Want a Southwest Companion Pass? Now’s the perfect time to get one

The increased Southwest credit card offers won’t be around much longer. This is the last call to earn 75,000 bonus Southwest points after spending $3,000 on your new card in the first three months of account opening. This welcome bonus is available on all of the Southwest consumer cards:

Now is the perfect time to get a Southwest credit card if you’re interested in earning a Southwest Companion Pass and unlocking the ability to bring a companion along on all Southwest flights for just the cost of taxes and fees. You have to earn 135,000 qualifying points within a calendar year to get the Pass, which is then valid for the rest of that year and all of the following year. That means by opening a Southwest card now, you lock in your chance to earn its hefty bonus in early 2024, which maximizes the length of time you can use it.

The personal Southwest cards all currently have the same bonus offer, but each card comes with unique perks and a different annual fee. The best credit card for you will depend on your travel habits and what you want out of an airline credit card.

The Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card has the lowest annual fee and is best if you only occasionally fly with Southwest. Cardmembers get 3,000 bonus points on their cardmember anniversary and 25% off inflight purchases.

The Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card is the mid-tier Southwest card. It offers cardholders a chance to earn tier qualifying points and expedite their journey to Southwest elite status and comes with a 6,000-point bonus every cardmember anniversary.

Diehard Southwest loyalists can do well with the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card. Cardholders receive 7,500 bonus points every cardmember anniversary, an annual $75 Southwest travel credit and four upgraded boardings per year (when available).

Southwest is known for having affordable flights and charging fewer fees, with no change or cancellation fees and free checked bags for all passengers. If you live near or frequently travel to/from a Southwest hub airport, opening a Southwest card is a great option for cutting your travel expenses.

Getting a Southwest personal card is an even better deal if you also qualify for one of the airline’s small business credit cards because the intro bonuses will stack to help you earn a Companion Pass. You need to earn 135,000 qualifying points in a calendar year to get a Companion Pass, and you get a 10,000-point boost just for having a Southwest card. Once you earn the current 75,000-point bonus from a personal card, the bonus from either the Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Performance Business Credit Card or Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Premier Business Credit Card should be enough to get you a Companion Pass.

Earning a Companion Pass will also indirectly make the travel rewards you earn with certain Chase credit cards more valuable. Cards like the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card allow you to transfer Chase points to all of Chase’s travel partners — including Southwest. These point transfers won’t help you earn a Companion Pass, but if you already have one then you’re essentially doubling the value of using Chase points for Southwest redemptions because you can bring someone on flights booked with points.

The increased Southwest credit card welcome bonus offers are ending soon. Now is an ideal time for these deals because the intro bonus counts toward earning a Southwest Companion Pass. When you earn the Companion Pass you can use it for the rest of the year you earned it and all of the following year. Earning it earlier in the year gives you more time to take advantage of this benefit.

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