SW I'm contacting the DOT regarding lack reward space for the original rewards
Jan 6, 2016, 9:52 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2013
Location: dark side of the moon
Programs: papa card, UA 1K
Posts: 707
SW I'm contacting the DOT regarding lack reward space for the original rewards
Has anyone contacted the DOT over this? the lack of award space for the original rewards is almost non-existent.
Jan 7, 2016, 6:01 am
#3
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: 21,624
My experience is that award space opens up quite nicely in the last week or so before travel. Far in advance on peak dates you will find nothing, just like with other airlines' saver awards.
Jan 7, 2016, 9:40 am
#5
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Blue Ridge, GA
Posts: 5,512
DL removed its award chart altogether, arguably to preempt a DOT violation.
"The Department’s deceptive practices prohibitions preclude airlines from imposing unreasonable capacity restrictions and/or unannounced blackout dates for the use of frequent flyer awards.
To the extent airlines offer their frequent flyers awards for service to destinations, that traditionally are subject to high consumer demand, they must include in their promotional materials adequate disclosure that seats are limited—at times severely—and may not be available on every flight, if in fact that is the case."
To the extent airlines offer their frequent flyers awards for service to destinations, that traditionally are subject to high consumer demand, they must include in their promotional materials adequate disclosure that seats are limited—at times severely—and may not be available on every flight, if in fact that is the case."
Jan 7, 2016, 2:39 pm
#7
Join Date: Oct 2001
Programs: LTP, PP
Posts: 8,699
Exactly. Does about as much as the DOJ does with merger / antitrust reviews. Lots of nice paying government jobs with little effect and outcomes.
Jan 7, 2016, 3:10 pm
#8
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Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: DCA
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Posts: 50,262
It's not worth the bandwidth it takes to file a complaint. And that presumes you have an unlimited data plan.
DOT has uniformly stayed away from whining about FFP availability and focused on things that matter to consumers.
DOT has uniformly stayed away from whining about FFP availability and focused on things that matter to consumers.
Jan 7, 2016, 3:16 pm
#9
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Blue Ridge, GA
Posts: 5,512
Southwest Gets Hefty Fines for Advertising $59 Fares That Didn't Exist
Jan 7, 2016, 6:52 pm
#10
Join Date: Mar 2011
Posts: 6,286
How many standard awards can there still be out there? Anyone know the official Sunset date?
OP: Try calling customer relations to see if they can book something for you. Word is that they are doing this for A-Listers; worth a try even if you're not.
At the minimum, it will likely be more productive than filing a DOT claim.
OP: Try calling customer relations to see if they can book something for you. Word is that they are doing this for A-Listers; worth a try even if you're not.
At the minimum, it will likely be more productive than filing a DOT claim.
Jan 8, 2016, 12:43 am
#13
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: USA
Programs: AC SE100K, F9 100k, NK Gold, UA *S, Hyatt Glob, Bonvoy Titanium
Posts: 5,195
If you are A-List Preferred,the Dallas CS# will override and book for you.
Interestingly, after they did this for me last weekend, my flight showed that I used a 'Freedom Award'. On the day of travel, standard award availability opened up.
I cancelled the 'freedom award' override booking, hoping it would redeposit as a freedom award. No luck--went back as a standard award.
Interestingly, after they did this for me last weekend, my flight showed that I used a 'Freedom Award'. On the day of travel, standard award availability opened up.
I cancelled the 'freedom award' override booking, hoping it would redeposit as a freedom award. No luck--went back as a standard award.
Jan 8, 2016, 11:53 am
#14
Join Date: Jun 2005
Posts: 538
Do file a complaint
I think a strong case can be made the impossibility of using these awards amounts to a breach of contract. As other posters have noted, it is true that availability is often low for many award classes on other airlines. But, there is a huge difference. On other airlines, your miles don't expire, and if you can't use a reward this year, you can use it next year. This is not the case with the legacy awards. If you can not find a flight by the expiration date, they are gone, and there is no chance SW will offer you an extension.
Will a complaint help you personally? it is possible, but not likely. When you reply to the DOT, SW does have to respond to you personally, and cc the DOT--so sometimes it prompts a better response. But usually not. Still--you should file out of principle. If enough customers complain about this, it is possible it will prompt an investigation. And the DOT complaints rates are used by the media to compare the customer service among airlines--and a complaint at least gets SW a well deserved ding for their less than honorable actions here.
Jan 9, 2016, 6:26 pm
#15
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2013
Location: dark side of the moon
Programs: papa card, UA 1K
Posts: 707
I do think you have a very legitimate complaint, and would definitely file with the DOT.
Will a complaint help you personally? it is possible, but not likely. When you reply to the DOT, SW does have to respond to you personally, and cc the DOT--so sometimes it prompts a better response. But usually not. Still--you should file out of principle. If enough customers complain about this, it is possible it will prompt an investigation. And the DOT complaints rates are used by the media to compare the customer service among airlines--and a complaint at least gets SW a well deserved ding for their less than honorable actions here.
Will a complaint help you personally? it is possible, but not likely. When you reply to the DOT, SW does have to respond to you personally, and cc the DOT--so sometimes it prompts a better response. But usually not. Still--you should file out of principle. If enough customers complain about this, it is possible it will prompt an investigation. And the DOT complaints rates are used by the media to compare the customer service among airlines--and a complaint at least gets SW a well deserved ding for their less than honorable actions here.