No more drink coupons?

[blevinsra]

Yes it's true Southwest is no longer doing drink coupons.

I called in after my 19th flight this year (normally drink coupons are mailed out after 12 flights) and was told (after being on a lengthy hold time) that drink coupons were eliminated.

No one told me this before. I didn't get an email or phone call or anything. They just decided hey we're not doing it anymore and not going to tell anyone unless they ask.

After complaining long enough I did manage to get a $50 flight voucher out of them.

I did like the drink voucher idea. It was a way to reward the frequent flyers.

So now there's nothing other than points for frequent flyers.

[Sojourner66]

I thought I was the only one.  So, will SAW still accept the tickets I accumulated during the Covid years when there was no beverage service?  During that time, flight attendants informed passengers that SWA would honor expired tickets once beverage service resumed.

SWA, your loyal business travelers miss this amenity.  Please reconsider this policy.

[dfwskier]

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@Sojourner66 wrote:

I thought I was the only one.  So, will SAW still accept the tickets I accumulated during the Covid years when there was no beverage service?  During that time, flight attendants informed passengers that SWA would honor expired tickets once beverage service resumed.

SWA, your loyal business travelers miss this amenity.  Please reconsider this policy.

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You didn't accumulate drink coupons during the Covid years because SW stopped issuing them, and SW did extend use of expired coupons -if memory serves thru the end of 2022.

[DancingDavidE]

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@dfwskier wrote:

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@Sojourner66 wrote:

I thought I was the only one.  So, will SAW still accept the tickets I accumulated during the Covid years when there was no beverage service?  During that time, flight attendants informed passengers that SWA would honor expired tickets once beverage service resumed.

SWA, your loyal business travelers miss this amenity.  Please reconsider this policy.

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You didn't accumulate drink coupons during the Covid years because SW stopped issuing them, and SW did extend use of expired coupons -if memory serves thru the end of 2022.

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I was able to still use some 2021 expiring coupons two weeks ago, but your mileage might vary - just save them and try again on your next flight.

[koalablue80]

I just heard this today, after being told a couple months ago that I needed a certain number of flights to earn drink coupons. I had emailed because I opted in late to get the coupons and wanted to know if they could give me some retroactively, which they couldn't. I am curious about this. First that I had to opt in in order to get the coupons and second that they did away with them as soon as I qualified! This is terrible customer service! I was really looking forward to this perk. Not sure why they stopped them. They were losing too much money? People getting too drunk on flights? I fly Burbank to SF or Oakland weekly and haven't seen anyone get intoxicated.

[dfwskier]

SW did not cancel the program "as soon as you qualified."  The program was cancelled about 5 months ago.

We'll have to see whether or not SW comes up with something else.

Until then, my experience has been that about half the time the FAs never ask for payment and I get free drinks anyway - of course I'm still sitting on 3 drink coupons so I don;t have to  run the risk of paying for my drink.

Spin the wheel and take your chance...

[gsking]

Yeah that’s lame.  I just noticed my settings were turned to “do not send me coupons”.  Silly  that I could turn them back on if they don’t plan on sending my coupons.

As you said, there are ways around it.  I’m no longer going to offer the ticket unless they ask for it.  If they want to play sneaky, so can I.

[DancingDavidE]

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@gsking wrote:

Yeah that’s lame.  I just noticed my settings were turned to “do not send me coupons”.  Silly  that I could turn them back on if they don’t plan on sending my coupons.

As you said, there are ways around it.  I’m no longer going to offer the ticket unless they ask for it.  If they want to play sneaky, so can I.

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The FA also seem to not come back for coupons if delayed by more than an hour, so although be prepared to pay as always, order up for that first round thinking it might be free if on a delay.

Also if there is choppy air the FA won't come back around for them.

And then if you do get prompted, ask if they'll take a "lightly expired" coupon and save your current ones. Usually the answer is yes they'll take it. (Not the old unexpired ones, the new ones since 2021.)

[floridaguy]

I am generally opposed of serving alcohol on flights less than four hours.

[jimmyv21]

Same boat.  Love Southwest for the most part, but not a lot to offer to the frequent flyers beyond 'priority' boarding and points.  Have over 175k points and when I asked the question about the coupons, received the same answer.  They were nice to have once in a while...  Flew American not long ago and got bumped to first class- it was pretty amazing.  And my Delta friends seem to get a lot of similar perks.  Now that I have my preferred status for another year, going to start looking at other airlines...