There's an old book called 'How to Lie with Statistics'. I think someone from SW must have read it.
I, like so many others, am really frustrated and mad at the 'spin' being given this. But when I punch the numbers, it's simply worse for me. I'm not so surprised that different flights, costs, etc. will now have different values. It's the multipliers and dividers that means it will take me LONGER to get free flights.
So here's some straightforward statistics. I like to fly from MDW to ABQ and back. Wanna Get Away fare is generally around $300 and I always plan ahead. So let's assume that's the only place I fly and that I always use a Wanna Get Away ticket.
So under the old system, I fly 8 round trips and then get a 9th trip for free.
Under the new system I would earn 1,800 points per round trip. I would need 18,000 points to get a free round trip. That's 10 round trips to get a free flight.
And this is without planning to pay for cheaper flights and using free round trips on more expensive flights. I can actually understand you changing rewards to reflect different costs. But you did so in a way that is WORSE than before. (I thought it pretty hysterical that the explanation videos always talked about buying an Anytime fare but redeeming on a Wanna Get Away fare...'How to Lie with Statistics'.)
I'm waiting to see what the actual conditions will be for my Chase Rapid Rewards Card. I fully expect that to have less value as well.
At the end of the day, while I'm not going to boycott Southwest or anything, I'm no longer a fan. I will be shopping around...whereas now I never even bother. Southwest has been my default choice. I also fully expect to cancel my Visa card and find a different and better program once I see the new program.
Sadly the LUV is gone.
Keith Scherer
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