Quote:
Originally Posted by Butch Cassidy Slept Here
As to the idea of (US-based) airline branded credit cards in general: Anyone who gets one of these deserves whatever they get! A holder of this type of card is simply a participant in the fraud that is most airline frequent flier programs. Southwest, and possibly Alaska, may be exceptions.
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Why single out Southwest and Alaska? They don't run their frequent flier program much differently than any other US based airline. Although there are no "blackout dates" they still manipulate award inventory. Of course you can get any seat on any flight but for twice the miles but this doesn't differ greatly from the others. Southwest has no redemption partners but Alaska charges a fee to use your Alaska miles for a partner award. Alaska allows a 24 hour window to change or cancel an award without penalty but then charges a $75 or $100 fee to change the itinerary or re-deposit the miles. The one thing I do like about Alaska's program is that they don't hit you with the "close-in" booking fee like most do. I could get an award trip for tomorrow and all I'd pay are the segment taxes and the partner fee if it's not all on Alaska or Horizon operated flights.