My comments on my Freddies ballot!
 

"I prefer airline FF programs that allow 1-way awards @ 50% of a roundtrip. Next best is those that allow split-level awards, such as NW, CO, DL; &or allowing both a stopover AND an open-jaw. AA allows only the last of these 3, but wins on availability to hot vacation destinations in high season.

I love Priority Club for 10K bonuses, 5K Point Breaks, & the recent 3x/4x bonus. Hyatt FFNs are wonderful but expire much too quickly. They should last 6 months after being earned or 4 months after end of earning season, as many non-road warriors take only 2 vacations a year."

I must say that, despite being married to Mileage Plus for more than 20 years, I have to agree with your first point, in particular. That and being able to do short notice freebies, and change them at will, and not have to pay extra fuel surcharges. Definitely turned my head, after jumping into Southwest's Fall Madness with all the bonuses in 2007... I think that, with the "legs" adding all their recent "enhancements", Southwest is standing taller and taller. (Well, except for their recent devaluation.)

But now we hear Mr. Kelly say that Southwest is planning a major overhaul of its program. :(

good comments.