When US Airways and America West merged, they offered the ability to move points back and forth between accounts before actually combining the programs. Delta and Northwest offered this as well in their merger, and it brings IT benefits to the airlines as well because consumers ‘link’ their accounts on a self-service basis which helps ensure that their most engaged customers don’t have any problems with that linkage later.

Most recently United and Continental offered this in advance of their March 3, 2012 mashup, and yesterday it was announced that British Airways will offer this feature with bmi, so it’s certainly baked into the cake as an expectation now in any airline merger.

Via NotiFlyer, this feature is now in place for Southwest and Airtran:

A+ Rewards members can convert their credits into Rapid Rewards credits in 0.25 increments at a 1:1 ratio. Convert 0.25 A+ Rewards credits into 0.25 Rapid Rewards credits. The Rapid Rewards credits will have the same expiration date as the original expiration date of the A+ Rewards credits. Once you reach 16 total combined credits in your Rapid Rewards account, an award will automatically be generated. Members cannot convert their credits into points.

Rapid Rewards members can convert their points, active credits and active awards into A+ Rewards credits. Points can be converted in increments of 300 points for 0.25 A+ Rewards credits. Convert 1,200 points for one credit.

Rapid Rewards credits will convert into A+Rewards credits at a 1:1 ratio in increments of 0.25 credits. Members with awards can convert one standard award into 16 A+ Rewards credits and one freedom award into 32 A+ Rewards credits.

You must be a member of both programs to transfer points and credits. Visit http://www.rewardsfarther.com for more information.