EarlyBird Check-in: A Convenient Way to Travel...
Sep 2, 2009, 4:11 pm
#91
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
Sep 2, 2009, 4:24 pm
#92
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Southeast Coast
Posts: 159
I just added the EB option to our itineraries for our Rapid Reward seats on the outbound, so now we are no longer faced with getting up early on a Sat. morning to check us in for Sunday's 7AM flight. Perhaps the early AM flights will see more EBs versus later flights in the day?
We like this new EB option, especially since we are booked on RR seats. Free seats + $10 +$10 + not faced with an early T-24 = 2 happy WN customers.
As for the return we will probably just take our chances on checking in at T-24 as our flight isn't til 10AM.
We like this new EB option, especially since we are booked on RR seats. Free seats + $10 +$10 + not faced with an early T-24 = 2 happy WN customers.
As for the return we will probably just take our chances on checking in at T-24 as our flight isn't til 10AM.
Sep 2, 2009, 4:32 pm
#93
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: BNA and TPA
Programs: AA-EXP, UA, WN, DL- zilch by choice, IHG-Diamond, Marriott-Gold, Hilton Gold,
Posts: 566
Reading through the posts, I've come to the conclusion that there's a lot of speculation as to how all of this will shake out. Time will tell.
I, for one, am looking forward to the change and have already paid the additional fees for two upcoming trips I had already booked. On the first trip, I will be hiking in the middle of Bryce Canyon at T-24 and on the second I'll be somewhere in rural Maine at T-24. Now I don't have to worry about making sure someone can check me in since I won't have time or easy access to equipment to do the job myself at T-24.
This is worth the peace of mind.
I, for one, am looking forward to the change and have already paid the additional fees for two upcoming trips I had already booked. On the first trip, I will be hiking in the middle of Bryce Canyon at T-24 and on the second I'll be somewhere in rural Maine at T-24. Now I don't have to worry about making sure someone can check me in since I won't have time or easy access to equipment to do the job myself at T-24.
This is worth the peace of mind.
Last edited by 6P&E; Sep 2, 2009 at 4:43 pm
Sep 2, 2009, 5:55 pm
#95
Join Date: May 2001
Location: San Francisco/Bangkok
Programs: Alaska 75K United 1K
Posts: 1,409
for all the times i have been able to change flights ( even multiple times in a day) from WGA to ding i am willing to give WN a few dollars for this ^
Only time will tell especially with preboarders seemingly out of control.
I think what SWABrian says is that we need to give them some time to see if this works. If we continually bash WN for all they do we may find them less responsive to other concerns expressed on this forum.
Flight time under 90 min i doubt i will use this
Over that I probably will
I hope we can give them a chance
Only time will tell especially with preboarders seemingly out of control.
I think what SWABrian says is that we need to give them some time to see if this works. If we continually bash WN for all they do we may find them less responsive to other concerns expressed on this forum.
Flight time under 90 min i doubt i will use this
Over that I probably will
I hope we can give them a chance
Sep 2, 2009, 6:04 pm
#96
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Texas
Programs: Frequent Flyer
Posts: 435
Okay. If it makes you happy to call it a fee then call it that. What makes this different is that they are not charging for something that was once free. This is new, never been done so they have ADDED a new service and there is a charge to use this service.
Still free sodas, juice and coffe.
Still free sodas, juice and coffe.
Last edited by Eemraldskies; Sep 2, 2009 at 6:07 pm Reason: spelling
Sep 2, 2009, 6:18 pm
#97
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2000
Posts: 17,424
This means, of course, that (at least if you're a large or intimidating person) you should feel free to buy 1 Early Bird seat for your entire party and impose your will on your fellow travellers.
This discussion is also making me think that, perhaps, WN should just assign seats.
After all, if you make your simple boarding system so complex, what's the advantage?
Sep 2, 2009, 6:43 pm
#98
Join Date: May 2006
Location: TUS/PDX
Programs: WN CP/A-List, AS MVPG75K
Posts: 5,798
It'll be interesting to see if there's a drop in BS demand with this though. If I had the option of a $69 WGA fare + $10 EB, or a $179 BS fare, I'd save myself $100.
I also hope there's no assigned seating, FWIW.
Sep 2, 2009, 7:14 pm
#99
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: Phoenix, AZ
Programs: WN CP
Posts: 6,360
Among some of the things they are researching (although I would distinguish that from considering):
[...]
Reduced Benefits for Lower Tiers: This tier would be at what I observed to be generally at the same rate of the current Internet rate. Some of the reduced benefits would include some, a mixture or all of the following:
• Reduced or no frequent flyer credits.
• Reduced online check in time. (18 or 12 hours before the flight as opposed to 24 hours)
• Change Fees or non-refundable fares
[...]
Reduced Benefits for Lower Tiers: This tier would be at what I observed to be generally at the same rate of the current Internet rate. Some of the reduced benefits would include some, a mixture or all of the following:
• Reduced or no frequent flyer credits.
• Reduced online check in time. (18 or 12 hours before the flight as opposed to 24 hours)
• Change Fees or non-refundable fares
Sep 2, 2009, 8:05 pm
#100
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2000
Posts: 17,424
BTW, what's the deal with 24-hour check-in, anyway? Is it still some sort of TSA requirement? Back in the dark ages (the '90s) you just got boarding passes from your airline with your tickets. Is the TSA doing some sort of screening of pax lists that they stop screening at 24 hours? Why isn't check-in 48 hours or 7 days?
Just curious.
Just curious.
Sep 2, 2009, 8:43 pm
#101
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
You know, like one offhand remark sends a whole thread off on a tangent. Maybe this post will be an example of that.
Sep 2, 2009, 8:44 pm
#102
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
BTW, what's the deal with 24-hour check-in, anyway? Is it still some sort of TSA requirement? Back in the dark ages (the '90s) you just got boarding passes from your airline with your tickets. Is the TSA doing some sort of screening of pax lists that they stop screening at 24 hours? Why isn't check-in 48 hours or 7 days?
Just curious.
Just curious.
Sep 2, 2009, 8:52 pm
#104
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: LAS
Programs: SWA
Posts: 1,320
BTW, what's the deal with 24-hour check-in, anyway? Is it still some sort of TSA requirement? Back in the dark ages (the '90s) you just got boarding passes from your airline with your tickets. Is the TSA doing some sort of screening of pax lists that they stop screening at 24 hours? Why isn't check-in 48 hours or 7 days?
Just curious.
Just curious.
Long answer. In an unrelated discussion offline with SWAVictor, a related question came up. Without going into lots of details, here is his reply to the question of checking in/printing a boarding pass for a BS passenger at the time of purchasing a ticket..
"The TSA does not allow us to open up checkin any earlier - so thats why they can't checkin immediately after booking."
I am sure when he returns from vacation, he can provide more details.
Sep 2, 2009, 9:15 pm
#105
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: LAS
Programs: SWA
Posts: 1,320
So I just added EarlyBird Checkin to my LAS-BDL trip in 3 weeks. It totally makes sense because there are a ton of connecting passengers on that flight and I never get lower than A45 at T-24.
HOWEVER, when I went to pay, the only payment option was a credit card. Previously mentioned, no TTF accepted, but no gift cards? No LUV vouchers?
Just cold hard (plastic) cash.
HOWEVER, when I went to pay, the only payment option was a credit card. Previously mentioned, no TTF accepted, but no gift cards? No LUV vouchers?
Just cold hard (plastic) cash.