Southwest points offer- is it a good deal?

[hollypoast]

I am short points for our return flights for an upcoming trip. (Will book when November flights open up on March 19th.) I received a promo from SW where if I book a hotel stay through RocketMiles I will get approx. 1,000 points for the booking plus a bonus 3,000 points for using RocketMiles for the first time. I don't have any upcoming travel where I need a hotel stay however, I could book a night locally over spring break and just use the pool w/kids, etc. for approx.. $125.

Is that a good deal? What calculation would you use to determine if this is a good deal or not? TIA

 

[Princess Disney Mom]

You can purchase the points you are short.

 

[hollypoast]

I need to raise 16,000 pts... booking 6 flights, I currently have enough for approximately 4ish.

 

[Marionnette]

I am short points for our return flights for an upcoming trip. (Will book when November flights open up on March 19th.) I received a promo from SW where if I book a hotel stay through RocketMiles I will get approx. 1,000 points for the booking plus a bonus 3,000 points for using RocketMiles for the first time. I don't have any upcoming travel where I need a hotel stay however, I could book a night locally over spring break and just use the pool w/kids, etc. for approx.. $125.

Is that a good deal? What calculation would you use to determine if this is a good deal or not? TIA

As a PP pointed out, you could just purchase the points you need. 4K RR pts. would cost you $110 right now instead of spending $125 to book a throwaway room for the same number of bonus points. Plus, they often have sales where you get bonus pts. with a purchase. However, purchasing points is generally seen as a poor return on your investment. You would do better to pay OOP for the airfare unless you only need a few points to reach the next free ticket.

 

[hollypoast]

That's what I was thinking... thanks!

 

[nalajms]

Sometimes those promo points take a while to make it to your account! By then, the prices of the ticket might have changed.

 

[elgerber]

I am short points for our return flights for an upcoming trip. (Will book when November flights open up on March 19th.) I received a promo from SW where if I book a hotel stay through RocketMiles I will get approx. 1,000 points for the booking plus a bonus 3,000 points for using RocketMiles for the first time. I don't have any upcoming travel where I need a hotel stay however, I could book a night locally over spring break and just use the pool w/kids, etc. for approx.. $125.

Is that a good deal? What calculation would you use to determine if this is a good deal or not? TIA

I don't really have thoughts on the points, but according to SW website, November will not be open until May 14th.

 

[klmrph]

I am short points for our return flights for an upcoming trip. (Will book when November flights open up on March 19th.) I received a promo from SW where if I book a hotel stay through RocketMiles I will get approx. 1,000 points for the booking plus a bonus 3,000 points for using RocketMiles for the first time. I don't have any upcoming travel where I need a hotel stay however, I could book a night locally over spring break and just use the pool w/kids, etc. for approx.. $125.

Is that a good deal? What calculation would you use to determine if this is a good deal or not? TIA

My husband did this deal on a work stay and the points posted quickly after his stay.

Another way to earn points is to shop through their Rapid Rewards Portal. Sometimes Sears will be 8x, and you can first buy gift cards to earn 8x and then use the gift cards to earn 8x again. We did this and bought a tv from Sears. So say a tv is $1000, you earn 8000 for buying the gift cards, then once the giftcards activate you can use them online to order your tv and you would earn another 8000 points. Of course you need to actually have a need to buy something from Sears for this to be a good deal. This works best if you already have some Sears gift cards as they can be reloaded and they will usually activate within 2 hours. Check out Frequent Milers blog and sign up for his alerts.

 

[jedijill]

I earned 1000 RR points by filing my taxes through Turbo Tax via the RR Shopping site. I find the RR points post pretty quickly after purchases.

Jill in CO

 

[manning]

I earned 1000 RR points by filing my taxes through Turbo Tax via the RR Shopping site. I find the RR points post pretty quickly after purchases.

Jill in CO

Not as good as it used to be beginning in April

http://www.usatoday.com/story/today...ts-now-needed-for-some-free-flights/24060029/

 

[jedijill]

Not as good as it used to be beginning in April

http://www.usatoday.com/story/today...ts-now-needed-for-some-free-flights/24060029/

Maybe not but I have cashed in 2 free flights (Puerto Rico and LA) in the last 18 months. Better than many other airline rewards programs.

Jill in CO

 

[hollypoast]

My husband did this deal on a work stay and the points posted quickly after his stay.

Another way to earn points is to shop through their Rapid Rewards Portal. Sometimes Sears will be 8x, and you can first buy gift cards to earn 8x and then use the gift cards to earn 8x again. We did this and bought a tv from Sears. So say a tv is $1000, you earn 8000 for buying the gift cards, then once the giftcards activate you can use them online to order your tv and you would earn another 8000 points. Of course you need to actually have a need to buy something from Sears for this to be a good deal. This works best if you already have some Sears gift cards as they can be reloaded and they will usually activate within 2 hours. Check out Frequent Milers blog and sign up for his alerts.

I earned 1000 RR points by filing my taxes through Turbo Tax via the RR Shopping site. I find the RR points post pretty quickly after purchases.

Jill in CO

Awesome, thanks!

 

[Shelly F - Ohio]

YOu can get either 1300 or 1400 RR points for subscribing to the NY times for $5.00 The points post in about 2-3 weeks


Send someone flowers and spend $29.99 and get 1000 points using 1-800 flowers I got my point a week later