Southwest Rapid Rewards - CP - Go for it?

Ok, so.....

I'm not a Chase RR card holder presently. I'll be going that direction in the coming months either (I will likely be going that way in March or so of 2010).

I'm at about 74 RR credits once the travel I've completed is finished posting, and I lose about 2 credits in January, then a bunch (14) at once in Feb.

This situation has me evaluating where the line is for "going for it" or not...

If I were within a few hundred bucks worth of spending to make it, the answer is obvious - go for it.

With the travel already anticipated, I'll likely be 20 credits away from CP...

So where's the line for you?

For me the line is go for it, no matter what your current point total is.

I've posted here before that I consider the CP more valuable than the 6.25 RR awards you get for the 100 credits. I'll get $2500 value out of mine this year.

Consensus in this forum is that an RR credit is worth around $15-18 before the CP value is considered.

I'd go for it even if you had to rent cars in vain to pile up the credits. Check the triple and quadruple offers (1.5 to 2 per rental).

if you get the Chase RR Visa, you receive 16 credits upon approval (I think; it's at least 8). And there's an offer right now for 4 bonus credits if you earn 8 ($9600 spend) in Oct/Nov.

You will not regret it. The CP is my #1 goal each year.

If you don't have an immediate use for the CP, you might want to delay earning it until Feb, so that you get the latest expiration date. Also you want to earn it near the beginning of a month, not the end of a month. That gives you a couple extra weeks of use.

How often do you actually fly with the same person. You can only change the person 3 ( I believe) times during the course of the year.

I got mine last Nov as part of the whole cont/am/choice thing. I have used it a grand total of 2 times.

To me you have to factor that into the equation.

For me the line is go for it, no matter what your current point total is.

I've posted here before that I consider the CP more valuable than the 6.25 RR awards you get for the 100 credits. I'll get $2500 value out of mine this year.

Consensus in this forum is that an RR credit is worth around $15-18 before the CP value is considered.

I'd go for it even if you had to rent cars in vain to pile up the credits. Check the triple and quadruple offers (1.5 to 2 per rental).

if you get the Chase RR Visa, you receive 16 credits upon approval (I think; it's at least 8). And there's an offer right now for 4 bonus credits if you earn 8 ($9600 spend) in Oct/Nov.

You will not regret it. The CP is my #1 goal each year.
Can you give us more information or link about 4 bonus credits for spending $9600 spend in Oct/Nov.

I searched in this forum and couldn't find any reference to it.

How often do you actually fly with the same person. You can only change the person 3 ( I believe) times during the course of the year.

I got mine last Nov as part of the whole cont/am/choice thing. I have used it a grand total of 2 times.

To me you have to factor that into the equation.


I think that's my issue... I won't see the value that some do... I often travel with others, but not the SAME other... ;)

Can you give us more information or link about 4 bonus credits for spending $9600 spend in Oct/Nov.

I searched in this forum and couldn't find any reference to it.

I always use this link when applying. It has been around since I can remember and always has the 16 bonus points rather than the 8.

http://www.southwest.com/bonus/

I think that's my issue... I won't see the value that some do... I often travel with others, but not the SAME other... ;)

I see another advantage to CP even if you don't always travel with the same person. Since getting mine in July of this year I have used it 4 times with 2 more CP bookings this year. I figure each time I use it I would have used a RR to book my wife instead so I have saved 6 RR tickets this year. I know it is not a huge upside, but it is a savings! I actually have more RR tickets now than I know what to do with so I will book all of our friend's tickets with those thus allowing 4 people to travel for free on a CP from the past RR savings. So even if you can only use the CP a few times you would be saving either money or RR tickets to use for the people that are not your companion.

Within 2-3 weeks of receiving my CP in early Sept. I had booked 6 months of domestic travel (9 weekend trips, 13 itins total) for my wife for $85. It's the equivalent of booking ~18K miles on DL or CO for $85. It's an incredible deal.

Now I'm back from vacation & the calendar has opened up for a couple more months ... :)

You need to consider what you'll do w/ it & how quickly.

Can you give us more information or link about 4 bonus credits for spending $9600 spend in Oct/Nov.

I searched in this forum and couldn't find any reference to it.

That sounds like a targeted offer I received. They wanted me to spend some ridiculously large amount, so I tossed the offer.

Can you give us more information or link about 4 bonus credits for spending $9600 spend in Oct/Nov.

I searched in this forum and couldn't find any reference to it.

This was a targeted offer to SWA Chase cardholders roughly 4/5 months prior to the expiration/renewal of the card. The number is based on your average spending on the card. My target was $1000, IIRC.

This was a targeted offer to SWA Chase cardholders roughly 4/5 months prior to the expiration/renewal of the card. The number is based on your average spending on the card. My target was $1000, IIRC.

Thanks. My card renewal is not until next March, hopefully I will get some promotion like this before March.

Are there any good car rental promos out there? Do you have a healthy stash of Marriott points? You might be able to top off to 100 rather cheaply.

About three years ago, I knew I was entering a 12-month period where I'd have at least 5 trips to areas best served by WN (from MCI). SoCal, NorCal, Florida, Seattle, and there are always a couple of Chicagos every year for us.

There happened to be an Alamo 4xWN promo at the time (2 full RR credits per rental). So I did a Marriott Travel Package and a handful of cheap rentals had my CP.

Ended up getting a lot of value out of it and I hardly even tried. Some people would take a CP and travel every weekend. I think I maybe used mine 10 times...we added a few extra trips once we realized how easy the CP was to use. :) A "hard" value of probably $3k in extra free tickets and a "soft" value of flying nonstops to places where UA or AA would have required a long travel day made it perhaps the best use of Marriott points I've ever had.

Are there any good car rental promos out there? Do you have a healthy stash of Marriott points? You might be able to top off to 100 rather cheaply.

About three years ago, I knew I was entering a 12-month period where I'd have at least 5 trips to areas best served by WN (from MCI). SoCal, NorCal, Florida, Seattle, and there are always a couple of Chicagos every year for us.

There happened to be an Alamo 4xWN promo at the time (2 full RR credits per rental). So I did a Marriott Travel Package and a handful of cheap rentals had my CP.

Ended up getting a lot of value out of it and I hardly even tried. Some people would take a CP and travel every weekend. I think I maybe used mine 10 times...we added a few extra trips once we realized how easy the CP was to use. :) A "hard" value of probably $3k in extra free tickets and a "soft" value of flying nonstops to places where UA or AA would have required a long travel day made it perhaps the best use of Marriott points I've ever had.

I've been watching the car promo thread, but it seems most of the credit offers involve multiple nights, and the spend per credit goes up...

I've decided to go for it, and today booked four round trips to and from STL, kinda a mileage run with LUV voucher for payment, all during this current double credit promotion (the one that ends Oct 31). With the Priority Club points I just converted, I'll be about eight credits shy, so I'll be looking for rentals to make up the difference... I am a member of RR Dining, but spending $400 per credit (even if buying gift cards) seems a bit nuts...

Thanks for all the help (keep it coming... :) )

If you don't have an immediate use for the CP, you might want to delay earning it until Feb, so that you get the latest expiration date. Also you want to earn it near the beginning of a month, not the end of a month. That gives you a couple extra weeks of use.

Using this strategy, I'd like to earn it first week of January... Do you know if it's the posting date or the earning date that matters?

One of the easier ways to get over the top to earn a CP is by applying for an American Express Gold Rewards card that has the 50K point sign up bonus (spend $500 in 3 months). I applied for one of these when it was looking like I would not make CP this year and it was a fairly easy process. It does take a while for the points to post (up to 3 months for me) but I now have enough points in my membership rewards account to transfer 34 WN RR credits. I don't need the points for next year's CP so I will hold onto them until my renewal comes up, but it will be a great start to the next 100!

don't need the points for next year's CP so I will hold onto them until my renewal comes up, but it will be a great start to the next 100!

I wish you luck. The past two years I have used that strategy with a slew of Choice Privileges points but, before I could use them for the next year's CP accrual, they were significantly devalued.

"I don't like it but I guess things happen that way"

Johnny Cash

I've been watching the car promo thread, but it seems most of the credit offers involve multiple nights, and the spend per credit goes up...

When I was renting from Alamo (usually 2 to 3 day rentals), I calculated my cost for the two RR credits to be roughly 100 Hertz points per rental, plus a few bucks for the comparative inconvenience of using Alamo and the $1/day FF fee.

I was roughly calling it about $25 for 2 RR credits. Considering they were leading me to CP status, I was more than willing to do it. :)

When I was renting from Alamo (usually 2 to 3 day rentals), I calculated my cost for the two RR credits to be roughly 100 Hertz points per rental, plus a few bucks for the comparative inconvenience of using Alamo and the $1/day FF fee.

I was roughly calling it about $25 for 2 RR credits. Considering they were leading me to CP status, I was more than willing to do it. :)

Gosh, I can't find pricing anywhere near that here in KC... Even with all the deals I can find, promo codes I can use, etc., I'm still averaging $25 per DAY for car rentals, and that puts the cost of a credit at about $35 (with taxes, etc.).

I'm concentrating on a mileage run next week / weekend that will leave me just a bit short going into December, but I'm targeting January and will still be about 10 credits short... Perhaps WN will add another double credit offer or similar... :)

Thanks again for the suggestions on the Credit Cards, but until my current bonus card promotion ends, I'll not be switching (but after, I'll be moving. :) ).

Do you know if it's the posting date or the earning date that matters?From the Wiki FAQ (http://flyerguide.com/wiki/index.php?title=Category:Southwest_Rapid_Rewards): It is important to understand the distinction between the posting date and the activity date! The activity date is used to determine whether benefits (e.g., an award or CP) have been earned. The posting date affects the date on which earned benefits are actually granted (and therefore when they expire). Lots of good CP info in the FAQ; don't miss the validity period information (http://flyerguide.com/wiki/index.php?title=Category:Southwest_Rapid_Rewards#O ver_what_time_period_is_a_Companion_Pass_valid.3F) and initial CP time period examples.

I travel from BOS to Washington about 2-3 times a month. WN's price from BOS to BWI is significantly less than flying US or DL to DCA which I was regularly doing before WN started up in BOS. It is so much less expensive, for my typical day trips, that even to stay in a cheap BWI airport hotel for the night is less than a typical same day roundtrip on the US Shuttle.

With BOS and systemwide bonuses am earning 3 credits per one-way. Also was earning 4 credits prior to 10/15 with the demise of the college RR program.

I would do some segment runs if I could get say the $39 fare but it seems you have to book that 14-21 days in advance. Also the BOS to BWI flights, many of them, have been close to 100% full and often show sold out.

One thing about the CP I would like to clarrify is whether the primary and companion pax can check in online or if you actually must check in at the counter with the CP card? Is the CP card just a formality or a credential the companion pax actually needs to present each time?

I'm also not sure how much I would really use the CP but it would be neat to have if nothing else :). And it is interesting to be able to use it with the award tickets.

CP reservations are eligible for OLCI, EBCI, or A-list check-in, as applicable. Although it's pretty hard for a companion to make A-list with all those free flights not counting toward qualification.

One thing about the CP I would like to clarrify is whether the primary and companion pax can check in online or if you actually must check in at the counter with the CP card? Is the CP card just a formality or a credential the companion pax actually needs to present each time?


I have had CP for the past 11 months and my wife has traveled with me on 8-9 trips. Always able to OLCI for both, have purchased EBCI for the returns out of LAS. Never been asked for the card, always carry it just in case.

Can you give us more information or link about 4 bonus credits for spending $9600 spend in Oct/Nov.

I searched in this forum and couldn't find any reference to it.

I got an email from Chase on Oct. 1. Here's the impt. part:

"This offer applies to your account ending in: XXXX

From October 1 through November 30, 2009, when you spend at least $9,600 on your Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards® card from Chase, you'll receive 4 additional bonus credits.1 That's in addition to the 8 credits you will already receive... that's 50% more credits toward your next free flight!

Your next FREE FLIGHT is even closer than you think."

Not sure if it's targeted. I have been slacking off on that CC, as I am approaching 100 credits since April and need $$ to try to get Hhilton Diamond. Maybe that triggered something.

Unfortunately, I had just put a $3800 funeral bill on the thing about Sep. 28. OUCH.

Gosh, I can't find pricing anywhere near that here in KC... Even with all the deals I can find, promo codes I can use, etc., I'm still averaging $25 per DAY for car rentals, and that puts the cost of a credit at about $35 (with taxes, etc.).

Keep in mind that the $25 per rental (or $12.50 per credit) was merely an estimate of my value of the Hertz points I was otherwise getting at the time. For the purposes of estimation, I assumed a base rate of $100 total per rental (two to three days, $30-40 per day).

The other general assumption I made is that Alamo was never way out of line with their pricing for any given rental. For me they weren't - in fact, they were a smidge cheaper than my usual Hertz rentals.

In the absence of a promotion, I'm a National guy these days, so my "cost" of using someone else would be high right now: 1/2 of a 1-2-Free Day and 1/6 of a regular National Free Day.

Sort of off-topic, but if you're already in KC (as opposed to just arriving at MCI), the agencies in Kansas or in suburban Missouri tend to have cheap cars. Sub-$20/day weekends or $140-ish all in for a week. I use the two Hertzes on Metcalf Avenue often, as well as the Avis on occasion. I seem to recall Beckles doing rental runs at the Liberty Hertz - I think for one of Hertz's WN promotions.

CP reservations are eligible for OLCI, EBCI, or A-list check-in, as applicable. Although it's pretty hard for a companion to make A-list with all those free flights not counting toward qualification.

Ja, come 1 Jan. I will have to start playing the 24-hour checkin game with my wife ... forever. No way she will ever qualify for A-List again, not that my wallet is complaining. :p The lack of any checkin benefit for companions is one hole in WN's program.

Keep in mind that the $25 per rental (or $12.50 per credit) was merely an estimate of my value of the Hertz points I was otherwise getting at the time. For the purposes of estimation, I assumed a base rate of $100 total per rental (two to three days, $30-40 per day).

The other general assumption I made is that Alamo was never way out of line with their pricing for any given rental. For me they weren't - in fact, they were a smidge cheaper than my usual Hertz rentals.

In the absence of a promotion, I'm a National guy these days, so my "cost" of using someone else would be high right now: 1/2 of a 1-2-Free Day and 1/6 of a regular National Free Day.

Sort of off-topic, but if you're already in KC (as opposed to just arriving at MCI), the agencies in Kansas or in suburban Missouri tend to have cheap cars. Sub-$20/day weekends or $140-ish all in for a week. I use the two Hertzes on Metcalf Avenue often, as well as the Avis on occasion. I seem to recall Beckles doing rental runs at the Liberty Hertz - I think for one of Hertz's WN promotions.

Yep, I do the same, typically at the Gladstone location, but I do my best to avoid the $11 per day in user fees (Arena Fee, Facility Fee, Transportation fee, etc...) that is levied in Kansas City... ;)

Thanks for all the suggestions! :)

I had the cp last year, this year my husband has it. We have always checked in online with no problem and have never been asked to show it. I have always had to book it in the account of the person who has the cp however. the cps are way more valuable to me than the rr because there are absolutlely no blackouts!