Hey there, fellow traveler! Ever found yourself staring at a pile of Southwest Airlines gift cards, wondering if you can use them all for that dream vacation? You're not alone! It's a common question, and thankfully, the answer is usually a resounding yes, with a few important caveats. Let's dive deep into the world of Southwest gift card redemption and make sure you're fully equipped for your next flight!
Cracking the Code: How Many Southwest Gift Cards Can I Use?
This is the golden question, and Southwest Airlines has a clear policy on it. For the most part, you can use up to three (3) Southwest Gift Cards per passenger on each reservation.
However, there's a crucial detail to remember: If your purchase exceeds the total amount available on those three gift cards, Southwest will only allow you to use two gift cards, and you'll need to cover the remaining balance with another form of payment. This means if you have multiple low-value gift cards, you might hit this limit before fully utilizing all of them.
Understanding the "Per Passenger, Per Reservation" Rule
This distinction is important. It means:
Per Passenger: If you're booking a flight for yourself and two other people, each of those three individuals can use up to three gift cards for their portion of the fare.
Per Reservation: The overall booking is considered one reservation. So, the three-gift-card limit applies to each individual passenger's fare within that single reservation.
Now that we have the core rule down, let's walk through the steps of actually using those gift cards!
Step 1: Gather Your Arsenal (Your Gift Cards!)
Alright, intrepid traveler, before you even think about booking, let's get organized! This is the most crucial first step.
Sub-heading: Check Your Balances
Don't skip this! It's incredibly frustrating to get halfway through a booking only to discover a gift card has a paltry balance or, worse, is empty.
How to Check: You can easily check the balance of your Southwest gift cards by visiting the Southwest Airlines website (look for the "Gift Card" section or a "Check Balance" link) or by calling their customer service number (1-866-393-2081). Have your 16-digit card number and 4-digit security code (PIN) ready.
Sub-heading: Organize Your Cards
If you have a stack of physical cards, lay them out. If they're e-gift cards, open up your emails.
Pro Tip: Jot down the card number and security code for each card in a temporary document or notepad. This will save you time during the booking process.
Prioritize: If some cards have a very small balance, consider if they are worth using, especially if you're close to the three-card limit.
Step 2: Choose Your Destination and Flight
This is the fun part! Head over to Southwest.com, their mobile app, or call their reservations line.
Sub-heading: Search for Flights
Enter your desired origin, destination, dates, and number of passengers.
Take your time to find the perfect flight that fits your travel plans and budget.
Remember, Southwest is known for its "Wanna Get Away" fares, which are often the most affordable, but also consider other fare types like "Anytime" and "Business Select" if they offer benefits you need.
Step 3: Proceed to the Payment Screen
Once you've selected your flights and reviewed the itinerary, you'll eventually reach the payment section. This is where your gift cards come into play!
Sub-heading: Locating the Gift Card Option
On the payment page, look for an option that says something like "Southwest Gift Card" or "Apply a Gift Card/LUV Voucher."
It's usually a separate section from where you'd enter credit card details.
Step 4: Enter Your Gift Card Information
Now for the moment of truth!
Sub-heading: Inputting the Details
You'll be prompted to enter the 16-digit gift card number and the 4-digit security code (PIN) for each gift card you wish to use.
Carefully enter each number to avoid errors. A single wrong digit can prevent the card from being processed.
After entering the details for one card, you'll typically see an "Add another gift card" or "Apply" button. Click this to add your subsequent cards.
Sub-heading: The Three-Card Limit in Action
As you add your gift cards, keep track of how many you've applied.
If your flight cost is, for example, $200 and you have four $50 gift cards, the system might only let you apply three of them initially, leaving you with a $50 balance to pay via another method (credit card, etc.).
Remember the rule: If the total cost exceeds the value of three gift cards, you may be restricted to using only two gift cards and then required to provide another form of payment for the remainder. This is important to anticipate so you're not caught off guard.
Step 5: Handle Any Remaining Balance
It's highly likely that your gift cards might not cover the entire cost of your flight, especially if you're booking for multiple passengers or a more expensive fare.
Sub-heading: Combining with Other Payment Methods
Southwest allows you to combine gift cards with other forms of payment, such as a credit card, debit card, or even PayPal.
After applying your gift cards, the remaining balance will be displayed. You can then enter your credit card information or select another payment option to cover the difference.
Important Note: While you can use multiple gift cards, you can typically only use one credit card or digital wallet per reservation.
Sub-heading: Taxes, Fees, and Charges
It's worth noting that Southwest gift cards can generally be used to pay for the base airfare, taxes, security fees, and Passenger facilities charges.
However, they are not valid for purchasing certain ancillary services like:
Southwest Vacations Packages
Cargo
Hotel or Rental Car bookings made directly through Southwest (though some third-party booking sites might allow gift cards for those services if Southwest itself is the payment processor for the flight portion)
Southwest Airlines merchandise
Southwest Airlines group tickets
EarlyBird Check-In®
Oversized and excess baggage fees
Upgraded Boarding at the airport
Pet Fares
Unaccompanied Minor service charges
Step 6: Review and Confirm Your Booking
Before you hit that final "purchase" button, take a moment to double-check everything.
Sub-heading: Verify Details
Ensure all passenger names are correct.
Confirm your flight dates, times, and destinations.
Check the total amount paid and how your gift cards and other payment methods were applied.
Sub-heading: Confirmation
Once confirmed, you'll receive a confirmation email with your itinerary and confirmation number. Save this! It's your key to managing your reservation.
FAQs: Your Quick Answers to Southwest Gift Card Queries!
Here are 10 common "How to" questions related to Southwest gift cards, with concise answers:
How to check the balance on a Southwest gift card?
You can check your Southwest gift card balance online at
How to use Southwest gift cards for international travel? Southwest gift cards can be used for international travel as long as the travel is booked directly through Southwest.com, their mobile app, by phone, or at a ticket counter. The same gift card limits apply.
How to combine Southwest gift cards onto one card? Unfortunately, you cannot combine the balances of multiple Southwest gift cards onto a single card. You must redeem each gift card individually during the payment process, up to the maximum allowed per passenger per reservation.
How to use Southwest gift cards for EarlyBird Check-In or baggage fees? Southwest gift cards cannot be used for EarlyBird Check-In, oversized/excess baggage fees, upgraded boarding, pet fares, or unaccompanied minor service charges. These must be paid for with a credit card or other accepted payment method.
How to redeem a Southwest gift card for someone else's flight? Yes, you can use your Southwest gift card to book travel for someone else. Simply enter their name and travel information during the booking process and use your gift card(s) as payment.
How to use a Southwest gift card if the purchase exceeds the card's value? If your purchase exceeds the value of your gift card(s), you can combine the gift card(s) with another accepted form of payment, such as a credit card, debit card, or PayPal, to cover the remaining balance.
How to recover a lost or stolen Southwest gift card? Southwest gift cards are generally not replaceable if lost, stolen, or destroyed. It's crucial to protect them like cash.
How to use Southwest gift cards with Rapid Rewards points? Southwest gift cards are a form of payment and cannot be directly combined with Rapid Rewards points for a single transaction. You would typically choose to pay entirely with points or with gift cards/other payment methods. However, if you use a Cash + Points option (if available), gift cards could theoretically cover the "cash" portion.
How to use a Southwest gift card for hotel or rental car bookings? Southwest gift cards are primarily for air travel. They are generally not valid for direct purchase of Southwest Vacations Packages, hotel, or rental car bookings through Southwest.com.
How to check the expiration date of a Southwest gift card? Southwest gift cards do not expire and do not have dormancy fees. The balance remains on the card until it is depleted to zero.
