SWA Rapid Rewards Changing, not for the better

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Where art thou LUV sychophants?

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These don’t exist anymore. Just an absolutely pitiful airline now. What a fall from grace

After being a fairly consistent SWA flyer for years, I go out of my way to avoid them now. They offer a budget experience at non budget prices. Only thing they have going for them is more flexible direct routing in some instances.

Almost posted this last week but felt I've bashed SW enough over the past few years....

They aren't anything what they once were. Just a dime a dozen airline at this point. Funny they are going to the Silver, gold, platinum levels like everyone else. Nothing unique about them anymore.


I still have nearly 1 million RR points with them. Taking my first flight in nearly a year late November, so will see how the experience is.

Airline loyalty has been all but pointless for a while now

It's funny because their biggest base of work travel loyalists are either the ones still defending them still fooled the boarding process improvements had anything to do with a smoother boarding experience and not just another revenue generator or the ones who call them out the most for their fall from grace.

On some routes from MSY, they are still a better option. On others not so much and while I was never sworn to them 100% of the time, they were usually the airline I chose most frequently.

Moved to Delta ALOT the last few years but in my experience, their fall from grace has been more dramatic. SW has actually made a good amount of improvements but they've done it at such a higher cost I often don't think it's been worth it.

Delta has gone downhill domestically but have also raised costs while the same time has experienced a noticeable increase in flight cancellations and operational disruptions, dropped from 1st place in U.S. carrier reliability to 6th in 2026—a position it held for five consecutive years, displayed a lost, damaged or delayed baggage increased by > 25.0% compared to 5 -10 years ago, severe overcrowding in the Sky Lounges and out of date wi-fi compared to other carriers like United.

SW is still presenting as a value airline making improvements but doing so at a higher cost.

Delta is still marketing a premium domestic experience at a higher cost but doing so at a much lower level.

In short, work travelers loved loyalty so they could build up status and take advantage of perks at the expense of their employer. The industry has shifted more into spending on credit cards for travel perks but the biggest shift for SW and the greater impact falls on families who used things like the group boarding process, open seating and free checked bags to save hundreds of dollars on their airline travel.

They've basically become a normal airline without the chances of upgrading to first class. I didn't like Southwest ten years ago, probably wouldn't like it now (other than preferring their seat assignment thing).

The only time I ever took advantage of companion pass is when they have done one of those "Buy two one way tickets before ____ and get companion pass until ______"

I flew to houston, went to top golf, had lunch and flew home and have used the pass on three flights already and have three more planned between now and the expiration date.

It's time people became more flexible and less "loyal" to take advantage of the perks that are currently being offered.

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It costs $350-400 per person from MCY to MCO no matter what time of year, it's absurd

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We often fly into TPA and save alot. Car rentals are usually cheaper than MCO as well. The drive takes about an hour but it's over 30 from MCO to WDW anyway but in man instances that 30 minutes can save over $1,000 for a family of 4.

SWA went from the airline that I would check first for prices… to the one I wouldn’t even consider flying at all

I don't think anyone will be Platinum until around the middle of 2027. I also would have qualified for Platinum based on spending this year, but I still get free companion until 12/31/2027. I will probably qualify for Platinum by the middle of 2027. I still fly Southwest because of the routes (I fly Dallas to MSY at least once a month in non-football months and 2 - 3 times a month during football season). Mostly always on time and short flight. My wife can tag along anytime that she wants for free. The new calculation of TQP (from partial points to full dollar per TQP) will make Platinum easy to qualify for big credit card spenders. I am waiting for them to open Europe routes in the next few years, so I will keep flying them.