SW credit card advice

[LeslieG]

I'd like to sign up for the SW credit card for the 50,000 miles. I have a couple credit cards I haven't used in years, and I'm wondering if I should cancel them before I apply for the new SW card? I know I've read something about not canceling credit cards because it can negatively affect your credit score, but I'd like to replace the ones I don't use with something else. Any advice?

 

[gracie1]

I've always heard that cancelling your cards will impact your credit score negatively as well, but I have not had that happen. And I have closed tons of credit cards.

 

[PatMcDuck]

I got the SW card last year, when they were giving 2 free flights.

We had lots of cards with high credit limits (no balances) and both me and my husband both applied and received SW cards (separate accounts so we each got the free flights).

I always read conflicting reports about closing CC accounts. So I never close them. (on a few rare occasions the bank closed one or two from lack of use or something)

 

[Tinkerbellie16]

It depends on your overall credit history and scores. If you have really good credit, closing an credit card for non-use is not going to affect your score too much. But if you have a lot of debt, you want that debt to credit line/limit ratio to remain small and either you reduce the debt or increase your credit limit.

I would recommend opening the SW credit card first then closing out an account or two IF it makes sense for you. Just be really careful because if you have open accounts you don't use, be sure you are checking to make sure there is no activity and no one has stolen your number. I log in to all active accounts daily, inactive (but not closed) accounts biweekly or more, and pull a credit report every 4 months (you can do this at annualcreditreport.com and rather than choosing all 3 agencies, choose one each 4 months - just keep track because you can only get one free credit report per agency per year).

 

[gracie1]

So I have a question, on the SW card it says receive 2 free flights after firts purchase. And they give you 50,000 points. If I were to use the points for Florida, I would actually be able to receive 3 roundtrip flights out of 50,000 points. And if I were doing Boston I could get 5 roundtrip tickets out of 50,000 points.
So will they only allow me two free flights or will they allow me the 50,000 points?

 

[Tinkerbellie16]

So I have a question, on the SW card it says receive 2 free flights after firts purchase. And they give you 50,000 points. If I were to use the points for Florida, I would actually be able to receive 3 roundtrip flights out of 50,000 points. And if I were doing Boston I could get 5 roundtrip tickets out of 50,000 points.
So will they only allow me two free flights or will they allow me the 50,000 points?

It is 50,000 points and if you can get more than 2 rt flights, that's great!

 

[gracie1]

It is 50,000 points and if you can get more than 2 rt flights, that's great!

Thank you! I am seriously thinking of signing up for it! I was just looking at the points it would take to go to florida and I could get 3 r/t tickets out of that!

Do the points expire?