Okay, folks! Here's a quick breakdown of the stats so far:
Time since this news was originally posted here: 37.25 hours
Total number of comments as of 2:15pm pacific time, today(including mine): 138
Number of posters who are:
- Pleased with the changes: 10
- Displeased with the changes: 106
- Neutral about the changes: 5
- Just plain confused: 7
Responses from SWA employees: 6
At least three people have said that they're planning on or already have cancelled their SWA Rapid Rewards Visa cards.
Most common opinions expressed are that the new system:
- is disappointing.
- is overly complex.
- is misrepresented as a good deal.
- hurts most frequent fliers, especially those who take short-haul flights.
- only benefits business class & A-List fliers, and then only marginally.
- screws SWA's historically loyal customer base.
- is too much like all of the other airline reward systems out there.
- will reduce or has already reduced consumer confidence in the company.
Many say that they'll be switching to other carriers.
Many have also stated that they find the wording (spin) of the announcement to be misleading, dishonest, and insulting to their intelligence.
One poster even went as far as to state that he plans on selling his stock in the company.
Notable quotes:
"More choices. More difficult. More expensive. Less rewarding." - M Potter
"A polished cow pie is still a cow pie. Welcome to a much more complicated way to move about the country." - txaggie96
"Pay extra to get a boarding card sooner. Pay extra to be at the front of the boarding line. Pay extra and you'll earn rewards faster. Pay extra... Pay extra.... But hey, bags fly free! What a joke." -anonymous
"I require my 70 employees to only fly Southwest. This program looks similar to all the rest. I will have to look at other airlines when Southwest has no nonstop." -Jason
"I still can't believe that they have the gall to say in there info "now you can earn free flights even faster". I don't like it when companies lie and that statement is an outright lie!!!" -sandy2
"What are you thinking, SWA? … Goodbye SWA… Hello, Jet Blue!" -r. bird
Southwest, I really hope you're listening.
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