*Note: This process should only be used by those who understand credit cards. The links are also affiliate links where I would get 10,000 bonus miles for the first 5 people to sign up through the link.*
50,000 mile bonus for Plus and Premiere cards can be found right here.
I have read this process on a few different blogs, but I wanted to share it with you guys since I know a lot of you like to source with credit cards.
What is a Southwest Companion Pass?
The pass is pretty straight forward. It allows a Rapid Rewards Member to fly a select person (which can change a total of 3 times) for free (paying only for taxes and fees).
If I had a Companion Pass, I could take my wife with me on any Southwest flight for the price of taxes and fees (roughly $11) as many times as I would like (for the current year and the next year after earning the pass).
Basically – I can have a friend fly for free for almost two years (depending on when you earn the pass).
How do I earn a Southwest Companion Pass?
It’s simple. You have to earn 110,000 Rapid Rewards points in a year.
110,000 might seem like a ton of points, but it’s really not that difficult if you time it during the right promotions during the year (read below).
Promotions? What are you talking about?
During different times of the year, Southwest and Chase offer different promotions as an incentive to get people to sign up for the Southwest credit cards.
Right now (Feb 5, 2018), there are three promotions going on that can help you earn your Companion Pass.
50,000 bonus points (after spending $2,000 in the first 3 months) for the Plus and Premier cards.
60,000 bonus points (after spending $3,000 in the first 3 months) for the Business card.
These have an “annual fee” attached, but if you take a few flights, you will cover that cost quickly.
How to get the Companion Pass with the promotions (step-by-step):
Step 1: Apply for two different cards. I just did the with the personal Plus and Premier cards. (I already had the business card).
Step 2: Get approved.
Step 3: Spend the $2,000 on each card and pay off your card in full.
Step 4: The points (and bonus points) should hit your account in 8 weeks (max).
Step 5: You are now sitting at 104,000 points if you did two personal cards (100,000 from the bonuses and 4,000 from the spending). If you did the business card and a personal card, you would be sitting at 115,000 and would have the Companion Pass.
Step 6: If you are short on points, you will need to spend an additional $6,000 on the card to reach the 110,000 points (personal card duo only).
Step 7: Enjoy your pass. Southwest will send it to you via US Postal service with instructions on how to use it.
Things to watch out for:
- Don’t forget to pay off your balances in full. A credit card only gets you free bonuses if you don’t get hosed with interest. Manage your money and don’t go into the red.
- Make sure to get your bonuses before closing your cards. You don’t want to work to get the Companion Pass and never see it. Make sure you see the points in your Rapid Rewards account before you close your credit cards.
- Do this early in the year. The pass is good for the rest of the current year and the entire next year. This is great if you do this in February, but not so great in November.
- Remember that the count resets at the start of the year. You have to get 110,000 points in a calendar year. Make sure to get the bonus before the end of the year.
CW