Southwest / AirTran credits are now exchangeable! (was:reward points merging?)
Apr 20, 2012, 10:43 am
#16
Moderator: Southwest Airlines, Capital One
Join Date: Sep 1999
Location: California
Programs: WN Companion Pass, A-list preferred, Hyatt Globalist; United Club Lietime (sic) Member
Posts: 21,674
Now I am really upset that I didn't apply for the AirTran credit card before it was quietly discontinued. Here's why:
All you have to do is earn 0.25 AirTran credit, transfer it to RR, then add 19k RR2points to top off a Standard Award. You can do this as often as you like. It would be like the old redemption program never left!! @:-)
All you have to do is earn 0.25 AirTran credit, transfer it to RR, then add 19k RR2points to top off a Standard Award. You can do this as often as you like. It would be like the old redemption program never left!! @:-)
Apr 20, 2012, 11:25 am
#17
Join Date: Mar 2011
Posts: 1,832
Now I am really upset that I didn't apply for the AirTran credit card before it was quietly discontinued. Here's why:
All you have to do is earn 0.25 AirTran credit, transfer it to RR, then add 19k RR2points to top off a Standard Award. You can do this as often as you like. It would be like the old redemption program never left!! @:-)
All you have to do is earn 0.25 AirTran credit, transfer it to RR, then add 19k RR2points to top off a Standard Award. You can do this as often as you like. It would be like the old redemption program never left!! @:-)
Transfer 19,200 points from your RR balance to your A+ account which should generate 16 A+ credits. Then transfer those 16 A+ credits back to your RR account to automagically generate a WN SA.
Apr 20, 2012, 11:34 am
#18
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Chicagoland, IL, USA
Programs: WN CP, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 14,201
Yeah, if they are going to maintain/resurrect the old WN 1.0 credit system alongside the 2.0 point system, there is going to be scope for some serious gaming. I can't believe they went with this as the reciprocity agreement, but maybe I am misreading somehow.
Remember, you can also earn .5 of an Airtran credit with a 1-day Hertz rental it appears.
Remember, you can also earn .5 of an Airtran credit with a 1-day Hertz rental it appears.
Apr 20, 2012, 11:53 am
#19
Join Date: Mar 2011
Posts: 1,832
Perhaps I've missed something in the rules, but I haven't seen a limitation the prohibits the following:
Transfer 19,200 points from your RR balance to your A+ account which should generate 16 A+ credits. Then transfer those 16 A+ credits back to your RR account to automagically generate a WN SA.
Transfer 19,200 points from your RR balance to your A+ account which should generate 16 A+ credits. Then transfer those 16 A+ credits back to your RR account to automagically generate a WN SA.
Apr 20, 2012, 11:53 am
#20
Moderator, Southwest Airlines and Choice Privileges
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Central Texas
Posts: 3,042
My immediate thought was that credits created by a transfer would not be eligible for another transfer. I was surprised to not see that stated in the rules. Thanks for checking on it, texashoser.
Apr 20, 2012, 11:58 am
#21
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Chicagoland, IL, USA
Programs: WN CP, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 14,201
And I wonder if the newly transferred 2.0 points > A+ credits > WN credits > WN 1.0-style Awards run the risk of being date-tainted if you don't watch VERY carefully how many points/credits you are transferring on which dates, as the expiration dates tag along and stick to the A+ credits for the return trip.
Apr 20, 2012, 12:02 pm
#22
Join Date: Mar 2011
Posts: 1,832
Certainly some people will take advantage of it, but how many?
Perhaps they'll also further limit SA award seats on flights...
Apr 20, 2012, 12:11 pm
#23
Join Date: Jan 2008
Posts: 3,638
https://offer.hertz.com/offers/index...editupto35.jsp
This promo is valid on minimum of one-day rental, thru the end of September 2012.
Apr 20, 2012, 12:16 pm
#24
Moderator, Southwest Airlines and Choice Privileges
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Central Texas
Posts: 3,042
I can't think of many ways that would work logistically, can you? You have to move the points/credits to use them on the other carrier. When you book a flight on FL it will show up in your FL account, not your RR account. Unless the WN "Add a Companion" link was added to the AirTran web site (which would require AirTran being able to see info in your RR Account), you can't add the Companion online. You can't call SWA for them to add it, as they likely can't see FL reservations. FL agents likely can't see your CP, so they can't help either.
If they get to the point of code sharing you could probably use your CP, but I'm not sure WN and FL will ever code share.
If they get to the point of code sharing you could probably use your CP, but I'm not sure WN and FL will ever code share.
Apr 20, 2012, 12:16 pm
#25
Join Date: Mar 2011
Posts: 1,832
Interesting. A bifurcated system, where we can redeem our 2.0 points for a 1.0 or a 2.0 Award, whichever suits us better. Yeah, this will last.
And I wonder if the newly transferred 2.0 points > A+ credits > WN credits > WN 1.0-style Awards run the risk of being date-tainted if you don't watch VERY carefully how many points/credits you are transferring on which dates, as the expiration dates tag along and stick to the A+ credits for the return trip.
And I wonder if the newly transferred 2.0 points > A+ credits > WN credits > WN 1.0-style Awards run the risk of being date-tainted if you don't watch VERY carefully how many points/credits you are transferring on which dates, as the expiration dates tag along and stick to the A+ credits for the return trip.
At that point, any time before they expire, they can then be converted to back to RR credits. At the point you have 16 RR credits, a SA is automatically generated carrying a one-year expiration date from the date of generation.
Sorry about the mixup.
Apr 20, 2012, 12:20 pm
#26
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: IND
Programs: SPG Plat, WN CP, Many Others
Posts: 538
Yes, I have a tough time finding availability on airtran for coach awards. But when I had my last standard award with WN I could not find much to use it on either other than cheap flights that were not really worth using them on.
Apr 20, 2012, 12:24 pm
#27
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Tx
Programs: AA, UA, WN
Posts: 812
Ex. A+ companion pass is 100 credits equal to 120,000 RR 2.0 pts. equal to $2000 of WGA airfare.
Ex. A+ ticket to Hawaii is 50 credits equal to 60,000 RR 2.0 pts. equal to $1,000 WGA airfare.
If so then then this is pretty cool considering you need the WN CC to get the chance of using pts. to Hawaii and then having to find a reasonable exchange rate.
Apr 20, 2012, 12:33 pm
#28
Join Date: Mar 2011
Posts: 1,832
Does this mean that you can effectively purchase companion pass on AT as well as tickets to Hawaii and tickets to non WN/AT North American Destinations? Per the A+ program it takes X number of credits to do so.
Ex. A+ companion pass is 100 credits equal to 120,000 RR 2.0 pts. equal to $2000 of WGA airfare.
Ex. A+ ticket to Hawaii is 50 credits equal to 60,000 RR 2.0 pts. equal to $1,000 WGA airfare.
If so then then this is pretty cool considering you need the WN CC to get the chance of using pts. to Hawaii and then having to find a reasonable exchange rate.
Ex. A+ companion pass is 100 credits equal to 120,000 RR 2.0 pts. equal to $2000 of WGA airfare.
Ex. A+ ticket to Hawaii is 50 credits equal to 60,000 RR 2.0 pts. equal to $1,000 WGA airfare.
If so then then this is pretty cool considering you need the WN CC to get the chance of using pts. to Hawaii and then having to find a reasonable exchange rate.
As for Companion Pass possibilities, I would seriously doubt it. You're in effect purchasing points. But, you never know...
EDIT: On the other hand, maybe you could use 100 credits 'purchased' with RR points to get an FL companion pass. Unlike WN, you have to redeem your A+ credits for a companion pass, you don't get to keep those 100 A+ credits for other free flights.
Last edited by texashoser; Apr 20, 2012 at 12:40 pm
Apr 20, 2012, 12:39 pm
#29
Moderator: Southwest Airlines, Capital One
Join Date: Sep 1999
Location: California
Programs: WN Companion Pass, A-list preferred, Hyatt Globalist; United Club Lietime (sic) Member
Posts: 21,674
Although the new options are wonderful, some of them look difficult for Southwest to sustain. It sounds as if Southwest should have consulted FT before deciding how to merge the programs!
If you want to use the transfer to create standard awards, I suggest you act sooner rather than later.
If you want to use the transfer to create standard awards, I suggest you act sooner rather than later.
Apr 20, 2012, 12:42 pm
#30
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Chicagoland, IL, USA
Programs: WN CP, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 14,201
Hertz/AirTran promo provides 1.5 credits (3x bonus), per the following:
https://offer.hertz.com/offers/index...editupto35.jsp
This promo is valid on minimum of one-day rental, thru the end of September 2012.
https://offer.hertz.com/offers/index...editupto35.jsp
This promo is valid on minimum of one-day rental, thru the end of September 2012.