Buckle up, trendy travelers, because you’re in for a treat. Southwest’s highest level of elite status, the Companion Pass, is now easier to earn than ever before!
Have you ever just wanted a friend… to fly with? I mean… we all want a friend in our everyday life, too. You know, that person you can binge-watch Gilmore Girls with on a Tuesday while eating caramel swirl ice cream and snuggling a cat (or five) on your lap.
I’m getting carried away.
But with this current offer, you could have an actual companion to fly with on Southwest, all because you signed up for a credit card. I wonder if a cat counts as a companion? 🤔
But before we get into that, let me tell you a little bit about what Southwest’s Companion Pass is and why people are drooling over the prospect of having it.
What is Southwest’s Companion Pass?
No doubt, one of the best airline perks out there is the Southwest Airlines Companion Pass. It’s your unlimited buy-one-get-one-free card for the airline and its hundreds of routes.
More specifically, the Companion Pass allows you to bring a companion with you on EVERY flight you take, free of charge, for an entire year (or longer!).
The only caveats are that you still have to pay the mandatory taxes and fees of $5.60 per flight, and that you can only choose one person as your year-long companion (rather than choosing different people to bring on different flights).
You can change this companion during the course of the year, but only a few times… so choose wisely.
Since there’s no limit to how many times you can use this perk, the value you get out of it will depend on how frequently you fly.
For example, let’s say you and your companion fly this round-trip between Boston and Los Angelas.
You could theoretically get about $600 of free flights from that one trip alone, let alone if you used the perk two, three, four, five, six, sev — you get the idea.
How Can I Get the Southwest Companion Pass?
Okay, the reason we don’t talk more about Southwest’s Companion Pass is that it’s normally really difficult to earn. There are some shortcuts you can take, but there is simply no good way to earn it without flying on Southwest a LOT. Like a lot, a lot.
For reference here are the normal requirements for earning the Southwest Companion Pass, along with the two tiers of elite status below it.
One hundred flights with a single airline in just one year is not an easy feat… Nor is earning 135,000 qualifying points, though that’s definitely easier than the former option.
Once you’ve earned it, however, you will have the the companion pass for the rest of the year… and the entire year after that 😮
But wait! Just like how every good homeowner needs a third cat, there is now also a third way to earn your Companion Pass.
The answer? A credit card sign-up bonus.
Right now, there are a few credit cards that will give you a full year of the companion pass just for signing up. You’ll also get a fat stack of points.
That means no flights, no racking up qualifying points, nothing. All you need to do is click a few buttons and meet some spending requirements.
Which Southwest Cards are Offering This Welcome Bonus?
The promo is available for all three of Southwest’s consumer cards, so no matter what you’re looking for, there’s an option to find your best fit.
Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card
Click the card or the title to learn more!
Current Offer: For a limited time, earn a Companion Pass® through 2/28/24, plus 30,000 points after spending $4,000 in the first 3 months
Annual Fee: $69
Who Should Get It: For those looking for a card with a low annual fee and who fly occasionally, this is for you.
Our Takeaway: In the first year of having this card, it’s obviously a steal that will potentially give you thousands of dollars in value.
In future years, this card isn’t hard to justify either. The 3,000 anniversary bonus points you get every year alone are worth about $42, largely offsetting that annual fee. If you combine that with the extra points you earn on Southwest flights, early bird check-in vouchers, and discounts on in-flight purchases, you can see why this card is worth holding on to.
Other Benefits:
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2:1 ratio on Southwest purchases
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2:1 ratio on internet, cable, select streaming and phone services, and transit
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Points won’t expire
Southwest RapidRewards® Premier Credit Card
Click the card or the title to learn more!
Current Offer: For a limited time, earn a Companion Pass® through 2/28/24, plus 30,000 points after spending $4,000 in the first 3 months
Annual Fee: $99
Who Should Get It: For those who fly more than the average person and want some airline-specific perks, grab this card.
Our Takeaway: Much like the lower-tier card, this card also has ridiculous first-year value. However, subsequent years will actually give you more value than you might realize…
The 6,000 anniversary points you earn every year are worth $84 toward Southwest flights, already offsetting most of that $99 annual fee. Incorporating the added perks, higher earning rates, and extra qualifying points toward A-List status, this is another card that speaks for itself.
Other Benefits:
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3:1 ratio on Southwest purchases
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2:1 ratio on internet, cable, select streaming and phone services, and transit
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Points won’t expire
Southwest RapidRewards® Priority Credit Card
Click the card or the title to learn more!
Current Offer: For a limited time, earn a Companion Pass® through 2/28/24, plus 30,000 points after spending $4,000 in the first 3 months
Annual Fee: $149
Who Should Get It: For those who fly regularly and are loyal to Southwest, this is your best bet.
Mike's Takeaway: This card, despite being the most expensive of the three, is actually the best one to keep long-term. You might think that signing up for the cheapest card is best since all three have the same signup bonus. But you’d be wrong, amigo.
You see, this card offers 7,500 anniversary points every year you hold the card. Those points are worth about $105 toward Southwest flights. However, you also receive a $75 credit toward Southwest flights every year.
This means that just from holding the card every year, you get $180 in value in exchange for the $149 annual fee, making the annual fee a net negative…
If you still aren’t convinced, the card also offers discounts on in-flight purchases, fast-track to A-List status, and even upgraded boarding certificates. Need I say more?
Other Benefits:
-
3:1 ratio on Southwest purchases
-
2:1 ratio on internet, cable, select streaming and phone services, and transit
-
Points won’t expire
Don’t miss out on this amazing opportunity offered by Southwest!
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