Like so many on this blog, I have been a loyal and long time weekly Southwest flyer for both business and personal travel. I have also always insisted my staff fly Southwest and I encourage everyone I know to fly them. I am also an owner of stock, and participate in all of the partner programs including the credit card. Even as prices increased, the rapid rewards program kept me loyal.
And like so many on here, I have no incentive to continue my loyalty to Southwest and will now just shop around on price and schedule. I will cancel my credit card for one that has a lower interest rate and a more flexible rewards program (there are many out there) and dump my stock. This is the single biggest mistake you have made - your rapid rewards program is what differentiated you ... it was easy to use, easy to understand and flexible. Thinking this program will incent more business travelers to pay higher fares is a falacy - companies are also looking for bargain fares. I would have rather seen you continue to inch up your overall prices. You may as well charge for bags too and stop giving away free snacks because you are now simply like every othe airline out there. I can't imagine you got input from your most loyal of customers and frequent of flyers ... do the right thing and do a proper analysis with those of us who have truly helped make your airline number one. Launching this program will result in you losing our business for good.
Like the others, it has been a great ride and for that I thank you. Good luck
Monique
... View more
