Say what? I suspect that’s a question that came to mind when our Members opened their e-mail Monday and found that we are offering 5,000 Rapid Rewards Bonus Points on select AirTran International flights. I was surprised when I learned of the promotion because in the 13+ years I have worked in Rapid Rewards, Southwest flights were the only way to earn Rapid Rewards currency from flying (or the very least, required a flight connection with Southwest as in our Southwest/Volaris point promotion last year). In this case, no Southwest flight is necessary. Members simply need to register, book a qualifying International roundtrip on airtran.com, and complete their travel between June 1, 2012 and August 31, 2012 to be eligible for 5,000 Rapid Rewards Bonus Points (or 2,500 for one-way). And since Membership in AirTran’s A+ Rewards program is required for this promotion, Members will also receive the standard A+ Rewards flight credits for their AirTran travel.
So why are we doing this? Because in the coming weeks, AirTran will offer some additional nonstop International routes, and we wanted to celebrate the commencement of this new service with our Rapid Rewards Members. Perhaps it’s the enthusiasm in the delivery of our first 737-800 aircraft or last month’s FAA approval for a Single Operating Certificate, but we’re in the mood to celebrate and we want to involve our Members in this celebration by offering this special promotion. Not to mention, our Members get an opportunity to earn Rapid Rewards Points and A+ Rewards credits while tasting a little bit of paradise with AirTran’s service to exotic destinations in the Caribbean and Mexico. (I want to go!)Employees who are Rapid Rewards Members are welcome to take advantage of this promotion. I’ve listed the key facts below, but you can visit www.southwest.com/rrairtran5000points for complete details and to register for the promotion.
Qualifying AirTran Routes include:
Aruba (AUA) Nonstop to/from Bermuda (BDA) Nonstop to/from Cancun (CUN) Nonstop to/from Atlanta (ATL) Baltimore/Washington(BWI) Orlando (MCO) Atlanta (ATL) Baltimore/Washington (BWI) Atlanta (ATL) Austin (AUS) Baltimore/Washington (BWI) Denver (DEN) Milwaukee (MKE) San Antonio (SAT)
Los Cabos (SJD) Nonstop to/from Mexico City** (MEX) Nonstop to/from Montego Bay (MBJ) Nonstop to/from Orange County (SNA) Orange County (SNA) San Antonio (SAT) Atlanta (ATL) Baltimore/Washington (BWI) Orlando (MCO)
Nassau (NAS) Nonstop to/from Punta Cana (PUJ) Nonstop to/from San Juan (SJU) Nonstop to/from Atlanta (ATL) Baltimore/Washington (BWI) Atlanta (ATL) Baltimore/Washington (BWI) Atlanta (ATL) Baltimore/Washington (BWI) Ft. Lauderdale/Hollywood (FLL) Orlando (MCO) Tampa Bay (TPA)
**Pending foreign government approval
AirTran Service Start Dates:
Route Start Date Denver to Cancun April 16, 2012 Ft. Lauderdale/Hollywood to San Juan May 24, 2012 San Antonio to Cancun May 24, 2012 San Antonio to Mexico City** May 24, 2012 Austin to Cancun May 25, 2012 Orange County to Mexico City** June 3, 2012 Orange County to Cabo San Lucas June 3, 2012
**Pending foreign government approval.
To take advantage of this promotion, Members will need to :
1. Become an AirTran A+ Rewards Member.
2. Register for this promotion at www.southwest.com/rrairtran5000points between April 9, 2012 and August 31, 2012.
3. Book a qualifying AirTran flight at airtran.com between April 9 and August 31, 2012.
4. Complete their AirTran travel between June 1, 2012 and August 31, 2012. Terms and Conditions: Rapid Rewards Member must be a Member of AirTran A+ Rewards program to be eligible for this promotion. Member must register for this promotion between April 9, 2012 and August 31, 2012. Registration must include both Rapid Rewards account number and A+ Rewards account number and be completed prior to commencement of travel. Valid on new AirTran reservations only. Member must book a qualifying nonstop AirTran flight between April 9, 2012 and August 31, 2012 for travel between June 1, 2012 and August 31, 2012. Reservation must be booked on airtran.com. Qualifying nonstop AirTran flights include: Aruba and Atlanta, Baltimore/Washington, or Orlando; Bermuda and Atlanta or Baltimore/Washington; Cancun and Atlanta, Austin, Baltimore/Washington, Denver, Milwaukee, or San Antonio; Los Cabos and Orange County; Mexico City and Orange County or San Antonio (subject to foreign government approval); Montego Bay and Atlanta, Baltimore/Washington, or Orlando; Nassau and Atlanta or Baltimore/Washington; Punta Cana and Atlanta; and San Juan and Atlanta, Baltimore/Washington, Ft. Lauderdale, Orlando, or Tampa. Service between Cancun and Denver begins April 16, 2012; Mexico City and San Antonio begins May 24, 2012 (subject to foreign government approval); Cancun and San Antonio begins May 24, 2012; Cancun and Austin begins May 25, 2012; Los Cabos and Orange County begins June 3, 2012; and Mexico City and Orange County begins on June 3, 2012 (subject to foreign government approval). Travel must be completed between June 1, 2012 and August 31, 2012. Member will receive 5,000 Rapid Rewards Bonus Points for every qualifying roundtrip flight or 2,500 points for every qualifying one-way flight. Bonus points will not count toward A-List, A-List Preferred, or Companion Pass qualification. Changes made to the itinerary after purchase may eliminate qualification for this promotion. Bonus points will post to Rapid Rewards account six to eight weeks after the promotion has ended on August 31, 2012. All Rapid Rewards rules and regulations apply. Member will receive standard A+ Rewards flight credit earned through AirTran A+ Rewards program. All A+ Rewards terms and conditions apply.
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Today (April 7), our Frequent Flyer program, Rapid Rewards, is launching a full-scale double credit promotion—Double Credit Days—where Rapid Rewards Members can earn one bonus credit on every flight they book and travel between April 7 and May 26, 2010. Therefore, if you’re a Rapid Rewards Member (and I certainly hope you are!), you’ll find this promotion to be quite rewarding. With Double Credit Days, you’ll get two credits for every one-way flight and four credits if you’re traveling roundtrip from any city that we serve. Since it takes only 16 credits to earn a free flight*, you’ll qualify for a Rapid Rewards Award in just four roundtrips with this promotion! And let’s not forget that Business Select Fares get additional credit. If you combine the bonus credit you get from our Double Credit Days promotion with the additional credit you already get from purchasing a Business Select Fare, you’ll get to an Award even faster by receiving 2.25 credits for shorthaul flights and 3.0 credits for longhaul flights. That’s up to six credits for a longhaul roundtrip! All you’ll need at this point is ten more credits, and we know that’s easy to do with Rapid Rewards and our Preferred Partners—and I’m not writing this as a Marketing plug, it’s based on my own experience as a Rapid Rewards Member. Similar to other Rapid Rewards Members, I’m always looking for ways to maximize my credit earning potential and the Double Credit Days promotion is a perfect opportunity. I already have a few credits in my account (in fact, I’m half a credit away from earning an Award!) simply from using my Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards credit card from Chase, renting cars and staying at hotels that are among our Preferred Partners, dining at participating Rapid Rewards Dining restaurants, and signing up for our e-mail communications (Rapid Rewards E-mail Updates and The Rapid Rewards Report). Knowing that I can combine the credits I earn from using our Preferred Partners with the ones I earn from flying, I may just skip the popular Employee “nonrev game” during this promotional period and purchase my flight(s)! Not only will I satisfy the remaining half a credit, but I’ll be well on my way to earning additional credits toward my next Award! You will, too, if you take advantage of our Double Credit Days promotion! Simply register, book, and travel between April 7 and May 26 and watch your credits add up fast. If you’re not yet a Rapid Rewards Member, enroll today so that you can begin earning double credit toward free flights too! See you on my next trip! * The Rapid Rewards Award is free, but travel is subject to the government-imposed September 11th Security Fee of up to $10 per roundtrip. Travel good on Southwest Airlines published, scheduled service. All Rapid Rewards rules and regulations apply.
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