Following the Rules, Southwest Devalues & Amex Concerns
Nov 16, 2023
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They discuss Southwest Airlines' devaluation, concerning changes with Amex, portal bonuses for earning thousands of bonus points, positive United changes, and the points & travel rules they don’t mind following.
Understanding and adapting to evolving loyalty program rules is crucial for maximizing rewards.
Despite the devaluation, Southwest's Rapid Rewards program still offers value, especially for those aiming for the Companion Pass or seeking airline redemptions.
Deep dives
Podcast Episode Recap: Summary Title
In this podcast episode, the hosts discuss a range of topics including the changes in American Express, the devaluation of Southwest's Rapid Rewards, earning premier qualifying points with United, and current shopping portal bonuses. They highlight the importance of following rules in loyalty programs and the ways in which rules can impact earning points and perks. The hosts also touch on the complexities of navigating loyalty program rules and the value of clear and straightforward rules. Overall, the episode offers insights into the dynamic landscape of points and travel and provides useful information for listeners interested in maximizing their rewards.
American Express Changes and Devaluation
The podcast episode delves into the recent changes in American Express, including the introduction of family rules, stricter eligibility for bonuses, and increased spend requirements. The hosts discuss how these changes affect the value of points and emphasize the importance of understanding the evolving rules and adapting to them. While these changes may diminish some benefits, they note that American Express remains a valuable loyalty program for many with ongoing opportunities for earning and redemptions.
Southwest Rapid Rewards Devaluation
The hosts discuss the recent devaluation of Southwest's Rapid Rewards program, where the value of points decreased from 1.4 cents per point to 1.35 cents per point. They highlight the uniqueness of revenue-based programs and the expectation that points should not require devaluation. Despite the devaluation, they recognize that Southwest's program still offers value, particularly for those aiming to earn the Companion Pass or looking for redemption opportunities with the airline.
Earning Premier Qualifying Points and Shopping Portal Bonuses
The hosts cover two additional topics: earning premier qualifying points with United and current shopping portal bonuses. They explain that United has made it easier to earn premier qualifying points through credit card spending, which can contribute towards elite status. They also highlight the ongoing shopping portal bonuses across various airlines, which offer opportunities to earn bonus miles by leveraging online shopping. They emphasize the value of taking advantage of these bonuses, particularly during the holiday season when spending tends to increase.
On this episode Shawn and Joe discuss a recently announced devaluation by Southwest Airlines. As a revenue based program should they devalue their points? They also discuss some of the concerning changes with Amex, how you can earn thousands of bonus points with portal bonuses right now, some positive United changes and the points & travel rules we don’t mind following.
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