topic Re: Southwest potential deval in Credit Cards

Southwest potential deval

red259 — Fri, 13 Feb 2015 00:15:06 GMT

For those of you with southwest cards or UR points that you like to dump into SW it looks like there are some major changes coming in April, so I would book now if SW is how you want to travel.

Re: Southwest potential deval

Membersince2013 — Fri, 13 Feb 2015 01:53:15 GMT

Great... I just got my bonus too.

Re: Southwest potential deval

Membersince2013 — Fri, 13 Feb 2015 01:53:49 GMT

They'll probably get rid of "wanna get away". The points needed is way too low.

Re: Southwest potential deval

Anonymous — Fri, 13 Feb 2015 01:55:05 GMT

Huh? I was thinking of getting this card.

Re: Southwest potential deval

bigblue7722 — Fri, 13 Feb 2015 01:59:12 GMT

@red259 wrote:
For those of you with southwest cards or UR points that you like to dump into SW it looks like there are some major changes coming in April, so I would book now if SW is how you want to travel.

could you provide us with more infomation????

Re: Southwest potential deval

WillTeasle — Fri, 13 Feb 2015 02:06:38 GMT

https://www.southwest.com/html/rapidrewards/rr-program-update.html

No real details though

Re: Southwest potential deval

bigblue7722 — Fri, 13 Feb 2015 02:08:56 GMT

@WillTeasle wrote:
https://www.southwest.com/html/rapidrewards/rr-program-update.html

No real details though

that just sounds really bad (even though theres no details). I just got the card too just my luck.

Re: Southwest potential deval

WillTeasle — Fri, 13 Feb 2015 02:31:00 GMT

@bigblue7722 wrote:
@WillTeasle wrote:
https://www.southwest.com/html/rapidrewards/rr-program-update.html

No real details though
that just sounds really bad (even though theres no details). I just got the card too just my luck.

The fact that there are no details is what is concerning. Transparency is important, and we don't have that. At 1.4cpp (for WGA fares) I barely see the point of a southwest card. If they devalue that the card would be worthless to me other than trying to earn a companion pass.

Re: Southwest potential deval

red259 — Fri, 13 Feb 2015 03:29:21 GMT

@bigblue7722 wrote:
@WillTeasle wrote:
https://www.southwest.com/html/rapidrewards/rr-program-update.html

No real details though
that just sounds really bad (even though theres no details). I just got the card too just my luck.

Book the flights before april if you can and it should be fine. The message is clear though. Pain is coming to the program. How much is not clear, but by the tone of the message it sounds bad.

Re: Southwest potential deval

mikelo22 — Fri, 13 Feb 2015 03:44:24 GMT

Yikes, that doesn't look good. And I was just considering the Southwest RR card for later this year. Oh well. Glad I booked my Southwest flights for this summer already from Chase UR.

I really don't know what there is to nerf. I thought Southwest RR points were in a good spot right now. It is typically cheaper for domestic hauls than other partners, but Southwest is also a bit cheaper overall.

If they get rid of WGA fares for points that would be a huge blow... If so, would have to look elsewhere for domestic flight redemption for sure. British Avios anyone?

Re: Southwest potential deval

WillTeasle — Fri, 13 Feb 2015 03:45:02 GMT

@red259 wrote:
@bigblue7722 wrote:
@WillTeasle wrote:
https://www.southwest.com/html/rapidrewards/rr-program-update.html

No real details though
that just sounds really bad (even though theres no details). I just got the card too just my luck.
Book the flights before april if you can and it should be fine. The message is clear though. Pain is coming to the program. How much is not clear, but by the tone of the message it sounds bad.

Lot of speculation there. I'm not taking too pessimistic of a view yet. Hoping they'll release some more information sooner rather than later. I just find it odd they bring up changes when everything is already revenue-based...

Re: Southwest potential deval

WillTeasle — Fri, 13 Feb 2015 03:48:31 GMT

@mikelo22 wrote:
If they get rid of WGA fares for points that would be a huge blow... If so, would have to look elsewhere for domestic flight redemption for sure. British Avios anyone?

I don't think WGA reward fares are going anywhere. But I think my optimism might be based on the fact I have the same backup plan as you. There are definitely overlapping options for those kinds of rewards redemptions. For now, anyway...

Re: Southwest potential deval

Anonymous — Fri, 13 Feb 2015 03:55:49 GMT

I think the main goal is to eventually kill the miles and points game all together ..... When I was born( I'm a 90s kid) there was plenty of legacy airlines twa , nwa , continental , United , U.S. airways , american , delta and in PUerto Rico I even flew pan am (probably a spinoff) ..... In 2015 we are basically down to United , American ,Delta ... southwest merged AirTran , watch jetblue merge spirit ROFL ! , my point is the less airlines exist ., the less they have to "appeal" to the frequent traveler since they all now want to sell themselves to the more upscale traveler leaving us credit card point and miles abusers in the dust seating next to the toilets on then flights -_-

Re: Southwest potential deval

red259 — Fri, 13 Feb 2015 04:41:04 GMT

@WillTeasle wrote:
@red259 wrote:
@bigblue7722 wrote:
@WillTeasle wrote:
https://www.southwest.com/html/rapidrewards/rr-program-update.html

No real details though
that just sounds really bad (even though theres no details). I just got the card too just my luck.
Book the flights before april if you can and it should be fine. The message is clear though. Pain is coming to the program. How much is not clear, but by the tone of the message it sounds bad.
Lot of speculation there. I'm not taking too pessimistic of a view yet. Hoping they'll release some more information sooner rather than later. I just find it odd they bring up changes when everything is already revenue-based...

True, we don't know, but they are not increasing the value of the program so the changes will be negative. How bad the changes are is another story, but it would be foolish at this point to sit on the miles for two reasons. First, they may not release information until the deval occurs and then the miles could lose tremendous value and two other people are not going to wait and they will start booking their awards now, which could lead to a shortage of award seats during the period when people may want to travel. Seems like the prudent strategy here is to be premptive when an airline gives notice like this.

Re: Southwest potential deval

Membersince2013 — Fri, 13 Feb 2015 04:49:12 GMT

I'll cancel the card if they get rid of "Wanna get away"

Re: Southwest potential deval

red259 — Fri, 13 Feb 2015 04:57:03 GMT

@Membersince2013 wrote:
I'll cancel the card if they get rid of "Wanna get away"

I don't think I have ever been on a SW flight. I just know a lot of people use them.

Re: Southwest potential deval

Membersince2013 — Fri, 13 Feb 2015 05:14:48 GMT

@red259 wrote:
@Membersince2013 wrote:
I'll cancel the card if they get rid of "Wanna get away"
I don't think I have ever been on a SW flight. I just know a lot of people use them.

Me neither..I recently just got the card just so i can take advantage of 'WGA".

Re: Southwest potential deval

Anonymous — Fri, 13 Feb 2015 06:15:16 GMT

@Membersince2013 wrote:
They'll probably get rid of "wanna get away". The points needed is way too low.

I sensed this as well.

Looks like I better get to planning some vacay time.

Re: Southwest potential deval

WillTeasle — Fri, 13 Feb 2015 14:54:32 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
@Membersince2013 wrote:
They'll probably get rid of "wanna get away". The points needed is way too low.
I sensed this as well.

Looks like I better get to planning some vacay time.

I have a hard time believing they'll be eliminating WGA reward bookings. Currently those are the only real award bookings (why pay 2x the points for anytime rewards when there is no material benefit to the higher fare bucket?). Given that current value is about 1.4cpp at that level, effective earning on the Southwest credit cards is 2.8% on Southwest/travel purchases and 1.4% everywhere else (which already makes the card worthless for any purchase other than through Southwest). If they eliminate that redemption possibility, it will be nearly impossible to get more than 1% back on the cards and I can't see Chase being happy about that. Crunching the numbers would make the cards worthless as one could easily use a 2% cashback card (of which there are many) and effectively earn more and just pay for everything in cash.

Re: Southwest potential deval

Membersince2013 — Fri, 13 Feb 2015 15:48:02 GMT

@WillTeasle wrote:
@Anonymous wrote:
@Membersince2013 wrote:
They'll probably get rid of "wanna get away". The points needed is way too low.
I sensed this as well.

Looks like I better get to planning some vacay time.
I have a hard time believing they'll be eliminating WGA reward bookings. Currently those are the only real award bookings (why pay 2x the points for anytime rewards when there is no material benefit to the higher fare bucket?). Given that current value is about 1.4cpp at that level, effective earning on the Southwest credit cards is 2.8% on Southwest/travel purchases and 1.4% everywhere else (which already makes the card worthless for any purchase other than through Southwest). If they eliminate that redemption possibility, it will be nearly impossible to get more than 1% back on the cards and I can't see Chase being happy about that. Crunching the numbers would make the cards worthless as one could easily use a 2% cashback card (of which there are many) and effectively earn more and just pay for everything in cash.

Exactly...I'll cancel the card right after the announcement if that were to be the case. There's no real benefit to having the card other than the WGA fares.