Southwest Rapid Rewards - RR2.0 and Business Select

Hoping some insiders might have some answers.

Am curious if RR 2.0 and Business Select (with its preferred boarding, extra RR points, and a drink coupon) has resulted in Southwest gaining a bigger share of the coveted business traveler market which they are seeking. My guess is "no" but I doubt Southwest would admit if the strategy has been a bust.

I work with a bunch of USAir loyalists. The allure of the potential first class upgrade keeps them with USAir and not moving to Southwest.

Hoping some insiders might have some answers.

Am curious if RR 2.0 and Business Select (with its preferred boarding, extra RR points, and a drink coupon) has resulted in Southwest gaining a bigger share of the coveted business traveler market which they are seeking. My guess is "no" but I doubt Southwest would admit if the strategy has been a bust.

I work with a bunch of USAir loyalists. The allure of the potential first class upgrade keeps them with USAir and not moving to Southwest.

IMO, they are getting the same people they always did it is just that some of us, including me, will now more likely consider BS as the WGA fare approaches ~75% of BS fare or for last minute purchases and changes.

What your friends desire on US will not be an option for a long time, if ever, on WN: Great big cushy assigned seats, personal attention in a "separate" cabin, and international flights to Europe and Asia.

The competition is selling a package of travel plus personal attention and service. WN sells transportation to a destination with Business Select sweetening the deal by adding a few amenities and more points.

I used to fly BS a lot. The value was crushed by Evolve. A-List and the extra points don't make up for the tight fit.

When I did buy BS, almost always sat in 11A. Now that the huge legroom there is gone, it's hard to justify. Moreover, the few times I didn't get that seat, I didn't get thrown into a lottery for 30-31 inch pitch seats.

Also had an interesting experience with a last minute Chicago-PDX trip. BS was around $540. Meanwhile, paid F on AS was only $100 more. No smart business traveler will choose WN in that situation.

Post-Evo, I'll only do BS when it's a short, last minute trip, and there are only middle seats on alternative flights. I still like WN and the flexibility it offers, but there's simply not enough value in the overall product to pay $500+ for a o/w transcon.

IMO, they are getting the same people they always did it is just that some of us, including me, will now more likely consider BS as the WGA fare approaches ~75% of BS fare or for last minute purchases and changes.

What your friends desire on US will not be an option for a long time, if ever, on WN: Great big cushy assigned seats, personal attention in a "separate" cabin, and international flights to Europe and Asia.

The competition is selling a package of travel plus personal attention and service. WN sells transportation to a destination with Business Select sweetening the deal by adding a few amenities and more points.

Well, I can say this. The program at least got me to try southwest. I frequently travel, but only recently opted for southwest for the first time over AA, and it seemed southwest had the only direct route for what I needed. I took business select to try to lessen the pain.

I think the single drink coupon is majorly cheap, and the fact that I can't use it for an energy drink when my flight is at 7 am is completely worthless.

I won't use southwest again by choice, only if it's a direct flight and the only option. Even then, I likely won't pay for business, but use early bird checkin - what's the point?

So, the idea got me to try it, but the service I got didn't really blow me away as a business/first traveller on other airlines. Also, it may just be me, but the attitude of the southwest crew just gets on my nerves.