Southwest 50k point bonus back

[disneymom2003]

Thanks everyone.

 

[2littleprincesses]

Can I get a card for me and one for dh and share the RR account number?

 

[NHTikiBeckie]

I feel that the Chase Sapphire is a better deal (more flexible ways to spend your points, 2X points on travel, no foreign transaction fees, 7% annual points dividend). You get 40K points (worth $500) when you spend $3K in 3 months. No annual fee the first year, $99 afterwards.

This new SW promo is 50k points equal to $800 for $2k spent in 3 months which is better $$$ wise, but I like the flexibility of the Chase Sapphire, too.

 

[jls886]

Can I get a card for me and one for dh and share the RR account number?

No, if you open a card in your husband's name he would need his own RR account number. Though, you are able to book flights for anyone using your points - so the 50,000 you get could be used on flights for both of you and vice versa for his 50,000 points. I believe SW also just started allowing the transfer of points between accounts.

 

[NHTikiBeckie]

No, if you open a card in your husband's name he would need his own RR account number. Though, you are able to book flights for anyone using your points - so the 50,000 you get could be used on flights for both of you and vice versa for his 50,000 points. I believe SW also just started allowing the transfer of points between accounts.

I looked into this, but they charge you to transfer them, a fairly high amount, too.

 

[jls886]

I looked into this, but they charge you to transfer them, a fairly high amount, too.

Gotcha. I have no need to transfer so hadn't really looked into it...I should have known better than to think you were free to just transfer away with no restrictions. What a mess that would turn into for SW.

 

[NHTikiBeckie]

Gotcha. I have no need to transfer so hadn't really looked into it...I should have known better than to think you were free to just transfer away with no restrictions. What a mess that would turn into for SW.

Yeah, I think it was about $60 to transfer $100 worth...which makes sense, because people would probably register a bunch of accounts and earn the rewards through their partner sites like e-miles and earn more...

 

[Marionnette]

I looked into this, but they charge you to transfer them, a fairly high amount, too.

It's $10 per 1,000 pts. with a minimum of 1K and going up by 500 increments. The rate isn't bad compared to other airlines and works well if you only need a couple thousand to get a ticket. I would never transfer as many as 50K. I would just ask the other RR member to book a ticket for me.

 

[My3Princez]

I just got my Rapid Rewards monthly e-statement and it says this 50,000 mile offer ends August 6, 2012. I didn't see that an end date had been mentioned in this thread yet, so figured that info may be helpful to someone as far as making a decision.
I think for me, I'll apply for the personal card now, charge all monthly expenses for the next month or so (should be over $2000 in about a month) and then apply for the business card before the August 6 deadline and repeat the process. That should result in 100,000+ points and I'm pretty sure I can get over the 110,000 points required for the companion pass before the end of 2012.

EDIT: Just found this info on another site:
Use Chase Ultimate Rewards Points, but not in the way you think. Southwest is a direct transfer partner for those points, but the transfers don’t count toward your Companion pass. Therefore, you have to “launder” your points through another hotel partner of Chase, like Marriott or Hyatt, and transfer the points from those hotel programs to Southwest. You can also transfer any points you already have in those programs over, too. Not the best option, since the ratio of transfers isn’t great between the hotels and Southwest, but an option!
20,000 Ultimate Rewards Points to 20,000 Hyatt points, then to 9,600 Southwest Points
30,000 Ultimate Rewards Points to 30,000 Marriott Points, then to 10,000 Southwest Points

I have over 20,000 Ultimate Rewards Points, so x-ferring them to Hyatt would be enough to get me the companion pass!

 

[2littleprincesses]

So, is it better for one person to register for two cards so you can have it all on one RR account or better for two accounts since the personal account has a smaller annual fee? We are just planning on going on one trip with these.

 

[LynnTH]

So, is it better for one person to register for two cards so you can have it all on one RR account or better for two accounts since the personal account has a smaller annual fee? We are just planning on going on one trip with these.

Not sure that it really matters. For us DH and I both opened a card and got 50,000 points each. When I went to book the flights. I used all of my points to book the trip to Orlando and then used all DH's points to book the flights back home. We didn't have much left after that but were able to book all 4 flights with no problem. I guess you should see how much points are (estimated) to where you are going and see if 50,000 points would cover a one way ticket for everyone in your party. ( you can't do some points and some cash).

 

[jls886]

So, is it better for one person to register for two cards so you can have it all on one RR account or better for two accounts since the personal account has a smaller annual fee? We are just planning on going on one trip with these.

The only extra benefit to having one person apply for two cards is that you would then have 100,000 points in that one account and once you earn an additional 10,000 qualifying points (110,000 total) that person would earn a Companion Pass. A companion pass allows that person to designate one 'companion' to travel free with them for the remainder of the year in which you qualify and then through the next year. So, if you earned the companion pass this year, you could designate your hubby as your companion and he could fly free on any itinerary that you are flying for the remainder of 2013 and through December 31, 2014.

 

[Allison's Mommy]

According to the Southwest's FAQ about the companion pass you can not use points from program enrollment to get the companion pass. Has anyone got it after enrolling for 2 cards in one year? TIA

 

[jls886]

According to the Southwest's FAQ about the companion pass you can not use points from program enrollment to get the companion pass. Has anyone got it after enrolling for 2 cards in one year? TIA

I know the FAQ's say that, and I had a friend that would not believe it, but the points will credit to your account as companion pass qualifying points. I have the card and many people that I know do too, and that has been the case for all of us.

 

[JLitfin]

question: is the first year free or does the $68 annual fee charged to the first year.

 

[My3Princez]

question: is the first year free or does the $68 annual fee charged to the first year.

The annual fee is NOT waived. It is charged the first year.

 

[brettb]

I know the FAQ's say that, and I had a friend that would not believe it, but the points will credit to your account as companion pass qualifying points. I have the card and many people that I know do too, and that has been the case for all of us.

This is the relevant section regarding points for the A-list Preferred tier:

Tier Qualifying Points are earned from revenue flights or through select Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards Credit Cards and are exclusive of bonuses and promotions.
​

This is the relevant section regarding points for the Companion Pass:

Companion Pass Qualifying Points are earned from revenue flights, points issued on Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards Credit Cards, and points earned from Rapid Rewards Partners. Purchased points and points earned from program enrollment, Tier bonuses, flight bonuses, and Partner bonuses do not count toward Companion Pass status.​

It's clear that Credit Card bonuses do NOT count for the A-list Tiers but DO count for the Companion Pass.

 

[disneymagicgirl]

This isn't true. You can make reservations for anyone using your points. I have used my points for other family members and friends multiple times. If they end up needing to cancel their trip the points go right back into your account like normal.

That's been my experience as well. Have made several flights for DD14 that I was not going on using my points.

 

[LilMommyBug]

Is there any way we could apply, spend the $2k, and get the points to book a flight for the end of September? Would there be enough time?

 

[NHTikiBeckie]

Is there any way we could apply, spend the $2k, and get the points to book a flight for the end of September? Would there be enough time?

You would be cutting it very close. You have to wait for the card to come then wait for the billing cycle to end for the points to come on your statement.