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 30, 2019 | 8:39 pm
#2688
Join Date: Feb 2019
Posts: 7,409
1) When did you select WN as your airline?
2) When did you make the award purchases?
3) How much were the taxes on the flight?
Dec 30, 2019 | 9:00 pm
#2689
Join Date: Jan 2014
Posts: 136
Is there anything I can do before Dec 31st?
Dec 30, 2019 | 9:09 pm
#2692
Join Date: Jun 2019
Programs: AA EXP, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 25
Getting nervous. I bought two 100> fares on 12/20. On 12/21 I canceled one and used it toward a fare where the difference was $90. On 12/25, I received the $90 credit. Meter still at $160, so nothing has moved from the initial 12/20 charges.
Anyone successfully chatted Amex re WN? Juggling between patience, dont call the bank, and I want the credit.
Anyone successfully chatted Amex re WN? Juggling between patience, dont call the bank, and I want the credit.
PSA: wait a day before making a purchase I guess.
Dec 30, 2019 | 9:37 pm
#2693
Join Date: Sep 2003
Posts: 372
Or you could just book random tickets now with $, cancel and rebook within a year for tickets you really need.
Caveat, have no idea if either will work on the last day of the year (ie since purchase will post on 1/1).
Dec 30, 2019 | 10:10 pm
#2694
Join Date: Feb 2019
Posts: 7,409
Don't know if it's too late, but you could cancel and rebook those tickets as one ways on separate reservations if they are still available for the same amount of points. (When you cancel a reward booking, the fees can go back to the card)
Or you could just book random tickets now with $, cancel and rebook within a year for tickets you really need.
Caveat, have no idea if either will work on the last day of the year (ie since purchase will post on 1/1).
Or you could just book random tickets now with $, cancel and rebook within a year for tickets you really need.
Caveat, have no idea if either will work on the last day of the year (ie since purchase will post on 1/1).
Dec 30, 2019 | 10:44 pm
#2695
Join Date: Nov 2017
Programs: n/a
Posts: 4
12/26 purchased one ticket + one tax of point ticket, total 85
12/27 posted
12/29 Meter moved
12/30 credit
12/27 posted
12/29 Meter moved
12/30 credit
Dec 31, 2019 | 4:19 am
#2696
Join Date: Dec 2017
Posts: 9
website or app
Does it matter if flight purchase less than $100 made on website or the southwest app? Guidance on this would be appreciated as I have purchased a flight using the southwest app and only realized now to check if it matters or not... ?
Dec 31, 2019 | 5:13 am
#2697
Join Date: Dec 2019
Posts: 256
Added SWA to Apsire card on 12/27.
Purchased 2 X $93 fares as well as 2 EBCI about 30 minutes later (didn't read this thread about possible waiting a day first).
Charges posted on the 28th.
Meter reflected deduction of everything but 1 of the EBCI purchases as of this afternoon. Assuming it will update in the next few days though.
Purchased 2 X $93 fares as well as 2 EBCI about 30 minutes later (didn't read this thread about possible waiting a day first).
Charges posted on the 28th.
Meter reflected deduction of everything but 1 of the EBCI purchases as of this afternoon. Assuming it will update in the next few days though.
Dec 31, 2019 | 7:41 am
#2698
Join Date: Jan 2013
Posts: 3
Hi All - just wanted to provide a quick data point.
12/27 - Applied for and received approval for AMEX Hilton Aspire and saved my instant card number.
12/27, 5 minutes after approval - Chatted with an AMEX rep to make Southwest my airline choice.
12/27, 15 minutes after chatting - Received e-mail confirming Southwest as my airline choice.
12/27, 15 minutes after receiving e-mail - Booked 3 separate one-way 'dummy' flights for $93.98 on Southwest's website, logged into my rapid rewards account.. I planned on waiting until after the 24 hour period to cancel the flights since we'll use Southwest credit sometime in 2020 anyway.
12/30 - AMEX credits post for $93.98, $93.98 and $62.04. No 'meter' movement prior to credits posting. Card is showing $31.94 balance.
12/27 - Applied for and received approval for AMEX Hilton Aspire and saved my instant card number.
12/27, 5 minutes after approval - Chatted with an AMEX rep to make Southwest my airline choice.
12/27, 15 minutes after chatting - Received e-mail confirming Southwest as my airline choice.
12/27, 15 minutes after receiving e-mail - Booked 3 separate one-way 'dummy' flights for $93.98 on Southwest's website, logged into my rapid rewards account.. I planned on waiting until after the 24 hour period to cancel the flights since we'll use Southwest credit sometime in 2020 anyway.
12/30 - AMEX credits post for $93.98, $93.98 and $62.04. No 'meter' movement prior to credits posting. Card is showing $31.94 balance.
Dec 31, 2019 | 8:04 am
#2699
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: LAX/SNA
Programs: AA Gold, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 60
12/26: Called in and asked to switch airlines. Initially told that I had to wait until January, but with a little cajoling they went ahead with it. Change was reflected online that day.
12/27: Bought 3 SW flights ~$92, $92, $66
12/28: Flights posted
12/30: Meter reflected total usage of airline credit
12/31: Credits refunded back on the statement
^
Dec 31, 2019 | 8:22 am
#2700
Join Date: Feb 2013
Programs: Hyatt Globalist, MLife Gold, Marriott Gold, HHonors Gold, Caesars Diamond, Amex Plat
Posts: 6,227
I plan to change my plat airline to WN in January. To use the $200 credit, does it have to be 2x <$100 or can it be, say, $198 or $210?
Also, if using for Anytime fares and canceling for WN credit rather than cc credit, are funds restricted to original ticket holder or is that only the case with Wanna Get Away fares?
Also, if using for Anytime fares and canceling for WN credit rather than cc credit, are funds restricted to original ticket holder or is that only the case with Wanna Get Away fares?