Post all SW questions concerns, etc. here...

[leeniewdw]

This is a personal risk tolerance issue. Personally, I would be concerned about getting stuck (but that's very on brand for me!). But I'd look at all the flights from MCO to wherever you are headed to consider the amount of risk and options should things go south. Congrats on the new job!

 

[focusondisney]

Hello everyone!!

I recently snagged a great new job that I am thrilled about. I start on Monday 12/6. To celebrate, and since I have time off before I start, my daughter and I were wanting to take a last minute trip to WDW. We were all set to start booking everything until I remembered the Great Cancellation Disaster from last month!

We were planning on flying back on Southwest (on points) early the Sunday before I start my job.

Now I am worried I’m going to get stranded and not be able to get home for the first day ( of a week of training, etc).

Do y’all have any suggestions other than ditching the whole trip? I had even thought of booking a refundable flight on a different airline as a backup. It is sad that I have to even think about doing that!

What would y’all do?

Congratulations on your new job. Any chance you could come home Saturday? Not sure where you live, but in December, I would be nervous about weather issues even more than airline issues.

 

[dez1978]

Early bird question. Today I was boarding. We bought EBCI but the whole fam in ground of us did not. How did they get an earlier spot than we did? They weren’t a list or anything. And we’d ended up at b20-23

 

[starry_solo]

Early bird question. Today I was boarding. We bought EBCI but the whole fam in ground of us did not. How did they get an earlier spot than we did? They weren’t a list or anything. And we’d ended up at b20-23

when did you buy it?

 

[dez1978]

when did you buy it?

A month ago. So I get ppl who bought before then would get better spots… but to not buy it at all and have better spots than those who did?

 

[starry_solo]

A month ago. So I get ppl who bought before then would get better spots… but to not buy it at all and have better spots than those who did?

was there anyone under six in the family before you? If so, SWA let’s that child plus two adults in for family boarding.

 

[dez1978]

was there anyone under six in the family before you? If so, SWA let’s that child plus two adults in for family boarding.

Nope. No kids. They didn’t do family boarding on this flight. Went right from a to b. And their spots on their passes were just those numbers ahead of us. Like their passes were b13-whatever and ours were b20

 

[scrappinginontario]

Just curious, how did you know they didn't purchase EBCI? I've often had mid-B's even when purchasing EBCI.

 

[dez1978]

b

Just curious, how did you know they didn't purchase EBCI? I've often had mid-B's even when purchasing EBCI.

Because they told me they didn’t

 

[scrappinginontario]

Because they told me they didn’t

I will say that’s the first time I’ve ever heard of that happening in all the years I’ve flown SW which is 20+ years. I do not think
It’s common.

I was trying to think if they had a connecting flight it might have happened but even then they would have had to purchase EBCI for the first flight so nope.

I’m stumped. Possibly someone else knows how this might happen.

 

[Gitelfor]

Early bird question. Today I was boarding. We bought EBCI but the whole fam in ground of us did not. How did they get an earlier spot than we did? They weren’t a list or anything. And we’d ended up at b20-23

If even only one member of the party had elite status, and all in the group were under the same confirmation number, everyone in that group would have consecutive boarding positions, based on the A-List or A-List Preferred status. The boarding positions of those customers are assigned just before EBCI.

The likelier reason is that other customers purchased EBCI, but ended up canceling or changing their reservations, after their boarding positions were assigned. That could have opened up their boarding positions to other customers, who were checking in at T-24.

 

[dez1978]

If even only one member of the party had elite status, and all in the group were under the same confirmation number, everyone in that group would have consecutive boarding positions, based on the A-List or A-List Preferred status. The boarding positions of those customers are assigned just before EBCI.

The likelier reason is that other customers purchased EBCI, but ended up canceling or changing their reservations, after their boarding positions were assigned. That could have opened up their boarding positions to other customers, who are checking in at T-24.

It was not the 1st thing. There were no A list or anything of the 2 in their party. I supposed the 2nd makes more sense, but it still irks me to have paid 60$ for the 4 of us to be behind those who didn't pay anything. And yeah, I know that makes me sound entitled, but I did pay for the entitlement lol.

 

[dez1978]

one more question.. Do the bonus points from the spend requirements in the 1st 3 months of a card count towards companion and A list? ok 2 questions. I got the 40K bonus the other day.... But will that reset Jan 1st as far as earning towards a companion pass?

 

[Gitelfor]

one more question.. Do the bonus points from the spend requirements in the 1st 3 months of a card count towards companion and A list? ok 2 questions. I got the 40K bonus the other day.... But will that reset Jan 1st as far as earning towards a companion pass?

Rapid Rewards points reset every year, normally.
Bonus and credit card sign up points do not count toward A-List status, only paid flights count, unless there is a special promotion.

As far as EBCI, if you only paid $15 per person, you got a good deal, as most are $25.

 

[focusondisney]

The likelier reason is that other customers purchased EBCI, but ended up canceling or changing their reservations, after their boarding positions were assigned. That could have opened up their boarding positions to other customers, who were checking in at T-24.

Yep, probably this. There have been rare reports of this happening before. Haven’t heard it in quite awhile. But posters have said it happened with their traveling groups. Someone had EBCI, someone else didn’t but ended up with lower boarding number. This is the theory most often given when that has been talked about before.

 

[EACarlson]

The likelier reason is that other customers purchased EBCI, but ended up canceling or changing their reservations, after their boarding positions were assigned. That could have opened up their boarding positions to other customers, who were checking in at T-24.

Per SW, this not supposed to happen anymore. They stopped recycling boarding positions about six months ago. Policy now is that they will extend C beyond 45 if necessary.

 

[focusondisney]

Per SW, this not supposed to happen anymore. They stopped recycling boarding positions about six months ago. Policy now is that they will extend C beyond 45 if necessary.

Good to know. Wonder what reason there could be for this incident then. Always possible the policy wasn’t followed.

 

[EACarlson]

Computer error is always a possibility, so is that someone paid for EBCI but didn't remember it or didn't tell the other half.

 

[focusondisney]

Computer error is always a possibility, so is that someone paid for EBCI but didn't remember it or didn't tell the other half.

I was thinking also possible the Posters EBCI got lost or deleted somehow. Normally it carries over if changes are made. But it can get lost if certain changes are made to the flight. Ex, I purchased it for a nonstop flight, which SW changed to a connecting flight. There was a nonstop with a new flight number so I called to move to that flight. My EBCI did not carry over because the arrival/ departure cities no longer matched. Customer service did refund what I paid but I did have to repurchase EBCI.

 

[Elle23]

Thanks for all of the replies about my fear of missing my first day of my new job. We decided to come home late on Saturday instead (flight leaves at 8:35). That way I can monitor the flight situation that day to get a feel of things. And it would give us time to get another flight should the flight be canceled.

We are in Dallas/ Fort Worth, and there are plenty of flights the next day with other airlines.