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)
Dec 19, 2018, 5:22 pm
#1397
Join Date: Jun 2006
Posts: 100
Could it be that I am SOL on this one? The airline selection was at around 11:30 PM EST, and the charge was around 11:40PM EST on the same day.
Dec 20, 2018, 2:56 pm
#1398
Join Date: Oct 2018
Posts: 125
12/14 Purchased Southwest $200 gift card
As of today (12/20) still no credit posted. Not sure what to think.
As of today (12/20) still no credit posted. Not sure what to think.
Dec 20, 2018, 7:26 pm
#1399
Join Date: Dec 2018
Posts: 4
Purchased 12/18, posted today 12/20. Will see if $200 posts. The transaction shows as Travel - Airline and under address, it shows the Southwest Airlines Dallas TX.
Waited 1 day after selecting the airline.
Waited 1 day after selecting the airline.
Dec 20, 2018, 7:52 pm
#1400
Join Date: Dec 2014
Posts: 57
Enrolled 12/14
Purchased WN Gift Card $250 12/15
Dashboard shows $250 12/17
Reimbursed $250 12/18
Purchased WN Gift Card $250 12/15
Dashboard shows $250 12/17
Reimbursed $250 12/18
Dec 21, 2018, 7:41 am
#1401
Join Date: Dec 2018
Posts: 4
12/17 Received card and enrolled around 5pm
12/18 Ordered $200 GC
12/20 Transaction posted
12/21 Benefits page shows $0 and I have used $200 for 2018 and it'll reset in January
Edit: statement credit posted today 12/22
12/18 Ordered $200 GC
12/20 Transaction posted
12/21 Benefits page shows $0 and I have used $200 for 2018 and it'll reset in January
Edit: statement credit posted today 12/22
Last edited by Jblazea50; Dec 22, 2018 at 8:46 am
Dec 21, 2018, 2:51 pm
#1402
Join Date: Oct 2016
Posts: 33
Early Bird fees
Will Southwest Early Bird fees get credited? I am guessing not since they are added on when the fare is booked.
Dec 21, 2018, 9:57 pm
#1403
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
Last edited by pointsgaloreandmore; Dec 22, 2018 at 10:19 am
Dec 22, 2018, 11:29 am
#1404
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Dallas
Programs: recovering WN Preferred and SPG Plat
Posts: 17
New AMEX Gold Card member. aka Premier Rewards Gold.
12/18: Selected Southwest as the carrier and purchased $50 e-gift card.
12/20: Transaction posted
12/21: Credit received, three business days start to finish.
I'm off the purchase my last $50.
12/18: Selected Southwest as the carrier and purchased $50 e-gift card.
12/20: Transaction posted
12/21: Credit received, three business days start to finish.
I'm off the purchase my last $50.
Dec 22, 2018, 1:28 pm
#1406
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Dallas
Programs: recovering WN Preferred and SPG Plat
Posts: 17
Dec 22, 2018, 6:57 pm
#1408
Join Date: Mar 2003
Posts: 1,111
Selected SW as a carrier 5-10 minutes prior to purchase. Validated that SW selection took place by logging off and back into my Amex account. Purchased $250 GC. Charge posted on 12/16, credit posted on 12/19.
Dec 22, 2018, 9:55 pm
#1409
Join Date: Oct 2018
Posts: 42
Hi all, I started the year on United, booked economy plus through a travel agent and it went through differently and that didn't work. Chatted with Amex and switched to AA and just went to buy gift cards there but doesn't work for military overseas (billing address is an APO box which AA won't let me select as my billing address and doesn't match my card info if I put my house) so I just chatted with Amex again and changed to SW a minute ago.
I already see SW as my airline of choice on my Amex login but what do I need to know about this? I'm reading through the thread now, but do I need a specific browser, to not be logged in to anything (or to be logged in) on SW's website? I have the Aspire and see some people got $250 charges credited. What do I need to know before proceeding and how long should I wait before attempting a charge? Thanks so much. Just got the Aspire very recently so I'm racing the clock here.
I already see SW as my airline of choice on my Amex login but what do I need to know about this? I'm reading through the thread now, but do I need a specific browser, to not be logged in to anything (or to be logged in) on SW's website? I have the Aspire and see some people got $250 charges credited. What do I need to know before proceeding and how long should I wait before attempting a charge? Thanks so much. Just got the Aspire very recently so I'm racing the clock here.
Dec 22, 2018, 10:05 pm
#1410
Join Date: Dec 2018
Posts: 8
Hi all, I started the year on United, booked economy plus through a travel agent and it went through differently and that didn't work. Chatted with Amex and switched to AA and just went to buy gift cards there but doesn't work for military overseas (billing address is an APO box which AA won't let me select as my billing address and doesn't match my card info if I put my house) so I just chatted with Amex again and changed to SW a minute ago.
I already see SW as my airline of choice on my Amex login but what do I need to know about this? I'm reading through the thread now, but do I need a specific browser, to not be logged in to anything (or to be logged in) on SW's website? I have the Aspire and see some people got $250 charges credited. What do I need to know before proceeding and how long should I wait before attempting a charge? Thanks so much. Just got the Aspire very recently so I'm racing the clock here.
I already see SW as my airline of choice on my Amex login but what do I need to know about this? I'm reading through the thread now, but do I need a specific browser, to not be logged in to anything (or to be logged in) on SW's website? I have the Aspire and see some people got $250 charges credited. What do I need to know before proceeding and how long should I wait before attempting a charge? Thanks so much. Just got the Aspire very recently so I'm racing the clock here.
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
