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)
Feb 1, 2018, 7:21 am
#1156
Join Date: Apr 2016
Posts: 706
Feb 2, 2018, 1:10 am
#1157
Join Date: Dec 2017
Posts: 26
Bought $150 Southwest eGift card on 1/26, reimbursed on 1/29.
Feb 3, 2018, 8:59 pm
#1158
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: CLE -> BNA
Programs: IHG Spire Ambassador, Hyatt Explorist, Hilton Gold, Bonvoy Titanium, UA Silver, RR A-List
Posts: 312
Amex Biz Plat $200 Fee Reimbursement DP
1/26, purchased WN $200 GC
1/28, GC posted
1/30, $200 Fee Reimbursement credit posted
1/26, purchased WN $200 GC
1/28, GC posted
1/30, $200 Fee Reimbursement credit posted
Feb 7, 2018, 12:26 am
#1159
Join Date: Feb 2018
Posts: 3
1/31 8:41PM, set Amex credit to SWA
1/31 8:50PM purchased $200 SW GC
The payment has cleared for a while now, but I'm still not getting any credit. Did I purchase the GC too soon after switching?
1/31 8:50PM purchased $200 SW GC
The payment has cleared for a while now, but I'm still not getting any credit. Did I purchase the GC too soon after switching?
Last edited by jmk2589; Feb 7, 2018 at 12:26 am Reason: typo
Feb 7, 2018, 12:29 am
#1160
Join Date: Feb 2018
Posts: 3
I ended up chatting with them and was told to chat back again 2 weeks after the initial purchase for them to manual credit it. The 2 weeks passed and I chatted back and they said it should be manually added within 5 business days. Thanks again for the help, not sure why the issues on my end. Had no problems with Delta but very excited that this was still relatively smooth.
Feb 7, 2018, 8:13 am
#1161
Join Date: Apr 2016
Posts: 706
Amex asked the transaction date and the amount. They also asked what the incidental charge was for, and they gave a few examples like flight change, baggage, etc. It is southwest so bag fees are harder to believe so I just said pet charges. There was no receipt or anything needed I had the credit in 2 business days. Hope this helps!
Feb 7, 2018, 8:15 am
#1162
Join Date: Apr 2016
Posts: 706
https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/29366289-post1156.html
https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/29389848-post1161.html
Feb 8, 2018, 6:20 am
#1164
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Fishers, IN (Indianapolis)
Programs: Hilton Honors Diamond, Marriott Gold
Posts: 97
Is there data points for Southwest GC reimbursements from AMEX Hilton Aspire?
Hi. I apologize in advance if I should have posted this elsewhere. I just activated my new AMEX Hilton Aspire card and also set the airline incidentals reimbursement to Southwest.
Is it possible to just purchase $250 gift card with Southwest and expect a reimbursement? Or should do this in smaller denominations? Anybody tried this yet?
Thanks.
Is it possible to just purchase $250 gift card with Southwest and expect a reimbursement? Or should do this in smaller denominations? Anybody tried this yet?
Thanks.
Feb 8, 2018, 7:51 am
#1165
Moderator
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Miami, Mpls & London
Programs: AA & Marriott Perpetual Platinum; DL & HH Gold
Posts: 48,958
Feb 10, 2018, 10:58 am
#1166
Join Date: Mar 2017
Posts: 88
Platinum Card Data Point
January: left/confirmed WN as my airline of choice
7 Feb: purchased a $200 eGC
10 Feb: reimbursed, posted as 9 Feb
Another successful year.
7 Feb: purchased a $200 eGC
10 Feb: reimbursed, posted as 9 Feb
Another successful year.
Feb 13, 2018, 12:56 pm
#1167
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Fishers, IN (Indianapolis)
Programs: Hilton Honors Diamond, Marriott Gold
Posts: 97
I purchased one $250 gift card online with my AMEX Hilton Aspire card. It was reimbursed about 3 days later. So it works with Southwest.
Feb 13, 2018, 2:09 pm
#1168
Join Date: Jul 2013
Posts: 54
I just got hit with the $195 AF on my Amex PRG. I’ve called twice with no luck on retention offers so I will most likely cancel. However, I want to use up my existing MR points as well as use my $100 airline credit (was thinking of purchasing $100 Southwest GC). As long as I cancel within 30 days after the AF hit (Feb. 9) will the AF be taken off my account (even though I’ve used the airline credit)?
Feb 16, 2018, 6:38 pm
#1169
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: San Francisco, CA
Programs: Amex Platinum, Chase Sapphire Reserve
Posts: 811
One $200 Southwest GC, bought and reimbursed in February, on my Amex Plat. 
Southwest was already my selection from previous years.
Southwest was already my selection from previous years.
Feb 17, 2018, 12:08 am
#1170
Join Date: Jul 2013
Posts: 16
my experience with the Amex airline fee reimbursement
I bought a $100 Southwest gift card on Feb 7, and was reimbursed on Feb 9.