southwest airlines

Tag Archives for southwest airlines.

Elite Status: Where I’ll End 2019

by Gary Leff on November 14, 2019

Nov 14 2019

I just booked what I hope will be my last flights of 2019, and my last hotel stays as well. Looking back on the year I realize I traveled less – fewer days than I’ve spent on the road in recent times since the birth of my daughter last fall.

Less time in the air and in chain hotels for me will still seem like a lot of time away to many readers. In 2016 I was gone half the year. That hasn’t been close to true this year. Still, I’m on track to renew several of my status levels.

My Credit Card Spending Priorities for 2020

by Gary Leff on November 12, 2019

Nov 12 2019

The biggest return on credit card spending is earning a card’s initial bonus. After that it’s either benefits that may be earned at specific thresholds on a card, or earning more than one mile per dollar on specific categories of spending. For me it’s about earning the elite benefits I care about, and some special perks on top that let me travel with my family more than I otherwise would.

Southwest Pilots Reportedly Spent Flight Watching Video of Passengers in the Lavatory

by Gary Leff on October 26, 2019

Oct 26 2019

A flight attendant claims she caught two Southwest pilots live-streaming the lavatory into the cockpit for their viewing. This is when they were supposed to be flying their plane.

“The flight attendant entered the cockpit when one of the pilots went to use the lavatory. She noticed an iPad with the lavatory video feed. The co-pilot “panicked when he realized she noticed the device..[and] claimed it was part of a new security measure featured on all Southwest flights.”

Will Southwest Airlines Buy JetBlue?

by Gary Leff on October 22, 2019

Oct 22 2019

The underlying issue isn’t “will Southwest Airlines try to buy another airline” it’s “how does Southwest Airlines grow without the Boeing 737 MAX in service and continued production?” And if Southwest isn’t in a position to grow its business, it can’t command the historically high price-earnings multiple it’s enjoyed relative to peers in the U.S. airline industry.

Mergers are costly. They rarely generate the promised benefits. They involve combining IT systems, fleets, unionized work forces, and company cultures. They’re fraught with risk. Southwest Airlines needs the MAX to be flying again soon, and likely to act on a plan to diversify its fleet (with the attenuated costs and complexity that brings) — potentially with Embraer E2 jets.

Big Changes to Southwest Rapid Rewards: Tougher Companion Pass, No Points Expiration

by Gary Leff on October 17, 2019

Oct 17 2019

Southwest Airlines is eliminating expiration of points, raising the requirements for the Companion Pass, and announcing that starting in 2021 they’ll collect any changes in TSA fees and airport facilities charges when elites use free standby.

Kevin Smith Got Kicked Off Southwest for Being Fat. That’s Why He Made “Jay & Silent Bob Reboot”

by Gary Leff on October 15, 2019

Oct 15 2019

Kevin Smith made headlines in 2010 over Southwest Airlines’ customer of size policy, vowing never to fly the airline again. He flew them again in 2011 and had another altercation over the policy. He boycotted the airline until 2016.

It turns out his confrontation with Southwest led to the making of the brand new Jay and Silent Bob Reboot.

Booking Hotels Can Earn Southwest Companion Pass Plus New 2000 Point First-Time Bonus

by Gary Leff on October 14, 2019

Oct 14 2019

The best deal in travel has to be the Southwest Airlines Companion Pass.

There’s no question that a rewards card with big initial bonus offer is the easiest and fastest way to earn a Companion Pass (in addition to being really big on its own towards reward travel). However there are other fast ways to earn a Companion Pass even without a Southwest Airlines co-brand credit card. And it’s even more enticing with a new 2000 point bonus offer.

Success: Back-to-Back Southwest Airlines Status Matches (With a New Twist)

by Gary Leff on October 10, 2019

Oct 10 2019

I submitted a new status challenge request around 4 p.m. on Sunday and then before 8 a.m. on Monday I had already been approved for another status challenge. They’ve added a quirk I don’t recall from the challenge last time. Fortunately there’s a way around it.

Something I Never Knew About the Southwest Airlines Elite Status Match

by Gary Leff on October 5, 2019

Oct 05 2019

Since I earned the full year’s status through last year’s challenge, during the back half of 2018, I assumed I would have the status for all of 2019 and I’d be able to spend all of 2019 requalifying in order to keep the status for 2020. However, oddly, that’s not how this works.

What’s the Best U.S. Airline?

by Gary Leff on September 11, 2019

Sep 11 2019

Choose the airline with the best schedule, where they’re equivalent with the best reliability, and for regular coach comfort go with Southwest. Since I need to work inflight pretty much all the time I prefer American or Delta, United still isn’t an option though if I lived on Staten Island I’ve fly out of Newark and sacrifice productivity.

No airline is all things to all people, no airline frequent flyer program among those four carriers is a real differentiator and reason to go out of your way to fly a specific airline, but it’s useful to stick with one carrier and earn status where you can. Your miles will be earned through things other than flying and there flexible points transfer programs are best.