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

[DizDragonfly]

Question for the group. My wife and I both applied and were accepted. She got hers first and activated it. The rewards didn't show and when I called, I was told we were BOTH ineligible since we already had a chase rewards card. Anyone else run into this?

This is the fine print on the offer (the bold is my emphasis):

You will qualify for and receive your bonus points after your first purchase/first use of the card. First purchase/first use includes purchases, balance transfers, or any checks that are used to access your account, and excludes cash advances. After qualifying, please allow 6 to 8 weeks for bonus points to post to your Rapid Rewards account. This one-time bonus offer is valid only for first-time Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards personal Cardmembers. Previous and existing Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards personal Cardmembers are not eligible for this bonus offer.

If you have had a _Southwest_ Rewards card you aren't eligible. But, if it's just another Chase Rewards card, then I think you have reason to call back and try another rep or a supervisor.

 

[padstack1]

This is the fine print on the offer (the bold is my emphasis):



If you have had a _Southwest_ Rewards card you aren't eligible. But, if it's just another Chase Rewards card, then I think you have reason to call back and try another rep or a supervisor.

Nope. Never had a SW card ever. Thanks for the heads up though. Calling now!

 

[MrsMork]

We applied last Oct, got our vouchers in just a few weeks and booked today for May/June trip from Spokane, WA to MCO. No hassles, no issues, no blackout even though we are flying to MCO on Memorial Day Weekend and are booking just 3 months ahead. Free airfare, using DVC points for our stay and gifting a studio to our nephew and his family as well and we have 3 days remaining on our 10 day never expire hopper passes we bought in 2007. Why they are practically giving this trip to us!!!

 

[padstack1]

Nope. Never had a SW card ever. Thanks for the heads up though. Calling now!

Ok... gonna cut and paste this to a few websites I'm looking for answers on so don't hold this against me if I don't reference (or thank) anyone by name for their help but here is what I literally JUST found out:

Per a Chase manager @ the 302-594-8200 number from the back of my wife's card, I (at least) am eligible for the 2 RT flights. The problem lies in the changing of the SW system from credits to points and how it gets loaded in Chase's system. I would assume that the close proximity between my signing up and the changeover in their system caused a problem. It literally went from telling him that I wasn't eligible to I had 2 RT's waiting on me when I activate.

He said that the system was still having some issues (just like SWA's is having right now if you've tried to do anything with their RR system lately...) and that if my wife calls in tomorrow, they'll most likely tell her the same thing.

Mgr was SUPER cool and easy to talk with - in fact, if any chase people read this, PM me and I'll give you his info to brag on him.

I basically told him (VERY politely) that I either had a SWA card in the past that I didn't remember (and my credit report didn't tell me about) OR I should be eligible per the T/C on this offer. Either one was fine with me, but I really would like someone to help me figure out which group I fell into.

In the end, I have my two RT's on the way! Hopefully all works out the same for my wife and we have our flights paid for (granted we'll have to pony up annual fees and 9/11 fees) for Disney this fall!

 

[DizDragonfly]

In the end, I have my two RT's on the way! Hopefully all works out the same for my wife and we have our flights paid for (granted we'll have to pony up annual fees and 9/11 fees) for Disney this fall!

I'm so glad you called and got some good news!

 

[paults]

how do I find out if I'm approved? Chase site or Southwest site? I keep checking both but can't find anything saying I even applied.
My e-mail either.
I do have a Disney chase card, is that a problem?

 

[notnothin]

how do I find out if I'm approved? Chase site or Southwest site? I keep checking both but can't find anything saying I even applied.
My e-mail either.
I do have a Disney chase card, is that a problem?

For me, the Southwest account information appeared under my Chase login after a couple of days. However, I am still waiting for the card to arrive.

 

[kotto1234]

I wouldn't do that. I would call and ask for what they promised. They have some great cards, with great rewards.

My husband called again today to ask about the 2 RT promotion. Here's what he found out.

"I called Chase. Sat on hold for ~8-10 minutes, but I finally talked to someone. The lady that I talked to sounded more knowledgeable than the one that I talked to the other night; she actually used the words “marketing code” and said that our account has the marketing code (what I call the “promo ID”) for 2 free flights rather than the marketing code for 1 free flight.

That sounded better; I feel more confident in this lady’s answer than the other one. All I’m saying is, during the day, you tend to get the more experienced folks."

 

[hsmamato2]

to a pp...I had this problem, I think I used an error page to apply- it showed me nothing,tho it looked like the original. (I checked my cr a few days later for unaccounted acitivity. I think it was just a faulty link. I called Chase,they couldn't even find my app.
I reapplied using the link on this thread and was instantly approved.
call,or maybe try again. Didn't I read soemthing about a link not working,and then changing?
and- how do I change the due date on my payment? I got card,made a purchase,and want to get my rewards rolling!
the rewards don't show till after payment is made,right?

 

[ewerstruly]

Anyone who has already booked flights after receiving the visa card, I'm confused here. If my closing date is March 16 ( they told me; i just got the card and activated it and used it a few days ago) when should i expect my rewards to post on the southwest site for booking use? Would it be 7-10 days after that March 16 date? And after the bill is paid for that month? Shortly after that first purchase is made? Or, does it wait until the entire next biling cycle for it to show up? Anyone know the timeline from first purchase? Thanks.

i asked if I could move my close date up sooner to be able to use the rewards faster and they said I could move my date up but it would still be March 16 for the first close date ... then the closing date after that would be moved to whatever earlier day in the each month I choose.

 

[DMRick]

Time for a switch..now we are going after two round trip tickets (one doesn't come until we charge $500 on the card within a certain time) on Jet Blue. We always wanted to cruise out of San Juan! They do say that you may need more points depending on where you want to fly, so I'll have to see if we get enough for NY to San Juan:
https://trueblue.jetblue.com/web/trueblue/home;jsessionid=6B75A8EBD33225DE09B8013D72E1DD50.l1

 

[dvcfamily41801]

Any updates in the last week?

 

[notnothin]

Any updates in the last week?

I'm waiting on credits/points/whatever to appear...

 

[ahmo]

Call this number 1-800-323-6252 to check on any Chase credit card application status. The automated system will ask for your Social Security number.

If you want to speak to someone, try calling 1-888-270-2127 M-F 8am-10pm EST.

how do I find out if I'm approved? Chase site or Southwest site? I keep checking both but can't find anything saying I even applied.
My e-mail either.
I do have a Disney chase card, is that a problem?

 

[hsmamato2]

wondering- we got approved,(both of us) got the cards- used them- even paid the balance right away. Now, the actual due date wasn't till April something- I talked to a chase rep- she said it closed March 23rd- so- what I'm wondering is some pp here have changed the due date- how/why did that help you?
the rep. said it was too close to 'pay by' to make it any sooner, it would just make it farther off,into next months statement if I tried to change it.
any idea how long it should take to see the credits?

 

[hsmamato2]

wait...still reading ( so many posts) b/c I applied/got the card right when they were changing things up...now I must wait and wonder exactly what I'll see in my account? interesting......

 

[jenny-d]

Just wondering if anyone had this happen to them... I applied on 2/28. Didn't get an instant approval. Waited and waited, never received a card, e-mail, nothing. I called today and they said my application was still pending. I'm still hopeful that it will be approved and hoping that since it was on 2/28 before the changes happened, that I will get the 2 RT's instead of the points. The Chase rep said to allow up to 14 business days for approval. Everyone else seems to be saying that they got instant approval or got their cards quick. Did anyone else have it take a while? I can't figure out why I wouldn't be approved! Great credit, no problems, ever.

 

[scottmel]

Just wondering if anyone had this happen to them... I applied on 2/28. Didn't get an instant approval. Waited and waited, never received a card, e-mail, nothing. I called today and they said my application was still pending. I'm still hopeful that it will be approved and hoping that since it was on 2/28 before the changes happened, that I will get the 2 RT's instead of the points. The Chase rep said to allow up to 14 business days for approval. Everyone else seems to be saying that they got instant approval or got their cards quick. Did anyone else have it take a while? I can't figure out why I wouldn't be approved! Great credit, no problems, ever.

You will get points....it goes by when your cycle closes for the month not when you open the card.

 

[scottmel]

I opened up 2 seperate cards for SW Visa. One for DH and one for me. I opened them both in Feb. (one early Feb, one late Feb w/ March closing date). Got a free round trip w/ each card and earned 500 gc on each card. I had no problems booking DH's ticket under OLD program. Free round trip is free round trip. Under my Visa that was opened in Feb. but closed in March I was awarded points. I had credits in my SW account nothing to do with visa just from travel. I was able to conever those credits to points. So I ended up with plenty of points to get myself a RD that was valued at 175 each way and enough for a 1 way ticket for DD. LITTLE bit of a hassle on the points bc it was a little confusing on how they award points vs. what each leg of the trip is worth. But I called SW and waited on hold forever b/c I wanted this ironed out TODAY!!! All worked out in the end and was totally worth it. I got the 3 of us down for free and still have 1K in gift cards for next trip (keep in mind I had old credits to use to get DD down for free...

 

[nkereina]

Didn't have a chance to read this whole thread so I apologize if it's already been mentioned, but Jet Blue is running this same promo now with their AmEx card. A little different... you have to get approved and then spend $500 on the card by April 1st and you'll get enough points in your True Blue account for 2 free roundtrip flights. I plan on putting $500 of my Disney trip on there to get this. There is an annual fee with the card, $60 I think? But if Southwest doesn't work for some of you, this is a good alternative.