My First Ever A1 Experience
Aug 7, 2019, 5:39 pm
#31
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: SNA
Programs: Bonvoy LTTE/AMB, AmEx Plat, National EE, WN A-List, CLEAR+, Covid-19
Posts: 4,967
I've been A-16 thru 19 more times than I can count, and I get up once the "A-16 thru 30" segment is called and just follow in behind the A-30 guy. I hate lines.
Aug 7, 2019, 5:42 pm
#32
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: SNA
Programs: Bonvoy LTTE/AMB, AmEx Plat, National EE, WN A-List, CLEAR+, Covid-19
Posts: 4,967
I've seen more people than before on my weekend SJC-SoCal flights in BS and I'm wondering why anyone was spending that extra $$ for lightly-loaded weekend flights.
Aug 7, 2019, 5:47 pm
#33
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: SNA
Programs: Bonvoy LTTE/AMB, AmEx Plat, National EE, WN A-List, CLEAR+, Covid-19
Posts: 4,967
Do you mean this as "but nowadays, I've got elite status, but my numbers are higher because my average fare price is lower?" or "back in the day I'd get a lower number but as the day went on it would get higher?" I didn't think the latter situation could occur, and FWIW today I went on a segment run on those $39 fares and had a "teen" each way.
Aug 7, 2019, 7:27 pm
#34
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
Do you mean this as "but nowadays, I've got elite status, but my numbers are higher because my average fare price is lower?" or "back in the day I'd get a lower number but as the day went on it would get higher?" I didn't think the latter situation could occur, and FWIW today I went on a segment run on those $39 fares and had a "teen" each way.
Aug 8, 2019, 12:21 pm
#35
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: SFO
Programs: AS MVP Gold / Marriott Bonvoy(age) Titanium Elite, IHG Platinum, WN A+/CP, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 337
I usually have a ton of last minute commuter flights within CA. I have been A1 more often than not when in BS fares (Anytime is a waste of money given you get extra points with a trivial upgrade in fare).
Unfortunately, its not all that great anymore due to the insane amount of pre-boards that seem to be popping up. I am getting frustrated at the entire families and groups being pre-boarded due to a single passenger who legitimately needs pre-boarding. Families are trying to sneak into the pre-boarding too. Not to mention the large increase in ESAs that also seem to get pre-boarding too. Ive been A1 many times and the first row with a window is row 7!
Could i be happy with A16 or so....absolutely. I usually like the BS fares for the increased point earning and flexibility...and get a decent seat if i need to change flights last minute.
Unfortunately, its not all that great anymore due to the insane amount of pre-boards that seem to be popping up. I am getting frustrated at the entire families and groups being pre-boarded due to a single passenger who legitimately needs pre-boarding. Families are trying to sneak into the pre-boarding too. Not to mention the large increase in ESAs that also seem to get pre-boarding too. Ive been A1 many times and the first row with a window is row 7!
Could i be happy with A16 or so....absolutely. I usually like the BS fares for the increased point earning and flexibility...and get a decent seat if i need to change flights last minute.
Aug 8, 2019, 12:27 pm
#36
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: SNA
Programs: Bonvoy LTTE/AMB, AmEx Plat, National EE, WN A-List, CLEAR+, Covid-19
Posts: 4,967
Aug 8, 2019, 4:36 pm
#37
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Phoenix, AZ
Programs: HH Gold, AA Gold
Posts: 10,458
My uncle had never flown WN before, but he was going from SEA-OAK at the last minute for a funeral. He ended purchasing BS and got A1. He was thrilled about boarding first and thought WN was the best airline ever for such a flight. He told all his friends about how wonderful WN was. My personal take was that he would have thought differently had he gotten B22!
Sadly, he passed away before he could take another WN flight. I've had A2 before, but not A1 (I have however been the first regular boarder on the plane with A16).
Sadly, he passed away before he could take another WN flight. I've had A2 before, but not A1 (I have however been the first regular boarder on the plane with A16).
Aug 11, 2019, 3:15 pm
#38
In Memoriam, FlyerTalk Evangelist
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Durham, NC (RDU/GSO/CLT)
Programs: AA EXP/MM, DL GM, UA Platinum, HH DIA, Hyatt Explorist, IHG Platinum, Marriott Titanium, Hertz PC
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The status is nice but if you're someone like me where OPM takes you to Atlanta, rural Louisiana, rural Georgia and when you're lucky, DC and you're traveling weekdays, missing upgrades, staying at a lot of crappy suburban Courtyards, it's really not that great.
Aug 11, 2019, 6:30 pm
#39
Join Date: Dec 2018
Posts: 825
that is a stark reminder that burnout from business travel is real. I once sat next to a traveling salesman who told me he uses a cash back card cause he will never use all his wn points or Hilton points despite taking a few vacations a year.
Aug 12, 2019, 12:03 pm
#40
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: MCI
Programs: AA Gold 1MM, AS MVP, UA Silver, WN A-List, Marriott LT Titanium, HH Diamond
Posts: 52,575
I would think that the window seats at the front of the plane where the fuselage narrows would feel tighter. Unlike some other types, the 737 exit window doesn't jut noticeably into my leg space. I definitely prefer aisle when I can't have infinite legroom, but I still believe this seat is the best window seat you can get, assuming you can live without a regular tray table.
I've never pulled an A1, but I've had a few A3's through A5's. I've also gotten the infinite legroom seat from as far back as A25.
Aug 12, 2019, 12:16 pm
#41
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
Weird thing is...last week on DSM-STL, I got the infinite legroom seat and had the FA tell me it was the worst seat because it was narrower than the others. Has anyone ever had an FA suggest that this seat isn't a good one?
I would think that the window seats at the front of the plane where the fuselage narrows would feel tighter. .
I would think that the window seats at the front of the plane where the fuselage narrows would feel tighter. .
Aug 12, 2019, 2:05 pm
#42
Join Date: Mar 2011
Posts: 6,286
"Regular" exit row window seats in the 800s don't have a window-side armrest. That's one reason they are my preferred seat. 
The infinite-legroom exit row seat has a thicker than normal armrest that contains the tray table. As do the bulkhead seats. These, along with the first few and (to a lesser degree) last couple of rows are the tightest, width-wise.
The infinite-legroom exit row seat has a thicker than normal armrest that contains the tray table. As do the bulkhead seats. These, along with the first few and (to a lesser degree) last couple of rows are the tightest, width-wise.
Aug 13, 2019, 6:25 pm
#43
In Memoriam, FlyerTalk Evangelist
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Durham, NC (RDU/GSO/CLT)
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Booked another RDU-ATL BS fare for tomorrow, my usual first flight of the day, but this time because I booked it around 12 hours out I'm A7! How can I go back to that after knowing the delight of being A1??