auggie doggie

I booked a Biz Select ticket from SNA-SJC-SNA. I booked it mainly to use the Premium Security line at SNA that comes w/ Biz Select...but getting a couple of free drinks doesn't hurt either!

This was a <24 hour trip, so when I checked in at SNA (kiosk), the machine spit out both boarding passes...but it didn't spit out the coupons for my drinkies. I checked at the podium, and the agents printed them out for me. The coupons are on boarding pass cardstock and have your PNR on them.

I had to make a change to my return trip, and when I got to SJC and re-printed my boarding pass, it gave me another drink coupon. So now I have 3 drink coupons...all with the same PNR.

So, did I just get an extra free drink, or will I get a beat down some time in the future for using the third coupon? Do they scan these post flight and verify that only 2 coupons per PNR have ever been used? I'm not cheap...just curious...and ok...I AM cheap.

UALOneKPlus

WN probably is not going to give you too much grief over it, but it would be like the honor bar at the Marriott lounge - your word / honor that you won't abuse it.

I have only used a few BS drink coupons out of the dozens I've been issued, so maybe overall it balances out.

nsx

All of us are on FT because we are cheap!

irabk

We are here because we are "Fiscally Aware Consumers" (ok, cheap)

sammy0623

its actually quite heavy in favor of unused coupons. therefore, you should send yours to me, in order to balance it out

nsx

Since nobody seems to know for sure, let me guess. I cannot imagine that Southwest would find it worth the cost to audit all these drink coupons. If this were to become a problem, I suppose they could write a program to flag discrepancies in coupons used vs Business Select fares purchased for each RR member. Even then, an extra coupon or two isn't going to warrant human involvement.

I'd bet that Southwest would be happy if you used 2 coupons for every Business Select flight you purchase, as long as this induced you to increase your purchases of Business Select.

In your case, you came by the extra coupon legitimately, so you have a perfect response to offer if they ever ask. But they won't.

Beckles

I posted in another thread today about these new fangled "kom-pute-ors" that Southwest is using for exactly such things ...

I would think that whoever gets those envelopes with all the cash and coupons from each flight takes each BS coupon and scans it in the computer. This would require little to no effort and in fact may make it easier for the person processing those envelopes by counting the BS coupons for them.

That being said, I seriously doubt that WN would worry about someone using an extra coupon here or there ... but if there were a pattern ...

sammy0623

i'm not so sure on this, and i'm sure one of the lovely FAs on FT can answer for us, but there appears to be little accountability for drinks. we all get them for free frequently, so why would they go through the hassle of scanning the BS coupons, instead of just tallying them up with the RR drink coupons? just my thoughts

expert7700

coupons and cash get turned in at the end of each flight, they aren't discarded. likely as nsx said they get scanned in by headquarters.

I agree that drinks aren't controlled very well. Who's to say the FA was giving away drinks on a 30 minute late flight or pocketing the cash for every drink that was sold. I once saw an FA take out 6 bottles of vodka and place them in his personal bag at the end of the flight... (which Southwest appreciated hearing from me...)

Beckles

There's an entirely different thing between accountability for drinks and accountability for what gets put in the envelopes, I'm pretty sure that they do account for what gets put in the envelope (which includes cash).

SWABrian

Ummm, guys, you all are way overthinking this. Enjoy your drinks and relax, the coupon police aren't gonna knock on your door.

chuckworth

I agree. I would imagine they put a barcode on these for a reason. Otherwise, what’s to stop someone from getting free drinks for life by photocopying mass quantities of a single BS drink ticket?

nsx

We're FTers. It's what we do.

kerflumexed

When the cashless cabin comes online, the handheld machines could help with some of the issues over-thunked in this thread.

sammy0623

Is the system smart enough that if you are age verified as UNDER 21, not to print off the BS drink coupons? My brother's under, so I was just wondering if the need arises if he would get drinks (to give to his esteemed brother, of course, i wouldn't want him running afoul of the law )

I know I read that if your RR account has an under bday, thne you won't get RR drink coupons...