HPN-HRL

Hi all,

I thought it was worth reminding the board that the process to create standard awards will end by November 1st (if not sooner).

What are people here doing with this? I think I am going to create one more standard award (i.e two one-ways), as I used my last standard award on a last-minute trip a few weeks ago. I don't think it will be likely that I want more than that, given what I know about potential travel plans over the next year for my family.

expert7700

I am leaning towards converting all 600k points I have into 30 RT standard awards, which would be 15 round trips for my wife and I.

Points can be regenerated as I re-up for CP/A+ next year.

Award tickets, if I am flexible +/- one day AND daring enough to wait t-48hr inventory to open up, have served me well. They often save me from $600 each-way tickets for spontaneous travel.

Award tickets work for same day standby (at the gate podium) without a change in fare. Agents try to charge me more then say, oh wait, the system shows no cost difference after all.

HPN-HRL

I'm being much more conservative, because 1) most of the time I can't be very flexible; 2) I have already booked trips during the times I expect to have some flexibility over the next year.

steved5480

I got a wild idea this past Friday evening that I should make a run to LAS & put some $$ on the Royals to take the World Series (nevermind last night's showing )

At 9pm Friday night there was availability for the old Standard Awards MCI-LAS Saturday morning *and* LAS-MCI Saturday night. THAT, my friends is a textbook example of the Standard Awards potentially being a great deal. Being "Flexible and Daring" as expert7700 mentions can minimize the stress. If you're not comfortable doing it, then don't.

I had 14 credits in my Air Tran account, so I washed a few more SWA "points" thru the system, transferred it back and had my RT tickets for essentially "nothing" (repeat after me: TWO ONE-WAYS. With very few exceptions, Friends don't let Friends book Roundtrips)

I flew out Saturday morning, made a couple of World Series bets, played some video poker, had brunch at Aria, departed at 5pm and was home (KC 'burbs) by 1030pm.

Of course booking inside of T-minus 10 +/- hours, I ended up with mid-B line positions. Did the polite "stand to the side" (there were no "families" that I saw) and the agents on both ends shoved me right on with a smile after the A's. Flew packed -800s both ways and still snagged exit row aisle both ways. Life is good.

I think I'm holding about the same number of points as expert7700; that will grow a bit more this upcoming weekend/next week.

I don't have family to haul around with me, and will be back to booking for cash for myself before long to get started on requalification for 2016.

I'm considering perhaps a bit more conservative approach than expert7700 and maybe doing a dozen +/- standard awards (?).

expert7700 certainly raises an excellent point that those of us regular/dedicated Southwest Customers should be reminded of....we'll be right back regenerating "new points" with the "new year", consequently taking what might look like a sizable "hit" on our points balance in late October really isn't anything to worry about.

I'd be curious to hear opinions from the other "regulars" amongst us <paging> rsteinmetz70112.

ursine1

I transfered over and back enough points for a .25 "seeder" credit.

joshua362

And do these all expire around 11/1/15 ? Have I missed something? Does the ability to extend for $100 still apply?

God Bless you Expert7700, wish I had your guts and energy!!

I'm tempted to do 2 and a seeder unless I missed something above.

ursine1

No more extensions; all new Standard Awards will expire in 1 year.

vacayseeker

what is a "seeder" credit?

joshua362

This I know, transfer a 1/4 credit from Airtran to WN and let it sit there. At anytime afterwards you can add the 15 3/4 credits (as points) to create a full standard award. If you never do it, you're only out 300 points. I think the credit is good for 2 years?

joshua362

http://www.rewardsfarther.com/progra...rapid-rewards/

robbert

Used up most of my points this year, have to scramble to even get to A-list this fall. I'll convert whatever points I still have to old credits, probably about 5 OW coupons plus a seeder. My route is very easy for last-minute awards and I'm thinking to use a strategy of last-minute Avios bookings with the WN awards as a backup. And then the rest paid WN flights in low season to keep A-list for 2016.

ursine1

FYI: Credits are only good for 1 year from the day they are created.

smmrfld

+1

toomanybooks

I am having a lot of trouble finding Standard one-ways on the routes I take that are worth much more than $137. Not sure it wise for me to stockpile.

Tanic

I redeemed a RT standard award this week that would have cost $828. Excellent value for last minute ticketing.