Southwest Rewards Booking

[disneyelaine]

I opened the Visa card recently to get the 50,000 points. I have the points now and want to book a flight for my son's friend. Can I do that? I started to register and it said something about my name had to match for the ticket or something. I was not going to be flying with him. Actually I was just flying him down to Disney for the 2nd part of our trip (and we are driving this time).

Thanks.

 

[MrsDrewsky]

Yes you can use your rewards for his ticket.

May I ask how long it took for the points to appear in your account.

 

[disneylove69]

Thats why I love Southwest. If for some reason he cancels he has 12mths to use. U can not chnge name on ticket.

 

[Psychodisney]

Yes you can use your rewards for his ticket.

May I ask how long it took for the points to appear in your account.

My points posted as soon as I paid my bill. Once I knew I had spent $2K, I paid my bill online. The points were posted the next day. I didn't want to wait 6 weeks for my billing cycle to end.

 

[fishing gal]

Thats why I love Southwest. If for some reason he cancels he has 12mths to use. U can not chnge name on ticket.

This is only true for flights paid with money. For flights using points, if you cancel the award points go back into the original point holder's account. Love that! I make "speculative" bookings all the time. I think, "Maybe we'll take my parents there or our kids here," and then if I change my mind the points just go back into my account.

 

[disneyelaine]

Wow, that is great to know fishing gal! Thanks everyone.

I got my card the end of June and put 2000.00 on it right away. Paid it off the next week and the points were there next time I checked it online. Just a few weeks later. Very fast.

 

[LeslieG]

This is only true for flights paid with money. For flights using points, if you cancel the award points go back into the original point holder's account. Love that! I make "speculative" bookings all the time. I think, "Maybe we'll take my parents there or our kids here," and then if I change my mind the points just go back into my account.

And the award points never expire? Or once you've booked something with points and cancel, does the 12 months to use them begin?

 

[NHTikiBeckie]

And the award points never expire? Or once you've booked something with points and cancel, does the 12 months to use them begin?

They do not expire. The 12 month rule only applies to those who paid cash

 

[disneylove69]

This is only true for flights paid with money. For flights using points, if you cancel the award points go back into the original point holder's account. Love that! I make "speculative" bookings all the time. I think, "Maybe we'll take my parents there or our kids here," and then if I change my mind the points just go back into my account.

I used points for a friend and because it was in her name they wouldn't credit back. She didn't use it and within 12 mths it expired. She tried to use it but the return date would hit after 12 mth mark. The computer system wouldn't book it. We called and the girl said no. I should have written a letter

 

[Marionnette]

I used points for a friend and because it was in her name they wouldn't credit back. She didn't use it and within 12 mths it expired. She tried to use it but the return date would hit after 12 mth mark. The computer system wouldn't book it. We called and the girl said no. I should have written a letter

Was it points, a Luv Voucher or an Award?

Points always go back into the RR account that they were drawn from. Points expire if there has been no earning activity on the RR account in over 24 months.

Awards have expiration dates that are one year from the day that the travel was booked. If a flight that was booked with an Award is canceled, the Award goes back in the RR account it came from but the expiration date remains at 1 year from the original booking date.

A Luv Voucher is another story. Once used to book a flight, only the person for whom the flight was booked can use those funds. Luv Vouchers have expiration dates and cannot be used to book return flights that are beyond that date.

 

[ZoeBell]

I love, Love, LOVE my SW credit card. I'm annoyed at myself for wasting years and paying for airline tickets before getting it. I got the 50,000 point deal and I've added over 30,000 on my own. I use my card to pay for anything I can then go home and pay the card. I usually pay my balance daily. So if I spend $47.23 at the grocery store, I come home, jump online and pay it off. I pay quickly for 2 reasons. 1, I don't like leaving the balance for a whole month while I have the money to pay and I'll find other ways to spend the money in the bank. 2, with my bank's rewards program I earn points every time I pay a bill. So why pay one big bill and earn 100 points, when I can pay 30(or more) times and earn 3,000 points?
The only time I leave a daily balance is when I put a major purchase on there. I time it so it's right at the beginning of a billing cycle so technically I have a 2 months to pay it off...or go to the credit union to withdraw the money as in case for taxes or kid's school tuition.

Edited to add in I'm itching to spend some points and go someplace ..but it's also nice to see those nice reward numbers in your account.

 

[NHTikiBeckie]

I love, Love, LOVE my SW credit card. I'm annoyed at myself for wasting years and paying for airline tickets before getting it. I got the 50,000 point deal and I've added over 30,000 on my own. I use my card to pay for anything I can then go home and pay the card. I usually pay my balance daily. So if I spend $47.23 at the grocery store, I come home, jump online and pay it off. I pay quickly for 2 reasons. 1, I don't like leaving the balance for a whole month while I have the money to pay and I'll find other ways to spend the money in the bank. 2, with my bank's rewards program I earn points every time I pay a bill. So why pay one big bill and earn 100 points, when I can pay 30(or more) times and earn 3,000 points?
The only time I leave a daily balance is when I put a major purchase on there. I time it so it's right at the beginning of a billing cycle so technically I have a 2 months to pay it off...or go to the credit union to withdraw the money as in case for taxes or kid's school tuition.

Edited to add in I'm itching to spend some points and go someplace ..but it's also nice to see those nice reward numbers in your account.

I'd love to hear more about that bank rewards program...

 

[ZoeBell]

I'd love to hear more about that bank rewards program...

My bank is KeyBsnk and they have a rewards program. Everytime I pay a bill using their online bill pay I earn 100 points. Also earn 100 points for every check used and deposit made, including direct deposit. Then there is a redemption catalog. You can redemn your points for things like gift cards, electronics, hotel stays and even $$ off cruises and airline tickets. But the airline and cruise redemption points are really high. I usually stick with the gift certificates. Restaurant, store, hotel and itunes are some of them. It's like 18,000 for a $25 GC and 26,000 for a $50 GC.

It's like free GC because I do nothing but pay my bills.

You also earn minimal points by using your debit card. But it's a fraction of what you earn with bill pay.

 

[NHTikiBeckie]

That's great, I wish there was a Key Bank near me! I don't think they are in NH anymore.

 

[EeyoreME]

I love southwest. I won't fly with another airline

 

[DisneyEater]

I love, Love, LOVE my SW credit card. I'm annoyed at myself for wasting years and paying for airline tickets before getting it. I got the 50,000 point deal and I've added over 30,000 on my own. I use my card to pay for anything I can then go home and pay the card. I usually pay my balance daily. So if I spend $47.23 at the grocery store, I come home, jump online and pay it off. I pay quickly for 2 reasons. 1, I don't like leaving the balance for a whole month while I have the money to pay and I'll find other ways to spend the money in the bank. 2, with my bank's rewards program I earn points every time I pay a bill. So why pay one big bill and earn 100 points, when I can pay 30(or more) times and earn 3,000 points?
The only time I leave a daily balance is when I put a major purchase on there. I time it so it's right at the beginning of a billing cycle so technically I have a 2 months to pay it off...or go to the credit union to withdraw the money as in case for taxes or kid's school tuition.

Edited to add in I'm itching to spend some points and go someplace ..but it's also nice to see those nice reward numbers in your account.

If you get the total for the calendar year up to 110,000 SW points, you qualify for the companion pass. That means one person of your choice can fly free (well, besides taxes) with you for at least a year.....including on award flights.

HINT: Get the business CC for another big bonus