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)
#1171
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: DEN
Posts: 134
Aspire fee reimbursement positive DP:
- February 15: selected WN as airline on a brand new Aspire card
- February 15: twenty minutes later buy $250 WN eGC
- February 18: $250 credit posts with a date of Feb 17
#1172
Join Date: Jul 2013
Posts: 54
Another data point here. Purchased 1x$100 Southwest gift card using PRG card. Charge posted on 2/14 and received reimbursement on 2/16.
#1173
Join Date: Dec 2015
Location: Rockies
Programs: UA Platinum, HHonors Diamond, Bonvoy occasionally Bonvoyed Mostly
Posts: 428
Anyone having problems purchasing SWA gift cards ?
I tried doing it today and kept getting an error. Seemed like the transaction was hitting the credit card since i could see it as a pending transaction in my amex account but on the southwest website, it kept giving an error.
I tried doing it today and kept getting an error. Seemed like the transaction was hitting the credit card since i could see it as a pending transaction in my amex account but on the southwest website, it kept giving an error.
#1174
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Truth or Consequences, NM
Programs: HH Diamond, Marriott Titanium, Hertz President's Circle, UA Silver, Mobile Passport Unobtanium
Posts: 6,187
2/22 Called and switched airline to WN.
2/23 Purchased $200 eGift card with Platinum card.
2/26 "Save-o-meter" turns green, indicates I've saved $200 in airline incidental fees in 2018.
2/27 Airline incidental credit posts to my account (with a date of 2/26 attached to it.)
2/23 Purchased $200 eGift card with Platinum card.
2/26 "Save-o-meter" turns green, indicates I've saved $200 in airline incidental fees in 2018.
2/27 Airline incidental credit posts to my account (with a date of 2/26 attached to it.)
#1175
Join Date: Mar 2015
Posts: 26
3/2/2018: $200 gift card purchased w/ Schwab Platinum Card
3/4/2018: $200 credit appeared in account (late in the evening)
3/4/2018: $200 credit appeared in account (late in the evening)
#1176
Join Date: Oct 2009
Posts: 7
3/1/2018: $200 gift card purchased with Amex Platinum
3/4/2018: $200 credit reimbursement on account
3/4/2018: $200 credit reimbursement on account
#1177
Join Date: Jul 2002
Posts: 3,623
Didn't see this up thread: I purchased gift cards last year. Was considering maybe changing my airline selection this year, but I booked a ticket on WN recently and used a $100 gift card from last year. The total price was $119ish, so I paid $19 with my Amex. I was surprised to see the $19 credited for this year. Not complaining, just was not expecting that charge to be treated as a creditable activity.
#1178
Join Date: Jan 2009
Programs: Hilton Diamond, IHG Spire Ambassador, Radisson Gold, Hyatt Discoverist
Posts: 3,621
3/7/2018 Bought $250 Southwest gift card on AMEX Hilton Aspire card
3/9/2018 $250 reimbursed
3/9/2018 $250 reimbursed
#1179
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: TX, USA
Programs: Bonvoy Plat, Hilton Diamond, IHG SA
Posts: 139
3/15/2018: $200 gift card purchased with Amex Plat
3/18/2018: $200 credit reimbursed
3/18/2018: $200 credit reimbursed
#1180
Join Date: Sep 2017
Posts: 4
Aspire Positive DP
3/7 - Set airline to WN (Hilton Aspire)
3/15 - Purchased $100 e-GC
3/19 - $100 airline credit reimbursed
3/15 - Purchased $100 e-GC
3/19 - $100 airline credit reimbursed
Last edited by Jen612; Mar 19, 2018 at 8:37 am Reason: More detailed info
#1181
Join Date: Apr 2016
Programs: NH, JL, SQ
Posts: 164
3/14 - Called in to set airline to southwest
3/14 - Purchased $100 gift card
3/16 - $100 posted
3/17 - $100 credit reimbursed
3/14 - Purchased $100 gift card
3/16 - $100 posted
3/17 - $100 credit reimbursed
#1182
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: TX, USA
Programs: Bonvoy Plat, Hilton Diamond, IHG SA
Posts: 139
3/16/2018: $250 gift card purchased with Amex Aspire
3/18/2018: $250 credit reimbursed
3/18/2018: $250 credit reimbursed
#1183
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Portland, OR
Programs: DL gold, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Gold
Posts: 305
3/14/18-$200 WN gift card
3/16/18-airline fee credit
3/16/18-airline fee credit
#1184
Join Date: Oct 2012
Posts: 771
Glad this works, i just called today to switched my airlines to southwest as i need to 'downgrade'. so i'll try this and report
#1185
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: Washington, D.C.
Posts: 43
Purchased $200 GC on March 20.
Still nothing today.
Southwest was my selection last year. Made no change.
Still nothing today.
Southwest was my selection last year. Made no change.