Originally Posted by eamus
Actually, they do not capacity control. They do have blackout dates, but that's it. To quote from their website: "Rapid Rewards is the only major frequent flyer program that doesn't limit the number of seats available for use with your roundtrip Award. If a seat is available on the flight you want to take, it's yours! Best of all, Southwest Airlines has limited blackout dates so there are virtually no limitations on when you can use your roundtrip Award - imagine the possibilities! "
Well Starwood also have exactly the same terms, but trust me you can often book a room and
not get an award room at a Sheraton for same night.
And black-out dates are of course in essence a capacity control - i.e. NO flights!
But yes, Southwest have a simple system all the same, and one the AVERAGE person can understand and follow. And guess what - Southwest is capitalised at more than the COMBINED market value of UA, AA, CO, DL and NW
combined. The simple approach often is best for everyone.
And with no airline partners and complications accosiated with that, admin for such an award scheme is a tiny % of what other airlines need to pay.
I think a simple and fair "one for ten" would be a
huge winner for Virgin.
Glen