am
#86
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: 21,622
As @ursine1 pointed out, the scant info we have lead me to believe the OP purchased a WGA fare.
Dec 16, 2018, 10:59 am
#87
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: DAY
Programs: Rapid Rewards, Skymiles, Hilton HHonors, SPG/Marriott Rewards
Posts: 4,944
Dec 16, 2018, 1:55 pm
#88
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Blue Ridge, GA
Posts: 5,509
Dec 16, 2018, 4:26 pm
#89
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: ORD, MDW or MKE
Programs: American and Southwest. Hilton and Marriott hotels primarily.
Posts: 6,459
I am unclear what you are trying to say. You are not 'theoretically assigned a number' - you are assigned a number. You don't need to 'check in' , you need to get a boarding pass - just as you need to do on any other airline - can't board or get past TSA without a boarding pass. What are you trying to say?
Dec 16, 2018, 5:05 pm
#90
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Blue Ridge, GA
Posts: 5,509
I am unclear what you are trying to say. You are not 'theoretically assigned a number' - you are assigned a number. You don't need to 'check in' , you need to get a boarding pass - just as you need to do on any other airline - can't board or get past TSA without a boarding pass. What are you trying to say?
You're not "checked in" at all. It's as equivocal as "Deluxe Room" and "High-speed internet" in the travel brochure.