Originally Posted by
MrMan
Being from a bean counter background I suspect that more of the drink coupon issue has to do with valueing the liability. Auditors don't like open liabilities, one can't measure them, hence the expiration date. Not saying that this was handled well, but this may be an explanation.
Therein lies the problem. I believe you're 100% right. An accountant-centric, not client-centric, decision was made. That's the fundamental cultural/values change that has taken place at Southwest.
Originally Posted by jamesteroh
If Herb were still in charge, I honestly don't think the drink coupon changes would have happened. I could see them start to issue new coupons with expiration dates and stop accepting ones with expirations dates that had expired and put language on new coupons that said they couldn't be used for monster. But I don't they would have stopped accepting the ones that said "non alcohol speciality drinks" for monsters, had put an expiration on the ones (some of of which were sold by wn) with no expiration dates printed on them.
It's somewhat of a moot discussion, but I can't see Herb buying off on effectively selling $5 drink coupons that can't be redeemed for a $3 drink. I don't think it would matter to him whether the client bought his drink standalone, as part of one BS ticket, as part of sixteen WGA tickets, or in tiny increments through restaurants, florists, rental car agencies, the WN Visa, and hotels. I somehow don't think that would make it past his desk because it's complicated and doesn't make sense from a client point of view. At the end of the day, the client paid $5 in today's or yesterday's dollars for a drink - if he/she decides not to claim it for five years, all the better for Southwest.
In the course of my 20 years of flying, I have actually received a small number of drink chits that one might consider "free". (I think I was getting them for my birthday for a while - one per year. It's been a long time since I got one.) In a way, I could sort of see some limit on those - use within six months or whatnot. I still don't see Herb approving of funky language on them saying you can't redeem them on the lower-cost drinks.