Clarification on Prestige Class Requirements, specifically with Arcane Archer

[TooterfishPK]

I've played an Arcane Archer a few times. I have a thing for magical archers in any game I can play one in. My favorite way to do this multiclassing a Fighter with the Archer subtype and a Wizard. Typically I won't level into Arcane Archer until my 10th level so I could gain specific spells from the Wizard at the start or certain boosts from the Fighter.

I'm currently starting a new Fighter with the Archer subtype in a society game, with the intention of leveling it to Arcane Archer. Since I'm making this character solely to have a character around the same level as some new players in my local shop, I won't be using it as much as my other character. This goal is to get to Arcane Archer as quickly as possible. Looking over these forums, I have seen two claims that seem to contradict each other.

First Claim:

Fighter/4 Wizard/2 can level to Arcane Archer at Level 7. The feats required for Arcane Archer can be obtained by the Fighter at level 1 or 2, depending on which race you've chosen. The BAB for a Fighter at level 4 is +4, becoming a +5 by your second level of Wizard. The +6 requirement in this scenario would be met when taking your first level of Arcane Archer.

Sounds great, but this contradicts another claim I've seen in the forums:

You have to have the requirements for a Prestige Class before you level, not as you level. This means, your first level of Arcane Archer would have to come with a Fighter/5 Wizard/2 or a Fighter/4 Wizard/3.

Am I wrong in regards to how the BAB stacks and both these claims are correct? Is one of these claims wrong?

Thanks for any help.

[Wyldblayde Unum]

From the Prestige Class section of the PRD:

Prestige classes allow characters to become truly exceptional, gaining powers beyond the ken of their peers. Unlike the core classes, characters must meet specific requirements before they can take their first level of a prestige class. If a character does not meet the requirements for a prestige class before gaining any benefits of that level, that character cannot take that prestige class. Characters that take levels in prestige classes do not gain any favored class bonuses for those levels.

As it is spelled out, 'If a character does not meet the requirements for a prestige class before gaining any benefits of that level, that character cannot take that prestige class', so therefore you cannot use the +1 BAB of Arcane Archer to fulfill its prerequisite.

[CBDunkerson]

If a character does not meet the requirements for a prestige class before gaining any benefits of that level, that character cannot take that prestige class.

Thus, Fighter 4 / Wizard 2 (or 3) will not work.

[Chess Pwn]

you need to meet all requirements and then your next level can be the prestige class.
bab 6? need to have bab 6 before leveling.

[Gallant Armor]

You may want to consider the Eldritch Archer Magus. It has a smoother spell progression and some addition powers which can be fun.