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)
#1471
Join Date: Mar 2006
Posts: 43
platinum and Hilton Amex
1/1 $200 eGC purchase / $250 eGC purchase
1/2 posted
1/7 both credited and dated 1/6.
1/1 $200 eGC purchase / $250 eGC purchase
1/2 posted
1/7 both credited and dated 1/6.
Last edited by jb0506; Jan 7, 2019 at 9:30 am Reason: update
#1472
Join Date: Jun 2013
Posts: 5
I'm looking to close my Platinum card but was hoping to double dip on the Southwest reimbursements. Purchased 2x$100 Southwest GCs that posted on 1/1 -- no credit yet. My 30-day cancellation period for the annual fee is tomorrow. Any chance the credits would past after account closing? Separately, I wonder how strict Amex is on the 30-day grace period for refunding the annual fee?
#1473
Join Date: Jun 2013
Posts: 33
showing up under benefits tap
It now shows I've used all 200 for the year under the benefits tab. If bought on the 1st, credit will likely post either on the 6th/7th.
#1474
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: CLE -> BNA
Programs: IHG Spire Ambassador, Hyatt Explorist, Hilton Gold, Bonvoy Titanium, UA Silver, RR A-List
Posts: 312
#1477
Join Date: Dec 2018
Posts: 8
12/18... Received card
12/18... Selected SW as carrier
~30 min later... Purchased a $100 and $150 e-gift certificate (Was not logged into Rapid Rewards; Chrome Browser; Windows OS)
Charge shows SPD/AIR FREIGHT as document type with SW address and says will post as "Southwest Airlines - Dallas, TX"
12/20... Charges posted
12/21... Travel meter shows all travel credit used for 2018
12/22... Credit recieved
12/18... Selected SW as carrier
~30 min later... Purchased a $100 and $150 e-gift certificate (Was not logged into Rapid Rewards; Chrome Browser; Windows OS)
Charge shows SPD/AIR FREIGHT as document type with SW address and says will post as "Southwest Airlines - Dallas, TX"
12/20... Charges posted
12/21... Travel meter shows all travel credit used for 2018
12/22... Credit recieved
1/1... Purchased a $100 and $150 e-gift certificate (Was not logged into Rapid Rewards; Chrome Browser; Windows OS)
1/3... Charges posted
1/5... Travel meter shows all travel credit used for 2019
#1478
Join Date: May 2002
Location: SNA
Programs: STARS/LUMINOUS, PRIVE, FSPP, STARS, MO FAN Club, PEN Club, Bellini Club
Posts: 2,612
+1 on the same purchase on 1/1. Travel meter shows all credit used.
#1479
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: CLE -> BNA
Programs: IHG Spire Ambassador, Hyatt Explorist, Hilton Gold, Bonvoy Titanium, UA Silver, RR A-List
Posts: 312
#1480
Join Date: Jan 2014
Programs: UA GS
Posts: 47
whats the purpose of using the incognito tab on this?
ETA: I did not do this, hoping it works out
ETA: I did not do this, hoping it works out
Last edited by njs281; Jan 6, 2019 at 7:34 am
#1482
Join Date: Aug 2013
Posts: 171
Purchased a $200 physical SW GC on 1/2. Charge posted on 1/4 with a transaction date of the 2nd. Today 1/6 my travel credit counter changed to show $200 fully used in 2019. Expecting the credit in the next day or two.
#1484
Join Date: May 2002
Location: SNA
Programs: STARS/LUMINOUS, PRIVE, FSPP, STARS, MO FAN Club, PEN Club, Bellini Club
Posts: 2,612
#1485
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: JFK
Programs: AA Platinum
Posts: 325
2019-01-02 Southwest Airlines DALLAS TX $200
2019-01-05 AMEX Airline Fee Reimbursement -$200
Transactions became viewable online on the 3rd and 6th respectively.
2019-01-05 AMEX Airline Fee Reimbursement -$200
Transactions became viewable online on the 3rd and 6th respectively.