Southwest Points Subscription Program Is Dead On Arrival

Southwest Airlines has launched a points subscription program. The options are as follows:

I’m not going to waste your time, the best deal is the 80,000 point option. Unfortunately that still works out to be 1.79¢ per point with all of the bonuses. Given the recent devaluation making points worth a base rate of 1.2¢ per point, even with the extra value you get from not paying taxes and fees on awards you still won’t hit the 1.79¢ rate.

View Comments (28)

  • Does anyone know if the $200 Amex Platinum Airlines Credits for will work the Southwest subscription? If so, could be a play.

  • You know it’s bad when even TPG calls it a “poor value proposition”. I was expecting TPG to call it an amazing opportunity for travelers, but I guess they even have a limit to absurdity.

  • The guy who’ designed this program should be fired and marked as “Ineligible in rewards industry”
    Dead at conception

  • Our perception of the suckers who fall for this is probably similar to how other perceive us “suckers” who sign up for all those credit cards. They’re wrong, but I kinda get it now.

  • Just amazing. They MIGHT get some customers if they at least counted towards CP or Alist. Nope. People will buy these points for sure because they are unable to do the math. (these are the same people that we allow to vote-think about that)

    • Gene,

      We allow to vote? So we should restrict people from voting if they have a difficult time with math? Based on the statistics of this country, that would eliminate a huge percentage of people.

    • That might be worth it IF those points count towards a companion pass you plan to use frequently. Otherwise this is truly DOA.

      EDIT: another reader cited something in the terms where they don’t. This program is a waste of money. Probably better to buy a flight in cash at these values.

    • Yes, that's exactly the reason. Similar to price of 1 item is $4, then a sale of "2 for $10" and people fall for that

      • i have never seen that. if people find out they would never shop there again. It's pure humiliation and evil.