Please help - Southwest cc rewards/free tickets

[TsLoveMickey]

Hi there, I'm considering signing up for the Southwest Rapid Rewards credit card while they're offering the 50,000 point bonus. A few questions:

- It says it can be used on two tickets as an example. If my flights are only 8,000 each way, can I use all 50,000 points on three tickets?
- I have an airline credit with Southwest through July on a canceled trip valued at $75 per person. Can I apply that before using points earned through the credit card?
- How long after hitting the spending threshold will I receive the points? In what form?

Thanks in advance!

 

[Marionnette]

Hi there, I'm considering signing up for the Southwest Rapid Rewards credit card while they're offering the 50,000 point bonus. A few questions:

- It says it can be used on two tickets as an example. If my flights are only 8,000 each way, can I use all 50,000 points on three tickets? Yes
- I have an airline credit with Southwest through July on a canceled trip valued at $75 per person. Can I apply that before using points earned through the credit card? No. You can use either cash/credits or points but not a combination of points + credits. Credits can be used to pay the 9/11 fees.
- How long after hitting the spending threshold will I receive the points? In what form? You will get your points about a week after your statement closes once you have hit the spending requirement. The points will automatically be sent to the RR account # that you provided to Chase when you applied for the card.

Thanks in advance!

Answers are in red.

 

[TsLoveMickey]

Thanks so much for the info! Do you know if it will complicate anything to book award travel with a free infant-in-arms on my ticket?

 

[Karenj2]

^^^ What Marionette said.

And I don't know if this would be helpful to you at all, but I recently had 60,000+ points - enough to buy 3 RT tickets, but I wanted at least 4 (we're a family of 5, with twins under 2). I ended up having enough points to buy a one-way ticket with points, and only had to buy the last leg using cash... (For a total of 3.5 seats paid for with points.)

So, you might be able to use your credit for one of the legs of your trip.

 

[Karenj2]

Thanks so much for the info! Do you know if it will complicate anything to book award travel with a free infant-in-arms on my ticket?

What I was told (and did) was to book my ticket, then call Southwest & have them add your lap baby. (We did that with one of the twins - the other we bought a seat.)

 

[TsLoveMickey]

One last question -- how long are the 50,000 points good for after they are deposited into my account? Thanks!

 

[sayheyrenee]

Look into using your credit to buy points.

 

[amomma23]

One last question -- how long are the 50,000 points good for after they are deposited into my account? Thanks!

AFAIK, your account and points remain active as long as there is some type of account activity every 2 years.
We have done the 50,000 points more than once. This year, I was able to book all 5 of us 1 way down and 3 of us 1-way home with DH' s points. I used mine to book the other 2 flights home.
Don't forget to keep your eyes peeled for price drops. You can Rebook at the lower point amount. The points will be added back to your account with no expiration date, unlike a cash credit.

 

[Burnedout]

I bought 3 round trip tickets to CA by watching for point sales.

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

AFAIK, your account and points remain active as long as there is some type of account activity every 2 years.
We have done the 50,000 points more than once. This year, I was able to book all 5 of us 1 way down and 3 of us 1-way home with DH' s points. I used mine to book the other 2 flights home.
Don't forget to keep your eyes peeled for price drops. You can Rebook at the lower point amount. The points will be added back to your account with no expiration date, unlike a cash credit.

Actually you need some type of earning within the next 2 years. Which means redeeming points won't reset your 2 year expiration date.
I find it's easy to keep earning with the SW cc.