Chase Southwest bonus and Disney GC at Sam's ?

[TexasErin]

So we are thinking about applying for a Chase Southwest airlines card for that sweet 50,000 point bonus.

And DH suggested that for the $2000 that has to be spent in a three-month period to get the 50,000 points, that we spend roughly $2002 at Sam's to get 14 packs of $150 of Disney gift cards which would mean $2100 in Disney gift cards for the $2002. So that would save us approximately $98.

Then we would use the $2100 in gift cards to buy a Disneyland annual pass with a DVC member discount (they offer a $20 DVC discount on Disneyland signature annual passes). And then use the remainder of the $2100 to get a couple of deluxe Disneyland annual passes through calling Disneyland tickets.

Do you see any problems with my plan? Do you think I will have any problems buying an annual pass through DVC Member Services with Disney gift cards and buying the other passes through calling Disneyland's tickets and buying those with Disney gift cards?

Anything else I should keep in mind?

Oh, and how will it work for me to try to buy like maybe seven airplane tickets? I figure that 50,000 points will buy round trip tickets for three of us and a one-way ticket for one of us. Will that cause a problem trying to use one Rapid Rewards account to buy tickets for four people?

 

[eyor44]

I would call Southwest first to make sure you can use points to purchase tickets for others. I think you can but not sure. If you can then I think you have a good plan.
I would also ask how soon those points would be available to use.

 

[disfanforlife]

I don't think you will have any problem using gift cards to buy AP, but it would be easier if you combine the cards on the Disney gift card website first. That is what I did so I didn't have to read off so many gift card numbers.
I have used the SW points in my account to book tickets for members of my family and friends. There is no problem using your points and to book for other people.

 

[kamik86]

I would call Southwest first to make sure you can use points to purchase tickets for others. I think you can but not sure. If you can then I think you have a good plan.
I would also ask how soon those points would be available to use.

100% you can do this. The points from the card are the same as normal points.

I got a ton from traveling alot for work a few years ago (helps that work doesn't decide we are flying until a week before when the prices are really high... ) I have used them to buy tickets for my husband, my parents, etc. The only thing that is annoying about that at all is on points everyone gets a seperate check in number so you have to check each person in at 24 hours and you can all get different positions in line instead of being in a row.

 

[mar7967]

I'm not a Sams member, but make sure the $150 Disney gift card is the best deal. At BJ's, the $150 gift cards are $148, so it's an awful deal (only 1.3% off). The best deal is a $100 GC for $95 (5%). They also sell $25 GCs for $24, and $50 GC for $48 (both 4%).

 

[hsmamato2]

OP your plan will work just fine.... easy way yo get your dis gift cards,passes,and flights all in one spend! I'd combine the gc's into two online at the site, then call and get the Ap's....

 

[TexasErin]

Thank you so much everybody! Sounds like a definite plan. I will also definitely combine the gift cards into two separate ones so that I don't have 1 million numbers to give them, LOL

Can I use points to buy EBCI?

 

[HappyHappy]

you cannot use a credit card to buy EBCI.

 

[HappyHappy]

My bad you cannot use points, sorry

 

[leebee]

Sam's doesn't take VISA, and the Chase SW card is a VISA. You'll need to go to Walmart and buy a gift card with your SW VISA, then take the gift card to Sam's to buy the Disney cards. Sam's not taking VISA is one of the reasons we changed over to BJ's.

 

[duffybear32830]

You can order the gift cards with a Visa online but can't buy in store at Sam's Club.

 

[kamik86]

Thank you so much everybody! Sounds like a definite plan. I will also definitely combine the gift cards into two separate ones so that I don't have 1 million numbers to give them, LOL

Can I use points to buy EBCI?

Nope if you use points there is still a fee of something like $12.50 per direction per person (but not per leg so its pretty much $25 per person to fly there and back). Then EBCI is on top of that and also has to be paid with a card. However if you get EBCI then you don't have to worry about checking in every person seperately. (Although you could still all get different numbers they would also all be lower numbers)

 

[mar7967]

Nope if you use points there is still a fee of something like $12.50 per direction per person (but not per leg so its pretty much $25 per person to fly there and back). Then EBCI is on top of that and also has to be paid with a card. However if you get EBCI then you don't have to worry about checking in every person seperately. (Although you could still all get different numbers they would also all be lower numbers)

It's actually $5.60 for a one way trip, (11.20 for round trip), per person. It's the government-imposed September 11th Security Fee. EBCI is $15 one way, per person.

 

[pandamom]

Sam's doesn't take VISA, and the Chase SW card is a VISA. You'll need to go to Walmart and buy a gift card with your SW VISA, then take the gift card to Sam's to buy the Disney cards. Sam's not taking VISA is one of the reasons we changed over to BJ's.

I believe Sam's takes Visa now -- Chase has sent me several emails about it.

 

[virge]

Sam's doesn't take VISA, and the Chase SW card is a VISA. You'll need to go to Walmart and buy a gift card with your SW VISA, then take the gift card to Sam's to buy the Disney cards. Sam's not taking VISA is one of the reasons we changed over to BJ's.

Sam's Club must have changed policy at some point. I used my Disney Visa there last week

 

[gottalovepluto]

According to this the Sam's Visa change happened in Feb. http://help.samsclub.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/1551/~/accepted-payment-methods

Sidenote for OP: I bought a DL AP last year with a gift card. I had to call in to do so. There was this weird notation telling me I had to have the gift card I used in order to pick up the AP at the park. Ultimately I was never asked for the gift card when I picked it up but I did throw it in my purse just in case.

 

[virge]

So we are thinking about applying for a Chase Southwest airlines card for that sweet 50,000 point bonus.

And DH suggested that for the $2000 that has to be spent in a three-month period to get the 50,000 points, that we spend roughly $2002 at Sam's to get 14 packs of $150 of Disney gift cards which would mean $2100 in Disney gift cards for the $2002. So that would save us approximately $98.

Sam's Club sells $500 cards for $474.98 online (plus 99 cent shipping). The savings is about the same but you would have fewer cards to combine. I think I read somewhere that there is a limit to the number you can buy though.

 

[TexasErin]

Thank you for all of the advice! I went ahead and went online to Sam's website and did go ahead and buy a $500 gift card with my Disney VISA for $475.97 and it did tell me that there was a limit of one.

I will buy some more after we get the Southwest VISA. I would like to buy four more $500 Disney gift cards. Do you think it will let me buy that many if I do them a few days apart?

 

[SharonZ]

Thank you for all of the advice! I went ahead and went online to Sam's website and did go ahead and buy a $500 gift card with my Disney VISA for $475.97 and it did tell me that there was a limit of one.

I will buy some more after we get the Southwest VISA. I would like to buy four more $500 Disney gift cards. Do you think it will let me buy that many if I do them a few days apart?

I thought it was a limit of one per member, not one per visit.

 

[TexasErin]

The information on their website is kinda conflicting. In one place, it states one per member, but in the questions, somebody asked and there were some responses saying that they had bought more than one at separate times. I will report back after we get our Southwest Visa.