SW buisness select boarding ?

[maj42169]

Can anyone explain about buisness select boarding to me? I don't normally fly SW, but they had the best rates for our return flight. Do I still need to check in at the 24 hr. mark? How do I get my boarding passes?
I am at a loss about all of this, I am used to just flying Airtran and preselecting my seats. Thanks for any ifno anyone can share!

 

[dburg30]

Have never done bus select, but reading it appears you get 'priority boarding' included so I'm pretty sure you can check in whenever, or even at the airport and still board before others (other then other business selects). They hold a1-15 for business select (and I guess if they have more then that they just extend that number)


Heck no guessing involved...

Priority Boarding
Purchasing this fare will enable you to board the plane at the beginning of the "A" boarding group.

http://www.southwest.com/flight/pop...electRewardCredits=2.0&defaultRewardCredits=1

 

[Tara]

Can anyone explain about buisness select boarding to me? I don't normally fly SW, but they had the best rates for our return flight. Do I still need to check in at the 24 hr. mark? How do I get my boarding passes?
I am at a loss about all of this, I am used to just flying Airtran and preselecting my seats. Thanks for any ifno anyone can share!

I don't know if this has changed since Early Bird Check-In was instituted...

IME, you do need to check in for Business Select. You will get somewhere between A1 and A15 and I believe the sooner you check in, the better your number will be. This only makes a difference if you really want to sit in the exit row. If you don't care about exit row, then you'll still be able to sit in virtually any seat you want since you're guaranteed to be in that first 15 to board. You don't have to check in early, either - you'll still get A1-A15 even if you check in at the airport.

You can print your boarding pass at home or at the airport.

The only hesitation I have is whether or not EBCI means that Business Select passengers are automatically assigned a boarding number, eliminating the need for them to check in. I haven't heard one way or the other.

 

[goofy4tink]

Those 'business select' fares are the most expensive, but fully refundable, fares SW offers. You will get a boarding pass between A1 and A15. I have yet to see that group fully booked. There are usually only a few that book business select. I always checkin at the 24 hr. mark, even if I have paid the outrageous business select fare...just to be sure. The last time I did it, last year, we got A1, A2, and A3. But, I think that you automatically get one of the first 15 spots, even if you don't check in at the 24 hr mark.

 

[disneyfaninaz]

There are a group of frequent business fliers that qualify for the "Business Select" boarding numbers as well. These fliers don't have to purchase the Business Select fares.

 

[Tara]

There are a group of frequent business fliers that qualify for the "Business Select" boarding numbers as well. These fliers don't have to purchase the Business Select fares.

I know that if you are "A List" (certain number of segments flown in a year - 32, I think?), you're guaranteed the "best boarding pass number available – most likely an 'A'." I didn't think you could get A1-A15, though. I thought this was ONLY available to Business Select fare passengers.

 

[dburg30]

I know that if you are "A List" (certain number of segments flown in a year - 32, I think?), you're guaranteed the "best boarding pass number available – most likely an 'A'." I didn't think you could get A1-A15, though. I thought this was ONLY available to Business Select fare passengers.

Yea, and with EBCI I would think that the A-listers will still start at A16. And again, if there are 10 A-listers they probably get assigned by when they check in, but under 99% of the time the worst case there would be A27'ish, and even if the number were that high I think the most bus select fares I've seen flying to BWI (granted out of Columbus, so probably not fair) was about 5 of them. So a6-15 was empty anyway.

 

[mgilmer]

A1 Thru A15 are reserved for Bus Sel only. The BP number is assigned in the order that the Bus Sel pass prints out his boarding pass either online or at the airport. They get to board first as a benefit of paying full ticket prices. They do NOT have to checkin early, only print out their boarding pass before going to the gate (which you can do at a kiosk at the airport).

 

[Mary T in PA]

We flew Bus Select last in June and we didn't have to check in right at the 24hr mark, you do get anywhere from A1-15. I would recommend trying to check in during your 24hr mark - I did it off my iphone and then printed the BPs at the airport. Not a problem. The main reason we did bus select was the fully refundable tickets.

I believe the SW website states that Bus Select doesn't qualify for EBCI as bus select already gets priority boarding, meaning the first 15 spots, so I would think that when you booked your trip, the computer knew you'd be in the first group of 15. At least that's how I understood it. I could be way off.

Mary

 

[Lewisc]

Can anyone explain about buisness select boarding to me? I don't normally fly SW, but they had the best rates for our return flight.

PP is correct, business select is the most expensive fare offered by SW. Business Select is the best rate for your return flight? That suggests there are very few seats available (at any price). You're flying around a holiday? You may want to book before the flight sells out.

 

[maj42169]

Yes, business select is the best rate offered by SW (only rate offered) and the best rate by over $100 at any airline. I am flying out the Sun. after Thanksgiving and most flights are booked or going for $300 per person one way plus baggage fees.

 

[Lewisc]

Yes, business select is the best rate offered by SW (only rate offered) and the best rate by over $100 at any airline. I am flying out the Sun. after Thanksgiving and most flights are booked or going for $300 per person one way plus baggage fees.

Business select is fully refundabe (credit card refund) if your plans change. I'd book NOW before the flight sells out.