Southwest Airlines 2 free flights credit card offer-What's the catch?

[DizDragonfly]

I see available days for regular tickets, but none of them show awards..just the regular days. Maybe I just happen to be looking at days that aren't available LOL!

Maybe? I'm only looking at September. When I looked earlier for flights from PDX to MCO there was only one day that wasn't available for 4 people, Labor Day. What do you see?

 

[DMRick]

I can see them..but I have to go to click on awards, then on the top it says Looking to use an Award? Use Southwest Seat Finder to see dates with availability.
Or simply Book your Ticketless Award online at southwest.com.

I have to go to Book your ticketless award, to actually find seats. Other wise, all it shows (if I click on SW seat finder) is the month and on the right, the types of seats available (business, anytime, wanna get away).

Maybe I'm missing something here LOL.

Maybe? I'm only looking at September. When I looked earlier for flights from PDX to MCO there was only one day that wasn't available for 4 people, Labor Day. What do you see?

 

[poohs_hunny]

Does anyone know if the point simulator is for round trip or one way? If it's round trip, I'll have enough points and then some, but somehow I think that's too good to be true...

Anyone know?

Also, if I got credits and not points, does the one year expiration date mean one year to the date of travel or one year to booking the flights?

 

[DizDragonfly]

Other wise, all it shows (if I click on SW seat finder) is the month and on the right, the types of seats available (business, anytime, wanna get away).

Maybe I'm missing something here LOL.

On the month calendar, "Dates with Rapid Rewards Standard Award seat availability are marked with a

." If the date is blank (no check) then there are no flights available to use the reward that day.

 

[DizDragonfly]

Anyone know?

Also, if I got credits and not points, does the one year expiration date mean one year to the date of travel or one year to booking the flights?

I don't think the simulator is a good way to judge how many points you will actually need. IIRC you will need 60 points for every dollar that your ticket costs. So, if your flight is $100, you will need 6000 points to book it.

I'm not sure about the expiration dates. Try the FAQ link a few posts back.

 

[poohs_hunny]

I don't think the simulator is a good way to judge how many points you will actually need. IIRC you will need 60 points for every dollar that your ticket costs. So, if your flight is $100, you will need 6000 points to book it.

I'm not sure about the expiration dates. Try the FAQ link a few posts back.

Thank you! In this case, the point simulator is definitely for one way. Darn!

 

[DizDragonfly]

Thank you! In this case, the point simulator is definitely for one way. Darn!

Sorry.

 

[ewerstruly]

I applied and did not have a rapids rewards number to plug in. i called the credit card number found online and they said if that is left blank that they will assign you a rapid rewards number. Hope all works out well. Tam

 

[ewerstruly]

I wanted to add just as an FYI that I applied on the 20th nd was not instantly approved. I never got any sort of response from at all, but the card arrived in today's mail. Fingers crossed here. Tam

 

[poohs_hunny]

I was going to wait until March 1st, but I just bit the bullet and applied. I don't know if I'll get credits or points, but I just really hope I can use whatever I get to pay for at least one of the two round trip flights for my July trip!

Do the rewards really get put into your account after your first purchase or is it not until after your first bill/payment? I know it says 6-8 weeks, but I'm really hoping that's just to cover them and that they'll appear sooner!

 

[123Mark]

Hi Folks, I see there is much guessing here, and I have yet to see anyone that has applied for the card, and posted the actual results.

I applied, was approved within 30 seconds, and will have the card within a week or 2

I will post here again, once my award is posted to my SW account so all the guessing can be ended.

We are talking 59 bucks here, one would think the discussion was for thousands of dollars.

Take Care, and while you are waiting for your SW CC to arrive, you may as well, get the Hyatt card and get your two free nights as well. 75 bucks, for two nights, we are talking pennies on the dollar here, if you use it wisely.

P.S. If you are concerned about your credit score and canceling a CC, I have seen this discussed as well, assuming you live an honest life, and pay every bill on time, as we all should, this is of zero concern.

 

[DizDragonfly]

We are talking 59 bucks here, one would think the discussion was for thousands of dollars.

Actually, we are talking about thousands of dollars. Cost for my family of four to fly to Orlando this September: $2059.20. Providing the two round trip tickets come through for both the DH and I and it will cost us $118 out of pocket.

By the way, welcome to the boards

 

[DMRick]

Awards are good for one year from when they awarded.

Anyone know?

Also, if I got credits and not points, does the one year expiration date mean one year to the date of travel or one year to booking the flights?

 

[123Mark]

Hi Karen, Thanks for the welcome

I see your point, and I said most of what I said in jest. I'm just a person that prefers facts vs guessing.

I have confidence this offer from SW will work out just fine for us.

Have a great and safe trip.

 

[DMRick]

Several have posted that have applied, been approved and at least one has gotten her award. The guessing is what happens after the first of the month when the new program rolls out. I know what has happened up til now.

It's much more than $59 that people are talking about..it's the cost of the tickets. Some will see a big savings.

As for if it does or doesn't affect a credit score, it's not just about if you pay your bills off..it's the potential for credit they look at. That is why your credit score may go down, if you have multiple credit cards. I don't care because I don't have to worry about getting a mortgage, or car loan. For some, that may be a concern. If you have 2 credit cards, and are able to charge $20,000 between the two of them, your credit score may differ, than if you don't have that. Nothing to do with living an honest life. Assuming you pay your bills on time, even so, multiply credit cards can play a part in your credit score, even if you don't use them. It's the potential for use.

Hi Folks, I see there is much guessing here, and I have yet to see anyone that has applied for the card, and posted the actual results.

I applied, was approved within 30 seconds, and will have the card within a week or 2

I will post here again, once my award is posted to my SW account so all the guessing can be ended.

We are talking 59 bucks here, one would think the discussion was for thousands of dollars.

Take Care, and while you are waiting for your SW CC to arrive, you may as well, get the Hyatt card and get your two free nights as well. 75 bucks, for two nights, we are talking pennies on the dollar here, if you use it wisely.

P.S. If you are concerned about your credit score and canceling a CC, I have seen this discussed as well, assuming you live an honest life, and pay every bill on time, as we all should, this is of zero concern.

 

[DMRick]

That would be nice..but that's not what I have experienced through other's in the past. If they assign you one, how would you get to it, did they say if they will send it to you via email? I'm not sure how you would sign into SW without having set up your account using the number. I'm very interested, because I am working with someone now who did not put their number in and it's been a couple of months and they are having trouble getting the awards owed to him. My other friend had to cancel the card and resign up again to get hers. Please come back once you have yoru's and let us know how you found out what your reward number was and how you were able to use the awards. Thanks.

I applied and did not have a rapids rewards number to plug in. i called the credit card number found online and they said if that is left blank that they will assign you a rapid rewards number. Hope all works out well. Tam

 

[DMRick]

LOL..I've gone through every single month and I'm not seeing anything with a checkmark. Like I said, I have to click on the book a seat, and then I see the availability. I have to stop playing..it's driving me nuts LOL. If I find it, I'll get back to you and we can laugh about how silly I was, with it right in front of my face.

On the month calendar, "Dates with Rapid Rewards Standard Award seat availability are marked with a

." If the date is blank (no check) then there are no flights available to use the reward that day.

 

[DizDragonfly]

LOL..I've gone through every single month and I'm not seeing anything with a checkmark. Like I said, I have to click on the book a seat, and then I see the availability. I have to stop playing..it's driving me nuts LOL. If I find it, I'll get back to you and we can laugh about how silly I was, with it right in front of my face.

I wonder if it's how your browser is reading the page? I'm on Firefox. Do you have a second browser installed? If so, try opening that page with a different browser and see if you see the checkmarks.

 

[poohs_hunny]

Awards are good for one year from when they awarded.

Yes, but must the flight(s) be booked using the rewards within one year or travel completed within one year?

 

[DMRick]

Right now, for my awards, travel must be completed within a year, of when they hit. Here is what it says (I didn't post the numbers on it, of course or my name). This was deposited in my RR account on Oct 5, 2010:

Award Valid For Travel Through:
October 05, 2011

A Standard Award has been deposited into your Rapid Rewards account, which means you can travel for free anywhere you can fly on Southwest Airlines!
LET US KNOW WHEN AND WHERE YOU WANT TO GO.
You must reserve your Award travel before you arrive at the airport. To reserve travel online at southwest.com®, click on "Book Travel," select Rapid Rewards Award as your booking method, then follow the simple online instructions.
Or call 1-800-248-4377 and tell the Reservations Sales Agent you are booking your travel using a Rapid Rewards Standard Award. For the protection and security of your Awards, the Reservations Sales Agent will ask you to verify information within your account. After booking your flight, you'll receive a confirmation number to take with you to the airport the day you travel. At the time of reservation you will need to provide a credit card number to pay the government-imposed September 11th Security Fee of up to $10 roundtrip.
GIVE AWAY YOUR AWARD.
Simply find out the destination, travel dates, and times from your lucky recipient. Here are a few more things you should know:

• You - not the person using your Award - will need to book the flight by visiting southwest.com or calling Reservations.
• After you book the flight, provide the person who will be using your Award with the confirmation number and itinerary you receive.
• At the time of reservation you will need to provide a credit card number to pay the government-imposed September 11th Security Fee of up to $10 roundtrip.

The person using your Award may change the destination, date, or time of travel at no charge prior to their flight. If the name on the reservation changes, the itinerary will have to be cancelled and the Award will automatically be returned to your account. You will then have to rebook the trip.

Yes, but must the flight(s) be booked using the rewards within one year or travel completed within one year?