01-11-2011
05:12 PM
2 Loves
I read most of the posts and I think I can feel the pain of the following people here: All of those that flight SHORT routes (e.g.: Los Angeles to Las Vegas) and WANT TO EARN A TRIP ANYWHERE in the country (e.g: Los Angeles to Boston).
I know it is a nice thing to get a free flight anywhere in the country, but is that reasonable from business point of view? Southwest already gives lots of perks that other airlines don't (free bags, free changes, etc..), and as a businessman I see the reasons for the change. Southwest is not making extra money like other airlines are. Delta made 1 billion on bags and other fees in 2010 (billion with "B"). How a business can increase their revenue without increasing their prices? Simple answer: by cutting costs. Think like someone that stopped receiving his 401K match from a company he worked for (raise your hand if it happened to you in the last few years).
For those that say the program is not simple anymore, it is actually pretty simple: Fly 10 times to a destination and get a free flight to that destination (earn = 12, 10 and 6; redeem 120, 100, 60).
Addressing from a different point of view, there are 3 types of passengers: the ones that fly occasionally (a few flights a year), people that fly with some frequency (around once a month), road warriors (fly several times a month). For those that fly occasionally (ME), it will be great. I hate loosing my credits after 2 years (and a lost quite a few). Road warriors most likely will benefit from it, since lots of them buy the more expensive fares. The short commuters and the people that fly with some frequency, sorry.. no big cookies for you (small and medium cookies only).
I'd suggest for those that are not happy, go pay more for tkts on other airlines, pay for bags, pay change fees, and get miles on a much simpler program (yeah, right).
I'm happy! I'm not going to lose my credits anymore and get points for what I pay for (ok, that is not a really great thing since I don't have money and most likely will get the 6x on WGA).
... View more