McDonald's Under the Tree

McDonald's is promoting reloadable gift cards for the holiday season in an effort to increase sales and decrease time spent in lines at the counter. The cards are available in $5, $10, $25, and $50 denominations. In an effort to increase the popularity of the cards, McDonald's has given away millions of $1 cards to Southwest Airline employees and customers, their own customers who bought premium chicken selects during a promotional time period, and through American Express credit card mailings. Do you believe that these reloadable gift cards will increase McDonald's sales? What do you think about this idea? Will and should other fast food joints follow in McDonald's footsteps?