Southwest Companion Pass for 2019 & 2020 – All 4 Southwest Cards Now Offer Up to 60,000 Points Each

If you are under the dreaded 5/24 with Chase, you are in a great position to easily get the Southwest Companion Pass for 2019 and 2020. This is also the first time in years that we have had 4 different Southwest credit cards (although now 3 are personal and only 1 is business). No matter where you stand with Southwest and wanting to fly with them, there are plenty of offers available for you to choose from.

All 4 Southwest Cards Now Offer Up to 60,000 Points Each

Important: Before we start with the good stuff, remember these two things – if you have opened 5 or more new credit card accounts with any bank in the last 24 months, Chase will not let you get one of these cards (business cards do not count toward that total). Also, if you have received a bonus on any Southwest personal card in the last 24 months, you cannot get any of the 3 personal cards now. This does not apply to the business card.

Ok, now that we have that stuff out of the way, here are the different offers!

Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier Credit Card

• Earn 40,000 points after you spend $1,000 on purchases in the first 3 months of account opening
• Plus, earn 20,000 points after you spend $12,000 on purchases within your first year
• Earn 6,000 points every year on your cardmember anniversary
• Annual Fee: $99 and not waived
• Link: Southwest Premier Credit Card

Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus Credit Card

• Earn 40,000 points after you spend $1,000 on purchases in the first 3 months of account opening
• Plus, earn 20,000 points after you spend $12,000 on purchases within your first year
• Earn 3,000 points every year on your cardmember anniversary
• Annual Fee: $69 and not waived
• Link: Southwest Plus Credit Card
• Expires 1/9/2019

Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card

• Earn 40,000 points after you spend $1,000 on purchases in the first 3 months of account opening
• Plus, earn 20,000 points after you spend $12,000 on purchases within your first year
• Earn 7,500 points every year on your cardmember anniversary
• $75 Southwest annual travel credit
• Four upgraded boardings per year when available
• 20% back on inflight drinks, WiFi, messaging, and movies
• Annual fee: $149 and not waived
• Link: Southwest Priority Credit Card

Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier Business Credit Card

• Earn 60,000 points after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months
• Earn 6,000 points every year on your cardmember anniversary
• Annual fee: $99 and not waived
• Link: Southwest Premier Business Credit Card

Strategy for Earning the Southwest Companion Pass for 2019 and 2020

What is the Southwest Companion Pass?

Before we get to the earning of it, the Southwest Companion Pass is something that customers receive by earning 110,000 Rapid Reward points in a calendar year. It enables the cardholder to designate a companion that flies for free with them on any flight they are on – whether the primary passenger uses points or cash (the companion ticket will need to pay the $5.60 per segment fee and any international taxes for international flights). As long as there is a seat on the flight, that companion gets it for free.

The Southwest Companion Pass holder can designate up to 4 different companions during a calendar year. Also, the Companion Pass is valid for the year it is earned in and the following year. Basically, it is earned for the next year but is given for the current year as a bonus. Finally, the Companion Pass is earned by accruing 110,000 Rapid Reward points – you don’t trade those points for the pass. That means you still have those points to use for free travel – over $1,600 in free travel!

Earning the Southwest Companion Pass with Credit Card Bonuses

Southwest allows all points earned with their credit cards to count for the Southwest Companion Pass. This not only includes points earned by spending but also credit card bonuses and referral bonuses.

So, if you are able to get Chase cards and have not had a Southwest personal card bonus in the last 24 months, the best strategy is to apply for the Southwest Premier business credit card first and then apply for one of the personal cards. Since you will be flying on Southwest, I think the Southwest Priority card is a no-brainer, even though it has a higher annual fee. Not only will you get those 4 upgrade certificates to boarding passes A1-A15, but you will also get the Southwest travel credit which makes the annual fee effectively lower than the Premier personal card.

The Important Part – When to Spend!

Once you get those Southwest cards, do not spend on them just yet! The reason is that you do not want the bonuses to hit your account until after January 1. The best strategy is to get right up to the minimum spending amount without going over, but leave a bit of a cushion to be safe. So, for instance, put $2,500 on the Southwest Premier business card and about $700 on the personal Southwest card. After January 1, finish the spending by putting $500+ on the business card and $300+ on the personal card.

After those statements close, you will have earned a total of 100,000 Southwest points. But, that doesn’t count the spending and you can still spend another $12,000 to get the next threshold of 20,000 points on the personal card. So, the 110,000 points necessary are very easy to obtain!