Why would standby priority change?
Jun 7, 2019, 5:23 pm
#1
Moderator: Southwest Airlines, Capital One
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 1999
Location: California
Programs: WN Companion Pass, A-list preferred, Hyatt Globalist; United Club Lietime (sic) Member
Posts: 21,624
Why would standby priority change?
Today I was number 1 on the standby list on the app. About 20 minutes before boarding the former number 3 on the list was cleared. (I have screenshots showing this, so it's not my imagination.) 30 minutes later I was cleared at the normal time with several other standby customers.
What could have caused this? Federal Air Marshal? Jumpseater?
What could have caused this? Federal Air Marshal? Jumpseater?
Jun 7, 2019, 5:44 pm
#3
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: LAS
Posts: 1,525
Today I was number 1 on the standby list on the app. About 20 minutes before boarding the former number 3 on the list was cleared. (I have screenshots showing this, so it's not my imagination.) 30 minutes later I was cleared at the normal time with several other standby customers.
What could have caused this? Federal Air Marshal? Jumpseater?
What could have caused this? Federal Air Marshal? Jumpseater?
Jun 7, 2019, 5:58 pm
#4
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: Nashville -Past DL Plat, FO, WN-CP, various hotel programs
Programs: DL-MM, AA, SW w/companion,HiltonDiamond, Hyatt PLat, IHF Plat, Miles and Points Seeker
Posts: 11,073
I have no idea of how WN does their standby list. I would assume someone that is standing by for their own reasons could get bumped by someone that WN messed up and has to get another passenger out as soon as possible. Just my guess.
Jun 7, 2019, 6:12 pm
#5
Join Date: Apr 2018
Posts: 94
Today I was number 1 on the standby list on the app. About 20 minutes before boarding the former number 3 on the list was cleared. (I have screenshots showing this, so it's not my imagination.) 30 minutes later I was cleared at the normal time with several other standby customers.
What could have caused this? Federal Air Marshal? Jumpseater?
What could have caused this? Federal Air Marshal? Jumpseater?
Jun 7, 2019, 10:21 pm
#8
Moderator: Southwest Airlines, Capital One
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 1999
Location: California
Programs: WN Companion Pass, A-list preferred, Hyatt Globalist; United Club Lietime (sic) Member
Posts: 21,624
Yes I have status but that's not relevant to a CHANGE in priority. The relative priority should be set by the computer at the time the second person joins the list. There's no reason for it to change after that. That's why I'm puzzled.
Jun 7, 2019, 11:07 pm
#9
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: DEN
Posts: 260
SM Disclaimer: These are my thoughts/opinions, not necessarily those of SWA.
Jun 8, 2019, 12:51 am
#10
Join Date: May 2016
Location: ATL
Programs: DL GM, Marriott Titanium
Posts: 1,241
I don't fully recall, but do IRROPS passengers get higher priority than A List folks? (I seem to remember threads several years ago with different levels of standby priority people based on IRROPS, status, etc, but can't find the thread - it's possible that I might be thinking of another subforum though)
Jun 8, 2019, 5:51 am
#11
Join Date: Dec 2017
Posts: 74
I don't fully recall, but do IRROPS passengers get higher priority than A List folks? (I seem to remember threads several years ago with different levels of standby priority people based on IRROPS, status, etc, but can't find the thread - it's possible that I might be thinking of another subforum though)
ETA *but that that they would be added such that they'd be higher on the list than A+/A list pax on the list before clearing.
Jun 8, 2019, 9:31 am
#12
Moderator: Southwest Airlines, Capital One
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 1999
Location: California
Programs: WN Companion Pass, A-list preferred, Hyatt Globalist; United Club Lietime (sic) Member
Posts: 21,624
Thanks. This is consistent with the fact that he or she cleared long before the normal T-10 and that the FA called for the jumpseater to move to the cockpit.
Jun 8, 2019, 9:53 am
#13
Join Date: Feb 2016
Location: San Diego, CA
Programs: Southwest A-List; Alaska MVPG; Hilton Diamond; Avis PreferredPlus; Marriott Bonvoy Platinum Elite
Posts: 919
Jun 8, 2019, 10:09 am
#14
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: ONT
Programs: AA Gold, WN A-, UA S, HH ♦, IHG Spire, Hertz Prez O, TSA Disparager
Posts: 2,159
I was third on the list in ABQ one day. Someone showed up higher on the list moving me to #4 and I noticed #8 cleared, but I did not make it on the flight. I contacted CS and was told the #8 person was likely someone who had missed an earlier connection which gave them priority over A Listers and the reason they were #8 and not #1 on the list is a software glitch.
Jun 8, 2019, 10:10 am
#15
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Las Vegas
Programs: SW Comp Pass, Lft Gold AA, Lft DIA HHONORS, National Exec Elite
Posts: 232
They could have also been on standby and then decided to actually buy the seat if the flight wasn’t already fully booked. They won’t clear standby until close to boarding sometimes even when they have seats. I’m not sure if there is an internal -t board that they are supposed to follow