Southwest air

[VickiVM]

Be sure to book online and check out the Rapid Rewards program...You get double credit!! Also, if you're renting a car you can get 1/2 pt (in points, 1 R/T flt taken=2 pts...16pts=1 Free R/T Flight, except booking online which is dbl points, essentially). But Alamo and Hertz, I believe will credit you 1/2 pt when you show them your Rapid Reward upon pickup. Also, if you're not already with MCI, you may want to consider switching because every $150 dollars spent with them is also a point, I believe. Last year we had three phone lines - regular home, my business line and my husband's fax line. We converted all 3 to MCI and received several points. Since our companies re-imbursed us for our business lines, these points were freebies.

When you get to the airport, fill out the temporary Rapid Reward registration BEFORE you check in at gate. (You don't need it when you check in luggage at counter). That's where they will validate each segment of your trip. After a couple of weeks they will send you a hard plastic card.

Something I'm not clear about, though, is if your children are traveling with you, or a spouse, and you have one Rapid Reward account, do you get credit for all of their flights or just your own. If you do get credit for their's, then if you book online, then you are practically there to a free flight!! TravelSherry, do you know the answer to this one??

 

[TravelSheryl]

A Rapid Rewards membership card can be used only by the person whose name it is issued in. There is no FF program in the U.S. that allows more than one person to earn credit for their flights.

Remember, these are 3 teenagers travelling and unless they fly Southwest 4 roundtrips in a year's time after they become RR members, they will not earn anything from the program.

By the way, Dollar just began participating with Southwest as well.

 

[dcedwards]

Just wanted to let you know my son is a frequent flyer on SWA (3 years old). He typically takes a trip with me at least 4 times a year, sometimes more, and it is a great deal that he, too, gets a free ticket.

It never hurts to sign up for it, even if you think you may not fly enough. Then if you do, you will get credit for those flights you did go on. I don't believe they do "back credit." Better safe than sorry, I always say.

 

[wheatenwalker]

Ok, I am confused, who gets the credits? I am buying all 3 tickets (mine and my two kids), do I get credit for all three roundtrips or do we each get one? Do I have to sign them up for the rewards program?

 

[dcedwards]

Each of you would need to sign up for the rewards credit. If you bought the tickets online then you will each get 2 credits for each leg (4 credits round trip). You will need 16 credits for a free ticket. Every time you make your reservations, online, and then fly a round trip you will get 4 credits.

You don't have to be signed up for the reward program before you buy your tickets. You do need to sign up for it at the gate when you get your boarding pass. They have applications right there. The agent will then be able to credit you for the trip you are taking right then.

Remember you will need to fill out three separate applications. At the end of this round trip, then, you will each have 4 credits (if booked on internet) and 2 credits if not booked on the net. You will be working towards 16 credits for a free ticket.

Does that make sense?