Help! Confused about using Southwest rapid reward points for Airtran flights
Jul 29, 2013, 8:26 am
#1
Original Member
Original Poster
Join Date: May 1998
Location: Rockville, MD, USA
Posts: 157
Help! Confused about using Southwest rapid reward points for Airtran flights
Hello
Just got off the phone w/ customer service reps at Air Tran and also Southwest, and I'm still confused. My questions (I thought) were pretty straight forward:
1) I have tons of Ultimate rewards points, which can be converted to Southwest rapid rewards.
2) I want to fly BWI to Aruba in Feb 2014. This is an Air Tran flight.
3) Can I use rapid rewards to get this ticket, either directly or by converting the rapid rewards to Air Tran credits?
Thanks
Just got off the phone w/ customer service reps at Air Tran and also Southwest, and I'm still confused. My questions (I thought) were pretty straight forward:
1) I have tons of Ultimate rewards points, which can be converted to Southwest rapid rewards.
2) I want to fly BWI to Aruba in Feb 2014. This is an Air Tran flight.
3) Can I use rapid rewards to get this ticket, either directly or by converting the rapid rewards to Air Tran credits?
Thanks
Jul 29, 2013, 12:50 pm
#2
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: ORD/MDW
Programs: AA EXP, DL-Plat, WN-CP | Hotels: Choice-Gld, IHG-Plt, Rad-Gld, HH-Dia, Hyatt-Glob, Marriott-LtPlt
Posts: 2,889
Hello
Just got off the phone w/ customer service reps at Air Tran and also Southwest, and I'm still confused. My questions (I thought) were pretty straight forward:
1) I have tons of Ultimate rewards points, which can be converted to Southwest rapid rewards.
2) I want to fly BWI to Aruba in Feb 2014. This is an Air Tran flight.
3) Can I use rapid rewards to get this ticket, either directly or by converting the rapid rewards to Air Tran credits?
Thanks
Just got off the phone w/ customer service reps at Air Tran and also Southwest, and I'm still confused. My questions (I thought) were pretty straight forward:
1) I have tons of Ultimate rewards points, which can be converted to Southwest rapid rewards.
2) I want to fly BWI to Aruba in Feb 2014. This is an Air Tran flight.
3) Can I use rapid rewards to get this ticket, either directly or by converting the rapid rewards to Air Tran credits?
Thanks
Jul 29, 2013, 6:41 pm
#3
Join Date: May 2001
Location: Atlanta, GA - AirTran Elite #1 FF * Delta Diamond Medallion * Starwood Platinum * PriorityClub Gold * Hilton Diamond
Posts: 672
Actually, you CAN use your Ultimate Rewards points to AirTran.
(1) Transfer your Ultimate Rewards points to Southwest here http://rewardsfarther.com/rapid_rewards_to_a_plus/
(2) 1,200 Southwest points = 1 AirTran credit. That means 16,000 Ultimate Rewards Points = 1 AirTran roundtrip in coach. 32,000 Ultimate Rewards Points = 1 AirTran roundtrip in business class
(3) Book your AirTran flight using your free ticket. You can also check AirTran on-line for availability BEFORE you take steps one and two above.
(1) Transfer your Ultimate Rewards points to Southwest here http://rewardsfarther.com/rapid_rewards_to_a_plus/
(2) 1,200 Southwest points = 1 AirTran credit. That means 16,000 Ultimate Rewards Points = 1 AirTran roundtrip in coach. 32,000 Ultimate Rewards Points = 1 AirTran roundtrip in business class
(3) Book your AirTran flight using your free ticket. You can also check AirTran on-line for availability BEFORE you take steps one and two above.
Jul 29, 2013, 10:27 pm
#4
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: ORD/MDW
Programs: AA EXP, DL-Plat, WN-CP | Hotels: Choice-Gld, IHG-Plt, Rad-Gld, HH-Dia, Hyatt-Glob, Marriott-LtPlt
Posts: 2,889
^ Well said (and we agree...OP first asked about booking through WN "directly" which canNOT be done...but, "indirectly," it will work if the flights available as an FL award)
Jul 30, 2013, 9:09 am
#5
Join Date: Jul 2013
Posts: 5,813
A Little Math
JoeFlyer
You are correct about the process but your numbers are a little off at:
I have used the transfer in both directions and it works almost instantly although you sometimes need to log out of you account and back in to see the new credits.
Also once you have credits you cannot change them back to points but you can move them between programs.
One important point if you can book the flight through Southwest you can cancel and get your points back. On Airtran you pay a change fee.
You are correct about the process but your numbers are a little off at:
1200 points/credit x 8 Credits = 9600 Points for a 1 way Flight
19200 for a round trip. I have used the transfer in both directions and it works almost instantly although you sometimes need to log out of you account and back in to see the new credits.
Also once you have credits you cannot change them back to points but you can move them between programs.
One important point if you can book the flight through Southwest you can cancel and get your points back. On Airtran you pay a change fee.
Aug 12, 2013, 12:27 pm
#6
Join Date: May 2006
Posts: 20
Sorry for hijacking this tread but I too have a question about conversion. I had 3.25 A+ that I transferred to Southwest. I swear the last time I did this that when the conversion was done the A+ turned into RR points. When I did this transfer from A+ to RR the A+ stayed as credits and they are of no use to me until I transfer a total of 16 A+ over. This doesn't sound right to be. Am I just wrong?
Aug 12, 2013, 1:11 pm
#7
Join Date: Jan 2008
Posts: 3,638
Sorry for hijacking this tread but I too have a question about conversion. I had 3.25 A+ that I transferred to Southwest. I swear the last time I did this that when the conversion was done the A+ turned into RR points. When I did this transfer from A+ to RR the A+ stayed as credits and they are of no use to me until I transfer a total of 16 A+ over. This doesn't sound right to be. Am I just wrong?
You still have the option of converting back to A+ credits, if you like.
http://www.southwest.com/html/promot...r-convert.html
Aug 12, 2013, 1:25 pm
#8
Join Date: Jul 2013
Posts: 5,813
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http://www.rewardsfarther.com/program-updates/
The diagram is pretty clear.
