Flying Southwest - How to Make the A-Team?

[easysurfer]

Got back from a trip flying Southwest. Would have made the approximate 4 hour flight faster if I had wi-fi. There was an option to purchase wi-fi for $8. There was also an option as free (did someone say Free?) for A-List, Rapid Rewards memebers. I'm a Southwest Rapid Rewards member, but apparently not A-list as when I entered my sign in, no go, and I verified my typing.

The frustrating part is, the app during the flight only bounced me to the not A-list during sign up, but did not say anything about how to become an A-list member.

Just looking now at Southwest's site, can't see anything (maybe I need to dig harder?) about how to become an A-list member.

Tried doing a Google search but with the update to Google's new approach, the search is pretty much useless to me.

So, thought I'd ask here to see if being an A-list member is worth the effort/price. That is, if I can figure out how .

Update: found some info to read on Southwest's site by searching using Yahoo. Looks like I'll never fly that much to make the A-list.

 

[Another Reader]

Two hours cooped up in a sardine can at 40,000 feet is not made any better for me by Wi Fi. Download some light reading material or video before you leave. On my last SWA flight, the lady next to me was cooing at baby pictures on her phone for half the flight. Whatever coping mechanism works....

 

[cbo111]

I just logged in this morning exactly 24 hours prior to my SW flight and printed boarding passes that were in the "A" group. Kind of a hassle, but I usually fly SW because they don't charge for bags and I can make reservations adjustments without no penalty charges.

 

[euro]

I don't know anything about Southwest or A-lists, but I would have probably coughed up the 8 bucks for a 4h flight. I do think they tend to overcharge and are probably missing out on a lot of business because of sticker shock, but apparently that is the sweet spot. Business travelers don't care what it costs, they ( their company) just pay. So, that generates enough cash.

 

[RunningBum]

This site cracks me up sometimes.


OP asks, "How do I do this?".


First poster responds, "Oh, I don't like to do this, you should do that instead, like I do."


Second poster responds, "Here's how to do something else," which sounds a bit like what you asked for, but really isn't.


Third poster (me) takes things further off track. But I did see that the OP seems to have found the answer through a search. (OK, fourth, one slipped through while I was typing)

 

[easysurfer]

I don't know anything about Southwest or A-lists, but I would have probably coughed up the 8 bucks for a 4h flight. I do think they tend to overcharge and are probably missing out on a lot of business because of sticker shock, but apparently that is the sweet spot. Business travelers don't care what it costs, they ( their company) just pay. So, that generates enough cash.

I napped a couple of times during the flight which shaved off about 2 hrs or conscious time. Otherwise, I may have coughed up the $8 for wifi. Especially since there is a paypal option of payment.

 

[JoeWras]

This site cracks me up sometimes.


OP asks, "How do I do this?".


First poster responds, "Oh, I don't like to do this, you should do that instead, like I do."


Second poster responds, "Here's how to do something else," which sounds a bit like what you asked for, but really isn't.


Third poster (me) takes things further off track. But I did see that the OP seems to have found the answer through a search. (OK, fourth, one slipped through while I was typing)

Yep, my only (minor) pet peeve about the site. That pattern exists way too much. Maybe I should crack up when I see it instead.

 

[audreyh1]

I have found airplane wifi painfully slow, so I read and play games to pass the time.

Just a friendly warning that he may end up disappointed in airplane wifi especially after shelling out $$.

 

[Ronstar]

I see OP found the A-list req's, but just in case others want to know:

 

[easysurfer]

I see OP found the A-list req's, but just in case others want to know:

Thanks for passing this info on.

I probably only fly about once every 5 years.. so guess that counts me out. So much for a freebie .

 

[GrayHare]

This site cracks me up sometimes.

It's all relative. On other boards, the common first reply is, "Why on earth would you want to do THAT?"

 

[enginerd]

I see OP found the A-list req's, but just in case others want to know:

Actually, for the free wi-fi you need the A-list Preferred level which is double the a-list requirements. 50 flights or 70k miles

 

[braumeister]

I use T-mobile, and we get one hour of onboard wifi on planes that use Gogo as a provider. I nearly always fly Delta, and they do. I can buy it for the entire flight, but an hour is generally enough for me. I can use that hour any time during the flight.

But that said, I never get on a plane without my Kindle. Small enough to fit in a good sized pocket or any sort of bag, and I always have 15-20 books on it in various stages of reading.

 

[ABQ2015]

I just logged in this morning exactly 24 hours prior to my SW flight and printed boarding passes that were in the "A" group. Kind of a hassle, but I usually fly SW because they don't charge for bags and I can make reservations adjustments without no penalty charges.

The last two or so times I have done this, I have ended up in the "B" group but was able to get an aisle seat.

 

[euro]

Yep, my only (minor) pet peeve about the site. That pattern exists way too much. .

I disagree. I think it leads to much richer discussions and more useful information overall. Immeasurably more entertaining!

 

[Ian S]

While you pay for wifi, you can watch a number of TV channels for free on Southwest.

 

[ExFlyBoy5]

I disagree. I think it leads to much richer discussions and more useful information overall. Immeasurably more entertaining!

I agree. If the OP's question is answered immediately, then might as close the thread, right? We can't have a discussion on a discussion board...geez. I also find it somewhat ironic that the thread was completely derailed (only momentarily) by said posters observation of activity he/she was guilty of as well.

Oh, how I miss AirTran...the perks were easy to earn with them. SWA? They are about as bad as all the other (all two of them) mainline carriers.

 

[davismills]

The older I get the more I like being "unplugged" . Unless it's a heart monitor in a first class ICU.

 

[Ian S]

Oh, how I miss AirTran...the perks were easy to earn with them. SWA? They are about as bad as all the other (all two of them) mainline carriers.

Well, I count three besides SWA: American, Delta, and United. Two major perks that SWA has that the others don't are 1, free checked bags (two) and 2, no change penalty. Those two have saved me hundreds of $$ over the years that SWA has been my preferred airline.

 

[Ronstar]

....Oh, how I miss AirTran...the perks were easy to earn with them. SWA? They are about as bad as all the other (all two of them) mainline carriers.

I miss ATA - I used to get bumped to first class on about 1/3 of my Chicago-Phoenix flights. Just for being a "frequent" ATA flier. But I never flew more than 10 round trips a year. I've never received a perk from SWA. Probably why ATA went bankrupt and SWA is successful.

 

[Ian S]

I miss ATA - I used to get bumped to first class on about 1/3 of my Chicago-Phoenix flights. Just for being a "frequent" ATA flier. But I never flew more than 10 round trips a year. I've never received a perk from SWA. Probably why ATA went bankrupt and SWA is successful.

Actually, SWA bought them a few years back.

 

[Ronstar]

Actually, SWA bought them a few years back.

Yes they did - which bums me out even more. I should have been grandfathered in or something

 

[ExFlyBoy5]

I miss ATA - I used to get bumped to first class on about 1/3 of my Chicago-Phoenix flights. Just for being a "frequent" ATA flier. But I never flew more than 10 round trips a year. I've never received a perk from SWA. Probably why ATA went bankrupt and SWA is successful.

Also SWA doesn't have business or first class. And perhaps arguing semantics, but ATA was a different airline than Air Tran but most folks (unless they took a rotator in while in the military) have never heard of ATA.

Also, the flight offered by SWA out of ATL aren't that great. I am happy that Delta has ramped up their customer service...they are *almost* as good as AirTran was.

 

[ExFlyBoy5]

Well, I count three besides SWA: American, Delta, and United. Two major perks that SWA has that the others don't are 1, free checked bags (two) and 2, no change penalty. Those two have saved me hundreds of $$ over the years that SWA has been my preferred airline.

I don't count AA as a mainline. Technically, yes. But I absolutely loathe all things AA.

 

[Scuba]

I see OP found the A-list req's, but just in case others want to know:

Thanks Ronstar, good to know.