2023 marked my fifteenth yr as a Southwest Companion Pass holder. If all goes as deliberate, I’ll safe years 16 and 17 quickly, too.
For the final decade and a half, I’ve earned the move in some ways. One in all my favourite strategies is thru Southwest credit cards. In reality, that is how I’ve earned the move just a few instances prior to now and the way I hope to earn it once more in 2024 and 2025.
With the present heightened offers on Southwest credit cards, incomes the move by the bank card welcome bonuses is considerably simpler. My purpose this time is to earn the move as early in 2024 as attainable, permitting me to be a passholder for 51 weeks in 2024 and a full 52 weeks in 2025.
Because of the Southwest Companion Move, I have been in a position to fly to home and international locations the place my husband, my daughter, my son, my mother, my sister or a buddy flies with me without cost (aside from taxes) as my companion. Sadly, I’ve by no means calculated my true financial savings, however I do know it is properly over $10,000 at this level.
Should you’re craving to your personal likelihood to fly two-for-one, this specific second is definitely among the finest instances to earn the Southwest Companion Move. You may even observe the identical course of I went by by making use of for one (or two) Southwest’s bank cards every now and then ready till January to your factors to submit.
Proper now, with the Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus Credit Card, Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier Credit Card and Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card, you possibly can earn 75,000 bonus factors after spending $3,000 on purchases within the first three months from account opening.
When you meet the total minimal spend requirement, you will find yourself with 75,000 qualifying factors towards the Companion Move.
To earn the move, it’s essential to earn 135,000 factors in a calendar yr. Nonetheless, should you’re a cardmember on the primary of the yr, you will earn an extra 10,000 qualifying bonus factors towards the move. So as soon as all the qualifying factors are posted to your account, that’ll depart you with 50,000 factors remaining to earn the move.
To earn the remainder of the wanted 50,000 factors, there are just a few choices.
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The best methodology — and the one I’m pursuing presently — is to use for a Southwest enterprise bank card and get its welcome bonus. Presently, each the Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier Business Credit Card and Southwest Rapid Rewards Performance Business Credit Card are providing welcome bonuses that can earn you the remaining factors required.
Should you aren’t eligible for a enterprise card (though, lots of people are), you possibly can earn the required factors with extra bank card spending, flying Southwest factors or doing accomplice exercise, resembling utilizing the Southwest procuring portal.
To maximise the move size, nevertheless, you will need to apply for the cardboard(s) now however guarantee all your welcome bonus factors are posted in 2024. This can earn you the move for the remainder of 2024 and all of 2025, that means you will need to wait till 2024 to fulfill the minimal spend on the bank card.
Associated: How to quickly earn the Southwest Companion Pass
Though the move is fairly simple, there are nonetheless some issues you must know. Fortuitously, by having the move for properly greater than a decade, I’ve discovered the ins and outs of the move. Hopefully, I may also help you understand its most potential.
Maximize your time with the move
Though I coated a few of this above, being strategic as to when to earn the Companion Move is extraordinarily essential. You may earn the move for the remainder of the calendar yr wherein you attain the qualifying threshold, plus all the following yr.
For instance, incomes the move on Jan. 15, 2024, offers you the move by Dec. 31, 2025 — that is 23 and a half months as a passholder. Earn the move in November 2024, and it’ll nonetheless expire on Dec. 31, 2025, supplying you with solely 15 months to make use of it. Should you earn the move this yr, for instance, in December 2023, it would expire on Dec. 31, 2024. That is simply 13 months at most with the move.
So, now’s the proper time to begin engaged on incomes the move.
Though you would possibly apply for the bank cards now whereas it is nonetheless 2023, the factors solely depend towards the yr they’re posted to your account, no matter while you apply for the cardboard. So, should you apply in November or December 2023 and wait till January 2024 (or later) to fulfill the minimal spend, you will earn the factors in 2024. This can depend towards the 135,000 qualifying factors required to be a passholder for 2024 and 2025.
Sometimes, factors submit two to 5 days after your assertion closes within the month you meet the minimal spend requirement. So, in case you are seeking to earn the move as rapidly as attainable, attempt to meet the minimal spend the second Jan. 1 hits. Should you achieve this, the factors will submit as soon as your assertion closes, permitting you to begin utilizing the move as quickly as attainable — so long as you have earned the total 135,000 qualifying factors.
You may e-book the first passenger’s flight now
Even should you’ve not but earned the move, you possibly can nonetheless e-book the first passenger’s flight now. Then, when you earn the move, you possibly can add your companion to your flight. Simply know that if the flight sells out earlier than you safe your move, you will not have the ability to tack in your companion.
Due to that, I like to recommend reserving a seat with factors to your companion. This can save a spot for them on the airplane, after which you possibly can cancel that factors reservation and rebook with the Companion Move with out dropping the seat. Should you do not earn it in time, your companion will nonetheless be in your flight through factors.
Anybody will be your companion
You may designate anybody as your companion. It may be your important different, your baby, your guardian, your greatest buddy, your worst enemy — anybody.
You may change your companion as much as thrice per calendar yr. After you set your preliminary companion, you possibly can change it thrice in 2024 after which thrice in 2025 — should you earn the move in 2024.
This implies you possibly can have as much as seven totally different folks fly with you on the move over two totally different calendar years. You can too choose an individual as a companion a number of instances. For instance, for instance you earn the move in just a few months and designate your partner because the companion. You may then change your companion to your baby (the primary change), then just a few months later to your buddy (the second change). Just a few months after that, you possibly can change again to your partner (the third change).
Tip: Should you do not deplete your three adjustments in a given yr, change your companion in December to the individual flying with you first within the following yr.
Associated: The best Southwest Airlines credit card for family travelers
Companion adjustments occur immediately
Though you possibly can initially designate your companion on-line by your Southwest account proper after incomes your move, you will need to name the airline at 800-435-9792 when it’s essential to designate a distinct companion.
On-line, the Southwest Companion Move FAQs inform you that it may possibly take as much as 21 enterprise days to course of your new companion, however this is not the case in apply. As quickly as you name Southwest and provides them your new companion’s data, your move is immediately up to date, and you may e-book your companion’s ticket instantly.
Inside just a few weeks (more than likely that “21 enterprise days”), you will obtain your new Companion Move within the mail together with your title and your companion’s. Having the bodily move is good, however I’ve by no means wanted to indicate it to anybody in all my years.
Depart with one companion, return with one other
As a result of the companion change is quick, there have been instances after I used the move for one passenger on my departure and one other passenger for my return. For instance, just a few years in the past, I flew to Florida with my mother and father and met my husband there. I used the Companion Move for my mother on the flight down and for my husband on the return flight.
Instantly after my flight with my mother landed, I known as Southwest and had them change the title on my Companion Move to my husband. As soon as he was listed as my companion, I booked his flight for the return. There’s a slight danger to this since you are not including your companion till just a few days earlier than departure. There solely must be one seat out there in your flight to e-book your companion’s reservation, but when the flight occurs to be bought out, you may find yourself in a not-so-great scenario.
Tip: Though the primary passenger is not flying with you on the return, e-book a companion ticket for them for the return. This can maintain a seat, and while you change your companion (and cancel the primary companion’s reservation), that ought to open up a seat on the flight. You may then rapidly e-book your new companion onto the flight. The Southwest consultant whom you communicate with can do all of it for you. There can be a little bit lag time between canceling the previous ticket and reserving the brand new ticket. So, for a totally booked flight, you danger the possibility that one other passenger swoops in inside these jiffy and books that seat.
The move has no blackout dates or seat restrictions
It is a really no-strings-attached move.
Not like many different companion passes within the journey world, there aren’t any blackout dates, seat restrictions or fare restrictions. Your companion can fly with you without cost seven days every week, 52 weeks a yr. This even consists of peak instances, such because the day earlier than Thanksgiving, winter break and every other day when many different airways block their mileage redemption choices.
So long as there’s no less than one seat out there for buy in your flight (after you e-book your personal ticket), you possibly can add the companion to your reservation. This is applicable even when a “Wanna Getaway” fare is bought out and solely the actually costly Enterprise Choose fare is obtainable.
Associated: How to use the Southwest Companion Pass
Use the move limitless instances all year long
Sure, you learn that appropriately. Your companion can fly with you without cost a limiteless variety of instances whereas the Companion Move is legitimate. Not like another passes, it isn’t a one-time move. Theoretically, you need to use it each single day for a yr with no restrictions.
Tip: The Companion Move passenger should all the time fly with the first passenger.
Your companion should test in individually
Though your companion is tied to your reservation, each passengers obtain totally different affirmation numbers. Which means the 2 passengers should test in individually.
Since Southwest does not have seat assignments, you board primarily based on the boarding quantity proven in your boarding move. Southwest will permit you to begin checking in to your flight 24 hours upfront; the sooner you test in, the higher the boarding quantity you will have.
You may need to test in each passengers on the similar time so the boarding numbers are again to again if attainable. Should you overlook to test in together with your companion, the 2 of you is probably not in the identical boarding group, making it more durable to seek out seats collectively. Different choices embrace Early Bird Check-In, or utilizing a few of the 4 upgraded boarding positions out there per yr with the Southwest Speedy Rewards Precedence Credit score Card.
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The move can be utilized on any ticket sort
As I discussed earlier, there aren’t any restrictions on utilizing the move. You should use the Companion Move reservation on any ticket sort, no matter whether or not the first passenger paid for a ticket with money or factors. This implies you need to use your factors from the present bank card welcome bonus to pay to your flight, and each you and your companion will fly nearly free.
You can too switch factors from Chase Final Rewards to Southwest from playing cards just like the Chase Sapphire Reserve or Chase Sapphire Most well-liked Card at a 1:1 ratio and e-book journey that manner.
Factors redeemed can be utilized from the companion’s account
The factors used to e-book your flight can come from any account, even your companion’s Speedy Rewards account. You simply have to make the reservation in your title and fasten your Speedy Rewards quantity to the flight. The reservation will then present up in your Southwest account and permit you to tack in your companion’s reservation.
Southwest does not routinely add your companion to the reservation
Whenever you e-book your flight, Southwest will not routinely add your companion to your reservation. You should make the reservation your self manually, but it surely solely takes a minute.
Tip: When you e-book your flight, be certain so as to add your companion instantly, so you do not overlook. Should you change your companion, you possibly can simply cancel the previous companion’s ticket for no price. The quantity paid on taxes/charges can be credited proper again to the bank card used. This is a step-by-step information on learn how to use the Southwest Companion Pass.
Additionally, should you, by likelihood overlook so as to add your companion onto your flight and the flight finally ends up bought out, carry on refreshing for the following few days as a seat sometimes comes out there in some unspecified time in the future.
Your companion can fly standby
Earlier this yr, Southwest added an outstanding profit for all passengers: the choice to fly standby for free. Which means no matter your fare sort, you possibly can fly standby.
Nonetheless, the method works barely otherwise when flying on the Companion Move. Should you and your companion need to use the same-day standby profit, the one solution to get added to the standby listing is in individual on the airport — you possibly can’t use the Southwest app or web site.
Moreover, there should be a seat out there for each you and your companion on the specified flight.
Associated: What it’s really like flying Southwest Airlines all the way to Hawaii
You should use the move for any route or vacation spot
The Companion Move can fly a passenger without cost to any vacation spot Southwest flies. This consists of all home and international locations, together with Hawaii.
Notice that the taxes and charges you pay in your companion ticket for worldwide flights will be considerably greater than these for home flights. On home flights, all it’s important to pay is the Passenger Charge, also referred to as the September 11 Safety Charge, which is $5.60 per ticket per one-way flight. Nonetheless, you will pay the identical quantity in charges on worldwide flights as should you used factors for the flight.
You may simply see the charges by making a mock reservation for the 2 metropolis pairs whereas choosing the factors choice. For instance, a round-trip flight to Aruba will value you about $90. A round-trip flight to Montego Bay, Jamaica, will value you greater than $140. (In case your flight requires a layover, your taxes and charges could be barely greater nonetheless.)
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Tip: Look to Puerto Rico for a Caribbean really feel or at one of Hawaii’s many islands to keep away from worldwide taxes.
Cancel your companion’s reservation if it’s essential to change a flight
Southwest has among the finest ticket change insurance policies within the airline trade. You may change a flight at any time for no price as much as 10 minutes earlier than departure time. This implies you possibly can all the time rebook a flight if the value goes down — saving your loved ones cash and/or factors.
The one caveat to this coverage is you probably have a companion already added to your reservation. In that case, to alter a ticket (or rebook the identical flight at a lower cost), you will have to cancel your companion’s reservation first. After altering your ticket, manually add your companion to the reservation. Your companion’s ticket won’t routinely observe your reservation to your new flight, even in case you are rebooking the identical flight to seize a value drop.
Companions get the identical perks as different passengers
Though your companion’s reservation is actually free, they nonetheless get the identical perks as every other passenger booked on factors. This implies should you’re flying without cost with the Companion Move, you continue to obtain two free checked bags and no change or cancellation fees.
Companion reservations are additionally eligible to board the airplane early by buying Early Chicken Verify-In or an upgraded boarding position. You may even use the complimentary upgraded boardings from the Southwest Speedy Rewards Precedence card if the first traveler makes use of the cardboard to pay for the upgraded boarding place.
The companion will not obtain Speedy Reward factors to your flight or segments towards standing (just like a passenger who makes use of factors for a flight), but it surely’s nice that Southwest nonetheless gives many perks to these flying without cost.
Backside line
Southwest makes utilizing the Companion Move extraordinarily straightforward — which is a big a part of why the perk is so useful.
There aren’t any hidden surprises, and it is a terrific worth for households. So get the Companion Pass and start flying. It may save your loved ones 1000’s of {dollars} a yr, relying on how a lot you journey.
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