With the large players don't to low single digits, it's foolish to expect our loyalty to mean anything.
With OP being DFW-based, unless WN's limited options from DAL make sense (and you live close to DAL), you're flying AA if you value your time.
If I were OP, I'd not be asking for an exception, but I'd be asking for a buy-up opportunity even if the EQM's shouldn't deserve it.