soopra

Thanks! Looks like I'll be getting a CP and burning through my WN unused credits.

toomanybooks

This typically works, yes, but I would not bet the farm on it.

ryw

Also got the California CP offer! I'm very tempted to take advantage of the $39 flights between OAK-LGB and spend a Tuesday or Wednesday working remotely shuttling back and forth. Looking at their schedule, I can probably fit 5 one way flights into a day. 3 questions though:

1) Turnaround time between flights is only 30 minutes. Does anyone know if the same plane is used to go back and forth? (Or if one segment gets delayed, will my entire day get messed up?)
2) When booking connections or roundtrips on the Southwest website, they require a minimum of 35 minutes between flights. Will manually booking one way tickets be possible?
3) Given that I would be taking 5 one way trips between the same airports within 24 hours, will I have any problems checking in for for multiple reservations concurrently? (I'm currently A-List if that changes things)

RedElmo

It may get counted as one trip.

mrlasssen

Your day could be ruined, but I believe SWA will refund your price if you notify them at least 10 minutes before flight time. I would fly on my day off and have enough points in a hotel program to book a room if needed.

mrlasssen

Sounds to me as though it is a revenue flight, you are pay for it with money not points.

nsx

1. Given the extremely limited slot allocation to Southwest I'm pretty sure it's the same plane. Check flightaware.
2. Yes.
3. No.

I think this plan will work fine. I would be confident booking it. I think Southwest will fix any problems that occur, especially if you do it during hours that Customer Relations is open (weekdays only).

rsteinmetz70112

This is a violation of the Contract of Carriage. Southwest prohibits multiple reservations between the same cities for the same passenger on the same day. According to the Contract of Carriage these reservations are subject to cancellation. Whether that would happen or even if Southwest can check is something I can't say.

nsx

They prohibit speculative reservations but these will actually be flown.

Besides, we have had zero reports here of cancellations by Southwest of multiple reservations.

If Southwest canceled the trips, a call to Customer Relations would fix that.

rsteinmetz70112

That may be but how could Southwest know in advance if a reservation is speculative? The actual language does not mention speculation but also says the reservations could be canceled without notice. The risk may be nearly nonexistent but the OP should be aware of it. Here is that actual language:

Boraxo

Am I loco, or is anyone else going to cancel and re-price at a higher fare in order to qualify for the promo?

As it is I will need to do some "mileage runs" to meet the promo, and it seems foolish to fly a non-qualifying paid segment if I can reprice for $10-20 per ticket.

Panther02

You can only have two boarding passes out at one time so you're probably not going to have an A boarding pass for the last trips once you check in, but you'll get to board after A60. Usually only the airport notices the multiple reservations if you talk to someone. If you can get your BP on your phone, you should be good. LGB might catch on- how many employees will actually be working there? Otherwise, tell them exactly what you're doing, that you are actually flying those reservations, and please don't cancel them.

RedElmo

The offer is good... Do what you need. I'm considering flying several flights just to get the pass! If I can get 2-3 work trips I will fly 2-3 trips out of pocket to get this pass!

joshua362

Its priceless if you actually use it and worthless if you don't. Only you know the answer to that.

As I've written before and the fact the WN offered such a sweet deal in a hugely populous state like CA, the actual utilization must be much less than anticipation when earning it otherwise WN would have yanked it long ago...

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/26879839-post4.html

rsteinmetz70112

I figure that if you earn CP via Credit Card Southwest probably makes about $1,000 on it, but if Chase paid the "face value" it would be more like $1,400. Southwest's average fare in 2014 was $163 assuming it's 10% more now then the average would be around $180. That means that the $1,000 would pay for 5.5 average trips, but it doesn't cost Southwest $180 to actually fly someone. Assuming the average CP holder does 3-4 round trips per year then Southwest about breaks even. If a person earns the CP by CC spend or by BIS then Southwest probably does a good bit better.

I'm sure Southwest has better metrics that this but as a rough idea if all CP holders average 5 round trips per year then it probably works for Southwest. My wife is kind of close each year but we decided that making the additional effort would cost as much or more than the benefit. The biggest benefit would be the discounted holiday travel.