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Supermarket Giant Eagle is offering $20 off when you buy $250 in Southwest Airlines gift cards through 2/26/20. While this 8% discount isn’t the best deal on Southwest gift cards (we occasionally see them on sale for 10% off of face value), it could still be useful for those triggering a category bonus and/or who can use Giant Eagle fuel points as I believe you’ll earn those with these gift cards.
The Deal
- Giant Eagle is offering $20 off $250 in Southwest Airlines Gift Cards when you purchase online through 2/26/20
Key Terms
- Expires 2/26/20
Quick Thoughts
As noted at the top, we see Southwest gift cards go on sale for 10% off now and then, so if you do not have an immediate need for Southwest gift cards you may want to wait for a larger discount.
On the other hand, since Giant Eagle is a supermarket chain, there is a decent chance that this purchase would code as groceries. I am not certain whether ordering a physical vs electronic gift card makes a difference. Either way, you’d want to use a card that earns one of the best category bonuses at US Supermarkets. Furthermore, Giant Eagle indicates in the shopping cart that purchases over $50 earn fuel points, so I assume you’ll earn those as well (which will likely only be of use for those who live in Giant Eagle’s footprint.
I personally prefer to only use a gift card to cover part of the airfare purchase so that I can maintain trip delay coverage benefits from my credit card (which, in the case of the CSR or Ritz card, only require a portion of the fare to be purchased on your credit card). The good news there is that Giant Eagle is offering the discount when you buy $250 or more in gift cards, but you could purchase smaller denominations that add up to $250 and still get the discount.
If you’ll be booking a flight on Southwest soon, the chance to save $20 might be worth it.
H/T: GC Galore
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Update, I just tested a very small gift card purchase on-line with Giant Eagle. It did allow me to use a Giant Eagle gift card, but I wanted to see if Amex would code it as grocery. I used a Hilton Surpass. My Amex account shows “Giant Eagle” as the vendor. We’ll see if the bonus points post and don’t get clawed back.
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I live in Giant Eagle territory and am not sure their on-line cards code as grocery*. I haven’t tested it, but suspect I will soon. They have been offering discounts on cards exclusively on-line, though most deals are still in-store, too. The Fuel Perks are worth it, but not as much for fuel as for groceries. For every 500 points, you get 20% off your whole grocery order – no limit. Stock the freezer, pantry, toiletries, laundry supplies, bird seed, pet supplies. Almost everything is eligible. Not milk, beer, wine, stamps, MOs, etc (state law) or gift cards (for obvious reasons).
*In store, I can buy 3rd party gift cards with a Giant Eagle gift card purchased at their gas station Get Go during 5X gas quarters. I can’t use Giant Eagle gift cards on-line to buy 3rd party gift cards. You don’t double dip on fuel perks. You only get them when you buy the 3rd party gift cards.
Based on past data points I found elsewhere, I think it will code as grocery. I’m not positive whether it makes a difference whether you purchase eGCs or physical as people hadn’t mentioned, but the past DPs I found said it coded as grocery.