Is there way to get "never expiring" RR points back and reactivate expired account
Dec 6, 2013, 9:04 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: 787
Programs: Too many to list
Posts: 1,306
Is there way to get "never expiring" RR points back and reactivate expired account
This week I logged into my SW account and realized I just lost 75K points due to inactivity. I always thought from commercials and their gloating that SW points never expire.Turns out redemptions aren't part of "activity" and according to CSR there is no way to get my points back and/or re-activate account. Account became "inactive" 2 weeks ago. Anyone here with similar experience?
Dec 6, 2013, 10:01 pm
#2
Join Date: May 2005
Posts: 4,865
This week I logged into my SW account and realized I just lost 75K points due to inactivity. I always thought from commercials and their gloating that SW points never expire.Turns out redemptions aren't part of "activity" and according to CSR there is no way to get my points back and/or re-activate account. Account became "inactive" 2 weeks ago. Anyone here with similar experience?
Dec 7, 2013, 6:05 am
#3
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Nashville, TN
Programs: WN Nothing and spending the half million points from too many flights, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 8,043
Well, it is good to learn something every day. "Activity" includes earning but not spending.
From here.
And, the account expires, not the points. So "Points Don't Expire" is technically true. They are forfeited from account expiration.
Upon enrollment, Members' accounts are active for 24 months. Members' accounts will remain active as long as the Member earns points at least once every 24 months. The Member's account expiration date will be extended 24 months from the date of the last earned Point. Points earned from flights booked through Southwest and points earned from Rapid Rewards Partners will extend the account activity date. If a Member fails to earn a point in 24 months, the Member's account will become inactive and all points and Promotional Awards will be forfeited.
And, the account expires, not the points. So "Points Don't Expire" is technically true. They are forfeited from account expiration.
Dec 7, 2013, 9:31 am
#4
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: 787
Programs: Too many to list
Posts: 1,306
Well, it is good to learn something every day. "Activity" includes earning but not spending.
From here.
And, the account expires, not the points. So "Points Don't Expire" is technically true. They are forfeited from account expiration.
From here.
And, the account expires, not the points. So "Points Don't Expire" is technically true. They are forfeited from account expiration.
yes, SOOOOOOO DIFFERENT from any other program, we keep on hearing it on every god damned Southwest commercial during NFL games. They should start using the line "we have lavatories on every flight" as well.
Dec 7, 2013, 9:31 am
#5
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: 787
Programs: Too many to list
Posts: 1,306
Will give it a try again for sure. Customer relations office was closed yesterday due to severe weather conditions.
Jan 29, 2014, 8:32 pm
#6
Moderator: Southwest Airlines, Capital One
Join Date: Sep 1999
Location: California
Programs: WN Companion Pass, A-list preferred, Hyatt Globalist; United Club Lietime (sic) Member
Posts: 21,617
Try a snail letter. That often gets a higher grade of response than a phone call.
Nov 29, 2016, 9:26 am
#7
Join Date: Nov 2016
Posts: 1
Any Luck?
Same thing happened to me with the exact same ammount of points. I like the airline but I'm so pissed I never want to fly with them again. I never knew anything of this nonsense. They tricked me with the points never expire advertisements. I hope you can give me advice.
Nov 29, 2016, 10:38 am
#8
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: MCI
Programs: CBP Global Entry, WN A-List Preferred, WN Companion Pass
Posts: 2,007
https://www.southwest.com/rapidrewards/about
**Points don’t expire as long as you have flight or Partner earning activity every 24 months. Benefits apply to points transactions. All Rapid Rewards Rules and Regulations apply.
You're certainly welcome to call them/email them/write them. Recommend you not be "pissed" when you do that, as Southwest didn't error in this case...you did. Unlikely they'll budge as the rules are the rules and have been the rules for quite some time.
Please report back & let us know the ultimate outcome.
Nov 29, 2016, 1:38 pm
#10
Moderator: Southwest Airlines, Capital One
Join Date: Sep 1999
Location: California
Programs: WN Companion Pass, A-list preferred, Hyatt Globalist; United Club Lietime (sic) Member
Posts: 21,617
Closing the account is functionally equivalent to expiring the points. There is no practical difference.
Southwest's policy is the same as that of every other company which expires points or miles. The only real difference is with programs where each point carries its own expiration date and cannot be extended.
Misleading advertising is un-Southwest. It needs to stop, or the policy needs to change to match the advertising.
Nov 29, 2016, 3:53 pm
#12
Join Date: Jan 2014
Programs: Amtrak Guest Rewards (SE), Virgin America Elevate, Hyatt Gold Passport (Platinum), VIA Preference
Posts: 3,134
IANAL, but I agree: There are a whole lot of areas where airlines have wiggle room, but this appears to be pretty blatant misleading advertising. I'm not even sure they could hide this under the Airline Deregulation Act.
Dec 1, 2016, 9:43 am
#14
Join Date: Mar 2011
Posts: 6,286
No, the FTC would defer to the DOT.
Airlines are governed by the US Department of Transportation. The complaint should be filed with the DOT Aviation Consumer Protection division.
Aviation Consumer Protection
What kinds of ads does the FTC regulate?
The FTC has jurisdiction over ads for most products and services (and, in many cases, shares jurisdiction with other federal agencies, such as the FDA, the TTB, and the USPIS). However, in certain circumstances (e.g., ads by airlines, banks, insurance companies, common carriers, companies that sell securities and commodities, and prescription drug companies), the FTC typically defers to other government agencies that have been given specific authority to investigate those kinds of ads.
The FTC has jurisdiction over ads for most products and services (and, in many cases, shares jurisdiction with other federal agencies, such as the FDA, the TTB, and the USPIS). However, in certain circumstances (e.g., ads by airlines, banks, insurance companies, common carriers, companies that sell securities and commodities, and prescription drug companies), the FTC typically defers to other government agencies that have been given specific authority to investigate those kinds of ads.
Aviation Consumer Protection
Last edited by ursine1; Dec 1, 2016 at 11:35 am Reason: Typo
Dec 2, 2016, 6:25 am
#15
Join Date: Feb 2014
Posts: 921
Everyplace I see "Points that don't expire", I see the asterisks informing you of more information. Nothing illegal there, although not really transparent either.
But if you like the airline, or fly frequently with the airline, by not flying with them for 2 years straight muddles how much one actually liked the airline. Sure, life happens and maybe there are reasons why one couldn't fly, but in that case I'd be checking out to see what happens with points after 12 months. With most point-accruing reward systems, 24 months is quite generous.
But if you like the airline, or fly frequently with the airline, by not flying with them for 2 years straight muddles how much one actually liked the airline. Sure, life happens and maybe there are reasons why one couldn't fly, but in that case I'd be checking out to see what happens with points after 12 months. With most point-accruing reward systems, 24 months is quite generous.
