Previous Posts
Frugal Travel Introduction
Starting Out on Miles and Points
Booking Revenue Flights - Part 1
Booking Revenue Flights - Part 2
Credit and Travel Rewards
An Introduction to Southwest Airlines
Quick Facts About the Southwest Companion Pass
Last week, I wrote an introduction to Southwest Airlines and covered the things I like about Southwest Airlines and their rewards program as well as their limitations. This week, I am going to focus on the Southwest Companion Pass, which has enabled us to fly domestic flights frequently, paying only the taxes for each flight.
Frugal Travel Introduction
Starting Out on Miles and Points
Booking Revenue Flights - Part 1
Booking Revenue Flights - Part 2
Credit and Travel Rewards
An Introduction to Southwest Airlines
Quick Facts About the Southwest Companion Pass
Last week, I wrote an introduction to Southwest Airlines and covered the things I like about Southwest Airlines and their rewards program as well as their limitations. This week, I am going to focus on the Southwest Companion Pass, which has enabled us to fly domestic flights frequently, paying only the taxes for each flight.
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How is it earned?
The Southwest Companion Pass is earned by reaching 110,000 Rapid Reward points or flying 100 flights in a calendar year.
The Southwest Companion Pass is earned by reaching 110,000 Rapid Reward points or flying 100 flights in a calendar year.
What does it do?
It allows the Companion Pass holder to add a companion to a flight booked on either points or dollars for free, no dollars or points required. The only cost is $2.50 or $5.00 in taxes.
Who is considered a companion?
Anyone the Companion Pass holder decides to list. It could be a spouse, family member, or friend. Also, the holder can change the name of the companion up to three times per calendar year. This is how my dad flew along with me for Hoosier Weekend.
What flights can a Companion Pass holder add a companion to?
Any flight booked on Southwest.com as long as a seat still remains on the flight. This even includes their international routes such as Aruba, Mexico, Jamaica, or the Bahamas.
It allows the Companion Pass holder to add a companion to a flight booked on either points or dollars for free, no dollars or points required. The only cost is $2.50 or $5.00 in taxes.
Who is considered a companion?
Anyone the Companion Pass holder decides to list. It could be a spouse, family member, or friend. Also, the holder can change the name of the companion up to three times per calendar year. This is how my dad flew along with me for Hoosier Weekend.
What flights can a Companion Pass holder add a companion to?
Any flight booked on Southwest.com as long as a seat still remains on the flight. This even includes their international routes such as Aruba, Mexico, Jamaica, or the Bahamas.
How long is it good for?
The Companion Pass is good until December 31 the following year of the calendar year earned. For example, I earned it in August 2013, so mine is valid until December 31, 2014.
The Companion Pass is good until December 31 the following year of the calendar year earned. For example, I earned it in August 2013, so mine is valid until December 31, 2014.
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My companion excited to fly along for free! |
How to earn 110,000 Rapid Rewards Points
Earning 110,000 rapid rewards points may sound like a difficult task,
and it could be especially if you are earning those points by flying.
Below is an example of a one-way flight to San Juan
for $290.50. If booking a Wanna Get Away flight, this flight would earn 6
points per dollar on the base fare ($259) and would earn 1,554 rapid rewards
points overall. Based on this example, I would need to fly this segment 70
times before reaching the 110,000 rapid rewards points for a total cost of
$20,335. Ouch.
Or, instead I could fly to Chicago 100 times paying
$69 each way (best case scenario) for a total cost of $6,900. That is a lot of
"butt in seat" time as they call it. I have sat next to a few fellow
"CPers" who fly a lot for business and had earned it doing one of
those two ways. One guy actually lived in Chicago but commuted to work every
week in Minneapolis.
However, there is definitely a better and more
attainable way for those of us who do not fly every day and who do not have the
budget or time to book 70 trips to Puerto Rico in a single calendar year.
Points from Southwest's rewards account partners can also count towards to the
110,000 rapid rewards points.
Included in this is the Chase Southwest personal credit card and business credit card. There are two variations for each card for a total of four products overall. Upon signing up for one of those products, there is a sign up bonus once $2,000 is spent in the first 90 days. The sign up bonus fluctuates between 25,000 and 50,000 points depending on what offer is around when applying.
Included in this is the Chase Southwest personal credit card and business credit card. There are two variations for each card for a total of four products overall. Upon signing up for one of those products, there is a sign up bonus once $2,000 is spent in the first 90 days. The sign up bonus fluctuates between 25,000 and 50,000 points depending on what offer is around when applying.
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Partner list where extra points can be earned. |
Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus Card (person and business card options)
Southwest Rapid Rewards Premium Card (personal and business card options)
I signed up for the plus versions of the personal and business cards (we rent out our basement) when it was 50,000 for each card. Those sign up bonuses (along with the $2,000 in minimum spend for each card) got us to 104,000 points. Once the remaining $6,000 was completed (from everyday purchases, not flights to and from Chicago), I reached 110,000 points and secured the Companion Pass.
- Annual fee of $69 that is NOT waived the first year.
- 3,000 annual bonus on each anniversary year.
- Foreign transaction fee does exist.
Southwest Rapid Rewards Premium Card (personal and business card options)
- Annual fee of $99 that is NOT waived the first year.
- 6,000 annual bonus on each anniversary year.
- Foreign transaction fees are waived.
I signed up for the plus versions of the personal and business cards (we rent out our basement) when it was 50,000 for each card. Those sign up bonuses (along with the $2,000 in minimum spend for each card) got us to 104,000 points. Once the remaining $6,000 was completed (from everyday purchases, not flights to and from Chicago), I reached 110,000 points and secured the Companion Pass.
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Companion Pass earned! |
The best use of the Companion Pass is to earn it
early on in the year, since it is good until December 31 of the FOLLOWING year
it was earned. That way it could be used for most of the year it was earned
plus one full year. Since the sign up bonus points post only after the minimum
spend has been completed within 90 days, it is best to apply for both of these
cards at the same time between October - December or early the following year
(assuming the 50,000 offer is available for both cards).
We met up and talked with friends of ours who then
decided to go for it during prime time in October. She signed up for both
cards, and waited until January before completing the minimum spend
requirement. Both 50,000 bonuses posted to her Southwest account for 100,000
total in January. From there, it took $10,000 in everyday spend to finish out
the requirement for 110,000 rapid rewards points. But it gives them a lot of
time to use the Companion Pass!
Since it usually takes two cards to get a good chance at 110,000 needed for the Companion Pass, there needs to be a reason to give to Chase why two cards are needed. The simplest way to obtain 110,000 is to apply for a personal and business card (many times there could be a business in your life that might not look like it). Always check HERE for whether or not the 50,000 offer is available vs the lower 25,000. There is also good information on users signing up for the card if scrolling through the pages in the forum.
The other option is getting two personal cards. There are two versions of the personal card. Getting two personal cards within a short time period (same day, month) might be harder to explain to Chase than getting a personal and business card in a short period. However, an idea that might work is getting one of the cards earlier in the year, and then later in the year getting the other being sure to have a good reason as to why the other card serves a new purpose rather than the old.
Let's say I sign up for the $69 card early in the year. Maybe I did not know it had foreign transaction fees, or I was just simply was looking for the lowest annual fee card (since not waived first year). Later in the year I am thinking about traveling internationally. In that case, I would like to bring a no foreign transaction fee card with me when I travel. Perfect, now its time to get the $99 version card and explain to Chase why the scenario makes sense to get the 2nd card. With this, they likely will approve the 2nd card and after meeting the minimum spend on this card, 100,000 of the 110,000 is completed for the Companion Pass!
I will also talk in future posts about some ideas on completing minimum spend requirements on credit cards without reaching outside the budget for unnecessary spending.
Since it usually takes two cards to get a good chance at 110,000 needed for the Companion Pass, there needs to be a reason to give to Chase why two cards are needed. The simplest way to obtain 110,000 is to apply for a personal and business card (many times there could be a business in your life that might not look like it). Always check HERE for whether or not the 50,000 offer is available vs the lower 25,000. There is also good information on users signing up for the card if scrolling through the pages in the forum.
The other option is getting two personal cards. There are two versions of the personal card. Getting two personal cards within a short time period (same day, month) might be harder to explain to Chase than getting a personal and business card in a short period. However, an idea that might work is getting one of the cards earlier in the year, and then later in the year getting the other being sure to have a good reason as to why the other card serves a new purpose rather than the old.
Let's say I sign up for the $69 card early in the year. Maybe I did not know it had foreign transaction fees, or I was just simply was looking for the lowest annual fee card (since not waived first year). Later in the year I am thinking about traveling internationally. In that case, I would like to bring a no foreign transaction fee card with me when I travel. Perfect, now its time to get the $99 version card and explain to Chase why the scenario makes sense to get the 2nd card. With this, they likely will approve the 2nd card and after meeting the minimum spend on this card, 100,000 of the 110,000 is completed for the Companion Pass!
I will also talk in future posts about some ideas on completing minimum spend requirements on credit cards without reaching outside the budget for unnecessary spending.
Considering?
Our advice would be to only apply for the card when it is at the 50,000 offer and to make sure you research it fully ahead of time (or ask us with questions) to know what you are getting into. Feel free to read up on my favorite blogger for the Southwest Companion Pass - Million Mile Secrets. I read a lot of his material before completing my CP last year.
If the Companion Pass is not appealing or you do not have time to make use of it, one Southwest credit card could earn the ability to fly a few flights, depending on the points requires to redeem for certain destinations. For example, a 50,000 offer on the personal card should allow for ~4 round-trip flights between Denver and Minneapolis-St. Paul or 2 round-trip flights to San Juan, Puerto Rico.
Currently, I have a refer-a-friend 50,000 offer that is good until 9/30/14, so even if the public offer is not around, I could always give a referral. Full disclosure, I would get 5,000 points.
Looking Ahead
Our plan, if all things remain the same, would be for Amanda to go for the Southwest personal and business cards this coming fall to set us up again for 2015 and 2016. Come 2017, it will be time for me to upgrade my $69 set of cards into the $99 no foreign transaction fee cards. Obviously that plan is a ways out yet and reward programs typically change, but now you know what goes through my head!
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