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A-List vs. Early Bird

bjbelger
Explorer C

Paid for Early Bird when originally book flight. Later, when Southwest altered flight schedule, was told we are A-list and Early Bird neither transferred or could be refunded.  Just now checked in and boarding position is the worst we have ever had.  Anyone else had this experience of A-list, then worse boarding position? 

5 REPLIES 5

Re: A-List vs. Early Bird

dfwskier
Aviator A

There's no  easy answer to your question.

 

A-list will ALWAYS yield a better boarding position than Early Bird - unless the ticket happens to be booked less than 24 hours in advance, SW assigns boarding positions in the following order: A List preferred, followed by A-List, followed by Early Bird. I don't know how it selects passengers' order within the A-List Preferred and A-List categories. Early Bird passengers are selected in the order that each passenger actually bought EB. 

 

Could you get a "poor" seat even though you are A List: Yes, you sure can,

 

For example, if your flight is a  continuation from another city, and gets to your city with 65 continuing passengers, then  65 seats will be filled by the time the first A-List gets on the plane.

Re: A-List vs. Early Bird

TheMiddleSeat
Aviator A

Does/did your boarding pass indicate had A-List status? Keep in mind, even if you have a B or C boarding position as an A-List traveler you can board at the end of the A group so an A-List traveler's worst boarding position is A61.

 

--TheMiddleSeat

Re: A-List vs. Early Bird

bjbelger
Explorer C

Booked original flights months ago. All changes Southwest’s. Today’s flights have been a horror due to Dallas weather and SW taking away two non-stops, so flights full and now sitting with B passes for end leg. Not happy. 

Re: A-List vs. Early Bird

bec102896
Aviator A

@bjbelger wrote:

Booked original flights months ago. All changes Southwest’s. Today’s flights have been a horror due to Dallas weather and SW taking away two non-stops, so flights full and now sitting with B passes for end leg. Not happy. 


Southwest has no control over the weather so unfortunately when weather hits the airport this causes flight delays and cancellations. At least with a B boarding position you still have a chance of getting an aisle or window. As others stated if you are A List you can board after the A group and before the B group. 

Re: A-List vs. Early Bird

bjbelger
Explorer C

Yes. Thanks. Hoping to be able to do this later tonight.