Gift Cards and Booking SWA with points

[kristenrice]

If I book a trip using RR points, can I use a SWA gift card to pay for the $2.50/segment 911 fee?

Just curious because I bought a $50 SWA gift card at Target (combined my Pharmacy and RedCard discounts and paid $45.13) for our trip next year. If I can use it, I may only need $20 if I can get enough points between now and then to cover all 4 of our tickets.

Which leads to my second question...does the card's total amount get "credited" to my account at the time I "redeem" it (like iTunes) or do they only deduct the actual amount used? I ask because my sister is coming with us and she is planning on using her RR points for her family too. If I only need $20 of the gift card, then I will give the remainder to her and she can use it for the fees for her family.

And that brings me to my third (and hopefully final) question...can I use that gift card to buy some adult beverages in-flight? If DSis and I can earn enough points for our respective familes of 4, then we will have $10 left on the gift card...one drink for each of us.

 

[CarolAnnB]

Southwest has it posted on their website:
Redeeming your southwestgiftcard
A southwestgiftcard can only be used for Passenger travel on Southwest Airlines, excluding Southwest Airlines Group Tickets.

A southwestgiftcard may only be redeemed at southwest.com, by calling Southwest Airlines at 1-800-435-9792 (1-800 I FLY SWA) and at Southwest Airlines ticket counter locations.

A southwestgiftcard is not valid for the purchase of Southwest Airlines Vacation Packages and Jackpot Deals® Packages, Cargo, Hotel, Rental Car, Cruise, Southwest Airlines Merchandise, Southwest Airlines Group Tickets, EarlyBird Check-In, additional southwestgiftcards, or inflight purchases.

Sales tax, Security Fees, Passenger Facilities Charges, Pet Fare, Unaccompanied Minor service charge and oversized or excess baggage may be paid for with a southwestgiftcard.

Each purchase is deducted from the balance of the card. If the ticket price is greater than the value of the southwestgiftcard, the difference may be paid with a credit card, Southwest LUV Voucher and/or available Travel Funds. In addition, cash, check, and paper gift certificates can be used for the remaining balance at airport locations only. If the ticket price is less than the value of the southwestgiftcard, the balance will remain on the card until it is decreased to zero, at which time the card will be deactivated.
Up to four southwestgiftcards can be applied toward one reservation. Our payment system limits the total form of payments, so, if the balance of the itinerary is more than the amount of all four gift cards, you will only be able to use three of your gift cards so that the balance can be paid with another form of payment that will cover the balance of the reservation (i.e. credit card). The following is our policy in regards to forms of payment: Southwest Airlines accepts up to two unused Ticketless Travel tickets per passenger (are always applied first) and up to four of the following in any combination: southwestgiftcards, Southwest LUV Vouchers, Ticketless Travel Funds (left over funds not previously used), and one credit card.
A southwestgiftcard will not be redeemed or exchanged for cash, check or credit except where required by federal or applicable state law.
A southwestgiftcard cannot be redeemed through a Travel Agency.
A southwestgiftcard redeemed for travel is not refundable. If travel is not taken, the funds will be held as travel funds with an expiration date. If applied with any other accepted form(s) of payment, the earliest expiration date of all forms of payment applies.

 

[kristenrice]

Oh, duh...

I didn't even think to check the SWA site.

Thanks!