Sep 17, 2014, 10:45 am
Last edit by: Tanic
Reminder: you must enroll and select Southwest as your airline BEFORE making a reimbursable purchase.
Some have suggested the need to wait several hours or even a day before making the purchase, but there are also several DPs that worked without waiting that long.
(BTW, you will often hear people refer to Southwest as WN. WN is the IATA code for Southwest Airlines. SW is the IATA code for Air Namibia.)
Caution: As of late July 2019, reports are that direct gift card purchases are no longer being reimbursed.
To purchase click here: https://www.southwest.com/gift-card/create-card.html Caution: Do NOT login to your Southwest Rapid Rewards account when making the purchase.
What does appear to work is buying flight tickets less than $100, OR using gift cards to get the charged amount down to less than $100.
Always read the last few pages to get up-to-date DPs.
Some have suggested the need to wait several hours or even a day before making the purchase, but there are also several DPs that worked without waiting that long.
(BTW, you will often hear people refer to Southwest as WN. WN is the IATA code for Southwest Airlines. SW is the IATA code for Air Namibia.)
Caution: As of late July 2019, reports are that direct gift card purchases are no longer being reimbursed.
What does appear to work is buying flight tickets less than $100, OR using gift cards to get the charged amount down to less than $100.
Always read the last few pages to get up-to-date DPs.
Airline fee $250/$200/$100 reimbursement reports: WN (2011-2019)
Mar 5, 2014, 11:32 am
#211
Join Date: Mar 2014
Posts: 6
One $200 Southwest GC purchased online 2/28. Reimbursed 3/4. Yippee. 
Mar 15, 2014, 12:54 pm
#212
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: Berkeley, CA USA
Programs: Piggly Wiggly "Shop the Pig!" Preferred Shopper
Posts: 57,040
March 8: I purchased two $100 gift cards on Southwest:
March 12: Two $100 Airline Fee Reimbursements showing on my online statement.
Thanks once again, AMEX! The $450 Platinum card is really only $250/year, and that's a great deal.
March 12: Two $100 Airline Fee Reimbursements showing on my online statement.
Thanks once again, AMEX! The $450 Platinum card is really only $250/year, and that's a great deal.
Apr 23, 2014, 7:47 pm
#213
Join Date: Nov 2010
Posts: 302
Will post my experience as things develop...
Purchased Gift Cards - April 23 (2x$100)
Transaction Posted - April 25
Reimbursement Credit Posted - April 26 (2x$100)
Purchased Gift Cards - April 23 (2x$100)
Transaction Posted - April 25
Reimbursement Credit Posted - April 26 (2x$100)
Last edited by HockeyCoachBen; Apr 27, 2014 at 11:43 am Reason: Updating data points.
Apr 24, 2014, 12:09 pm
#214
Join Date: Aug 2013
Posts: 61
question, i will buy $200 SW giftcard, but there is $2.95 shipping fee, so will they reimburse me for $200?
Apr 24, 2014, 10:05 pm
#215
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: FL, but want to Expatriate to SE Asia ASAP
Programs: WN,DL,AA,UA,B6,more!
Posts: 810
Apr 28, 2014, 10:07 pm
#216
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: Berkeley, CA USA
Programs: Piggly Wiggly "Shop the Pig!" Preferred Shopper
Posts: 57,040
Just got the $200 credit retroactively. I already had the personal Plat, and recently got the targeted Bus. Plat 100K MR bonus offer. So I did the 2x $100 Southwest gift card routine again with the new card.
Problem: I forgot to designate WN as my airline for this purpose. So, I called the customer service line, got a nice fellow who was happy to help. I was big on the "I blew it"s and "I forgot"s -- my fault.
I don't suppose I could get the $200 credit retroactively, could I?
Sir, let me check on that. A minute later he came back and it was done. Bravo, Amex!
Problem: I forgot to designate WN as my airline for this purpose. So, I called the customer service line, got a nice fellow who was happy to help. I was big on the "I blew it"s and "I forgot"s -- my fault.
I don't suppose I could get the $200 credit retroactively, could I?
Sir, let me check on that. A minute later he came back and it was done. Bravo, Amex!
Apr 30, 2014, 8:40 pm
#217
Join Date: May 2008
Posts: 224
Greetings.
Just received my new Amex Plat in the mail today, first time having a real Amex branded card woot!
Would it be suspicious if I immediately purchase 2x $100 WN gift cards? It sounds like the reimbursement is going strong, but I'd rather not take my chances. But at the same time, any chance of possibly arousing suspicion as to this benefit would be best avoided.
Just received my new Amex Plat in the mail today, first time having a real Amex branded card woot!
Would it be suspicious if I immediately purchase 2x $100 WN gift cards? It sounds like the reimbursement is going strong, but I'd rather not take my chances. But at the same time, any chance of possibly arousing suspicion as to this benefit would be best avoided.
May 8, 2014, 7:35 am
#218
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: PHL - Go Flyers!
Programs: EMT-P
Posts: 564
Greetings.
Just received my new Amex Plat in the mail today, first time having a real Amex branded card woot!
Would it be suspicious if I immediately purchase 2x $100 WN gift cards? It sounds like the reimbursement is going strong, but I'd rather not take my chances. But at the same time, any chance of possibly arousing suspicion as to this benefit would be best avoided.
Just received my new Amex Plat in the mail today, first time having a real Amex branded card woot!
Would it be suspicious if I immediately purchase 2x $100 WN gift cards? It sounds like the reimbursement is going strong, but I'd rather not take my chances. But at the same time, any chance of possibly arousing suspicion as to this benefit would be best avoided.
I don't see any reason why that purchase would be an issue. It is a very small purchase.
May 8, 2014, 10:30 am
#219
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: Berkeley, CA USA
Programs: Piggly Wiggly "Shop the Pig!" Preferred Shopper
Posts: 57,040
Greetings.
Just received my new Amex Plat in the mail today, first time having a real Amex branded card woot!
Would it be suspicious if I immediately purchase 2x $100 WN gift cards? It sounds like the reimbursement is going strong, but I'd rather not take my chances. But at the same time, any chance of possibly arousing suspicion as to this benefit would be best avoided.
Just received my new Amex Plat in the mail today, first time having a real Amex branded card woot!
Would it be suspicious if I immediately purchase 2x $100 WN gift cards? It sounds like the reimbursement is going strong, but I'd rather not take my chances. But at the same time, any chance of possibly arousing suspicion as to this benefit would be best avoided.
May 28, 2014, 8:26 am
#220
Join Date: Apr 2011
Posts: 567
$200 airline fee reimbursement reports: WN/FL only
Anyone get WN gift cards for $200 recently?
May 28, 2014, 9:42 am
#221
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: BOS
Programs: MR, UR, AA, AS, HH Gold, SPG Gold, HGP, RR
Posts: 708
Is there a way to gift the cards to someone else? My goddaughter is moving to DC and I want to buy her some gc's so she can come visit when she wants to.
May 30, 2014, 5:25 pm
#222
Join Date: May 2014
Location: Vancouver, Canada
Programs: DL, AC
Posts: 4
). Both reimbursements appeared 3 days after purchase.
Jun 1, 2014, 12:46 am
#224
Join Date: May 2014
Location: Vancouver, Canada
Programs: DL, AC
Posts: 4
Curious what's different about your purchase and mine. I bought one GC ($100) 05/23. The transaction appeared with the following relevant details:
DOING BUSINESS AS
SOUTHWEST AIRLINES
MERCHANT ADDRESS
PO BOX 36611, DALLAS, TX 75235 UNITED STATES
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
7900122406 (214) 792 - 4223
REFERENCE NUMBER
32xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
CATEGORY
TRAVEL - AIRLINE
TICKET NUMBER
5xxxxxxxxxxxx
DATE OF DEPARTURE
PASSENGER NAME
DOCUMENT TYPE
SPD/AIR FREIGHT
I don't expect a reimbursement that hasn't happened10 days after the purchase. I purchased the GC online from the Southwest.com website. But any reader here has a suggestion about calling Amex customer service and requesting a credit?
thanks!
Jun 1, 2014, 4:47 am
#225
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Cypress Hills Research Center
Posts: 5,295
Hey uszkanni,
Curious what's different about your purchase and mine. I bought one GC ($100) 05/23. The transaction appeared with the following relevant details:
...
I don't expect a reimbursement that hasn't happened10 days after the purchase. I purchased the GC online from the Southwest.com website. But any reader here has a suggestion about calling Amex customer service and requesting a credit?
thanks!
Curious what's different about your purchase and mine. I bought one GC ($100) 05/23. The transaction appeared with the following relevant details:
...
I don't expect a reimbursement that hasn't happened10 days after the purchase. I purchased the GC online from the Southwest.com website. But any reader here has a suggestion about calling Amex customer service and requesting a credit?
thanks!
FROM TO CARRIER CLASS
N/A N/A YY
N/A YY
N/A YY
N/A YY
before the TICKET NUMBER line.N/A YY
N/A YY
It's possible that it just hasn't appeared yet but if you're concerned then you can call AMEX CS and ask about the credit. There's no need to go into too many details about what you purchased but don't lie (the agent probably knows what exactly $100 is buying anyway).
I've never needed to do this so you might want to wait a day or two to see if someone else here will post their suggestions on how to proceed.
P.S. I'll assume you selected Southwest as your airline prior to purchasing the GC.
