If you recently applied for one or two of the Southwest credit cards, it is extremely important to know when you need to meet your minimum spend. Remember, the 60,000 sign up points count towards the Southwest Companion Pass and is probably one of the main reasons you applied for the card. You want to make sure that the points post during the correct calendar year and that all has to do with when you meet that minimum spend requirement. You do not want to mess this up!
If you want the points to count towards the 2018 and 2019 pass
If you want to earn the pass for 2018 and 2019 you’ll want to make sure all points post on January 1, 2018 or after. Points earned in 2017 DO NOT carry over!
If you applied for the card in September:Â
If you applied for the card during the month of September, you’ll want to find out from Chase when exactly your minimum spend expiration date is. While the sign up offer stated 3 months, many folks were actually given 115 days. Send a secure message to Chase to find out. You might actually find that your minimum spend time goes through early January.
But, if your minimum spend needs to be met in December, you’ll need to take an extra step to ensure that your points post in 2018 and not in 2017. And you will need to do this fast! For example, if you need to meet your minimum spend by December 15 and your statement close date is December 20, you’ll need to change your statement close date. If you meet the minimum spend on December 15, in this example, your points will post a few days after your December 20 statement close date – so probably December 23rd-ish. This means the points will post in 2017, not 2018, which you do not want!
You need to change your statement close date! To make sure your points post in 2018, you’ll need to change your statement close date. Typically it takes a billing cycle for the statement close date to change, so you’ll want to do this NOW. Call Chase and ask to change your statement close date to the 1st of every month. That means your statement close date in December will take place before you need to meet the minimum spend. So you’ll want to wait until December 2nd to meet the minimum spend (and by your expiration date). The points will then post a few days after your January statement close date. So if your statement close date is January 1, 2018, the points will probably post January 4th-ish. You’ll then have access to your companion pass for the rest of 2018 and 2019!
If you applied for the card in October:
Again, send Chase a secure message (through your Chase.com account) to find out exactly when your minimum spend expiration date is. You’ll then want to wait until January 1, 2018 to meet your minimum spend requirement. You ideally want to meet that minimum spend at some point between January 1 and your January statement close date so you can get the Companion Pass in January and do not need to wait until February. You’ll then have the companion pass for the remainder of 2018 and all of 2019! While you can always meet it after your December close date, I recommend just waiting till January 1st to ensure there is no room for error.
You can also put $1,999 on the card in 2017 and apply that final dollar on January 1st. Remember, the annual fee for the card does NOT count towards the minimum spend requirement.
If you want the points to post in 2017
If you already have a healthy balance of points counting towards the companion pass and you applied for one of the cards for the 60,000 points to post in 2017, you’ll want to make sure to meet the minimum spend BEFOREÂ your December statement close date. Points post a few days after your statement close date, so if you do not meet the minimum spend until after your December statement close date, the points will not post until your January statement close date. That means the points will post for 2018 and will not be combined with the points you’ve already accrued in 2017. You need to earn the 110,000 points in the same calendar year.
Now, if your statement close date is towards the end of December, I suggest doing one of two things to ensure the points post in 2017 and not 2018. 1) You can change your statement close date to an earlier date (i.e., the 15th of every month). This means you’ll need to meet the minimum spend by December 15, 2017. Or, 2) You can meet your minimum spend by your November statement close date. That means the points will post a few days after this date which will probably be the end of November or the beginning of December.
Remember, if you earn the pass in 2017, that means you’ll only have the pass through the end of 2018. If you earn the pass in 2018, you’ll have the pass through the end of 2019!
Need Help?
If you have any questions about your specific situation/timing, feel free to comment below or send me an email. I want to make sure you get your Companion Pass properly!
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I don’t see that buying Visa gift cards (or any gift card) are specifically excluded in the terms.
Has anyone determined with certainty that purchasing those would apply towards minimum spend?
Seems like an easy way to have the most versatility and meet the spend requirement.
I don’t spend much on my card in the winter, so to meet the 2000+2000 will be a hurdle.
Suppose I’ll just buy Walmart gift cards to meet whatever shortfall when my 3 months comes up.
I pay my cards in full every month, so it’s just redirecting cash for the bonus points and companion pass.
Bummer I just learned the companion pass can only be used by 4 (?) names a year. There goes my Mexico dating strategy.
@Jay – Typically Chase does not get that level of detail of what is purchased, so you should be okay purchasing gift cards.
If you already have 50,000 points from a card built up, can you get 2new cards at 40,000 miles and qualify for the companion pass?
@Leslie _ yes, but the 50,000 points will expire in 2017 and will not rollover to 2018. So then you’ll want to ensure the 40,000 points post in 2017. Were the 50,000 points earned in 2017?
No probably 2016 also. How often does the 60,000 offer come around?
@Leslie – Then those points will not count towards the companion pass. The 60,000 points probably comes around 2x a year. Or sometimes it is at 40,000 or 50,000 points.
I have 50,000 rewards points now-if i got 2credit cards at 40,000 point each would that qualify for the companion pass or can they not be combined from an old card?
@Leslie – Did the 50,000 qualifying points post in 2017?
On October 2nd I applied and was approved for both Chase SW personal credit cards (60k Bonus). I am looking to cash in on CP for 2018 & 2019. I am looking for guidance on making sure I time my spend correctly. I confirmed with Chase through SM that I have until January 25, 2018 to meet the bonus minimum spend (110+ days)
Plus Card – Statement end date (14th of every month)
Premier Card – Statement end date (17th of every month)
Any suggestions on when to complete the my spend in order to have the point count for CP in 2018 & 2019?
@Stephen – I would meet the minimum spend requirement on the Plus card some point between January 1 and January 13 and then minimum spend on the Premier card between January 1 and January 16. This will 100% ensure that the points post in 2018 and you’ll get it right after your January close date. This will give you the Companion Pass as quickly as possible.
Posted on an earlier thread, but thought the question may be more appropriate here.
I too was approved on Oct 2nd. My statement close date is Nov1, Dec1, Jan1. If I hit the spend Dec2nd bonus should post in 2018? Thanks.
Bob A – Yes, the points are suppose to hit a few days after your statement close date for when you meet the minimum spend. So if your statement close date is December 1st, anything after that should hit with your January statement. I always caution people though to be 100% safe, so my recommendation would be to meet the minimum spend towards the end of of December.
question: if I close my current sw premier personal and biz cards, when will i be able to apply for the cards again and get the bonus points again? Is it based on the 24 month anniversary date of the card’s closing, or the 24 month anniversary date of the prior bonus points being awarded, or the 24 month anniversary date of the prior card being opened? (I know, of course, that the card has to be closed before re-applying.