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So SW is changing how their rapid rewards program will work, beginning March 1st. Looks like they're gearing up for those international flights they've been promising.
On their FB/Twitter, they're getting a lot of negative response but I presume it's because of what JetBlue did. Once JB changed, we stopped flying them completely. It now takes a lot more miles to get a free flight on JB than it did when they first started (when they used points, not miles), and their service sucks so it's just not worth it. From what I'm reading, SW will be easier to redeem and fewer points needed for a free flight. However, everyone on their FB is saying it's geared for business travelers (what business traveler uses SW?) because no regular traveler will spend that much to earn a free flight.
SW is not my first (or even 2nd choice) but they are a cheap way to get to Vegas and I have 2 rapid rewards certificates, just sitting in my account since it seems impossible to redeem. Hopefully, come March 1st, I'll be able to use them without restriction. But I won't be flying them after this, since it appears I'll never earn another free flight in this program.
My SO uses SW almost exclusively for business travel. They are always the cheapest but maybe it's the cities he normally flies to. But come to think of it SW is always the cheapest when we fly home (to the northeast) so we use it a lot for personal travel too. I'm always looking at the $ of individual trips and if we get a free flight then that's just a bonus.
I have earned a few free flights in their old program but it looks very unlikely I will earn enough with this new program roll out. Unless you are a hardcore SW traveler, not many will earn free flights without having the credit card. Frankly, I hate the cattle call of SW, so for me it is just another reason to seek out other airlines.
It seems that people with families love SW, which is odd since families are the ones that gripe that they can't all sit together and cause issues when boarding the plane.
My SO uses SW almost exclusively for business travel. They are always the cheapest but maybe it's the cities he normally flies to. But come to think of it SW is always the cheapest when we fly home (to the northeast) so we use it a lot for personal travel too. I'm always looking at the $ of individual trips and if we get a free flight then that's just a bonus.
In your case, it will be a good thing then. If your SO flies at least 100 one way flights a year (most business travelers do much more than that), he can then designate you as the companion and you fly free for a year, under their new terms.
Frankly, I hate the cattle call of SW, so for me it is just another reason to seek out other airlines.
I totally agree. Not to mention when I redeem miles for a free flight on Delta, the possibility of first-class upgrade exists (and I've gotten them), while on SW you're just like the rest of their customers.
Frankly, I hate the cattle call of SW, so for me it is just another reason to seek out other airlines.
I hate this too It's my one gripe about SW. I usually just line up at the last minute so I don't have to wait and since they added the numbered markers it's better. It does have it's advantages though; when someone with a baby sits next to you, you can just move and not be stuck in your seat.
1) ALL available seats are reward seats.
2) No blackouts.
3) Free RT tickets on short jumps can be as low as 8000 points.
4) Consumers who shop for the BEST fare when using a ticket can stretch their miles out a lot.
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It's my one gripe about SW. I usually just line up at the last minute so I don't have to wait and since they added the numbered markers it's better. It does have it's advantages though; when someone with a baby sits next to you, you can just move and not be stuck in your seat.
