Southwest Rapid Rewards

Pros: Simple to use, easy to fly free
Cons: Limited opportunity to earn if you don't fly

Every now and then, there's a product that just plain makes life easier. Southwest Rapid Rewards is one of those. It's simpler than other programs, and it really does get you into the air with free tickets faster than other airline programs. Isn't...

Pros: Fast, simple to get and use credits
Cons: Must have membership card, Southwest flies only to selected areas

(Minor update 4/24/00). The program is fast and simple. (I said that already.) Get 16 credits and they mail you two certificates good for 2 1-way trips anywhere Southwest flies.

Signing up for the program
I think you can still...

Pros: Easy signup, rewards are earned faster if booked online.
Cons: Rewards expire after 1 year but most should be okay to use.

The first time that I traveled on Southwest Airlines was back in the early 1990’s. At that time, I ...

Pros: A fast and easy way to earn free travel.
Cons: Flight credits are only good for Southwest and can't earn earn credits on other airlines.

As you may remember from my earlier review that I'm not exactly a huge fan of Southwest Airlines. That's just because of the seating arrangements and the stopovers. So, I wouldn't normally fly on ...

Pros: The system is simple, and reasonably generous
Cons: The "Rewards" are viciously limited

"Whee, honey, I can't believe it ... we're going on a 'free' trip to Lubbock!!!"

If you can't hear yourself saying those words, maybe Rapid Rewards isn't for you.

Here's the deal on Southwest: It's an affordable,...

Pros: Fastest Program for free trips, Free Drinks Vouchers
Cons: Continetnal US only, not every major city, no partnerships,time limitations

Southwest Airlines has the best program to earn free flights. Unlike other programs that require you to accumulate miles, Southwest requires you to collect flight credits. Most of the Mileage programs out there require you to accumulate 25000 miles to...

Pros: Cheap tickets, funny crew, good in-flight magazine, easy to get award tickets
Cons: No overseas travel, cattle-call seating arrangements, must check-in early for a choice seat

I couldn't believe it when I was told I had already earned an award ticket. I had only booked three flights, but since I booked them online I received double credit! Southwest requires 16 credits for a free ticket. A credit is considered a one-way trip,...

Pros: You can earn a free ticket after only four roundtrips.
Cons: A free ticket can only be used on Southwest so you can only fly domestically.

Southwest is the only airline I fly now. It's not that their customer service is so much better than any other airlines' (though it might be), or that their flights leave on time more often than any other airlines' (though I think that's true too), or...

Pros: Easy to earn - especially with internet specials; drink coupons
Cons: Hard to earn if you don't fly a lot since credits last only a year

For a poor medical school student like myself (just racking up the interest on those loans), there's nothing greater than cheap or free stuff. ESPECIALLY if the free stuff is a free flight!

The Low Down
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16 credits =...

Pros: 8 round trips earns you a ticket (4 if you book travel online)
Cons: Southwest doesn't fly to some cities in US and no international destinations

I've been a member of Southwest's frequent flyer program for about two years, and I can't say enough great things about it. I fly free on all my vacations thanks to Southwest.

Southwest's Rapid Rewards program is simple to use and gets you...

Pros: easy and fast way to earn free flights; free flights are based on credits, not miles; lots of ways to earn additional credits
Cons: they don't fly everywhere (e.g. Colorado), but they do fly most everywhere

Two words for Southwest Airlines and their frequent flyer program: “User Friendly.” It’s not based on miles, it’s based on trips – so very little math is required! It’s also very easy to earn free flights.

You get a credit for every one way...

Pros: Easy to use.
Cons: Remembering to present the card.

What I love about the Rapid Rewards Frequent Flyer points is the simplicity of the program. Sixteen credits, or eight round trips qualify you for a free ticket. If you make many business trips within certain areas of the United States, these miles...

Pros: Simple, actually rapid, and convenient
Cons: Remember to have your card with you

I have flown on well over 80 (or 160 if you count one round trip as two flights) flights in the last couple of years, and more than half of those flights have been with Southwest Airlines. Since I fly so frequently, I naturally looked into the frequent...

Pros: Can earn free flights fairly quickly. Free.
Cons: Can't earn free flights any faster

Only for the truly elite who fly nationwide in the best that coach has to offer. It's all second-class on Southwest Airlines. But despite the no-frills approach to airtravel (which I enjoy more than some of my contemporaries), Southwest's Rapid Rewards...

Pros: Easy, good for short routes
Cons: Miles expire; you have to be a FREQUENT flier

Southwest's frequent flyer program is good for truly frequent fliers, especially those who routinely do short trips. The upside is that miles are not counted--only trips. The downside--and this is a big downside for me--is that trips expire within one...