Southwest is giving 50,000 points again

[Dizzytime]

Before I retired I had a companion pass which we milked to the extreme! A Fantastic!! perk, just can't fly or spend enough any more to get it, but love SW, love RR, the 50,000 cc was great, plus the on-going rumors of SW flights to Hawaii!!! ...all very exciting!

 

[elfbo]

For anyone who has the pass, or has had it in the past. It is really that amazing? Im finding that, with the double mileage through nov 15th, if we book about 900$ in airfare, we can get enough points for the pass. So what im asking is, do you think we would use the pass enough to make up the money we would have to spend to get it?

 

[DisneyFansInLINY]

For anyone who has the pass, or has had it in the past. It is really that amazing? Im finding that, with the double mileage through nov 15th, if we book about 900$ in airfare, we can get enough points for the pass. So what im asking is, do you think we would use the pass enough to make up the money we would have to spend to get it?

We have the companion pass. I think it is worth it. I signed my daughter up as my companion. She flies free for about a year and a half.

 

[jls886]

For anyone who has the pass, or has had it in the past. It is really that amazing? Im finding that, with the double mileage through nov 15th, if we book about 900$ in airfare, we can get enough points for the pass. So what im asking is, do you think we would use the pass enough to make up the money we would have to spend to get it?

Be aware that the bonus points do not count toward Companion Pass qualification, so do not take them into consideration when figuring how much more you need to spend to qualify for your pass. Only your base points earned will count toward the companion pass.

However, if you wanted to boost your points earnings, you could spend that amount on Business Select fares, which earn base points of 12pts/$1 instead of 6pts/$1 earned on Wanna Get Away fares. So, you'd be getting 12pts/$1 toward your companion pass and actually 24pts/$1 added to your points balance with the double points promotion. You're getting twice the pass qualifying points from Wanna Get Away and also about 40% back into your points balance. I think that is the way to go if you're spending simply to get to your companion pass.

Just to demonstrate:

If you spend $900 on Wanna Get Away fares:
$900 x 6pts/$1 = 5400 base points (DO count toward companion pass)
Promotion = 5400 bonus points (DO NOT count toward companion pass)
Total of 10,800 points earned = $180 in airfare to use later

If you spend $900 on Business Select fares:
$900 x 12pts/$1 = 10,800 base points (DO count toward companion pass)
Promotion = 10,800 bonus points (DO NOT count toward companion pass)
Total of 21,600 points earned = $360 in airfare later

So, if you're simply looking at how much $$ you need to spend to reach your goal, and not trying to actually take the cheapest flights that you need to take anyway, Business Select is the way to go.

 

[elfbo]

Be aware that the bonus points do not count toward Companion Pass qualification, so do not take them into consideration when figuring how much more you need to spend to qualify for your pass. Only your base points earned will count toward the companion pass.

Thank you for the heads up. I was factoring in double points for business fares. So that would double how much we have to spend, and for 1800$, we would have to fly more than 4 times to break even, and we only travel 2-3 times a year normally.

 

[lovesny]

Both my husband and I have the SW Visa cards. I have a balance of 12,551 reward points and my husband has approximately 58,300 points. I am definitely going to cancel my Visa card. Not sure what to do with my husband's card.

Can anyone tell me how long these reward points will remain active? I have read somewhere that they remain active for 2 years. If that is the case, I may cancel both cards. If they are going to take away my reward points, it might be to our benefit to go ahead & pay the $69 fee for my husband's Visa card just to be assured that we keep the points.

I am going to be billed in mid-November for these cards, so if anyone has this information, I would appreciate a response.

 

[elcodfish]

The points are good for 2 years after last activity. What that means is the points expire 2 years after you last earned points or used points. I would call and verify though

 

[granmanh603]

The points are good for 2 years after last activity. What that means is the points expire 2 years after you last earned points or used points. I would call and verify though

So I just booked a flight last month so the rest of my points would remain active for 2 years if I cancel card next month. and if I booked using them next year it would extend those point for another 2 years...Am I getting that right... and on the other hand if I keep card and charge on the card that extends them 2 years? or do I have to use the shopping link? this is confusing...

 

[jls886]

So I just booked a flight last month so the rest of my points would remain active for 2 years if I cancel card next month. and if I booked using them next year it would extend those point for another 2 years...Am I getting that right... and on the other hand if I keep card and charge on the card that extends them 2 years? or do I have to use the shopping link? this is confusing...

From the T&C:
"Upon enrollment, Members' accounts are active for 24 months. Members' accounts will remain active as long as the Member earns points at least once every 24 months. The Member's account expiration date will be extended 24 months from the date of the last earned Point. Points earned from flying Southwest flights and points earned from Rapid Rewards Partners will extend the account activity date. If a Member fails to earn a point in 24 months, the Member's account will become inactive and all points and Promotional Awards will be forfeited."

So, each time you earn any points at all (from the CC, from flights, from hotels/rental cars, from shopping, etc) you are extending the expiration of all of your points to 24 months from that date. You do not have to keep the credit card to keep your points.

 

[rubybpc]

Hooray! I just got my SWA CC and within 5 minutes called my TA so she can charge $1,000 on it as soon as Disney Web comes back up! What's worse waiting for your card to arrive or waiting for the points to show up on your account? Ahhhhhh!!!!

 

[KCmike]

From the T&C:
"Upon enrollment, Members' accounts are active for 24 months. Members' accounts will remain active as long as the Member earns points at least once every 24 months. The Member's account expiration date will be extended 24 months from the date of the last earned Point. Points earned from flying Southwest flights and points earned from Rapid Rewards Partners will extend the account activity date. If a Member fails to earn a point in 24 months, the Member's account will become inactive and all points and Promotional Awards will be forfeited."

So, each time you earn any points at all (from the CC, from flights, from hotels/rental cars, from shopping, etc) you are extending the expiration of all of your points to 24 months from that date. You do not have to keep the credit card to keep your points.

Thanks for posting this. I was wondering about the details.

 

[Lucille1963]

I'm so darn happy! In July after DH got his initial 50,000 points on his Southwest CC and we cancelled it. When the offer was released again he applied and today another 50,000 hit our account. WOOT!

 

[rubybpc]

I'm so darn happy! In July after DH got his initial 50,000 points on his Southwest CC and we cancelled it. When the offer was released again he applied and today another 50,000 hit our account. WOOT!

Nice. We got 50k each hubby and I and today we scored one way tickets for 4k to MCO for our December Trip!

 

[Jill2150]

50,000 is back. Some earlier posts were saying you get the points on first cycle. Is that after you spend the $2000 in 3 months? Or do they front you the bonus points? I guess my concern is, if I get the card now, then I have 3 months to spend...won't get points till February but we want to go next April. I don't want to cut it too short..
TIA!

 

[jmsaj]

I just got this card within the last 2 months. I only had to spend $1000 in 3 months so they have upped the requirements. The 50000 bonus points were in my account after the first statement that I met the $1000 requirement. Hope that helps you plan your trip....mine isnt until 12/2014 so I should have all points needed to fly everyone down by then.

 

[firstwdw]

For those of you looking- 50,000 pts is direct link from southwest site now!!!! $69 annual fee and spend $2000 within first 3 months to get the points.

 

[Rpsemont]

50,000 is back. Some earlier posts were saying you get the points on first cycle. Is that after you spend the $2000 in 3 months? Or do they front you the bonus points? I guess my concern is, if I get the card now, then I have 3 months to spend...won't get points till February but we want to go next April. I don't want to cut it too short..

DH signed up for this just a couple months ago - the 50,000 depends on the date of your billing cycle and how quickly you spend.

In his case, he received the card 8/10, his billing cycle closed 8/23 at which time we had "only" charged $800. On 8/27 or so, he was credited 800 points.
We spent the additional $200 (and more!) but it was not until that billing cycle closed that we were credited the 50,000. so the next billing cycle closed 9/23 and it a few days after that that we were credit the 50,000 plus the additional points for the dollars charged. I'm not sure how they determine what day your billing cycle will close on. If you need the points fairly soon, be prepared to spend $1000 within days of receiving the card.

 

[elgerber]

I have a question now. I cancelled my SW Visa a few months ago, after I had gotten and used my 50000 miles. I just got an email offer for an Air Tran Visa with 2 free round trips after spending $2000 in 3 months, and a $69 fee. It says these points can be used for SWA also.
Do you think they would give me this card, since it's technically a different card? I have not wanted to push my luck and apply for the SW Visa again, but if I could do this one and use the points on either, that would be good I think.
And how do the A+ points work with SWA?

Thanks!

 

[ValpoCory]

I have a question now. I cancelled my SW Visa a few months ago, after I had gotten and used my 50000 miles. I just got an email offer for an Air Tran Visa with 2 free round trips after spending $2000 in 3 months, and a $69 fee. It says these points can be used for SWA also.
Do you think they would give me this card, since it's technically a different card? I have not wanted to push my luck and apply for the SW Visa again, but if I could do this one and use the points on either, that would be good I think.
And how do the A+ points work with SWA?

Thanks!

I think they will give you that card. Also, I would expect you can get another SW Visa if you want.

 

[LaurieA]

I have a question now. I cancelled my SW Visa a few months ago, after I had gotten and used my 50000 miles. I just got an email offer for an Air Tran Visa with 2 free round trips after spending $2000 in 3 months, and a $69 fee. It says these points can be used for SWA also.
Do you think they would give me this card, since it's technically a different card? I have not wanted to push my luck and apply for the SW Visa again, but if I could do this one and use the points on either, that would be good I think.
And how do the A+ points work with SWA?

Thanks!

I only see the offer with a 99.00 annual fee, am I missing something?