Originally Posted by
facula
Does anyone have experience with converting FlexPerks to the Altitude card? I understand it is possible and that the online system allows a maximum transfer of 20k points per year, and you have to call in to transfer more. I also understand the current difference in value between FlexPerks (up to 0.02) and the Altitude points (fixed 0.015).
I have a bunch of FlexPerks expiring at the end of the month and no specific trips planned. I'm debating my options:
- Planning and booking a trip -- not ideal.
- Doing the Southwest cancel trick to at least preserve Southwest travel credits for another year -- also not ideal as the travel credits would be locked in to specific name(s) and have to be used within a year.
- Applying for the Altitude Reserve and transferring all of my FlexPerks over (which should eliminate the expiration for as long as I keep the Altitude card)
My questions:
- Will I be able to transfer FlexPerks once my Altitude card is approved, or do I need the card in hand and activated?
- Is there any maximum transfer limit when calling in?
- Anything else I'm missing that will screw me up?
I went ahead and applied for the card, so answering my own questions for reference:
- My application was hung up initially due to verification, but once it was approved, I had it in-hand in 2 business days so I just waited until then to transfer points. I don't know if there is a way to transfer points before having the card as the account number is the first thing the CSR asks for on the phone. The card appeared in my online account after approval but only displayed the last 4 digits of the card.
- There is no transfer limit by phone, as confirmed by a CSR.
Overall, the CSRs were very good but I had one issue with an uninformed agent that told me transferring the FlexPerks would not keep them from expiring. She actually wanted to set up some sort of pooling system between the cards, so that is probably the difference, but she was explicit that I couldn't transfer to prevent expiration and that was clearly wrong. She wanted me to do a redemption before the points expired in 2 days. I did a HUCA and worked out the transfer with no problem.
There may be no dependence on this, but when you call the system says to press 1 to activate, 2 to get an agent. But if you press 1 it still takes you to an agent that can do other things in addition to activating the card. The first agent confirmed to me that I could transfer to save my points, but I didn't do it immediately and called back, pressing 2. That was the agent that told me incorrectly. I called again and pressed 1, and got the transfer done.