[True_Grit]

I joined the growing list of duped customers a little over a year ago when I got the Chase/SWA credit card. I requested this card because of the "no restrictions, no blackout dates" false advertising SWA still uses today.

In October 2011 I decided to make a trip from LA to Orlando to visit family. I thought that it might be a good idea to purchase the ticket for that trip and then use my rewards points for another flight at Christmas. Well as you can guess (like you need to) there were no rewards flights available anytime for a week or more on either side of the holidays. I called SWA to question this and was told "we do not have restrictions or blackout dates but rewards flights aren't always available."

WHAT??????

No rewards flights available is no different than blackout dates or restrictions to the average customer but apparently it is something different to the SWA legal team. Somehow they have found a loophole allowing them to claim they offer something they do not legally.

I have contacted SWA many times on this issue and always get the same circular response. My policy now is to use the SWA credit card to purchase my flights on other airlines at all times. Once I have enough points to fly and can actually find a flight only then will my feet cross the threshold of a SWA 737.

[azstar]

All airlines, including Southwest, are masters of deception when it comes to advertising and communicating their policies.You always have to check their websites for details. This is a quote from Southwest's website:

Rapid Rewards Points can be redeemed for any available seat on any Southwest Airlines flight. The number of points required to purchase a reward flight on Southwest Airlines is based on the advertised fare for the fare product purchased and will be available through the flight booking process on www.southwest.com.

I interpret this to mean that a) the flights were completely sold out, or b) the lowest fares, using the fewest reward points, were sold out and you didn't have enough miles in your account for a higher fare category.

[jimworcs]

I would, just to irritate them, send a copy of their advertising, along with the website advice and proof that seats were available through a screenshot, to the State Attorney General's office. It is blatently a deceptive advertising practice... if it walks like a duck and talks like a duck....it's a duck.