I have written previously about Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards Program. I think it's the best program available to the "commuter" flier. That's me. I fly intra-state once or twice per month. In a traditional program based on miles, it would take a ridiculous number of flights at about 300 miles per flight to get a free ticket (about 40 flights). Southwest uses a point system that allows me a free flight every eight round trips, fewer if I get credit for rental cars or hotel stays.
They recently made a change to the program that I first decided that I didn't like, but can see the upside. Here's how it works.
Most airlines have a limited number of seats that are made available to frequent flier redemptions. In other words, if the plane holds 300, they may allow 30 passengers to fly for free by redeeming their miles. The other 270 must be paying customers. Southwest did not previously have that. Until now. The policy until recently by Southwest was that an unlimited number of seats were available for Rapid Rewards redemptions. So, if half the plane happened to be flying for free by using their points, they would allow it. The downside was that they had blackout dates, namely the holidays and a few other popular travel dates.
They have eliminated the blackout dates. You can use your points to fly for free on Thanksgiving morning or Christmas Eve if you book early enough.
So, which is better? Unlimited availability on all flights, but excluding blackout dates, or limiting availability per flight, and no blackout dates?
My answer: It depends.
Ultimately, it depends on one thing. How many seats are available per flight? If they remove blackout dates, but make only two seats available for Rapid Rewards redemption on Thanksgiving day, it's effectively the same as blacking it out. Assuming this is not what Southwest is doing, I like the new system better. Just know that you have to plan way ahead when you are planning to travel using Rapid Rewards points.
By the way, I recently gave Southwest a good review regarding their customer service. Again today, when I had trouble booking my free flights, I called and received excellent service. A woman answered (as opposed to a machine), stayed on the phone while I tried to complete my transaction on-line, but took care of the matter for me when we found that I would have difficulties completing it on the internet.
Way to go Southwest!
I would choose blackout dates...Limited seats pretty much ends up causing me to move around my vacation...If I know I could get seats during a certain period, at least I could plan appropriately. I guess I'm not a big fan of booking my flight plans one year in advance either...Ah, I could see the pros and cons both ways though.
Posted by: financial freedumb | June 29, 2006 at 10:26 PM