Earn The Southwest Companion Pass Even Faster

Earn The Southwest Companion Pass Even Faster

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We are an independent, advertising-supported comparison service. Our goal is to help you make smarter financial decisions by providing you with interactive tools and financial calculators, publishing original and objective content, by enabling you to conduct research and compare information for free - so that you can make financial decisions with confidence.
Bankrate has partnerships with issuers including, but not limited to, American Express, Bank of America, Capital One, Chase, Citi and Discover. SHARE: bernardbodo//GettyImages March 17, 2022 Checkmark Bankrate logo How is this page expert verified? At Bankrate, we take the accuracy of our content seriously. "Expert verified" means that our Financial Review Board thoroughly evaluated the article for accuracy and clarity. The Review Board comprises a panel of financial experts whose objective is to ensure that our content is always objective and balanced. Their reviews hold us accountable for publishing high-quality and trustworthy content. Aja McClanahan is an author, blogger and speaker on personal finance and entrepreneurship. Aja is the author of "How a Mother Should Talk About Money with Her Daughter." Liz Bingler is an Associate Editor for CreditCards.com and Bankrate, where she focuses on product news and reviews. As an editor, her goal is to produce content that will help people to make informed financial decisions. Bankrate logo

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How does the promotional offer for the Southwest Companion Pass work

The Southwest Companion Pass lets you bring along a designated companion for free on every Southwest flight until it expires. Then, there are some other restrictions to be mindful of, including the following: You must pay for your flight with cash or points to book a companion’s flight. Your companion must be booked on the same flight and dates to fly for free. You can change your designated companion up to three times during the Promotional Companion Pass period. If you cancel your ticket, your companion’s ticket will also be canceled, and if you don’t make your flight, they will be charged for the fare. Note that the cards offering this promotion are available to you only if you don’t have a current Southwest Rapid Rewards card and haven’t received a new cardmember bonus within the last 24 months. This does not apply to Southwest business or employee credit card products.

How can you earn the Companion Pass faster

Although taking 100 or more qualifying flights in rapid succession to get your Companion Pass seems like it could be fun, there are other options if this isn’t ideal. Even in the absence of Companion Pass promotions, there are plenty of creative ways to earn the Southwest Companion Pass. Here are some tips on how you can earn it much quicker:

Apply for one or more Southwest cards at the same time

When there are no current promotions to help you get the pass faster, this is a common go-to for people who end up scoring the pass. When you do this and meet the spending requirements, you can make real headway in terms of racking up enough points towards the 125,000-point requirement. Here are some Southwest credit cards to consider if you go this route: For some, it might make sense to get a Southwest business card and a consumer card, but for others, you can double up on a business or consumer option. You can choose the card combination that fits your needs and will help you to earn enough toward the Companion Pass. However, be mindful that opening multiple Chase cards may not work if you’ll bump up against Chase’s 5/24 rule. This rule states that if you have opened five credit cards in the past 24 months, you will likely not be eligible to open a new Chase credit card. While you need to fall under the 5/24 rule to qualify for a new business credit card from Chase, your new business card does not count toward your future 5/24 status.

Earn Rapid Rewards points in other ways

Although it’s easier to earn points by using your card and taking qualifying flights, there are plenty of other ways to score Rapid Rewards points: Booking accommodations with Southwest airlines and eligible partners Spending on shopping and dining partners, including Rapid Rewards dining Refer-a-friend bonuses of up to 100,000 points (terms apply)

The bottom line

The Southwest Companion Pass is typically a great deal for those who can meet the requirements. Frankly, it’s one of the most coveted travel credit card perks out there. In the past, some creative cardholders have been able to use clever strategies to earn enough points needed for the pass, but it takes some work. So, when there’s a companion pass promotion that makes it much easier to score, we think it’s wise to act quickly and jump on the deal! SHARE: Aja McClanahan is an author, blogger and speaker on personal finance and entrepreneurship. Aja is the author of "How a Mother Should Talk About Money with Her Daughter." Liz Bingler is an Associate Editor for CreditCards.com and Bankrate, where she focuses on product news and reviews. As an editor, her goal is to produce content that will help people to make informed financial decisions.

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