Complexity benefits the company. Always. Doesn't Southwest know this? We've learned it from cellphone companies, credit card companies ... anyone selling you something that requires videos and calculators is hoping that you fall for a trick. They are hoping that you believe that the complicated formula will benefit you.
It won't. It never does. Companies always find a way to change one of the 30 variables to remove the benefit. Heck, that's *why* the variables are there. So that they can be manipulated while the company still tells you how wonderful awesome the plan is.
it's just basic common sense at this point. Always look at the fine print is the cliche. So, with the old program, you knew there was value. No fine print. No calculators that are subject to change, and will always change to drip, drip, drip the value out of the plan. Fly x trips, get a seat. That should be the plan. One number, no calculators. I don't care if the number is 12 or 30. Really, that's not the problem. Southwest used to have a really nice bonus: a system that you could understand and explain in about 5 seconds. No one else had that. Is Southwest aiming for a new experience: "just like everyone else, but somehow better"? C'mon. If you can't afford good, that's fine. But don't replace good with "complicated and might be ok - use the calculator!", and tell me it's good.
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