Southwest's NEW Rapid Rewards system, any Tips?

I still had quite a few points from the Old RR system..........so with the New system?
It says I need 120 points for my next Free Roundtrip flight.....for a Standard Award RT ticket.
120 is Nothing! lol and a weird amount, but I'm almost there.........

Here's one tip I found out.

Rental Cars. By using a SW Partner............like Dollar............instead of getting only 600 points,
for the normal rental.
I had booked under a TRIPLE Points, for my Rental car..........3 X 600 = 1,800

This worked out to be a Boon for me.

Just wanted to make you aware of how Fast points can accumulate with Multipliers like that.

I actually Like the Old system better. Even the SW Employees I've spoken with like the Old system better.
The Old system was Great for someone like me that takes lots of Short trips.

NOW, you need to make Long trips, at Higher Fares, to make the New system work for you.

Getting your Rental car with a Partner Co., and getting Multipliers.........Can HELP.

Any other ideas how to make the New system work for you?

You pretty much nailed it CLV. Before the new policy took place, I was explaining to a nice couple from the LA area that this policy will not be good for their short flights that they take. For me, I have longer flights so that will help. Also, I have the SWA Visa card. The $59 annual fee blows but I was earning about two flights per year under the old system.

Looks like the Name Match policy is in effect now.
I had hoped they Wouldn't do it, or hoped the delay would continue? Not.
SW going to lose some business over this, me thinks.

The best tip for new RR program is to fly a different airline! The really screwed us short hop west coaters with this change.

And a better option would be _____????

I agree that none of these recent changes at SWA are beneficial for low fare and/or short haul customers. But, having said this, what is a better alternative?

A strong safety and on time performance record and free checked baggage, what more do you really want and can expect?

One negative trend that I'm seeing is that they're not always the lowest priced carrier and specifically, this seems to hold true if you find yourself booking within 7 days or less of travel date.

Outside of that, I generally believe that they still represent the best value.

Don't want to sound negative or confrontational but if I held fast to my word that I'm "never going to fly X airline again" for some indiscretion on their part, I'd be bicycling around the country right now

Dan

They got us, and they Know it.

We Don't have a better alternative around here. It would be nice if we did. A Little more competition.

I really don't like their new system for R.R. unless all you do is long hauls.......

Thats why I was trying to figure out ways to beat their system? Make it work for us.

So far, the only thing I have going for me, is Triple miles with certain rental car companies..........

Rapid Rewards stinks. It used to be swell.

Despite the prevailing wind here, I kinda like the new system. Like alexlifeson, I would mostly use SWA for long-haul flights (I have better options for shorter distances) and have their branded credit card.

Under the old system, I would've been boned because I wouldn't have gotten enough credits for a free flight before expiring. And free flights are (I think) the ONLY things you could use those credits for. Under the new system, points don't expire, the bonus points from signing up for the card are good for about 1 1/2 (cheap) flights to LV, and because I have the card I can use each 5,000 stray points for $50 amazon.com gift certificates.

Works for me, though obviously YMMV.

Both good and bad for me. Last year was a big year on my SWA Visa and I ended up with 12 free flights I had to use this year (actually 24 since my wife has a companion pass). Its been a real challenge to use them all (booked monthly thru Sept and still have 3 more to use before 2-22-12 and we don't go anywhere in Nov & Dec).
At least with the new program, the points never expire. Of course, the trade-off is I won't get as many and I'm still trying to figure out how the companion pass will be affected (she has had one for the last 5 years).
Another problem I have is using up $400 in SWA certificates we got in April due to a six hour delay on a flight (has to be used by next April). I havn't paid for a SWA flight in 6 or 7 years!

I know you all really feel for me!

You are the man Captain Bill!

The consensus appears to be that the short term flyers are getting the worst of the new deal.