SWA Rapid Reward Changes

[LisaS]

How long does it normally take to receive the credit once the payment has been credited & your account?

It can take several weeks to get the credits for an item you charge to the card. For example let's say your billing cycle closes on the 15th of each month. If you charged something to the card today it would appear on the Jan 15th statement. Payment would be due sometime before the close of the following billing cycle on Feb 15th. Credits appear about 3 days after each cycle closes so you wouldn't see the credits for that item until say Feb 18th.

The new program goes into effect on Mar 1st so you will still receive credits (rather than points) until that time. If you don't have enough credits for an award once they switch to the points scheme, you can convert points to credits (at 1200 pts = 1 credit) to get the 16 credits you need.

 

[LisaS]

Ohh, I don't like this new RR program whatsoever. It's a program downgrade for most Southwest fliers and users of the Chase Southwest credit card.

We lose in some areas and gain in others. Instead of 16 credits to earn an award it's more like 20 now since you get 6 pts per $1 spent on travel but need 60 pts/$1 to purchase a free ticket. On the other hand, if you purchase a cheap fare when using your points, the points go farther since an award cost 19200 pts in the old scheme, the equivalent of two $160 flights. If you can book a flight for less than $160, you use fewer points/credits than under the old scheme.

My DH never earns enough credits to get an award before the credits expire. Under the new scheme (with no expiration) he will eventually get to use them. And if we can find cheap flights, that opportunity will come sooner than under the current scheme.

Many have lost more than they have gained with the changes but for us, with DH able to earn free travel now (eventually), there is at least one upside to the changes.

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

Not a good system at all for most consumers since other airline programs earn you points based on how far you're traveling, not what the ticket cost. BobK/Orlando

Yes, but the current SWA system ignores both of these. My flight of Philly to Boston earns same 1 credit as if I flew to LA. Not fair either.