ILovetheReds

And if the Skypriority lane at BNA is gone, it also means the flyby lane is as well (unless Southwest has a different security checkpoint at BNA, I can't remember).

As far as delay's on other airlines go, it isn't as big of an inconvenience if you aren't connecting. Being MSP based if I am flying on Delta, the flight is probably direct so no worries if it is delayed and I misconnect, where if I am on WN, there is a good possibility I will be connecting and have to be concerned with missing a connection.

At least if a diamond is delayed on Delta they have free skyclub access (if it's a city with a SC) to go to and the diamond desk at Delta and the Platinum desk at American have both been great to work with when I have had severe delays as far as rerouting and sometimes interlining me on another carrier. If you have an irops or severe delay on WN you have no lounge and no chance of interlining on another carrier.

I had a six hour delay on Southwest a few months ago at BNA and was thankful for my diamond status on Delta. While it didn't get me home any faster, it was great being able to use the Skyclub at BNA for free. If I wouldn't have had status on Delta, it would have meant six hours in the BNA concourse.

Mike1625

Everyone makes their choices for what is relevant to them. I can tell the OP what is best about WN to me, but it might be useless to them.

FWIW - I love college football, and travel to many of my school's road games. So, I book a reward ticket for each game months before the season (and rebook when the points required drops). This fall we have 5 road games, I know for sure I will go to at least 2, most likely 3-4, and if I get really crazy all 5. I love the fact that I can cancel each trip I end up not needing and getting my points back.

I know this isn't an elite benefit, but it is a benefit the other airlines don't offer and makes me shift some of my business in their direction.

ILovetheReds

As a Platinum or Diamond on Delta, if you cancel an awards ticket you can cancel and deposit the points for no penalty as long as it's 72 hours in advance (Delta PM's have the same benefit) and IIRC I also have the benefit as an AA Platinum and I'm sure United has the same policy for their higher tiers.

I agree that is a nice benefit for someone that doesn't fly enough for status and the change fee waiver is great for people who need to make a lot of changes to their travel plans, or a frequent flyer that has a fare drop on an already booked ticket and can use the credit later.

One benefit I would miss if I were a WN frequent flyer would be no lifetime status. As a 2MM on Delta, I have annual gold which will be handy when I retire or if I start handing out more of my travel to staff members (and I realize that benefit could go away) and I rarely fly American and have lifetime Platinum thanks to the US Mint and the Citi AA card. I also like being able to gift gold status to my wife

Like you said in the first paragraph, different people find different benefits useful. I like being able to SDC for free, getting upgrades and a free lounge membership and don't care about change fees or the CP. Someone who has a spouse that travels with them a lot (or the same colleague where they can save on airfare) the CP benefit would be a huge moneysaver just like change fees for someone that has travel plans that continually change.

nsx

That's for sure. Well over 1000 flights gives me no status when I stop.

InkUnderNails

Same check point, different entrances and lines.

jbdear

+1

capitolm94

Sadly on AA its only executive platinum...

capitolm94

Free wifi

FCfree

Not a whole lot. The benefits are outlined above, such as free Wi-Fi and better boarding position for no EBCI charge.

You get all the benefits of SWA (no change fee, no bag fees, no blackout dates, etc.) just for joining Rapid Rewards. No "heavy" flying needed.

If you fly enough and someone else is paying the bill and doesn't mind paying your change fees, etc., then yes, those legacy airlines have some nice offerings. For the rest of us, we'll stick with SWA.

capitolm94

I find that I accrue points much more quickly on short flights with Southwest than I would on a legacy.

For example: LA to San Francisco on southwest is ~6000 points if you buy business select; thats ~500 AA miles

Because of that I take southwest for short flights and legacies for long.

sheidt

Well, the fun keeps coming. I just got the text saying that my return flight tonight is delayed 1.5 hours!!! That makes 5 weeks in a row and 6 out of the last 7 being delayed with NONE of those due to weather!!! I called the preferred desk and she told me the reason this week was "operational". It's now become quite comical how terrible they are at being able to hit a decent on-time percentage on afternoon/evening flights! Over these last 7 weeks, I have tried different flights, twice a different destination, some direct, one connecting, but it doesn't seem to matter. No matter what, it appears that afternoon/evening flights will be delayed significantly due to their inability to run an airline.

HBFlyer

Amen! After ten years of flying at least two segments every week at a minimum I am about to call it quits. Not that I am tired of SWA, the fact is that I am retiring. I already have lifetime Gold on United. Would be nice to add a lifetime A-List preferred to that resume. Alas after two more flights this chapter in my life will come to a close. Now to figure out how to spend over 1Million SWA points. Two business class tickets to Europe through their program is 1.2M

joshua362

How is your golf game? Handicap of 15 or less?

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Hayden

Awhile back, American removed two of the rear lavs on its 767-300s, replacing them with extra Y seats; they also replaced one of the rear galleys in their MD-80s with engine-adjacent Y seating. I don't know that the lavs were made smaller, necessarily.

MrMan

Enjoy your "real" airline RJ and mega hub connection experience