Southwest and Amex cut frequency ties

By Joe Brancatelli

Southwest Airlines is pulling out of the American Express Membership Rewards program. The last day to transfer your Amex points to Southwest Rapid Rewards is June 30, 2010.

Delta Air Lines and Midwest Airlines are also dissolving their frequent flyer program partnership on June 6. Delta inherited the deal when it merged with Northwest Airlines last year.

On the flipside, three carriers that franchise Richard Branson’s “Virgin” name — Virgin America, Virgin Blue and V Australia — now offer reciprocal earning in each other’s frequency programs.

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Joe Brancatelli is editor and publisher of JoeSentMe.com, a non-commercial Web site for business travelers. Copyright 2009 by Joe Brancatelli. Licensed by contract for Orbitz use.

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