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 19, 2018, 10:29 am
#1126
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: SF Bay Area, CA
Programs: AMEX Platinum, HHonors Gold
Posts: 203
I changed airline to Southwest on 1/16
Received email confirming the change from Amex within an hour.
Later that same day bought $200 Southwest email delivery gift card.
Recieved gift card via email within an hour.
Charge posted to my Amex Platinumon the 18th, (was pending until then).
Airline fee credit posted on the 19th.
Received email confirming the change from Amex within an hour.
Later that same day bought $200 Southwest email delivery gift card.
Recieved gift card via email within an hour.
Charge posted to my Amex Platinumon the 18th, (was pending until then).
Airline fee credit posted on the 19th.
Jan 19, 2018, 2:12 pm
#1127
Join Date: Dec 2017
Posts: 26
Quick question (sorry I assume this has been mentioned before, but...) does this work buying in multiples of $50 eGift Certificates (up to the $200 Platinum Business limit)? Assuming I buy 4x $50 eGift Certs, it will work, right?
I only bought one $50 eGift Cert now as a test to make sure this works (and it did). About to buy more until I reach my annual $200 limit.
I only bought one $50 eGift Cert now as a test to make sure this works (and it did). About to buy more until I reach my annual $200 limit.
Jan 19, 2018, 4:08 pm
#1128
Join Date: Jun 2017
Posts: 258
Quick question (sorry I assume this has been mentioned before, but...) does this work buying in multiples of $50 eGift Certificates (up to the $200 Platinum Business limit)? Assuming I buy 4x $50 eGift Certs, it will work, right?
I only bought one $50 eGift Cert now as a test to make sure this works (and it did). About to buy more until I reach my annual $200 limit.
I only bought one $50 eGift Cert now as a test to make sure this works (and it did). About to buy more until I reach my annual $200 limit.
Jan 19, 2018, 7:01 pm
#1129
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: SF, Japan, YYG
Programs: ANA Pt
Posts: 392
Went through the procedure with several cards; all worked fine - now I have $1100 in WN gift cards. Any suggestions on best splurge use?
Jan 21, 2018, 7:15 am
#1130
Join Date: Dec 2017
Location: DTW-VOHS/HYD
Programs: AMEX Platinum, SPG Gold, HH Gold
Posts: 14
I did something similar.
1/12 - Switched Platinum card to Southwest.
1/12 - Bought $200 e-gift card (After receiving a confirmation email from AMEX).
1/12 - Purchased Southwest airline tickets for $275 ($200 e-gift card + $75 AMEX Platinum).
1/12 - $200 credit posted + $75 credit posted.
1/13 - Received $75 credit and nothing for the $200.
Technically speaking, I should not have received credit for $75 as it clearly shows on the AMEX website that it is towards my ticket with my name and flight details. The $200 e-gift card also got posted as a ticket but no flight info. It shows up as: Ticket Number: 526XXXXXXXXXX; Document Type: SPD/AIR FREIGHT
1/12 - Switched Platinum card to Southwest.
1/12 - Bought $200 e-gift card (After receiving a confirmation email from AMEX).
1/12 - Purchased Southwest airline tickets for $275 ($200 e-gift card + $75 AMEX Platinum).
1/12 - $200 credit posted + $75 credit posted.
1/13 - Received $75 credit and nothing for the $200.
Technically speaking, I should not have received credit for $75 as it clearly shows on the AMEX website that it is towards my ticket with my name and flight details. The $200 e-gift card also got posted as a ticket but no flight info. It shows up as: Ticket Number: 526XXXXXXXXXX; Document Type: SPD/AIR FREIGHT
Jan 21, 2018, 11:37 am
#1131
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: The Bay Area, USA
Posts: 158
Split up your trip into segments (i.e. two one ways instead of a round trip) and don't put more than one person on a reservation.
If you had two people on a ticket and only one seat becomes available at a lower price, you cannot get a flight credit.
Jan 21, 2018, 6:57 pm
#1132
Join Date: May 2016
Location: NYC
Posts: 264
Adding more details to my post since it looks like some other people are experiencing issue where they aren't getting reimbursed.
I also booked a flight that same day using the GC I purchased, a ~$32 regular charge was posted as airfare as expected, but my $200 charge posted as "Travel - Airline, Document Type: SPD/AIR FREIGHT" and I got 5x MR on it since it didn't get reimbursed.
As mentioned in this thread in the past, sometimes it takes longer for the reimbursement to appear if you book a flight on the same day. Mine didn't show up at all though and it's been about 12 days. I messaged a customer rep about this a week ago and they asked that I wait the full 14 days. If it still does not appear they will manually reimburse me. So I am waiting until the 18th to message them again to credit me. If all else fails I'll probably just buy another GC
I also booked a flight that same day using the GC I purchased, a ~$32 regular charge was posted as airfare as expected, but my $200 charge posted as "Travel - Airline, Document Type: SPD/AIR FREIGHT" and I got 5x MR on it since it didn't get reimbursed.
As mentioned in this thread in the past, sometimes it takes longer for the reimbursement to appear if you book a flight on the same day. Mine didn't show up at all though and it's been about 12 days. I messaged a customer rep about this a week ago and they asked that I wait the full 14 days. If it still does not appear they will manually reimburse me. So I am waiting until the 18th to message them again to credit me. If all else fails I'll probably just buy another GC
Jan 21, 2018, 7:13 pm
#1133
Join Date: Aug 2013
Posts: 171
1/18 purchased $200 SW e gift card on Biz Plat
1/20 $200 travel credit posted
1/20 $200 travel credit posted
Annual fee should post soon, plan to cancel card
Jan 21, 2018, 7:19 pm
#1134
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: BWI
Programs: HHonors Diamond, SPG Gold
Posts: 767
1/18: Purchased $200, $100 GC on Personal Plat/PRG
1/21: Credit posted.
1/21: Credit posted.
Jan 22, 2018, 12:50 pm
#1135
Join Date: Jun 2017
Posts: 258
I just set up Southwest for my choice airline and received the confirmation email. Should I wait a day or so before I purchase a $200 gift card? Also I will be using my Aspire which is the new Amex card that has this as a benefit. Is there any reason to think that this sort of transaction would be different for different Amex cards with this benefit or do they all pretty much have the same end result since they are all Amex?
Jan 23, 2018, 8:07 am
#1136
Join Date: Apr 2016
Posts: 702
Bought a $200 gift card on the late evening of 1/18. It's 1/23 now and haven't seen anything. At what point do I contact them?
Jan 23, 2018, 9:48 am
#1137
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: MCI
Programs: Southwest A-List, AMC Stubs A-List, Chick-fil-A-List
Posts: 399
Give it another day or two. I purchased 1/17 and the credit didn't show up until this morning.
Jan 23, 2018, 9:55 am
#1138
Join Date: Jun 2017
Posts: 258
I glad to hear you say this because I just pulled the plug yesterday and switched from AS to WN and purchased a $200 gift card that is pending as of today. After the previous poster's comment I thought "great that would be my luck"
Jan 23, 2018, 5:47 pm
#1140
Join Date: Jan 2018
Posts: 2
Set WN as my airline in December
Jan 17 - Paid $5.60 for Companion Pass booking taxes/fees
Jan 18 - Bought $200 e-Gift Card
Jan 22 - Reimbursed $5.60 (didn't know if this would actually go through)
Jan 23 - Reimbursed $194.40
Might need to cancel my CP booking, am guessing/hoping the reimbursement will stay.
Jan 17 - Paid $5.60 for Companion Pass booking taxes/fees
Jan 18 - Bought $200 e-Gift Card
Jan 22 - Reimbursed $5.60 (didn't know if this would actually go through)
Jan 23 - Reimbursed $194.40
Might need to cancel my CP booking, am guessing/hoping the reimbursement will stay.