Originally Posted by
jrpaguia
I don't disagree with your sentiments regarding FF benefits and destinations but I see no reason to let awards expire. You could burn them on yourself for your own scheduled trips (worst case scenario: use an award for a $52 short hop instead of paying the $50 extension) or better yet, they're always an excellent treat for friends and relatives who do not travel very often (this is what I usually do).
I'm not arguing for letting awards expire, but looking at award availability, I can see several periods where Southwest shows NO availability for extended periods of time. Adding that to often the business traveller earning the flights doesn't want to go by him/herself to 'any other city' and that their friends/family may not have vacation days on the odd days that Southwest actually releases seats, I can easily see why awards can go to waste.
I think allowing rolling expiration date like the other majors, along with offering more redemption opportunities on code share partners (even if its pretty limited in reality) would be good changes to attract the 'average' business traveller.. I think light business travellers usually pick on schedule, and heavy business travellers already have the airlines they like and only USAirways is stupid enough to piss these people off
