Business Select Same Day Flight change question
Aug 7, 2021, 9:23 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2005
Posts: 90
Business Select Same Day Flight change question
How does the Business Select same day flight change for free work? If you get to the airport and request to be moved to another flight, Do you still get A1-A15 on the new flight?
Thanks,
Jason
Thanks,
Jason
Aug 7, 2021, 11:08 pm
#3
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: NM
Programs: HH Diamond, National Exec, WN A+
Posts: 28
No, that is how it used to work but not anymore, just experienced this myself. Had BS flight but moved it to a earlier flight and since the earlier flight BS was more $ when they moved me to the new flight it was for WGA fair. Very disappointed in this change, devalues getting BS.
Aug 8, 2021, 6:14 pm
#5
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Las Vegas
Programs: SW Comp Pass, Lft Gold AA, Lft DIA HHONORS, National Exec Elite
Posts: 232
No, that is how it used to work but not anymore, just experienced this myself. Had BS flight but moved it to a earlier flight and since the earlier flight BS was more $ when they moved me to the new flight it was for WGA fair. Very disappointed in this change, devalues getting BS.
If A1-15 are gone, then you can't move the BS fare over on confirmed standby. I've run into this before.
I have also recently run into issues where they are increasing the fares closer to the flight time, and then wanted me to pay the fare difference if I did it through customer service (On a BS Fare). Pre pandemic this NEVER happened to me. But if I go to the airport, they will make the BS flight change as long as there is a seat available.
Aug 8, 2021, 8:11 pm
#6
Join Date: May 2005
Posts: 4,866
This is incorrect. The fare can be moved over if you so choose so that you receive the points normally earned by a BS fare (often the case if a pax is traveling on OPM). You just won’t have an A 1-15 BP. As noted earlier, the change must be made at the airport.
Aug 9, 2021, 12:53 pm
#7
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Las Vegas
Programs: SW Comp Pass, Lft Gold AA, Lft DIA HHONORS, National Exec Elite
Posts: 232
Thanks for the correction. I agree with you. Somehow typed CANT, instead of CAN. I have done this multiple times to keep my points earnings, although I make a point of telling the gate agent to please do that.
Aug 17, 2021, 2:39 am
#8
Join Date: Nov 2016
Programs: Nectar Card
Posts: 1,092
Are you sure it wasn't because the BS fares were no longer available for the earlier flight?
If A1-15 are gone, then you can't move the BS fare over on confirmed standby. I've run into this before.
I have also recently run into issues where they are increasing the fares closer to the flight time, and then wanted me to pay the fare difference if I did it through customer service (On a BS Fare). Pre pandemic this NEVER happened to me. But if I go to the airport, they will make the BS flight change as long as there is a seat available.
If A1-15 are gone, then you can't move the BS fare over on confirmed standby. I've run into this before.
I have also recently run into issues where they are increasing the fares closer to the flight time, and then wanted me to pay the fare difference if I did it through customer service (On a BS Fare). Pre pandemic this NEVER happened to me. But if I go to the airport, they will make the BS flight change as long as there is a seat available.
That would of course, be a lot more convenient than gambling at the airport (and discovering the desired flight is full).
Aug 17, 2021, 7:41 am
#9
Join Date: May 2005
Posts: 4,866
As noted above, yes it’s possible via phone but pax is responsible for any fare difference.
Aug 17, 2021, 7:55 am
#10
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Las Vegas
Programs: SW Comp Pass, Lft Gold AA, Lft DIA HHONORS, National Exec Elite
Posts: 232
It is possible to do over the phone under the following conditions
1) If there are BS seats available on the flight you are looking for (I'm going to add and the flight is not under airport control, I think. I have been burned before because I failed to make a change that morning when I anticipated ending early and waited till it was too close to my flight)
2) You may have to pay a fare change though. It was my year's past experience that the BS fares were essentially the max cost for the city pair, and when I bought one, I could easily change without an issue. SW seems to be more aggressive on their fares recently with dynamic pricing as the flight is selling. So if I buy a BS fair a month ahead of time, then it could easily be a couple of hundreds dollars more expensive the week of the flight when I'm trying to change. Or I was always buying them so close to the flight initially, that I didn't realize they were changing, since I used to not being booking travel a month ahead of time.
3) If the BS fares are sold out, you can change to an Anytime fare typically, but lose your BS classification for earnings. Sometimes this may be preferred to guarantee a seat, versus rolling the dice at the airport. I am doing a lot of flying in/out of Chicago for the last year, and keep getting caught by seats avail in the morning when I look online, but then during the day the seats disappear due to multiple connecting flight changes through MDW to my final destination of LAS. (At least I think this is what is occurring)
4) the only way to keep your BS earnings if the BS is sold out, is to do the change at the airport. The GA have some way to put you on the other flight without changing your fare class. You then board at the end of the A group. Cust Service on the phone has told me they are NOT able to do this. The practice of SW selling A1-15 boarding pass numbers at the gate, has also really cut into my ability to change flights with a BS and keep a 1-15 boarding number.
1) If there are BS seats available on the flight you are looking for (I'm going to add and the flight is not under airport control, I think. I have been burned before because I failed to make a change that morning when I anticipated ending early and waited till it was too close to my flight)
2) You may have to pay a fare change though. It was my year's past experience that the BS fares were essentially the max cost for the city pair, and when I bought one, I could easily change without an issue. SW seems to be more aggressive on their fares recently with dynamic pricing as the flight is selling. So if I buy a BS fair a month ahead of time, then it could easily be a couple of hundreds dollars more expensive the week of the flight when I'm trying to change. Or I was always buying them so close to the flight initially, that I didn't realize they were changing, since I used to not being booking travel a month ahead of time.
3) If the BS fares are sold out, you can change to an Anytime fare typically, but lose your BS classification for earnings. Sometimes this may be preferred to guarantee a seat, versus rolling the dice at the airport. I am doing a lot of flying in/out of Chicago for the last year, and keep getting caught by seats avail in the morning when I look online, but then during the day the seats disappear due to multiple connecting flight changes through MDW to my final destination of LAS. (At least I think this is what is occurring)
4) the only way to keep your BS earnings if the BS is sold out, is to do the change at the airport. The GA have some way to put you on the other flight without changing your fare class. You then board at the end of the A group. Cust Service on the phone has told me they are NOT able to do this. The practice of SW selling A1-15 boarding pass numbers at the gate, has also really cut into my ability to change flights with a BS and keep a 1-15 boarding number.
Aug 17, 2021, 4:04 pm
#11
Join Date: Nov 2016
Programs: Nectar Card
Posts: 1,092
It is possible to do over the phone under the following conditions
1) If there are BS seats available on the flight you are looking for (I'm going to add and the flight is not under airport control, I think. I have been burned before because I failed to make a change that morning when I anticipated ending early and waited till it was too close to my flight)
2) You may have to pay a fare change though. It was my year's past experience that the BS fares were essentially the max cost for the city pair, and when I bought one, I could easily change without an issue. SW seems to be more aggressive on their fares recently with dynamic pricing as the flight is selling. So if I buy a BS fair a month ahead of time, then it could easily be a couple of hundreds dollars more expensive the week of the flight when I'm trying to change. Or I was always buying them so close to the flight initially, that I didn't realize they were changing, since I used to not being booking travel a month ahead of time.
3) If the BS fares are sold out, you can change to an Anytime fare typically, but lose your BS classification for earnings. Sometimes this may be preferred to guarantee a seat, versus rolling the dice at the airport. I am doing a lot of flying in/out of Chicago for the last year, and keep getting caught by seats avail in the morning when I look online, but then during the day the seats disappear due to multiple connecting flight changes through MDW to my final destination of LAS. (At least I think this is what is occurring)
4) the only way to keep your BS earnings if the BS is sold out, is to do the change at the airport. The GA have some way to put you on the other flight without changing your fare class. You then board at the end of the A group. Cust Service on the phone has told me they are NOT able to do this. The practice of SW selling A1-15 boarding pass numbers at the gate, has also really cut into my ability to change flights with a BS and keep a 1-15 boarding number.
1) If there are BS seats available on the flight you are looking for (I'm going to add and the flight is not under airport control, I think. I have been burned before because I failed to make a change that morning when I anticipated ending early and waited till it was too close to my flight)
2) You may have to pay a fare change though. It was my year's past experience that the BS fares were essentially the max cost for the city pair, and when I bought one, I could easily change without an issue. SW seems to be more aggressive on their fares recently with dynamic pricing as the flight is selling. So if I buy a BS fair a month ahead of time, then it could easily be a couple of hundreds dollars more expensive the week of the flight when I'm trying to change. Or I was always buying them so close to the flight initially, that I didn't realize they were changing, since I used to not being booking travel a month ahead of time.
3) If the BS fares are sold out, you can change to an Anytime fare typically, but lose your BS classification for earnings. Sometimes this may be preferred to guarantee a seat, versus rolling the dice at the airport. I am doing a lot of flying in/out of Chicago for the last year, and keep getting caught by seats avail in the morning when I look online, but then during the day the seats disappear due to multiple connecting flight changes through MDW to my final destination of LAS. (At least I think this is what is occurring)
4) the only way to keep your BS earnings if the BS is sold out, is to do the change at the airport. The GA have some way to put you on the other flight without changing your fare class. You then board at the end of the A group. Cust Service on the phone has told me they are NOT able to do this. The practice of SW selling A1-15 boarding pass numbers at the gate, has also really cut into my ability to change flights with a BS and keep a 1-15 boarding number.
In that changing over the phone probably requires an upfare, and/or might result in a change of fare type/class, it sounds like an SDC-over-the-phone isn't really an SDC at all, at least not in the typical sense. Seems like the only way to do a "genuine" SDC is at the airport, and a day-of change by phone is no different than a "regular" change which would require a fare difference anyways.
Of course, it'd be nicer to have a confirmed change before heading to the airport.
Jun 7, 2022, 7:40 pm
#12
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: PDX
Programs: AS MVPG
Posts: 2,956
Has this info changed now that there is online Same Dat Confirmed changes for Business Select? Specifically -
- Will A1-15 still be given with a SDC change (if available)?
- If not available, what boarding position do you get? Next available?
- Are SDC changes in Business Select limited to availability of that fare bucket on the flight, rather than "any open seat"?
- Will A1-15 still be given with a SDC change (if available)?
- If not available, what boarding position do you get? Next available?
- Are SDC changes in Business Select limited to availability of that fare bucket on the flight, rather than "any open seat"?
Jun 12, 2022, 10:42 am
#13
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: ATL
Posts: 1,910
Has this info changed now that there is online Same Dat Confirmed changes for Business Select? Specifically -
- Will A1-15 still be given with a SDC change (if available)?
- If not available, what boarding position do you get? Next available?
- Are SDC changes in Business Select limited to availability of that fare bucket on the flight, rather than "any open seat"?
- Will A1-15 still be given with a SDC change (if available)?
- If not available, what boarding position do you get? Next available?
- Are SDC changes in Business Select limited to availability of that fare bucket on the flight, rather than "any open seat"?
- Looks like you change to an available seat in any of the available fare buckets of your choice when your original fare was BS. So, if you SDC to BS, you get the next available A1-15. Or, you can SDC to a cheaper bucket (if available) and get a refund for the fare difference
- If you SDC to a cheaper fare bucket, you get the next B/C position