Southwest announced the strategic initiative to attract business travelers from other airlines. nsx keeps making the case that once other airlines' frequent flyers become fed up, and discover the Southwest way, they'll stay. Southwest launched the new paradigm, and has advertised it widely, but it still seems like they just threw pixie dust in the air, and hoped the business traveler would notice all the new good things.

Southwest incents to enroll in Rapid Rewards when they enter new markets, and generally, as in the banner ads surrounding this space and elsewhere. Nearly every elite level that I've attained, and maintained status with, started with an incentive. My colleagues agree. Frankly, I began flying Southwest much more apropos of all the "fall madness" promos in 2007. This despite, or along with, being a 24 year devotee of United. I believe it's going to take more for my extreme traveler colleagues, who are accustomed to some kind of elite treatment (albeit deteriorating) for their loyalty, but aren't yet too sure about Southwest.

It could be done as other airlines and hotel programs have incented business travelers: Submit documentation of at least first-tier status in another airline's program, and receive A-List status for a year. Or six months. Maybe require the program's record of the applicant's last year's flights.

Not trivial: It will take less to maintain A-List (simultaneously earning two free trips) than it takes for status in most programs. These are three existing incentives - among many more of the Southwest way - that would help keep Southwest's new Business Travelers in the fold.

Why not?