S.W. VISA Question

[yankebabie]

Hope someone can help me with this. When reading the offer for 2 free flights, it states that the new points system starts on 3/1 with no expiration dates and no black out dates. So my question is if you apply now (before 3/1) are you going to get credits under the old system and be subject to expiration date, black out dates and seat availability OR since I wouldn't get the card or points for free flights until after 3/1 will it be on the new system with no expiration date, no black out dates and not subject to seat availability. I am asking because I would not use the free flights until May 2012 and if they are given under the old system they would expire before I could use them. Any help would be greatly appreciated!

 

[Frannie115]

I'm in the same situation. My account statement doesn't close until 3/13 but made my first purchase in Feb. Hope it's on the new point system.

 

[yankebabie]

Anyone have any thoughts or opinions on this question?

 

[ICan'tWait]

I've been wondering about this as well.

 

[yankebabie]

My understanding was that if you are already in the old system and have credits you can convert points into credits so that you don't lose them at a rate of 1200pts =1 credit, but then would be subject to the old rules of expiration date, black out dates and seat availability. Did not think you can covert credits to points and not have the restrictions (expiration date and black out dates)

 

[platamama]

I would hold off until 3/1/11 or after.

Who knows what the availability of reward flights will be for those with standard RR awards (aka RR 1.0 awards; new program RR 2.0). At least with the new program you can use your points toward any flight any time.

I'm stuck with 8.5 credits right now and it sucks. I have the option of converting any points I earn in the future to credits at 1200pt = 1 credit.

Ok, that means I'll need 9000 points. Well, that's $1125 (6 pt WGA fare + 2pt/$ spent at SW on the cc) that I have to spend on Southwest using the SW Visa by this December when my credits expire. Ugh. Both DH and DD are in the same spot as me except they have until 2012.

I'm waiting to see what Southwest Visa promotions there are after 3/1/11. Also hold off on signing up for the Rapid Reward Dining until after then too if you're not already signed up, the bonuses are better.

 

[Marionnette]

I would hold off until 3/1/11 or after.

Who knows what the availability of reward flights will be for those with standard RR awards (aka RR 1.0 awards; new program RR 2.0). At least with the new program you can use your points toward any flight any time.

I'm stuck with 8.5 credits right now and it sucks. I have the option of converting any points I earn in the future to credits at 1200pt = 1 credit.

Ok, that means I'll need 9000 points. Well, that's $1125 (6 pt WGA fare + 2pt/$ spent at SW on the cc) that I have to spend on Southwest using the SW Visa by this December when my credits expire. Ugh. Both DH and DD are in the same spot as me except they have until 2012.

I'm waiting to see what Southwest Visa promotions there are after 3/1/11. Also hold off on signing up for the Rapid Reward Dining until after then too if you're not already signed up, the bonuses are better.

Even though you will be able to use your points at any time for any flight with RR 2.0, there are some drawbacks. The big one is the way that those points will be applied in the future.

Right now, a RR award is good for a RT flight regardless of the cost of that ticket at the time of booking. And that rule will apply to those RR awrds that are grandfathered into the new program. Under the old program, you got 1 RR credit with every 1200 points earned. 1 point for every $1, with 2 points per $1 spent at SWA. 16 credits = 1 RR Award. Regardless of how high fares go, a RR Award will still get you a RT ticket as long as there are seats available.

Under the new RR program, you will want to get the best possible fare for your flights. That's because your points will be applied using a points-per-dollar formula. You will need 60 RR points for every dollar for a Wanna Get Away fare. That's if any Wanna Get Away fares are available. If you want to book an Anytime fare, it will be 100 pts./$1, So if a RT Wanna Get Away ticket to Orlando is $200, you will need 12,000 points for one ticket, 20,000 pts. for an Anytime ticket that costs the same. As fares rise, the number of points required to get a RT ticket will also rise. So essentially, your points lose value over time.

Not having any blackout dates is certainly nice. But the trade off is those new rules for applying your points. A lot of people on flyertalk.com are not impressed with the new program.

 

[Thumper_Man]

I would hold off until 3/1/11 or after.

Who knows what the availability of reward flights will be for those with standard RR awards (aka RR 1.0 awards; new program RR 2.0). At least with the new program you can use your points toward any flight any time.

I'm stuck with 8.5 credits right now and it sucks. I have the option of converting any points I earn in the future to credits at 1200pt = 1 credit.

Ok, that means I'll need 9000 points. Well, that's $1125 (6 pt WGA fare + 2pt/$ spent at SW on the cc) that I have to spend on Southwest using the SW Visa by this December when my credits expire. Ugh. Both DH and DD are in the same spot as me except they have until 2012.

I'm waiting to see what Southwest Visa promotions there are after 3/1/11. Also hold off on signing up for the Rapid Reward Dining until after then too if you're not already signed up, the bonuses are better.

I have the SW card as well. I'm waiting to receive the package explaining all the details. From what I can tell, your points will automatically be transferred to credits and will not expire. No more black out dates and flights. So your 8.5 credits should automatically be converted and you shouldn't lose them. Again, this is the way I interpreted the e-mails they've been sending me. I'll find out fully when I get the package in the mail explaining the full details. They sent me card to tell me they would be sending me the package. Why couldn't they have just waited, saved some money and just sent me the package right away.

 

[platamama]

Even though you will be able to use your points at any time for any flight with RR 2.0, there are some drawbacks. The big one is the way that those points will be applied in the future.

Right now, a RR award is good for a RT flight regardless of the cost of that ticket at the time of booking. And that rule will apply to those RR awrds that are grandfathered into the new program. Under the old program, you got 1 RR credit with every 1200 points earned. 1 point for every $1, with 2 points per $1 spent at SWA. 16 credits = 1 RR Award. Regardless of how high fares go, a RR Award will still get you a RT ticket as long as there are seats available.

Under the new RR program, you will want to get the best possible fare for your flights. That's because your points will be applied using a points-per-dollar formula. You will need 60 RR points for every dollar for a Wanna Get Away fare. That's if any Wanna Get Away fares are available. If you want to book an Anytime fare, it will be 100 pts./$1, So if a RT Wanna Get Away ticket to Orlando is $200, you will need 12,000 points for one ticket, 20,000 pts. for an Anytime ticket that costs the same. As fares rise, the number of points required to get a RT ticket will also rise. So essentially, your points lose value over time.

Not having any blackout dates is certainly nice. But the trade off is those new rules for applying your points. A lot of people on flyertalk.com are not impressed with the new program.

I've been reading over on flyertalk about it, and I'm not impressed either because it doesn't work for me, the infrequent leisure traveler. I would buy the cheap fares to CA (face value $140) and once I had the credits, I'd fly to Orlando (face value $350ish) - I was getting around 30% "rebate" on the current plan, and I'll be lucky to get 13.3% now (factoring in the 2pt/$1 on SW Visa).

I just worry that the availability of flights for the soon-to-be old standard awards will decrease. There's been conjecture about that over on flyertalk too. That's why I'm waiting to see what the promotions for SWVisa are going to be next week.

 

[platamama]

I have the SW card as well. I'm waiting to receive the package explaining all the details. From what I can tell, your points will automatically be transferred to credits and will not expire. No more black out dates and flights. So your 8.5 credits should automatically be converted and you shouldn't lose them. Again, this is the way I interpreted the e-mails they've been sending me. I'll find out fully when I get the package in the mail explaining the full details. They sent me card to tell me they would be sending me the package. Why couldn't they have just waited, saved some money and just sent me the package right away.

Afraid not. I spoke with a person on the phone at Southwest about that very thing, and once you top off your current credits with the point system, it's treated like a RR 1.0 standard award - meaning blackout dates, limited availability, expiration, etc.

 

[Thumper_Man]

Afraid not. I spoke with a person on the phone at Southwest about that very thing, and once you top off your current credits with the point system, it's treated like a RR 1.0 standard award - meaning blackout dates, limited availability, expiration, etc.

I'll have to hold onto all the flyers they've been sending me and tell them, "That's not what it says here."

 

[yankebabie]

I also called and talked to a rep at Rapid Rewards. She said that if you sign up now for the 2 free flight promo you will be under the old system, which means expiration date in one year, black out dates and seat restrictions. She said that this promo ends on 2/28. I would think that they will probably have another one starting march 1st to promote the new system.