Southwest airlines credit card 200 statement credit

The Southwest Chase Visa credit offer Valerie Schreck saw looked too good to be true, as affinity credit card offers often do.

Apply for the card now, the pop-up on Southwest.com promised her, and she could save $200 on her flight.

She applied for the card, only to discover the offer was too good to be true. The $200 credit never showed up.

“That’s the only reason I applied for the card,” says Schreck. “The $200 statement savings was plainly offered when I went to book my flight, with the total amount due, minus the $200 statement savings – again clearly stated.”

Schreck’s case is just the latest in a string of problems with affinity credit cards that promise one thing but deliver another. It’s also the second recent story involving a Chase promotion that didn’t pan out.

Oh, and it’s also unfixable. But that’s OK because there’s an important lesson here for the rest of us: Don’t believe everything you read.

A $200 Southwest Chase Visa credit offer at the end of the booking

“I am beyond frustrated and exhausted and don’t have any other ideas of what to do,” says Schreck.

Here’s what happened to her: Last year, just as she prepared to book a flight from Philadelphia to Orlando, a pop-up screen appeared. “I have the screenshot with my total flight amount minus the advertised $200 statement savings,” she says.

Elliott Advocacy is underwritten by Southwest Airlines. The mission of Southwest Airlines is dedication to the highest quality of Customer Service delivered with a sense of warmth, friendliness, individual pride, and Company Spirit. We are committed to provide our Employees a stable work environment with equal opportunity for learning and personal growth.

Southwest airlines credit card 200 statement credit

She bought it.

“I’m then told that my $200 statement savings will not apply immediately, but will appear in the next one or two billing cycles,” she says.

Two bills later, nothing.

“So I call Chase,” she says. “After two phone calls and more than five letters, no one wants to apply the statement savings to my account. I’m getting the runaround. I’ve been going back and forth for months!”

The truth about that $200 Southwest Chase Visa credit offer

My advocacy team jumped in to help Schreck with her Chase problem. Southwest deferred to Chase, but not before repeating the bad news:

We contacted Chase on your behalf and were advised that your original offer was 60,000 Enrollment Bonus Points after meeting the $2,000 spending requirement. Chase also advised they are unable to honor any other promotional offer.

We apologize for any disappointment this may cause you.

In other words, the offer you thought you signed up for — the one you have screenshots of — that’s actually not the one you have.

Really? Really.

Our advocacy team rattled Chase’s cage on behalf of Schreck.

“Needless to say, I am not a happy camper,” she said afterward. “Despite all my efforts, and yours on my behalf, they are steadfast in the response that the $200 Southwest Chase Visa credit offer is not the promotion for which I applied.”

The Chase representative announced it would not honor the offer on her screen and had decided to “close the case.”

“How is it they can do that?” she asked. “How can they falsely make those offers on screen, and show you the savings, and then renege on them when challenged? It’s misleading, and to be honest, quite unfair.”

And now, a few words about affinity credit cards

So here we have a case where someone has an actual screenshot of an offer, where the price of an airline ticket has been reduced, and it’s a no-go. Apparently, the Chase customer service agents have been reading too many dystopian novels on their lunch breaks. They’re telling Schreck she’s not seeing what she’s seeing. They’re telling us that we’re not seeing what we’re seeing.

Nothing to see here. Move along.

Enough with the doublespeak. Do I need to give you my opinion on these toxic financial instruments? No, I don’t need to tell you about the credit card fan blogs that have polluted the internet with their affiliate arrangements. Do I have to review all the broken promises that other affinity cards have made in the past? The hundreds of millions of dollars in late fees they’ve inflicted on users like Schreck?

Why should someone like Schreck be surprised by Chase’s broken promise? Why should anyone be?

What is a good credit score for Southwest credit card?

Credit Score Needed for Southwest Credit Card For the Southwest credit cards, you have the best approval odds with a minimum 670 credit score. This score is the start of “good credit”, the second-best credit score tier. The best rating — excellent credit — typically starts with a 740 credit score.

Does Southwest credit card reimburse for EarlyBird check in?

SOUTHWEST® EARLYBIRD CHECK-IN. Each anniversary year you will be reimbursed for the purchase of up to 2 EarlyBird Check-In services made with your Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card. Each EarlyBird Check-In service means a purchase made for EarlyBird Check-In one-way, per Passenger.

How long does it take to get a credit from Southwest?

Credit card: Refunds will be processed to the same account no later than seven business days from the date we receive the request. Cash: Refunds will be issued by check no later than 20 business days from the date of the request for domestic travel.

Can I get the Southwest credit card and use it same day?

You can use your Southwest Priority Card instantly after approval if you apply for it while booking a flight. You might also be able to add the Southwest Priority Card to a digital wallet, but it's not guaranteed. Otherwise, you'd have to wait for the card to arrive in the mail to be able to use it.