UPDATE: Well, I took the lazy path and waited until Jan 1 to just add EB to my flight. Mistake. On Jan 2nd, I logged into my southwest account, search for early bird and it took me to EB page. I entered my Confirmation number. The site poped up an error saying I'm not eligible for EB. What!!!!! I waited until it was 2019 and I was no longer A-list member and it still would not let me add early bird. There was a phone number on the error message to call Southwest support. After 40 min wait, support person came online. I explained the whole thing. She said waiting for new year won't change the fact that the ticket purchased was associated with A-List member and just because it is new year, that won't change anything. She had to remove my RR# from all the flights I had made reservation for. Then I purchased EB. After I had EB associated with that account, I could add the ticket to my RR# for it to show on my account again. So Note for anyone who ever run into this. Option 1. Call support and have them removed RR# from your ticket and then buy EB. Option 2. Cancel ticket. buy a new ticket without using your RR#. Buy EB. Then add RR# to your ticket. Hope this helps others who run into this issue.
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Thank you all for your help. I even called A-list support line about this and their solution was to purchase EB on January 1. Not very helpful. I like TheMiddleSeat response about purchasing it without RR # and then adding RR# later. I know this works. 2 years ago, they gave me A-list for 3 months in middle of the year (April-June) for free. I had already purchased EB and now I was A-list member for 3 months. that worked fine. i don't know if EB gave me good seats or A-list, but I got checked in early. I'm tempted to cancel all my future flights and re-book them with the TheMiddleSeat system (no RR when booking and purchasing EB). Again, thank you everyone for your help.
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09-04-2018
03:43 PM
09-04-2018
03:43 PM
Hi All, This is my first post here. I have an A-list status currently (2018). When I purchase tickets for my 2019 flight, I'm not offered option to purchase Early Bird during purchase process (because I'm A-list and no need for EB). But I know next year I won't have my A-list Status. So... If I purchase my March 2019 flight right now (September 2018), will A. the system automatically check me in earliers with all the other A-List members (even though I'm no longer A-list). or B. will I have have to check in with all other normal (non A-list and non EB) folks? I know I won't be A-lister next year and I want to make sure I get at least EB check in. But now that I'm A-list, the system doesn't offer me EB option during ticket purchase. Any thoughts on this? Has anyone run into this? Thanks, Nariman
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