Better than that, I go to the McDonald's at my local WalMart.

The fact that Option 3 was off the table speaks volumes about the change in Southwest's values and culture over time. In fact, the entire drink coupon issue speaks greater volumes to me about values than the entire RR2.0 change, even though the RR2.0 change represents a huge cost increase to fly WN whereas the drink coupon thing doesn't affect me personally one bit.

My reason is that the RR2.0 change can be justified purely on the economic laws that we accept in a fair marketplace. Demand exists at a higher price point, so Southwest is changing their system to accommodate that and part of that change is a new system to induce business travelers to migrate up to higher fares. It now costs a large amount more to fly Southwest but passengers continue to show up and fill the planes so how can anyone really complain? The drink coupon policies, on the other hand, seem petty, mean-spirited, and outright unfair to many.

That's not the issue. Yes, I think everybody on FT is aware of the fact that airlines can change or discontinue their frequent-flier programs. But I disagree that frequent-flier awards are "free" - they are indeed paid for over the course of time, bundled into our previous flights, rental cars, hotels, credit card purchases, flowers, and other products. You're paying for a fraction of a future drink and future airline seat whether you use it or not.

So yes the airlines can legally get away with a lot - frankly, the absence of regulation over FFP's is probably good for us in the long run because our points/miles are not treated as assets, wealth, income, or property. That removes most taxation issues and enables redemption opportunities that wouldn't be possible otherwise. But how the airline chooses to handle the programs and treat its clients speaks volumes about its character.

You are not alone. That's exactly why the seemingly minor drink coupon issue caused such a huge fuss here and on blogsouthwest.com. It was an indication of an unpleasant change in character, as if your mother suddenly decided to start smoking.

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.

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.

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.

Pin,

Has it ever occurred to you that SWA makes money
on people that never claim a RR ticket? Less to pay out.

Ditto on expired funds. Once SWA changed their policy
on TTF funds, the company was able to "keep" a lot of TTF.

As you pointed out, other airlines at least notify you if a ticket
is getting ready to expire. SWA doesn't.

***Always ask the 1-800 number if you have any expired tickets!!

Less to pay out short-term, but potentially more to gain long-term. You own a business...what would you do to try to reclaim a once-frequent customer who had gone dormant? Say they had a couple hundred bucks' worth of credit on your books. Would you call them and try to win them back or just never tell them about the credit?

Personally, I'd like to thank all of you who can't keep track of your own frequent-flier accounts. You're subsidizing the system for the rest of us.

I'd like to thank Southwest for making it so danged hard to find your old awards...you know, behind that sneaky "What happened to my old credits and awards?" button on their home page. It's a conspiracy to prevent you from using your awards, and since I probably want to redeem on that same route, I'm happy about that.

Whatever you do, don't click that button!

You have an inordinate interest in this subject. What does
it matter that I am advising people to clarify if they
have an expired ticket? You assume everyone logs into
their account online, they don't. You might and I might
but not everyone.

I hope people understand that companies hire what I
call "spin masters". All these people do is look on blogs
etc for something that is not in the companies best interest
and try to counteract the negative with either positive
posts or trying to make that person look like they don't
know what they are talking about.

Of course SWA makes a lot of money by not having
to pay out on expired awards. I know how to run a
successful company and it isn't by trying to
"hoodwink" your customers in your best interest.
NO one said it was a conspiracy. Quit trying to "spin"
a simple subject.

****Yes, I do suggest everyone check and see if they have
expired awards before SWA changes their mind on
that like they did on TTF. It is not like their isn't a history
of changing policies at SWA.

Guys, I've been outed. I'm a LUV "spin master."


Now Gary, mail me a damn check already.

And your point is?

"Ooh-ooh-ooooh!" (ala Arnold Horshak)

i wanna be a "spin master"! lol
does university of phoenix have a degree program for that?

Don't you have to be a spin apprentice for five years or something?

LOL.

You are sooo funny. If ALL airline had an incident like this, would you stop flying all together and drive.

Hilarious.

Private convo. Free speech. End of story. Liberals would not be in such a tizzy if the comment was made against Christians and cowboy-dressed passengers, would they?