Earning Southwest Airline Miles

[placeela]

Hi All!

I have been reading these boards for a couple years and really enjoy them. Thanks for all the help everyone gives! This answer might be somewhere, but I didn't see it in a quick search. We have always been close enough to drive to WDW but with a recent move that will now be a very far drive . So, I have started to look into getting the Southwest credit card but have a few questions before I do:

1. I know you have to spend $2000 in first 3 months to get the 50,000 bonus. I was going to use this card as soon as I got it to buy tickets to go see family. Is the first $2000 spent just for the 50,000 bonus or do you still get 2 dollars back on Southwest and 1 back on other things? In other words, if I put $1000 airline tickets on the card and then $1000 on other things will I get just my 50,000 in points or 50,000+2000(double points on airline)+1000 (1 point per dollar on everything else)? Does this make sense?

2. I read that the first year of the card is through December. So will I be charged the yearly fee right away and then again in January when it cycles back over? Or is it charged right away and then next year in December when the calendar year ends? Not sure I want to pay the yearly fee twice in about 4 months.

Thanks for all your help!! I really appreciate it!

Elizabeth

 

[My3kiddos]

I was wondering this too because I'll need to purchase additional points to pay for our flight in July so I was going to do it now so I could get closer to the $2000 mark. I just got the card and I'm not sure if the annual fee will be applied when I make my first purchase or what. So far it isn't showing they have charged me.

 

[lurkernj]

I think your points calculation is correct.

I've had a few of these cards and the annual fee is charged once immediately, which covers the first full year, then the next fee will be on the anniversary of the card, not January 1.

 

[elgerber]

Yes you will get the 3000 points if you spend on the items you mention in addition to the 50000.
The annual fee is charged once a year on the anniversary of when you opened the card, so you will not be charged again in January.

 

[placeela]

Thanks! Those were the answers I was hoping to hear!

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

You also get some bonus points each year on your anniversary. That amount varies depending which card you get. (One is $99 annual fee. The other is $69.) The annual bonus is listed in the details.

 

[bosuch]

And in case you didn't know, you can get more than 1 type of SW card and get the 50,000 point bonus on each, so you're almost all the way to the 110,000 needed for the free Companion Pass.

 

[leelee9878]

I would look to see if it's feasible for you to get the companion pass as well. I was able to get it back in September because of these boards, I had two cards ($99 and $69 annual fee) and was able to get bonus points on both and get to 110,000 miles from car rentals, shopping online thru their links and spending. I can't wait to use it!