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Southwest Airlines Community

A Message About Drink Coupons

mihafner
Explorer C

For years, Southwest Airlines has accepted all types of drink coupons on our planes – regardless of their expiration dates. Rapid Rewards coupons. Business Select coupons. Old Company Club coupons. Coupons from the 80s, coupons from the 90s. And we’ve done so for all the right reasons.  However, in an industry where the competition is always knocking (or banging) on the door and where watching the bottom-line is more important than ever , we owe it to our Employees, Customers, and Shareholders to find ways to operate smarter.  We’ve reached a point where being so flexible with drink coupons has put us in a position of having far too many in circulation. To help purge the system of these excess coupons, we will start enforcing expiration dates on coupons over the course of the next year. 

Beginning today, Southwest Airlines will only accept Business Select drink coupons on the day of travel which allows Customers to use the coupon for the flight it was purchased . This has always been the intent of the coupon, but starting today, August 1, 2010 we’ll begin universally enforcing it. Business Select Customers may use their drink coupon on a connecting flight, as long as it is used on the day of travel printed on the coupon.

Also, Rapid Rewards drink coupons earned with an Award will soon have a new look and will include an expiration date that is one year from the date of issue. Rapid Rewards will communicate with Members as the transition approaches.  Not to worry, we’re giving Customers a full year to use those tan paper drink coupons without expiration dates. We will continue to accept these drink coupons, whether purchased or earned with a Rapid Rewards Award, until August 31, 2011.

We're proud to have some of the lowest prices in the air for liquor, beer, and wine.  Customers may still purchase an alcoholic beverage or Monster drink with a credit or debit card. And of course, all other non-alcoholic beverages and snacks are free.  And don't forget, when you fly Southwest, bags fly free and we don't charge a change fee.

64 Comments
Anonymous57
Explorer C
I was surprised to see expiration dates on my drink coupons I received today. I think it's a bummer. I had been told by SW employee that "Drink coupons do not expire". Not the end of the world but it does make a special thing about SW less so.
Freaky_Flyer
Explorer C
I just found out about this. What a travesty.
Danny_Sullivan
Explorer C
I'm sitting on one of your flights right now. I was told my coupon with no expiration date was no longer failed. That's how I learned of this new policy. When I looked it up, I see that they're indeed still valid -- the crew person clearly doesn't know that.
Jim_K
Explorer C
So you deal with the competition by pissing off your loyal customers?? Y'all musta got hiot with a stupid-stick lately...
Donald_Chasey_I
Explorer C
As I recall, the Rapid Rewards free drink coupons used to have an expiration date. When the decision was made to eliminate the expiration date on the coupons, Southwest made a big deal about it in the promotional materials that accompanied the coupons. Because I'm a very frequent flier I bagged a lot of the frequent flier drink coupons over the past four years...all of which are now worthless. What's next--fees for checked baggage?
chris_w_white
Explorer C
Previous comments have said it all. Bad move Southwest!
Hello_Frontier
Explorer C
The week, I was trying to order a drink for my wife when my drink coupon was rejected rather rudely by a flight attendant with a self righteous, " We don't take those anymore!". End of conversation. Been and "A" flyer for many years. SW can watch their bottom line as I start flying Frontier out of Denver. No doubt, Frontier is laughing their "A"s" off.
Jim_krueger
Explorer C
What complete bull .... Having flown southwest airlines for over 10 years and many years more than 100,000 miles this reductions. At leastballow me to exchange them for new ones!!!!! This is like the Post Office saying that the forever stamps are no longer valid. Between this and price increases we are back to the bus system. What's next? BYOB? I just paid way more than years ago prices when SWA was a deal, neat and yes with EARNED free drinks? I have a stack of over a 100 free drink tickets and to be told that they are no longer good is bull shit Texas style in my book .... Check your financial statements because this boys done with SWA. I,m going back to resevered seats, my seat that I want and not standing in line. You,ve lostbyour legacy, focus and brand name in my book. Your website continues to SUCK too! I use to ensure that I gave the coupons earned, agin let me empasize EARN, to GIs deserving a free beverage. Go back and allow folks to EXCHANGE earned coupons! Jim K. God Bless Texas ... Wasn't,t SWA born out of the TRUE Texas business culture ????
Pamela_Barnett
Explorer C
I went to from SAN to PHX and one of the flight attendents announced the drink coupon policy but when I handed a non-dated coupon to another flight attendant she didn't say anything and brought me a glass of chardonnay. From PHX to ABQ there was no announcement but when I handed the flight attendant another non-dated coupon, she mentioned the policy but still brought me a chardonnay. The next day on a non-stop from ABQ-SAN there was no announcement but when I handed the flight attendant a non-dated coupon she told me the new policy and did not bring me a glass of chardonnay. Three flights, three different scenarious. So much for consistency at Southwest Airlines. I am so glad I recently closed my Southwest VISA credit card. Who needs to pay $59 a year for nothing?
Lewis_L__Zido
Explorer C
Why can't Southwest just replace our outdated coupons for new ones? It would be relatively easy to do. Just have us send the outdated coupons in and you all send out the new ones. Thanks for you time. By the way we were recently embaressed on a flight from Orlando to LasVegas by not being able to use the old ones. LLZ in Leesburg, Florida
5or50
Explorer C
Get over it people! I have been a rapid reward member for ever and SWA has sent out email and letters about this for over a year and a half. Careful what you wish for its $5 some airlines charge $7. If the issue keeps getting pushed then what about a $50 bag fee? So ask yourself 5 or 50? If you can't afford a 5 dollar drink maybe you shouldn't travel in the first place or maybe you have a drinking problem. SWA sent me coupons that have an expiration date. Why should you have a coupon that last forever? Try taking an expired coupon into an merchant. It's really petty that people have to bitch about this. SWA is good and if $5 helps them remain profitable versus charging bags fees then perhaps you should fly United or American where they charge $50 for a bag and $7 for a drink. There a business just like your employer or your business would evaluate things to keep them profitable. Lastly, if your to cheap to buy a drink then don't fly how can you have money for that cheap bastards!
Rick_Burn
Explorer C
Looks like Southwest wants to drive customers away. Good work of a dumb accountant.
Rob13
Explorer C
For the record, it does say on those old "no expiration date" coupons: "Southwest Airlines reserves the right to cancel its coupon program at any time." So for those who say you cannot impose an expiration date on something that didn't have one, there you go. Sounds legal to me. Giving their passengers about 2 years warning to use up the old ones is a fair amount of time too. In the meanwhile, they started a new coupon program. Those frequent flyers who are truly earning the coupons, probably got plenty of notices to use up the old ones and have received the new ones that are valid. Many of the people who are upset, are those who bought them from eBay at an extremely discounted price or got the (non-transferrable) coupons from a buddy.
Gretchenb25
Explorer C

Here we are in 2017, and people are STILL trying to use these expired coupons...on the back of those no expiration date coupons in small print yes, but it says this program can be discontinued at any time. If you want a drink so bad, they are the least expensive in the industry-$5! Or complete 10flights and you will get a new book.  If you haven't flown 10 flights with SWA in the last 7 years then you probably aren't as loyal of a customer as you say you are, so please just pay the minimal charge of $5.  I rode on another airline recently and $85 to upgrade to a bulkhead seat, $40 to bring my bag on, $30 to check one, and a Coke&a bag of nuts cost me $8.99 credit card only!  The "adult beverages ranged from $8-$12!!!  I LUV SWA!!! IMG_2246.PNG