Price drop with my SW flight, what happens with my EB?

[helenk]

The cost of my flight coming in home in May has just come down quite a bit. When I booked my flight in December I booked the EB. I know the EB will still be there, but If I keep the same flight time but "change"my flight for the discount, will I lose my advantage of booking the EB back in December?

 

[leebee]

I just traded in our July flights. The new ones are the very same schedule, but "cost" fewer RR points. Points went back into my account, EBCI designation is still posted by everyone's name... No problem!

 

[helenk]

I kept the same schedule, the savings in points was 1320, which is a pretty good deal. I know that I won't lose my EB, I was just wondering if changing this late, I leave the 5th of May, will change my order for my boarding pass.
I went ahead and took advantage of the extra RR points if it changes my boarding #, I'll work with it. I wouldn't think that I would get a C, I am travelling solo so I do not need to worry about getting seats with anyone.

 

[DebbieB]

The order for EBC seems to be more than just date of purchase. People have reported buying it day 1 and getting a high number.

 

[mrsstats]

According to what my DB heard from SW yesterday, while on a flight home. It is more than when you purchase the ticket. It also has to do with the price you pay for your ticket. People who pay a higher price go before a lower price.

For a recent trip I made to Vegas, I bought my tickets the day it opened. The price went down, I changed my ticket. Did not cancel, just re did it with the lower price, we got low B's. I think it was because I changed my ticket.

 

[LisaS]

There have been reports that people who bought EBCI and later rebooked their flights ended up with worse boarding positions than they would have had otherwise. For example, two couples buy Wanna Get Away fares plus EBCI the same day. Months later, Couple #1 rebooks at a lower fare. Couple #2 does not rebook. When boarding positions are assigned, Couple #2 has low A boarding positions, Couple #1 (who rebooked) are at the back of the A line. That suggests that they purchase date was reset when they rebooked their flight.

Fare category also plays a role. According to Southwest's website, those who purchase Anytime fares get better boarding positions than those who purchase Wanna Get Away fares. It's possible Ding fares are treated separately from WGA fares so if you rebook from WGA to Ding, it might put you further back in the boarding queue.

Ignoring Business Select fares (which get assigned to the A1 to A15 group) I imagine what happens is that at 36 hours out, the computer generates a list of passengers ordered first by Status (A-Lister or not) and then by fare class (Anytime fares board before Wanna Get Away fares). Within each class the list is ordered by EBCI purchase date. I think what happens is if you rebook, your EBCI purchase date gets reset so you end up further back in the line.

Once the list is generated, boarding positions are assigned based on your position in the list. At 24 hours out, non-EBCI passengers start checking in. Boarding positions are assigned starting with the lowest open position in the boarding queue.

If any passenger who has checked in (automatically at 36 hours out or manually at 24 hours or less out) cancels their flight after getting assigned a boarding position, that creates an opening that will be given to the next person to check in manually. That's why some passengers can get a very low boarding position even though they bought a ticket that day or checked in just a few hours before their flight.

 

[helenk]

There have been reports that people who bought EBCI and later rebooked their flights ended up with worse boarding positions than they would have had otherwise. For example, two couples buy Wanna Get Away fares plus EBCI the same day. Months later, Couple #1 rebooks at a lower fare. Couple #2 does not rebook. When boarding positions are assigned, Couple #2 has low A boarding positions, Couple #1 (who rebooked) are at the back of the A line. That suggests that they purchase date was reset when they rebooked their flight.

Fare category also plays a role. According to Southwest's website, those who purchase Anytime fares get better boarding positions than those who purchase Wanna Get Away fares. It's possible Ding fares are treated separately from WGA fares so if you rebook from WGA to Ding, it might put you further back in the boarding queue.

Ignoring Business Select fares (which get assigned to the A1 to A15 group) I imagine what happens is that at 36 hours out, the computer generates a list of passengers ordered first by Status (A-Lister or not) and then by fare class (Anytime fares board before Wanna Get Away fares). Within each class the list is ordered by EBCI purchase date. I think what happens is if you rebook, your EBCI purchase date gets reset so you end up further back in the line.

Once the list is generated, boarding positions are assigned based on your position in the list. At 24 hours out, non-EBCI passengers start checking in. Boarding positions are assigned starting with the lowest open position in the boarding queue.

If any passenger who has checked in (automatically at 36 hours out or manually at 24 hours or less out) cancels their flight after getting assigned a boarding position, that creates an opening that will be given to the next person to check in manually. That's why some passengers can get a very low boarding position even though they bought a ticket that day or checked in just a few hours before their flight.

Sounds logical. The fare is lowest that I've seen posted $114 in cash 6180 in points. Oh well, I'd rather have the RR points right now, if I get a higher boarding # it will be okay.

 

[LisaS]

Sounds logical. The fare is lowest that I've seen posted $114 in cash 6180 in points. Oh well, I'd rather have the RR points right now, if I get a higher boarding # it will be okay.

I'm in the same situation. I booked the day the flight schedule opened and purchased EBCI that day. I rebooked a couple of times as prices dropped. I figured it would be an interesting experiment to see what boarding position I get and I saved some points in the process. I'll report back on my boarding position after my trip. I hope you will do the same!

 

[MaryKatesMom]

EBCI once purchased, follows the reservation even if you change dates or cities.

The last time I made a change, I asked how the numbers were assigned as I booked on the day the flights were released and now was moving my flight to a different day long after the release day.

The SW agent was emphatic it is based on purchase price. It does make sense, the more you pay, the lower your number. I have no idea how it works with using RR points.

 

[LisaS]

EBCI once purchased, follows the reservation even if you change dates or cities.

The last time I made a change, I asked how the numbers were assigned as I booked on the day the flights were released and now was moving my flight to a different day long after the release day.

The SW agent was emphatic it is based on purchase price. It does make sense, the more you pay, the lower your number. I have no idea how it works with using RR points.

I don't think it matters whether you booked with cash or RR points. We use RR points for most of our flights and usually get great boarding positions.

The worst boarding position we ever got was when we booked using our last Award (from the prior rewards program). I booked the day flights opened and bought EBCI that day. We were the last EBCI'ers in the queue.

 

[helenk]

I'm in the same situation. I booked the day the flight schedule opened and purchased EBCI that day. I rebooked a couple of times as prices dropped. I figured it would be an interesting experiment to see what boarding position I get and I saved some points in the process. I'll report back on my boarding position after my trip. I hope you will do the same!

My return flight is 5/9, as soon as I get my boarding pass I will post the info.