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)
Aug 22, 2019, 7:16 am
#2161
Join Date: Jul 2019
Programs: Hilton Diamond, Marriott Gold, Newbie
Posts: 5
No, most likely not. You should cancel and buy the ticket again.
Aug 22, 2019, 11:05 pm
#2162
Join Date: Jul 2019
Posts: 10
Why can’t you cancel before the annual fee hits? Is this related to getting two airline credits and cancelling the card before paying the annual fee the second year? Can you provide a link to the FT info you reference?
Aug 23, 2019, 4:51 am
#2163
Moderator
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Miami, Mpls & London
Programs: AA & Marriott Perpetual Platinum; DL & HH Gold
Posts: 48,955
Closing the account in the first 12 months is explicitly penalized:
Amex USA terms now penalize:abuse,misuse,gaming;1st yr downgrade/close;leaked offers.
Amex USA terms now penalize:abuse,misuse,gaming;1st yr downgrade/close;leaked offers.
Aug 23, 2019, 9:55 am
#2164
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Chicago, IL
Programs: Hilton, Marriott, Club Carlson, AA, UA, AS, SQ, AF
Posts: 124
I had the same question and according to this the answer is YES. 1 year....
https://www.southwest.com/flight/tra...ds-search.html
https://www.southwest.com/flight/tra...ds-search.html
Aug 23, 2019, 3:48 pm
#2165
Join Date: Sep 2005
Programs: UA gold; WN A; PC plat; Marriott Gold
Posts: 425
I had the same question and according to this the answer is YES. 1 year....
https://www.southwest.com/flight/tra...ds-search.html
https://www.southwest.com/flight/tra...ds-search.html
After the travel fund has expired, you can call in and they will typically agree to convert this expired travel fund into a Southwest voucher, with $100 in value deducted. See this blog https://yourmileagemayvary.net/2019/...redit-voucher/
Aug 24, 2019, 5:34 pm
#2166
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: San Jose, CA
Programs: Hilton Gold; UA 3P; Cattle-Class on everything else.
Posts: 340
Folks- i just paid for my WN tix with a gift card and the rest on my Amex. How long does it take for the meter to go down? I checked instantly (few mins) and it had not moved. Am I SOL?
Aug 24, 2019, 6:24 pm
#2167
Moderator
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Miami, Mpls & London
Programs: AA & Marriott Perpetual Platinum; DL & HH Gold
Posts: 48,955
Aug 26, 2019, 1:30 am
#2168
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: Sacramento, CA
Posts: 437
Bought $98.50 Southwest ticket on 8/22 - Reimbursed on 8/25.
I didn't read this thread carefully, I didn't realize the travel funds were so limiting... This sucks. Anyone have any cool hacks around this?
I didn't read this thread carefully, I didn't realize the travel funds were so limiting... This sucks. Anyone have any cool hacks around this?
Aug 26, 2019, 9:05 am
#2169
Join Date: Oct 2018
Posts: 47
This is why I would rather have $0 over a Southwest travel fund credit.
Aug 26, 2019, 11:51 am
#2170
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: Berkeley, CA USA
Programs: Piggly Wiggly "Shop the Pig!" Preferred Shopper
Posts: 57,075
So limiting? They expire after a year, but otherwise how are they limiting?
Aug 26, 2019, 3:46 pm
#2171
Join Date: Mar 2019
Posts: 5
Purchased two one-way flights on 8/20 with my amex gold card: $133.98 and $94.98. I was reimbursed $94.98 on 8/23. I'm not sure what amounts everyone has tried, but $133 is too high.
Aug 26, 2019, 4:20 pm
#2172
Join Date: Jul 2010
Posts: 61
Hi for domestic SW flights, does paying for Wifi count as incidental? At least alcohol is covered 
Update - found my answer from thepointsguy blog: Onboard Wi-Fi (except United) — The airlines, with the exception of some United flights, are not the providers for onboard Wi-Fi. Buying Wi-Fi on any other airline will not trigger the credit.
Update - found my answer from thepointsguy blog: Onboard Wi-Fi (except United) — The airlines, with the exception of some United flights, are not the providers for onboard Wi-Fi. Buying Wi-Fi on any other airline will not trigger the credit.
Last edited by gtran26; Aug 26, 2019 at 4:33 pm
Aug 26, 2019, 8:03 pm
#2174
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: STL
Posts: 1,546
Would Early Bird (3x$25) on an already booked flight count towards reimbursement?