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)
Nov 28, 2017, 4:46 pm
#1021
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: TYS/BNA/ATL
Programs: UR, TYP, MR, C1, AA, UA, WN, BA, AS, AV, AC, Choice, Hyatt, IHG, Hilton, Wyndham, Marriott
Posts: 1,973
The error is fixed now. Was able to select WN for my Platinum.
Dec 3, 2017, 10:23 am
#1022
Join Date: Feb 2012
Posts: 44
Business Platinum
11/27 (morning) - Added Southwest as AMEX airline
11/27 (evening) - Purchased $200 GC from SW
11/30 - AMEX reimbursed $200
11/27 (morning) - Added Southwest as AMEX airline
11/27 (evening) - Purchased $200 GC from SW
11/30 - AMEX reimbursed $200
Dec 4, 2017, 9:19 am
#1023
Join Date: Nov 2017
Posts: 1
Business Platinum:
11/30 - Added Southwest as AMEX airline
11/30 - Purchased $200 GC from SW
12/04- AMEX reimbursed $200
11/30 - Added Southwest as AMEX airline
11/30 - Purchased $200 GC from SW
12/04- AMEX reimbursed $200
Dec 5, 2017, 12:28 pm
#1024
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Nashville
Posts: 76
Was wondering if this would work, took 4 days to get refund posted.
Dec 5, 2017, 12:42 pm
#1025
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Nashville
Posts: 76
Yes it does. I bought two $50 and got a $100 credit about 4 days later.
Dec 9, 2017, 7:25 am
#1026
Join Date: Nov 2014
Posts: 261
Amex Platinum Authorized User:
Test
12/02 - Added Southwest as AMEX airline
12/02 - Purchased $100 GC from SW
12/05 - AMEX reimbursed $100
-
12/05 - Purchased $100 GC from SW
12/08 - AMEX reimbursed $100
Test
12/02 - Added Southwest as AMEX airline
12/02 - Purchased $100 GC from SW
12/05 - AMEX reimbursed $100
-
12/05 - Purchased $100 GC from SW
12/08 - AMEX reimbursed $100
Dec 9, 2017, 8:25 am
#1027
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: BOS
Posts: 588
Not sure where to post this, but a question: Can I use my airline fee credit in January on Southwest, and then change my airline? I am thinking of changing to UA or B6 to use my MR points, but it would be a little harder to use the fee credits.
And while I'm here, my data point:
11/30: Purchased $200 Southwest gift card (selected airline 2-3 days before hand)
12/3: Credit posted to account.
And while I'm here, my data point:
11/30: Purchased $200 Southwest gift card (selected airline 2-3 days before hand)
12/3: Credit posted to account.
Dec 9, 2017, 9:50 am
#1028
Moderator
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Miami, Mpls & London
Programs: AA & Marriott Perpetual Platinum; DL & HH Gold
Posts: 48,954
This does not matter unless you are a Business Platinum cardholder -and- planning to use Pay with Points for economy class redemptions: https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/amer...ne-2017-a.html
Dec 10, 2017, 2:56 pm
#1029
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: BOS
Posts: 588
This does not matter unless you are a Business Platinum cardholder -and- planning to use Pay with Points for economy class redemptions: https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/amer...ne-2017-a.html
From the thread you linked, it looks like I probably won't be able to, because there is nothing set by default in January, the previous selected airline only applies if no other airline is selected by the end of January.
Dec 10, 2017, 3:39 pm
#1030
Moderator
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Miami, Mpls & London
Programs: AA & Marriott Perpetual Platinum; DL & HH Gold
Posts: 48,954
The 2017 selection carries over to 2018. If you buy more Southwest giftcards in early January they should be automatically reimbursed, but you will still probably be able to change the selection later in January. I would review posts in the other thread from Jan/Feb 2017 because I have a vague tickle that someone did something similar last year.
Dec 11, 2017, 8:56 am
#1031
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Wisconsin
Posts: 16
Ordered my remaining balance ($125) as a GC last night, Will post up what happens.
Dec 11, 2017, 1:37 pm
#1032
Join Date: Apr 2015
Posts: 1
I just followed the links in the wiki with my PRG:
12/5/17 - $100 gift card purchased
12/8/17 - Credit Posted
12/5/17 - $100 gift card purchased
12/8/17 - Credit Posted
Dec 11, 2017, 10:32 pm
#1033
Join Date: Apr 2015
Posts: 3
I was able to easily change my airline from United to Southwest via online chat and the change was instant. I got my personal Platinum card in August and used $25 towards food on a couple United flights. Got the credit for that already so had $175 left.
12/7/17 - Bought $175 Southwest gift card through their website
12/10/17 - Got $175 credit
12/7/17 - Bought $175 Southwest gift card through their website
12/10/17 - Got $175 credit
Dec 12, 2017, 2:57 pm
#1034
Join Date: Aug 2013
Posts: 171
Do only physical gift cards work or the e-cards as well? Just opened my Plat and looking to squeeze in the travel credit for 2017 before year end. Thanks.