Southwest Newbie
May 3, 2021, 3:44 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: PHX
Programs: HHonors Lifetime Diamond, UA Million Miler Gold, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 1,142
Southwest Newbie
I appreciate your patience as I have never flown a flight on Southwest. However, I need a roundtrip from PHX to BUF and Southwest is only option for this.
A few questions, is there anyway I can pay to be in the A boarding group? Obviously I have no status but do not mind paying as I would fly first class on AA with a connection as an alternative.
I just do not understand the boarding process, the tier levels, buying business select etc.
Any help would be great
A few questions, is there anyway I can pay to be in the A boarding group? Obviously I have no status but do not mind paying as I would fly first class on AA with a connection as an alternative.
I just do not understand the boarding process, the tier levels, buying business select etc.
Any help would be great
May 3, 2021, 3:48 pm
#2
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: ORD, MDW or MKE
Programs: American and Southwest. Hilton and Marriott hotels primarily.
Posts: 6,458
The only way to ensure you will be A boarding in advance is to pay for Business Select. However, you can almost always pay $40 dollars at the gate to get BS boarding number.
I hope you realize that there are no "1st class" seats. The only thing that A boarding gets you is earlier boarding and a selection of whichever coach seats you want that have not previously been sat in. Southwest is open seating. The next person on the plane takes the next seat that they want.
I hope you realize that there are no "1st class" seats. The only thing that A boarding gets you is earlier boarding and a selection of whichever coach seats you want that have not previously been sat in. Southwest is open seating. The next person on the plane takes the next seat that they want.
May 3, 2021, 4:01 pm
#4
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: PHX
Programs: HHonors Lifetime Diamond, UA Million Miler Gold, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 1,142
The only way to ensure you will be A boarding in advance is to pay for Business Select. However, you can almost always pay $40 dollars at the gate to get BS boarding number.
I hope you realize that there are no "1st class" seats. The only thing that A boarding gets you is earlier boarding and a selection of whichever coach seats you want that have not previously been sat in. Southwest is open seating. The next person on the plane takes the next seat that they want.
I hope you realize that there are no "1st class" seats. The only thing that A boarding gets you is earlier boarding and a selection of whichever coach seats you want that have not previously been sat in. Southwest is open seating. The next person on the plane takes the next seat that they want.
I am totally happy to pay to be in the A group. I am assuming this would all but guarantee an aisle seat (is that correct)
May 3, 2021, 4:19 pm
#6
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: PHX
Programs: HHonors Lifetime Diamond, UA Million Miler Gold, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 1,142
How does money on the credit card spend work? Is the best deal still the 1,500 tier points per 10k spend? What is the fastest route to Companion pass
May 3, 2021, 4:32 pm
#7
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: ZOA, SFO, HKG
Programs: UA 1K 0.9MM, Marriott Gold, HHonors Gold, Hertz PC, SBux Gold, TSA Pre✓
Posts: 13,811
May 3, 2021, 4:49 pm
#8
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: PHX
Programs: HHonors Lifetime Diamond, UA Million Miler Gold, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 1,142
May 3, 2021, 5:24 pm
#9
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: 11,072
You have to do LOTS of trips to get to Companion Pass.
Review the requirements and do the math.
There are two main ways people get CP. Get 2 cards in Oct/Dec each year and spend to get the bonuses.
Or, fly lots.
Review the requirements and do the math.
There are two main ways people get CP. Get 2 cards in Oct/Dec each year and spend to get the bonuses.
Or, fly lots.
May 3, 2021, 5:25 pm
#10
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: 11,072
As to original queston.
You can do early board to get a better number. Or, you can pay around $40 for EACH segment at the gate for A1-a15.
NOTE - you will always get a seat, there are no first class, and everyone gets there at the same time.
You can do early board to get a better number. Or, you can pay around $40 for EACH segment at the gate for A1-a15.
NOTE - you will always get a seat, there are no first class, and everyone gets there at the same time.
May 3, 2021, 6:16 pm
#11
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: ORD, MDW or MKE
Programs: American and Southwest. Hilton and Marriott hotels primarily.
Posts: 6,458
I do understand the lack of first class and how it works once i actually get on the plane. I would be trading off First Class to avoid the connection with AA which drives us the overall travel time by over 4 hours.
I am totally happy to pay to be in the A group. I am assuming this would all but guarantee an aisle seat (is that correct)
I am totally happy to pay to be in the A group. I am assuming this would all but guarantee an aisle seat (is that correct)
May 3, 2021, 6:22 pm
#12
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: PHX
Programs: HHonors Lifetime Diamond, UA Million Miler Gold, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 1,142
I can make it work if needed. I fly over 100,000 miles per year right now without this potentially regular RT from PHX to BUF
May 3, 2021, 6:48 pm
#13
Join Date: Oct 2001
Programs: LTP, PP
Posts: 8,698
Just throwing this out there - the CP is a great, shiny carrot. I used to put up those kind of numbers annually and earned the CP at least 15 years in a row the hard way. The most I ever used it was 4 times, with 4 different people (once), many years 0 or 1 time. The last thing I wanted to do on a weekend was climb on yet another plane. Plus I was flush with points to give away as needed. Just something to consider.
May 3, 2021, 8:16 pm
#14
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: ZOA, SFO, HKG
Programs: UA 1K 0.9MM, Marriott Gold, HHonors Gold, Hertz PC, SBux Gold, TSA Pre✓
Posts: 13,811
If you would like CP just for 1 RT, then review the relevant thread.
