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)
Jan 18, 2016, 4:43 pm
#616
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: Berkeley, CA USA
Programs: Piggly Wiggly "Shop the Pig!" Preferred Shopper
Posts: 57,067
They've picked up the pace on rebates:
$100 x 2 on two cards on Jan. 13.
$100 x 2 rebates on those same two cards on Jan. 17.
$100 x 2 on two cards on Jan. 13.
$100 x 2 rebates on those same two cards on Jan. 17.
Jan 18, 2016, 4:52 pm
#617
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: SNA
Programs: Bonvoy LTTE/AMB, AmEx Plat, National EE, WN A-List, CLEAR+, Covid-19
Posts: 4,964
So, here's a new twist- I had a ~$70 ticket's price refunded to me under the Airline Fee Reimbursement ... while like many, I was going to just get GCs anyway, I was surprised when I saw this on my online statement. Just another datapoint, I guess.
Jan 21, 2016, 2:40 pm
#618
Join Date: Mar 2014
Posts: 4
I do not see any instructions on how to purchase in the wikipost at the top of this thread. Should I do two separate transactions for one $100 gift card each or should I do 2 qty of $100 gift cards?
Jan 21, 2016, 3:22 pm
#619
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: Berkeley, CA USA
Programs: Piggly Wiggly "Shop the Pig!" Preferred Shopper
Posts: 57,067
Jan 22, 2016, 9:45 am
#620
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: ORD/MDW
Programs: AA EXP, DL-Plat, WN-CP | Hotels: Choice-Gld, IHG-Plt, Rad-Gld, HH-Dia, Hyatt-Glob, Marriott-LtPlt
Posts: 2,889
I do the former (2 x $100 charges). I think the latter may charge your card for a single $200 (which may be fine too).
Jan 25, 2016, 9:30 am
#622
Join Date: Mar 2014
Posts: 4
Purchased 2x $100 just now, Will update when I see the reimbursement.
Jan 25, 2016, 3:16 pm
#623
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: CHS
Programs: DL Diamond, WN A-List, Marriott Platinum Elite, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 685
Purchased 2x $50 Southwest gift cards with AMEX PRG.
1/12: Charge posted
1/15: Credit posted
1/12: Charge posted
1/15: Credit posted
Jan 28, 2016, 7:08 am
#624
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Chicago
Programs: Hyatt Glob; UA 1K; BonVoyage LTT (RIP SPG); HH Dia; JX Insighter
Posts: 1,642
2x$100 purchased as a single transaction (went through as $200)
1/20: Charge posted
1/27: Credit posted
1/20: Charge posted
1/27: Credit posted
Jan 28, 2016, 12:21 pm
#625
Join Date: Nov 2010
Posts: 302
Will post my experience as things develop...
Purchased Gift Cards - January 23 (2x$100)
Transaction Posted - January 23 (2x$100)
Reimbursement Credit Posted - February 4 (2x$100)
See post #631 for more on this situation.
Purchased Gift Cards - January 23 (2x$100)
Transaction Posted - January 23 (2x$100)
Reimbursement Credit Posted - February 4 (2x$100)
See post #631 for more on this situation.
Last edited by HockeyCoachBen; Feb 4, 2016 at 1:46 pm Reason: Edited to update reimbursement posting to account.
Jan 28, 2016, 1:45 pm
#626
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: LAX, LGB, SNA
Programs: AA EXP OWE, DL DM ST+, AS MVPG, UA, BA, WN CP, Hyatt E, Ritz Plat, HH GM
Posts: 3,185
I purchased mine on Jan 21 and was reimbursed yesterday, weird that it's taking longer.
Jan 29, 2016, 1:20 pm
#628
Join Date: Jun 2005
Posts: 4
Gift Cards
If you have to be "concerned", or feel the need to call, you shouldn't be doing it. The T&C specifically exclude gift card purchases. But due to a quirk in some system, some are getting through. If you call, eventually none will get through. If you can't afford the "loss", which there is none, since you get the gift card you paid form don't do it. Your not out any money.
Jan 29, 2016, 9:59 pm
#629
Join Date: Nov 2010
Posts: 302
If you have to be "concerned", or feel the need to call, you shouldn't be doing it. The T&C specifically exclude gift card purchases. But due to a quirk in some system, some are getting through. If you call, eventually none will get through. If you can't afford the "loss", which there is none, since you get the gift card you paid form don't do it. Your not out any money.
Never did I say that I was planning on calling AmEx and never did I say that I can't afford to pay the $200 for the two gift cards that I purchased. Of course, like the many others on these boards, I would prefer not to pay for them, but will if need be.
My "concern" was for the fact that maybe the gravy train is rolling to an end...or there is a glitch in the matrix...or however you want to phrase it. Concern has many definitions, I intended it in the sense of 'dismay or feeling of unease at an unexpected outcome' which would describe this perfectly.
But, thanks for your helpful post!
Feb 2, 2016, 11:45 pm
#630
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: JFK
Programs: AA Platinum
Posts: 325
You can all hate me now. Though I highly doubt this anecdote makes it way from the support centre in India to the analysts in New York. I wouldn't have done it if the charge looked at all suspicious to the naked eye (like the infamous "MPX AMAZON" loophole).