Rapid Rewards 2.0 begins March 1, 2011
Jan 6, 2011, 2:52 pm
#256
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: STL
Programs: WN A-List, AA Silver, SkyMiles Gold, Marriott Platinum, Emerald Executive, Hertz #1 Gold
Posts: 30
So what is the quickest way to transfer Marriott points to WN? Looks like we have about 8 weeks to get our CP status squared away.
Do we call Marriott? Southwest? Argh!!
Do we call Marriott? Southwest? Argh!!
Jan 6, 2011, 2:54 pm
#257
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: HOU
Programs: WN CP, A+, UA Sil, MR Amb LTP, Hyatt Plat, HH Dia, National EE
Posts: 466
I hope I am wrong, but contrary to what SWABrian says, I get the feeling CP accounts that expire after 3/1/11 but have over 100 credits earned will not become 12/31/12.
I'm severely jaded from the Monster drink coupon fiasco.
Jan 6, 2011, 2:56 pm
#258
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Westchester Co, NY or Rio Grande Valley, TX or ???
Programs: BAEC G, WN A-, Hyatt G, HH G, MAR T, Hz PC, was [UA2P, FL A+Elite, BD G]
Posts: 2,275
One quirk that I haven't seen mentioned yet (or maybe I missed it).
Buying BS now almost becomes a value proposition when the only fares available are BS and Anytime.
Using the example in the new RR FAQ, a DAL-RNO anytime ticket earns $384 x 10 pts/$ = 3840 points. However, for the $20 more, a $404 BS ticket earns $404 x 12 pts/$ = 4848 points - that's over 1000 extra points for only $20! Admittedly, that only buys you $16.66 in WGA redemption value, but the drink and access to FlyBy (for those who are not A or A+) seems reasonable to me.
This doesn't help the lowly WGA-fare guys like me, but it might convince me to buy up to BS if I'm ever in the "I need to go but no WGA fares are available" situation again.
(If my assumptions are off (or stupid), I won't mind being corrected...)
Buying BS now almost becomes a value proposition when the only fares available are BS and Anytime.
Using the example in the new RR FAQ, a DAL-RNO anytime ticket earns $384 x 10 pts/$ = 3840 points. However, for the $20 more, a $404 BS ticket earns $404 x 12 pts/$ = 4848 points - that's over 1000 extra points for only $20! Admittedly, that only buys you $16.66 in WGA redemption value, but the drink and access to FlyBy (for those who are not A or A+) seems reasonable to me.
This doesn't help the lowly WGA-fare guys like me, but it might convince me to buy up to BS if I'm ever in the "I need to go but no WGA fares are available" situation again.
(If my assumptions are off (or stupid), I won't mind being corrected...)
Jan 6, 2011, 2:58 pm
#259
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: PA
Programs: Airtran A+ Elite, SPG Preferred Plus, Hilton HHonors Gold, AGR
Posts: 139
As an Airtran Elite who typically flies BOS - BWI I'll be in the same boat. I mean, they keep talking about pushing this market but you look at the rewards program and geez. I mean 80 some flights for elite (just a quick guess)? That's crazy. Back to looking for another carrier. Sadly jetblue doesn't seem much better.
Jan 6, 2011, 2:59 pm
#260
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: New York, NY
Programs: The Golden status boy
Posts: 854
Well, this makes it easy to say goodbye to WN for me. I only fly shorthaul with them due to the Wright Amendment restrictions out of DAL. (SAT, TUL, HOU, etc.) It would take me a couple of years to earn enough points for a free flight. Under the current program, I only earn about 8-9 credits per year as it is. Makes much more sense to use these flights as segment runs with AA and requalify for elite.
Jan 6, 2011, 3:04 pm
#261
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: SJC and ONT
Programs: WN A-List/CP, HHonors Diamond, CX J with AA miles, US Gold/*G
Posts: 2,082
Jan 6, 2011, 3:05 pm
#262
Moderator: Southwest Airlines, Capital One
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 1999
Location: California
Programs: WN Companion Pass, A-list preferred, Hyatt Globalist; United Club Lietime (sic) Member
Posts: 21,624
Welcome to FT, skedastik!
What a great first post! You answered some tricky questions very clearly.
Excellent explanation. Now I REALLY need to update post 1.
It really is feast or famine here. The March 1 cutoff puts you in one category or the other. I still suggest writing a letter with your specifics if you just barely missed out, but I understand that this policy achieves a very ragged balance that on average favors the customer.
What a great first post! You answered some tricky questions very clearly.
A: "Anybody who has 50 or more qualifying flights between 3/1/10 and 3/1/11 will earn the A-List Preferred membership, which will be good through 12/31/12. The confusion here is that no 'points' will start accruing until 3/1/11, but you can still qualify for A-List Preferred status through one-way qualifying flights."
A: "The Companion Pass qualification rules are exactly the same as I previously mentioned. It will be a credit-based qualification only until 3/1/11. The only difference is that credits earned through anything other than qualified one-way flight segments will be lost on 3/1/11, since this is the day the new points system begins. The trade-off however is that if someone has a lot of non-flight credits and is close, they have extra incentive to qualify before 3/1/11, because this will give them almost 2 years of qualification status (since it wouldn't expire until 12/31/12).
Jan 6, 2011, 3:06 pm
#263
Join Date: Feb 2010
Posts: 19
I've this thread in its entirety and can't find this simple answer. If I fly between today and 2/28, do I get RR1.0 credits or RR2.0 points?
And just so I understand correctly, so long as I have at least 1 RR credit on my account come 3/1, I can collect rewards points and turn them into RR1.0 credits until I achieve 16 credits, at which point I can redeem my RR award for a flight of any length/fare?
And just so I understand correctly, so long as I have at least 1 RR credit on my account come 3/1, I can collect rewards points and turn them into RR1.0 credits until I achieve 16 credits, at which point I can redeem my RR award for a flight of any length/fare?
Jan 6, 2011, 3:11 pm
#265
Moderator: Southwest Airlines, Capital One
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 1999
Location: California
Programs: WN Companion Pass, A-list preferred, Hyatt Globalist; United Club Lietime (sic) Member
Posts: 21,624
I've this thread in its entirety and can't find this simple answer. If I fly between today and 2/28, do I get RR1.0 credits or RR2.0 points?
And just so I understand correctly, so long as I have at least 1 RR credit on my account come 3/1, I can collect rewards points and turn them into RR1.0 credits until I achieve 16 credits, at which point I can redeem my RR award for a flight of any length/fare?
And just so I understand correctly, so long as I have at least 1 RR credit on my account come 3/1, I can collect rewards points and turn them into RR1.0 credits until I achieve 16 credits, at which point I can redeem my RR award for a flight of any length/fare?
2. Yes. See here.
Jan 6, 2011, 3:12 pm
#267
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Aug 2003
Programs: UA 1K 1MM (finally!), IHG AMB-Spire, HH Diamond
Posts: 60,174
And just so I understand correctly, so long as I have at least 1 RR credit on my account come 3/1, I can collect rewards points and turn them into RR1.0 credits until I achieve 16 credits, at which point I can redeem my RR award for a flight of any length/fare?
Jan 6, 2011, 3:24 pm
#270
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Westchester Co, NY or Rio Grande Valley, TX or ???
Programs: BAEC G, WN A-, Hyatt G, HH G, MAR T, Hz PC, was [UA2P, FL A+Elite, BD G]
Posts: 2,275
I'm sure this cannot be answered any time soon, but I want to record my questions here while I'm thinking about the subject.
How will AirTran credits count in the new scheme? At first guess, I would say 1200 points per FL credit - but which credits? Will credits which have been earned on AirTran within a year of the merger of the programs but "spent" count toward A-List/CP totals? What about FL credits which do end up being transferred to Rapid Rewards but which are more than one year old from their AirTran earn-date?
I'm sure this type of question can't be definitively answered until the merger is approved, but it's always fun to speculate!
(OT, but this is going to be an interesting year for me WRT FF programs - all three of my main programs are undergoing severe change - WN, FL, and BD)
How will AirTran credits count in the new scheme? At first guess, I would say 1200 points per FL credit - but which credits? Will credits which have been earned on AirTran within a year of the merger of the programs but "spent" count toward A-List/CP totals? What about FL credits which do end up being transferred to Rapid Rewards but which are more than one year old from their AirTran earn-date?
I'm sure this type of question can't be definitively answered until the merger is approved, but it's always fun to speculate!
(OT, but this is going to be an interesting year for me WRT FF programs - all three of my main programs are undergoing severe change - WN, FL, and BD)