SWA Rewards - What Happened

[kmsimone]

What happened to SWA. Used to love them because the customer service was fantastic and rapid rewards was flexible. Not sure when they changed the policy but they used to accept rapid rewards for any open seat. Now limited availability. Might as well fly Delta.

 

[DebbieB]

What happened to SWA. Used to love them because the customer service was fantastic and rapid rewards was flexible. Not sure when they changed the policy but they used to accept rapid rewards for any open seat. Now limited availability. Might as well fly Delta.

It was changed a couple of years ago. When all the other airlines added bag fees and they didn't, something had to give somewhere else. All the other airlines have increased the miles needed for FF tickets. It's rare to find a 25,000 mile roundtrip on one of the legacies. I'm going to Disneyland in May, USAir wanted 60,000 miles for a coach ticket and by a fluke 50,000 for first class.

 

[MELSMICE]

I also just noticed that they have changed their policy with regards to credited travel funds.

You used to be able to use them for any flight/any person. Now it says as of January 28, 2011 (I think that's the date) you have to use the travel funds for the person the ticket was originally purchased for.

 

[kmsimone]

No more transfers from Amex either. Taking all the things that separated them from the majors.

 

[disfan07]

I also just noticed that they have changed their policy with regards to credited travel funds.

You used to be able to use them for any flight/any person. Now it says as of January 28, 2011 (I think that's the date) you have to use the travel funds for the person the ticket was originally purchased for.

That's because people were selling them. It spoils it for the people who would just transfer them wihtin the family. A steh saying goes, one rotten apple spoils the whole bunch.

Some people decided to make money off of the credits, so they decided to make sure that was impossible to do anymore.

 

[DebbieB]

No more transfers from Amex either. Taking all the things that separated them from the majors.

They still have 2 major differences:
1. No bag fees
2. No change fees

 

[MELSMICE]

No more transfers from Amex either. Taking all the things that separated them from the majors.

They still have 2 major differences:
1. No bag fees
2. No change fees

The thing is, part of the reason we always chose SW was because of their customer service & the things they did that really made them stand out from the others.

There were numerous times we would pay a higher fare because we had the ability to change with no fees, which is still do doable, but we could take the credit from those fares & use them for other flights for anyone within our family of 5. I received almost $200 in travel funds last night due to fares that were lowered, however, with the new policy I can only use them for each individual person. I know that DH & I will use ours for future flights, but with my DD's schedules they may not get used & just be a complete waste.

We will still fly with them, but we will also fly with other carries if we get a great rate. Jet Blue still allows you to have 1 checked bag free & that's usually all we take.

I guess it's just another disappointment with the airline industry, once again.

 

[DebbieB]

I don't think any other major carrier allows you to use a credit for another person. Plus most if not all will charge you a change fee and for many it's $150 per person. When making your decisions, you need to weigh that. Maybe SW is the best choice or maybe not. I've found their fares to be high.

 

[MELSMICE]

I don't think any other major carrier allows you to use a credit for another person. Plus most if not all will charge you a change fee and for many it's $150 per person. When making your decisions, you need to weigh that. Maybe SW is the best choice or maybe not. I've found their fares to be high.

I'm not sure they do either. This is one of the reasons we would always choose SW. Great customer service & really giving the customer what they want.

I would rather pay a little more, knowing if the fare decreased I could get a refund to be used at a later time (within one year) or that I could change my flight with no fees - which SW still does.

 

[Telcogirl]

No more transfers from Amex either.

I miss this perk the most.

 

[MELSMICE]

I miss this perk the most.

When did they discontinue this perk? We have actually used it & were planning to again. I guess not now.

 

[Telcogirl]

When did they discontinue this perk? We have actually used it & were planning to again. I guess not now.

I believe this ended over the summer. They ended the partnership with AMEX Rewards at the end of July, I believe.

 

[kmsimone]

Yes in June I noticed it on my Amex statement. They did provide notice and I transferred 60,000 pts.

 

[Tara]

No more transfers from Amex either. Taking all the things that separated them from the majors.

While I understand the disappointment at these policy changes, it's hardly "all the things that separated them from the majors." They still don't charge for the first 2 bags - unmatched in the domestic market. They still allow changes with absolutely no penalty - as many as you want. They still provide credit if you rebook a fare when the price drops. Yes, after January you can only use a person's credit for their own flights, but they still have the most flexible policies of any US carrier.

 

[kmsimone]

While I understand the disappointment at these policy changes, it's hardly "all the things that separated them from the majors." They still don't charge for the first 2 bags - unmatched in the domestic market. They still allow changes with absolutely no penalty - as many as you want. They still provide credit if you rebook a fare when the price drops. Yes, after January you can only use a person's credit for their own flights, but they still have the most flexible policies of any US carrier.

Also used to have the ability to book any available seats w/ points. Not anymore.

Just saying.......used to love and recommend them, now they just one of many options.

 

[Tara]

Also used to have the ability to book any available seats w/ points. Not anymore.

Just saying.......used to love and recommend them, now they just one of many options.

I still think many options don't compare to them in terms of flexibility, but to each her own.

 

[YenSid1222]

All of the major airlines will allow you to use your miles for anyone's name at all. It is also a HUGE misconception about the availability of 25,000 mile awards. You can see in the numbers released each year that the majority of awards claimed are at that level.

What really has happened is that WN is the 800 pound gorrilla in the room of airlines. They board more domestic pax than anyone else and the days of their hedged fuel advantages is now over. They simply must start charging closer to what it actually costs to transport someone from point A to point B. Legacy carriers kept the fare lower and charge your for services that you use (why should someone who does not bring a bag be charged anyway?) WN just took the biggest fee issue (checked bags) and marketed the heck out of it to their advantage. Good for them...but if you think that WN has no additional fees, you are fooling yourself. Ask any larger pax who was arbitrarily judged and told they had to pay a double fare. Sure they save costs by not having interline agreements with other carriers...but just watch a few episodes of the old series AIRLINE and see how many vacations were ruined by a cancelled flight when WN would not protect them on another carrier.

Anyway, WN does a good job at what they do. But they are not always the cheapest and best is subjective. They are based down the street from me and have lots of service out of Love Field...but I will not use them. Just not for me.

As for reward programs, I have always felt that you get a better bang for your buck with legacy programs like AAdvantage.

 

[tinkerbell313]

I don't think any other major carrier allows you to use a credit for another person. Plus most if not all will charge you a change fee and for many it's $150 per person. When making your decisions, you need to weigh that. Maybe SW is the best choice or maybe not. I've found their fares to be high.

Jet Blue allows you to use a credit for another person. They even tell you on the phone that the credits are transferable. My mom had a $30 dollar credit under her TB number...I just used it to book my ticket under my TB number for my January trip.

I am with you on SW fares...from IAD, their fares are higher and they have stopped flying direct to many places (again from IAD)

 

[DebbieB]

All of the major airlines will allow you to use your miles for anyone's name at all. It is also a HUGE misconception about the availability of 25,000 mile awards. You can see in the numbers released each year that the majority of awards claimed are at that level.

I sure haven't been able to find them. I am using USAirways for a trip PIT-SNA next May and they wanted 60,000 for coach but ironically 50,000 for first class (roundtrip). I had a trip on Delta last month PIT-MCO, the best I could find was 32,500 roundtrip. You might be able to find 25,000 but it's usually going to be for unpopular days and times.