SWA

What the heck is the new rapid rewards program all about?? As best I can decipher you no longer get credit on your RR chase credit card for flights within the U.S. If I am correct why would I keep that card?

Sure hope I am wrong. Like my free flights!!

There is a similar thread in the Free For All and I asked about the card. If you are correct, then there is no reason to have that card since it has an annual fee. I have usually earned about two free flights per year so the fee is worth it to me.

Well, I have read through the details and I can see why it's confusing. I think they are promoting the idea that you can book international flights with the points in addition to domestic flights. In one place it has an asterik next to the SW flights that mentions the 9/11 fee which is $10 round trip (isn't that an increase from $5?). It would make absolutely no sense to be able to use the points only for international flights. I'm going to assume that it is poorly worded and does include domestic flights.

it's $5 each way.

No, I meant that it has been $2.50 each way but it will become $5. I already have a reward flight booked for April and that fee is $2.50 each way. Don't get me wrong, I am not upset by the increase and I was only making a comment about it.

I booked a reward ticket in December and it was $5 one way.
So I guess that's been going on for a while...

"Up to $10 per round trip." That is per person.

The new program is definitely a tightening of the screws on free flights.

Now we will earn "points" instead of the previous system of "credits" for each flight taken.

The points earned by flying depend on the cost of the flight. You earn more points by paying the higher fares. The RATE of points earned is higher per dollar spent with the higher price category of fare.

You spend your points to get a free flight. There is no automatic earning of a flight after accruing credits as before. If you have 25,000 points, and a flight costs 20,000 points, you can spend the 20,000 points for the flight.

Business travelers may do fine since they fly often and use the highest fares. Those of us who prefer the lowest price we can get are affected negatively.

It was bound to happen sooner or later.

Not good.