Southwest: Frequent-flier changes coming in 2010

[DieselDragRacer]

http://www.usatoday.com/travel/flights/item.aspx?type=blog&ak=620000058.blog

Southwest will roll out a significant revamp of its Rapids Rewards frequent-flier program sometime next year. The airline had originally planned to unveil its Rapid Rewards remake sometime this year, according to The Dallas Morning News. The paper says "the carrier has been touting an overhaul of Rapid Rewards for a couple of years, part of Southwest's efforts to attract more higher-fare business travelers. “


Southwest executive president Bob Jordan is quoted by the Morning News as saying he expects the changes to come "late next year. … I'm not going to tell you what's in it, but there's going to be a lot of benefits in terms of flexibility," he adds to the paper.



The Morning News describes Southwest's looming Rapid Rewards overhaul as part of the company’s efforts to "raise more money from customers without putting fees on services they were already getting, like checked bags," though the report did not offer any specific changes that might be in the works. The paper says more then 6% of Southwest’s revenue passengers in 2008 flew on frequent-flier award tickets.


Currently, Southwest supporters laud the airline's frequent-flier program as one of the easiest in the industry for both earning and redeeming award points. Given that, expect any changes that Southwest eventually makes to the Rapid Rewards program to be closely scrutinized for the impact the carrier's frequent fliers.

 

[RedDogC130]

maybe that is the big announcement I keep hearing about for nov 1

 

[StopNTSing]

The reporter tried really hard to create a story despite apparently having no other information beyond the headline.

....and to think some people actually shell out a buck to read such pap?

 

[GuppyWN]

The "flexibility" is probably getting to use your Rapid Rewards on our codeshare :uzi: "partners."

Gup :angryfire

 

[PropPiedmont]

maybe that is the big announcement I keep hearing about for nov 1

In Jan. 2010 US Airways will be moving to the 'B' Concourse in Denver. I expect the new gate aquisition on the 'C' Concourse to part of the November announcement.

 

[Flying the Line]

My guess is that it will switch to a miles based rewards program, just look at how much AMR got for selling miles in advance to Citi.