We have helped lots of couples get the Southwest Companion Pass! I strongly believe that this is the best perk in all frequent traveler programs, because it effectively doubles the value of all of your Southwest Rapid Reward (RR) Miles. Travel is best when shared with a companion, and this allows you to bring along a friend or loved one to share your adventures!
The SW Companion Pass allows you to add a free companion ticket to any ticket you book, even if you use points. The pass is good for the year you earn it and the following calendar year.
To earn the Companion Pass, you must meet one of the following criteria:
- Fly 100 segments on Southwest Airlines within one calendar year. Ouch! That is WAY too much work! Maybe option two will be easier…
- Earn 110,000 Rapid Rewards (RR) Miles within 1 calendar year. Ouch again! Think of how many flights it would take to earn that many miles. But wait, maybe there is another way…
My wife earned the Companion Pass thru 2017
Southwest offers three credit cards co-branded with Chase. These cards are Personal Premier, Personal Plus, and Business Premier. The standard sign up bonus for these cards is 25,000 RR Miles. However, at different times, the bonuses increase to 40,000-60,000 RR Miles! Here comes the strategy!
Currently, Chase is offering the following limited-time sign up bonuses:
- Southwest Personal Premier Card – 50,000 RR Miles
- Spend $2,000 in 3 months
- $99 annual fee not waived
- Southwest Personal Plus Card – 50,000 RR Miles
- Spend $2,000 in 3 months
- $69 annual fee not waived
- Southwest Business Premier Card – 60,000 RR Miles
- Spend $3,000 in 3 months
- $99 annual fee not waived
How it’s Done
Update 4/5/18 – Chase has restricted approvals on the Southwest Personal credit cards. Learn more here.
To execute this correctly, you should get two of the cards linked above and hit the minimum spend on each. If you get both personal cards, you will be credited with 104,000 RR miles. The additional 6,000 points are up to you.
If you get one personal and one business card, you will earn 115,000 RR miles. *Yes, you can get a business card without having a registered business. Simply select “sole proprietorship,” and use your social security number as the tax id/EIN when you apply.
Even better, Southwest does not “charge” you 110,000 miles for the Companion Pass; they just require that you earn that many miles. So, you get to KEEP the 110,000 miles to use for FREE FLIGHTS X 2!!
Overall, for $168 – $198 in annual fees, two people will be able to fly for free on Southwest for up to two years!! We have already used our Companion Pass for lots of great trips; check them out on our Dare to Dream menu at the top. The possibilities are incredible! Where will you go?
For guides to cities served by Southwest, check out our Companion Pass Series!