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)
Jun 27, 2019, 5:29 pm
#1878
Join Date: Jun 2019
Posts: 22
I purchased $100 on 6/20 and was credited the same day it posted on 6/22. My next $100 purchase on 6/23 is coded the exact same way and has not been reimbursed.
Because I can see for myself that they're coded the exact same way, I'm not worried in the slightest. "Document Type: SPD/Air Freight" should work. Some people earlier this month were not seeing that and have not been credited. My saks credit has taken 3 weeks to post before so I still think we'll be ok.
Because I can see for myself that they're coded the exact same way, I'm not worried in the slightest. "Document Type: SPD/Air Freight" should work. Some people earlier this month were not seeing that and have not been credited. My saks credit has taken 3 weeks to post before so I still think we'll be ok.
Jun 27, 2019, 5:38 pm
#1879
Suspended
Join Date: Jun 2019
Posts: 29
I purchased $100 on 6/20 and was credited the same day it posted on 6/22. My next $100 purchase on 6/23 is coded the exact same way and has not been reimbursed.
Because I can see for myself that they're coded the exact same way, I'm not worried in the slightest. "Document Type: SPD/Air Freight" should work. Some people earlier this month were not seeing that and have not been credited. My saks credit has taken 3 weeks to post before so I still think we'll be ok.
Because I can see for myself that they're coded the exact same way, I'm not worried in the slightest. "Document Type: SPD/Air Freight" should work. Some people earlier this month were not seeing that and have not been credited. My saks credit has taken 3 weeks to post before so I still think we'll be ok.
Jun 28, 2019, 2:18 pm
#1881
Join Date: Feb 2019
Posts: 29
Just chatted with Amex and changed airline to Southwest. Should've checked this page first XP
Curious about the past few posters' luck with reimbursement in the coming week(s). Crossing fingers for you!
Curious about the past few posters' luck with reimbursement in the coming week(s). Crossing fingers for you!
Jun 30, 2019, 10:05 am
#1882
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: Henderson, NV, USA
Programs: Hilton Diamond; Hertz PC; AA Platinum; Marriott Lifetime Gold
Posts: 161
Had not seen this thread before choosing Southwest. Bought a $50 gc June 24 right after choosing WN, and no credit (and probably bought it too soon). Bought another yesterday (it is pending), will post what happens. Was logged into my account - see some are saying not to be logged in. Why? Does that kill the credit?
Jun 30, 2019, 11:11 am
#1883
Moderator
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Miami, Mpls & London
Programs: AA & Marriott Perpetual Platinum; DL & HH Gold
Posts: 48,954
Jun 30, 2019, 5:24 pm
#1884
Join Date: Apr 2011
Posts: 231
I figured the net negative annual fee on the Aspire wouldn't last ... 
.
On top of the killed travel credit, Amex is also killing the Priority Pass later this year (selectively removing all restaurants/etc and only keeping the lounges). Which I can see on their cards that also give Amex Lounge access, but the Aspire only gives the Priority Pass.
Guess I continue keeping my Chase Sapphire Reserve around (had been considering dropping it and keeping Aspire instead).
Devalued hilton points already pushes the 14 points/$ at Hilton to very near what I get on chase anyways. 3 Chase points = 4.5%. 14 hilton points at <0.4 (it's now generally 0.4 or even lower compared to AAA/MVP rates without even considering "lost" 20% by not earning rewards on reward stays. I find even 5 day stays now come out near 0.4 when considering the "unearned" rewards on reward stays.) = 14*0.4 = 5.6%. And by the time I get around to using all my Hilton Points, I'm sure they'll devalue them further.
Much more difficult proposition to pull out 450 of value now, IMO comes down to the Diamond status for keeping the card.
.On top of the killed travel credit, Amex is also killing the Priority Pass later this year (selectively removing all restaurants/etc and only keeping the lounges). Which I can see on their cards that also give Amex Lounge access, but the Aspire only gives the Priority Pass.
Guess I continue keeping my Chase Sapphire Reserve around (had been considering dropping it and keeping Aspire instead).
Devalued hilton points already pushes the 14 points/$ at Hilton to very near what I get on chase anyways. 3 Chase points = 4.5%. 14 hilton points at <0.4 (it's now generally 0.4 or even lower compared to AAA/MVP rates without even considering "lost" 20% by not earning rewards on reward stays. I find even 5 day stays now come out near 0.4 when considering the "unearned" rewards on reward stays.) = 14*0.4 = 5.6%. And by the time I get around to using all my Hilton Points, I'm sure they'll devalue them further.
Much more difficult proposition to pull out 450 of value now, IMO comes down to the Diamond status for keeping the card.
Jun 30, 2019, 6:07 pm
#1885
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: Boston
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 272
I purchased $100 on 6/20 and was credited the same day it posted on 6/22. My next $100 purchase on 6/23 is coded the exact same way and has not been reimbursed.
Because I can see for myself that they're coded the exact same way, I'm not worried in the slightest. "Document Type: SPD/Air Freight" should work. Some people earlier this month were not seeing that and have not been credited. My saks credit has taken 3 weeks to post before so I still think we'll be ok.
Because I can see for myself that they're coded the exact same way, I'm not worried in the slightest. "Document Type: SPD/Air Freight" should work. Some people earlier this month were not seeing that and have not been credited. My saks credit has taken 3 weeks to post before so I still think we'll be ok.
Jun 30, 2019, 9:00 pm
#1886
Join Date: Jun 2019
Posts: 22
Nope, not yet. Had my Saks credit post for my transaction on the 24th. I'm starting to worry.
Sounds like people electing for Delta are having issues as well. There's a chance that AMEX has closed this loophole for all airlines. I really really hope not as it makes the platinum card a tough sell compared to the CSR.
Sounds like people electing for Delta are having issues as well. There's a chance that AMEX has closed this loophole for all airlines. I really really hope not as it makes the platinum card a tough sell compared to the CSR.
Jun 30, 2019, 9:23 pm
#1887
Join Date: Dec 2018
Posts: 825
It really makes the ascend card seem like a better option if the gc option is dead unless you can organically use the benefit.
Jun 30, 2019, 9:48 pm
#1888
Join Date: Jun 2019
Posts: 22
How risky is it to try to get a reimbursement via chat or calling?
Jul 1, 2019, 7:31 am
#1889
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: Boston
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 272
I think now it’s becoming more and more clear - the wiki above needs to be updated to reflect that reimbursement is in trouble.
Jul 1, 2019, 7:54 am
#1890
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: USA
Programs: IHG/Spire Amb., Hilton/Diamond, SPG/Gold, Marriott/Gold, AA/Plat, Southwest/CP
Posts: 270
I have a $50 and a $100 from 6/24 that posted a day or two later. Are Spd/Air Freight but no reimbursement yet. I used Saks credit the same day and it reimbursed within 48 hours. I'll update if/when the Southwest credit posts but getting anxious...
Last edited by LaphroaigAndRibeye; Jul 1, 2019 at 8:49 am