Dallas, TX (PRWEB) September 29, 2005 -- The football season is underway, and Southwest Airlines (NYSE: LUV) has teamed up with a new partner to bring more value to its Rapid Rewards program. Southwest Airlines is pleased to announce a partnership with InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) (NYSE: IHG; London) (ADRs), the largest hotel group by number of rooms in the world.
Beginning Oct. 1, Southwest Airlines' Rapid Rewards Members who enroll in IHG's Priority Club(R) Rewards and select Southwest Airlines to create a preferred earning alliance will receive a half credit in Southwest's Rapid Rewards program for each qualifying stay at any of the 3,500 IHG properties worldwide, including: InterContinental, Crowne Plaza, Hotel Indigo, Holiday Inn, Holiday Inn Express, Staybridge Suites, and Candlewood Suites. For more information or to make online reservations at any of the seven brands within the IHG family of brands, visit: www.southwest.com/jp/luvhome.shtml?src=PR_NewPartner_092905
"Southwest is thrilled to partner with the world's largest and most global hotel company to bring our Rapid Rewards Members more flexibility and opportunities to earn a free ticket," said Joyce Rogge, Southwest's Senior Vice President of Marketing. "Rapid Rewards Members are extremely loyal because of the tremendous value they receive through membership in our program."
That loyalty shows. In 2005, Southwest Airlines was honored with three first-place awards at InsideFlyer magazine's 17th annual Freddie Awards for Best Customer Service, Best Award Redemption, and Best Bonus Promotion. In the Rapid Rewards program, Members who fly eight roundtrips or earn 16 credits in a 24-month period receive a free roundtrip Award. As soon as a flyer receives the required 16 credits, the fully transferable roundtrip Award will automatically appear in the Member's account.
In addition, Rapid Rewards Members who fly 50 roundtrips (or earn 100 credits) within 12 consecutive months earn a Companion Pass, which allows a member to designate a traveler to fly with him/her free of charge for the next 12 months.
