Southwest bonus points deal

[licountrygirl]

I had a question about the bonus points awarded for a new Southwest account... You need to spend $2000 in 3 months to get the bonus points... Will the bonus points get credited faster if you finish the spending requirement faster or will it have to wait out the full 3 months. Also, it says it may be 8 weeks for the bonus points to post to your account.... That would make it impossible for me to book for my Feb vacation.

Anyone familiar with the ins and outs of an offer like this?

 

[Lvsdisney]

I had a question about the bonus points awarded for a new Southwest account... You need to spend $2000 in 3 months to get the bonus points... Will the bonus points get credited faster if you finish the spending requirement faster or will it have to wait out the full 3 months. Also, it says it may be 8 weeks for the bonus points to post to your account.... That would make it impossible for me to book for my Feb vacation.

Anyone familiar with the ins and outs of an offer like this?

The points will post on/around Statement closing date after spending requirement is met. Remember the annual fee does not count towards spend. Others have noted if you make purchases close to statement closing date, it may not count towards the spend as it may take a day or two for the purchase to clear. I met my spending requirement earlier than 3 months and was credited the bonus points right after the statement closing date (took a day for them to show up on SW site).

 

[WVMomof3]

The points should post after the statement close of when you complete your spend. I applied for 2 of the cards this year. For one of my cards, I applied around the 2nd week of March, I received my card March 16th, completed my spend on March 23. My statement closed April 9th and had my bonus points the next day. My other card only had 1 week left on the statement before it closed after I received the card. I did not realize that until it closed unexpectedly, so now I ask in SM when my statement cycle is as soon as I get a new card. That one took 2 statement cycles, but still only 6 weeks after I opened and I had my bonus points.

 

[scottmel]

As soon as I get a new card in the mail I check the close date. Let's say I receive it November 1st and it is due Nov 23. i call Nov 1st and say I would really like a different close date...lets say Nov 10th. I then spend the 3k in the 10 days or whatever the purchase requirement is. Taht way the points will post for me november 11th vs waiting an entire period

 

[licountrygirl]

Thank you so much! I will try and get my spending done as quick as possible then... Maybe, just maybe I will be able to get my bonus points in time to book flights for my week in Disney before they sell out.

Another question, can you use points toward statement credit? Like if I have to book the tickets before I get all my points, can I use the points to pay some of the balance?

Any other tips and tricks would be very appreciated. This is my first time with a travel rewards card.

 

[scottmel]

Thank you so much! I will try and get my spending done as quick as possible then... Maybe, just maybe I will be able to get my bonus points in time to book flights for my week in Disney before they sell out.

Another question, can you use points toward statement credit? Like if I have to book the tickets before I get all my points, can I use the points to pay some of the balance?

Any other tips and tricks would be very appreciated. This is my first time with a travel rewards card.

Just make sure you call to change date before you charge anything. And no u cannot pay bills with points.

 

[DisMommyTX]

Points will usually post about 2 days after the statement closes, but there are common exceptions. If you hit your spend within the last 7-10 days before the statement closes, the bonus points often post after the next closing date (about 50/50 reported success rate). My latest card I made the minimum 11 days before the first statement closed but still didn't get the points until after the second statement date--10 weeks after my original application. Also, avoid paying the balance off before the statement closes as this may delay the posting of your bonus points by an additional billing cycle. Either way, try to spend the required amount asap. We made advance payments on our Disney trip as soon as DH's 2 most recent cards arrived, so he had 125,000 points and a companion pass 4 weeks after applying. Woohoo!