UPDATE: This offer has expired. You can see all the current offers here.
This is a reminder that the 50,000 bonus point offer for the Southwest Airlines credit card after spending $2,000 within the first three months is set to expire today, Monday, November 18, 2013. There are a total of four Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards credit cards – currently ALL of them have the same bonus offer and the 50,000 points is counting towards the 110,000 points required for the Southwest Companion Pass. While the offer will probably come around in 2014, applying now will help you get the companion pass for most of 2014 along with all of 2015. This is for the publicly available offer of all 4 cards. I know some received targeted offers that are valid through November 24, 2014 and there is always the chance that one or two of the cards could remain the same post today.
- Key Link: Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards® Premier Card
What is 50,000 Points Worth?
For those who are new to Southwest, 50,000 points is a cut and dry $833.33 towards future “Wanna Getaway” travel fares as of today. Starting March 31, 2014, Southwest is altering their redemption structure and those 50,000 points will be worth $714.29 (related post). Now, if you apply for two Southwest cards that will give you $1,666.66 towards travel (or $1,428.58 starting March 31, 2014). The reason I mention applying for two Southwest credit cards with this offer is that the 50,000 points per card qualifies towards reaching companion pass status.
How to get the Southwest Companion Pass
You need a total of 110,000 Qualifying points and then the companion pass is yours. As mentioned, you get 50,000 points per credit card offer after meeting the minimum spend requirements – these points DO COUNT towards the companion pass. Applying for two different Southwest cards can get you a total of 100,000 points + 4,000 points after meeting the minimum spend requirements. You can earn the remaining Qualifying Points with credit card spend, Rapid Reward partners (i.e, Marriott, Avis, Hyatt), and flying Southwest. You cannot combine points between two accounts to count for the companion pass. As a reminder, transferring Chase Ultimate Reward points to Southwest DO NOT count towards the companion pass, but transferring hotel points DO count. Once you accrue the necessary 110,000 points to earn companion pass status, the pass will be available for you for the entire year it was earned PLUS the entire following calendar year. So if you earn the pass in 2013, your pass will be active for the rest of the year and all of 2014. If you earn the pass in 2014, it will be available to you for 2014 and 2015.
If you want to earn the companion pass for 2014 and 2015, you must meet the minimum spend requirements in 2014. The 50,000 points after meeting the minimum spend will hit your account a few days after your statement closes when the minimum spend is hit. You can check out this prior post to read more about timing.
Southwest Airlines Companion Pass blog series (related post):
- What is a Southwest Airlines Companion Pass?
- How to Earn a Southwest Airlines Companion Pass
- Getting Two Southwest Credit Cards to Count Towards the Companion Pass
- Earning Partner Points to Count Towards the Companion Pass
- Transferring Chase Ultimate Reward Points to Southwest for Companion Pass Status
- Getting the Southwest Airlines Companion Pass for 2014 and 2015 Calendar Year
- Using the Southwest Airlines Companion Pass on Southwest and AirTran flights
- Changing your Companion with the Southwest Airlines Companion Pass
- Top 20 Questions for the Southwest Airlines Companion Pass
Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards blog series:
- Earning and Redeeming Southwest Rapid Reward Points
- Earning Status with Southwest and the Benefits
- Changing and Canceling a Southwest Ticket
- Earning the Southwest Companion Pass
Additional FAQs about the Southwest Credit Card and Companion Pass:
- Do Chase Ultimate Reward Points Count Towards the Southwest Companion Pass?
- When Do Southwest Points Reset for the Companion Pass?
- When to Apply for the Southwest Airlines Credit Card for the Companion Pass.
- If Using Southwest Companion Pass, When Can I Book My Ticket?
I absolutely LOVE LOVE LOVE the Southwest Airlines Companion Pass and have had this status for while. It has allowed many family members and friends to fly with me for free, which is great!
Southwest Credit Card to help earn the companion pass: You can apply for the Southwest card here. There are four cards in total, two personal and two business versions, with the main differences being that the cards have different annual fees and bonus points after each year. ALL of them have the same bonus offer after meeting the minimum spend requirements.
When I earned my companion pass it was due to applying for one personal and one business Southwest credit card. The terms still state that you can get the bonus for one personal and one business card, “Note: the bonus may be earned on one first-time personal and one first-time business Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards Credit Card new account.”
Let me know if you have any questions!
Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. As my goal for you is to travel on a deal, this is one of my personal favorites!
The responses below are not provided or commissioned by the bank advertiser. Responses have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by the bank advertiser. It is not the bank advertiser's responsibility to ensure all posts and/or questions are answered.
I do not want to apply for the business cards. I received an email to apply for the personal premier which says “Apply for the Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card before November 24, 2013”. Could I apply for a personal plus today and then apply the personal premier (today? or 11/24? or several months later?)? Thanks a lot.