Rapid Rewards-Who are they for anyway?

[RetiredVet]

I just signed up to SWA's Rapid Rewards Program and immediately booked a flight for a lady friend of mine to visit me. I was absolutely bowled over when I called Rapid Rewards and asked to have the flight I paid for credited to my account, only to be told it could only be credited to the person flying. Well the person flying doesn't have or want a Rapids Reward account, nor do my children who I pay for their tickets on occasion myself, but I certainly would like to be able to get credit for the trips I'm purchasing so I could use them one day to take a flight through the program. Is that too much to ask? The other airlines do it, so why not SWA? It's obvious where the purchase originated from, who purchased the ticket, and the credit card used matches the same one on my Rapid Rewards account. So what's so hard about crediting the mileage or trip to the one who purchased the flight? The one receiving the flight has enough benefits as it is being the only one who can change or get credit for the flight; can the purchaser get a little benefit as well? Has anyone else experienced the same thing or feel as I do?

[abutterfinger25]

Straight from Southwest's website..

"Credits can only be earned by the person whose name appears in the Rapid Rewards account and who actually travels, regardless of who purchased or paid for the ticket. The membership card is nontransferrable, and photo identification will be required. "

Comparing Southwest to other airlines is like comparing Apples to Oranges. They have always done things different than the others and their frequent flyer program is different as well.

[pattis]

Incidentally, the same situation applies for NW.