Did exactly what you recommend here last year - opened the SW Priority card when it had a 100k bonus and met the minimum spend plus 25k more spending to hit the then 125k requirement in January. Love getting that discount when flying through next year!
@@lonz0_0 Yeah, they were offering 50k points for $3k in spend through the first 3 months, then another 50k points for spending a total of $15k in the first 12 months. We had just moved so we were able to spend the total $15k plus another $10k pretty easily (furniture, repairs, etc.). Since then, they've moved the goal post considerably - only offering 50k points total and upping the companion pass requirement to 135k qualifying points earned. We'll enjoy companion pass through 2023, but after that, we'll be airline free agents. 😅
LUV it (get it?) Hey thanks, great explanation! Can you do an Alaska program explanation and comparison with companion fare? Would that be your #2 best loyalty program?
Do you expect to earn the companion pass again after your current one expires? It'd be great to see a video on that for existing card holders. Almost feels impossible to obtain after the initial promo unless I spend a crap ton on my card.
To be clear, the Southwest Credit cards say to earn the 50k bonus points the $1k has to spent within the 1st 3 months of account opening. This means the card should be opened in November 2023, and hit the $1k to get the 50k points, then you have to earn another 85k points (if you dont apply for the business card with 80k bonus points) to hit the 135k points to earn the Companion Pass. So opening both cards in November you want to hit the $1k for the 50k and the $5k for the 80K in January 2024 or very soon after (within 3 months of account opening) Am I correct?
Once your companion pass expires, get your companion to do the same thing for the next 2 years. Then in two more years you could apply for these cards again (if you previously cancelled them). That, or fly 100 one way flights.
Do the points restart every calendar year? So in order to maximize my points in January, i should open up southwest cards now and do not hit spending limit until January so I could get my points in the new calendar year?
I already have a personal card. Any suggestions of what I should do? I can open a business card and then what? Also, if my husband were to do the same, could we potentially each earn a companion pass? We have 4 kids ;)
Great videos...just found you and you have such good insight and explain it in a very simple manner. One question. What do you recommend if I already opened a southwest card last year but didn't spend enough to get the points (dumb I know now). Can I still open a business card and a different southwest card to get all the necessary points for the companion pass for 2 years? Thanks for your info.
Thanks for this info! Assuming I get the companion pass (going the credit card route) in January 2023, can you tell me what people do towards the end of 2024? Do they close the accounts and do this process all over again after the 2 years are up so they qualify for the sign go bonus again? Of course this is assuming they’re within 5/24.
For companion pass, does a seat have to be available when you book your ticket and add your companion? Or does a seat have to be available before takeoff?
Seat has to be available before takeoff! You can book your ticket now , when you get CP in your SW account you can add your companion as long as there is a seat open before the flight departs.
@@MaxMilesPoints so in that case couldn't you book a flight with companion pass, if the airline overbooks then the companion can be asked to leave at the gate? Thanks for the response!
Points reset January 1 does what you spend on your credit card through December 31st but doesn't bill out till sometime in January count towards companion pass if it resets in January. In theory I had 133,000 points and spent 2,000 in December on my card would I earn the companion pass for 2 years when my credit card billed out in January?
All qualifying southwest companion pass points need to be earned from January 1 - December 31 of the same year. Whenever your card statement closes that when the southwest points get deposited into your account. All 135,000 need to be in your southwest account in the same calendar year. the scenario you mentioned above will not get you companion pass for two years.
I am an existing CP holder and I have 88,264 out of 135,000 points for 2023. I doubt I will qualify based on spend - do you suggest I open a business card and meet the points required before Dec 31st 2023? If yes, then will I qualify for CP for 2024 only or 24 and 2025? Thank you
You can start spend on them just make sure you don’t hit the minimum spend requirements for the signup bonus until January. You want the southwest points to hit your southwest account in January
@@MaxMilesPoints I have spent $4,000 of the $5,000 spend requirement and I'm nervous I'm getting too close to the spend amount. I heard from someone else that Chase sometimes gives the "bonus" points before you hit the minimum, Do you know if this is true? I would assume if I was super close like $4,900 out of $5,000.. not $4,500 out of $5,000... would love your thoughts. Thanks
Hi there! Not sure why I'm confused (sorry). So is the trick is to hit 135,000 points in January? Today is April 2023. Can I sign up today and hit the 50k points /$1k spend and just keep accumulating for the next year or so? Then as I get closer to 135k, take a break, and wait for January to come, say in 2025, then hit the 135k point threshold?
Hey! Every January 1st points reset to 0 You need to earn ALL 135k points in 2024. So you’ll need to time your credit card bonuses accordingly as outlined in the video Let me know if that answers your question
@Max Miles Points got it! The reset is what I missed on my part. Since it's April I could either crush the sign up bonus (2) simultaneously and then il have roughly 1yr and a half of companion (what's left of this year plus next year) OR hope this promotion is around in Nov/Dec and crush it in January 2024 equaling to 2 full years...
This may be a dumb question, but once you earn the 135,000 pts. Do you need to keep the 135,000 pts in the account in order to keep the companion pass?
I do have a personal Southwest cc with 91k points as today so when I should open my business southwest cc ? And when should I spend the $5k in that cc ? Thanks
You can open the card anytime, but you need to spend the points in 2023. So you could open your business card now, wait to spend in January and earn 80k points towards companion pass. But you'll still need to earn the rest of the points in 2023.
I accumulated over 150k points in less than 1 year. I called them before the year ended and the agent told me I was not able to get CP because the 80k bonus points I got for spending X amount does not go towards CP. I'm confused. Can we or can we not use the bonus points we earned towards Companion pass?
Ty for this information!
Well explained. Good job🤙🏼
Did exactly what you recommend here last year - opened the SW Priority card when it had a 100k bonus and met the minimum spend plus 25k more spending to hit the then 125k requirement in January. Love getting that discount when flying through next year!
So you only got 100k from thr bonus and got the rest of the points through spending on the card? Thanks!
Nice work on earning companion pass 🙌🏼
@@lonz0_0 Yeah, they were offering 50k points for $3k in spend through the first 3 months, then another 50k points for spending a total of $15k in the first 12 months. We had just moved so we were able to spend the total $15k plus another $10k pretty easily (furniture, repairs, etc.). Since then, they've moved the goal post considerably - only offering 50k points total and upping the companion pass requirement to 135k qualifying points earned. We'll enjoy companion pass through 2023, but after that, we'll be airline free agents. 😅
LUV it (get it?) Hey thanks, great explanation! Can you do an Alaska program explanation and comparison with companion fare? Would that be your #2 best loyalty program?
Do you expect to earn the companion pass again after your current one expires? It'd be great to see a video on that for existing card holders. Almost feels impossible to obtain after the initial promo unless I spend a crap ton on my card.
Can you add anyone as your companion each time can your companion change?
To be clear, the Southwest Credit cards say to earn the 50k bonus points the $1k has to spent within the 1st 3 months of account opening. This means the card should be opened in November 2023, and hit the $1k to get the 50k points, then you have to earn another 85k points (if you dont apply for the business card with 80k bonus points) to hit the 135k points to earn the Companion Pass. So opening both cards in November you want to hit the $1k for the 50k and the $5k for the 80K in January 2024 or very soon after (within 3 months of account opening)
Am I correct?
What is the best strategy if you already have the credit card to keep companion pass every year? Thanks!!
Once your companion pass expires, get your companion to do the same thing for the next 2 years. Then in two more years you could apply for these cards again (if you previously cancelled them).
That, or fly 100 one way flights.
Thank you!
WTF its that much easier to earn it thru credit cards? I took like 50 flights on southwest last year and I didnt earn a companion pass.
Yup it's a lot of flying and a lot of spend if you want to earn Companion Pass organically
wait...so me having 122k points from past years wont qualify for companion pass?
You need to earn the points all within one year and they have to be qualifying companion pass points
Do the points restart every calendar year? So in order to maximize my points in January, i should open up southwest cards now and do not hit spending limit until January so I could get my points in the new calendar year?
Exactly! Don't earn your points until January. Any points you earn this year will not go towards companion pass next year.
What was the thing we did for booking a flight in November?
That was PROMOTIONAL companion pass so a little different 🙂
I already have a personal card. Any suggestions of what I should do? I can open a business card and then what? Also, if my husband were to do the same, could we potentially each earn a companion pass? We have 4 kids ;)
You can open a business card and if your husband does the same you both can be companion pass holders!
Great videos...just found you and you have such good insight and explain it in a very simple manner. One question. What do you recommend if I already opened a southwest card last year but didn't spend enough to get the points (dumb I know now). Can I still open a business card and a different southwest card to get all the necessary points for the companion pass for 2 years? Thanks for your info.
5/24 doesn’t apply to SW and United anymore
YMMV
Thanks for this info! Assuming I get the companion pass (going the credit card route) in January 2023, can you tell me what people do towards the end of 2024? Do they close the accounts and do this process all over again after the 2 years are up so they qualify for the sign go bonus again? Of course this is assuming they’re within 5/24.
For companion pass, does a seat have to be available when you book your ticket and add your companion? Or does a seat have to be available before takeoff?
Seat has to be available before takeoff!
You can book your ticket now , when you get CP in your SW account you can add your companion as long as there is a seat open before the flight departs.
@@MaxMilesPoints so in that case couldn't you book a flight with companion pass, if the airline overbooks then the companion can be asked to leave at the gate? Thanks for the response!
So just to be sure, if your flight is 100% booked at the time of flight your companion pass is no good? Basically you are taking a chance?
Points reset January 1 does what you spend on your credit card through December 31st but doesn't bill out till sometime in January count towards companion pass if it resets in January. In theory I had 133,000 points and spent 2,000 in December on my card would I earn the companion pass for 2 years when my credit card billed out in January?
All qualifying southwest companion pass points need to be earned from January 1 - December 31 of the same year. Whenever your card statement closes that when the southwest points get deposited into your account. All 135,000 need to be in your southwest account in the same calendar year.
the scenario you mentioned above will not get you companion pass for two years.
Do you have to register for the program first?
I am an existing CP holder and I have 88,264 out of 135,000 points for 2023. I doubt I will qualify based on spend - do you suggest I open a business card and meet the points required before Dec 31st 2023? If yes, then will I qualify for CP for 2024 only or 24 and 2025? Thank you
Does the seat have to be open at time of booking? Or at time of takeoff?
Time of booking. As long as there’s an open seat you can add companion and confirm the ticket at booking
So now that I have opened both cards, personal and business... Can I start spending them this month in December or wait till January ?
You can start spend on them just make sure you don’t hit the minimum spend requirements for the signup bonus until January. You want the southwest points to hit your southwest account in January
@@MaxMilesPoints I have spent $4,000 of the $5,000 spend requirement and I'm nervous I'm getting too close to the spend amount. I heard from someone else that Chase sometimes gives the "bonus" points before you hit the minimum, Do you know if this is true? I would assume if I was super close like $4,900 out of $5,000.. not $4,500 out of $5,000... would love your thoughts. Thanks
Can you still spend your points or do you need to have them in the bank to qualify??
You can still spend your points!
Hi there! Not sure why I'm confused (sorry). So is the trick is to hit 135,000 points in January? Today is April 2023. Can I sign up today and hit the 50k points /$1k spend and just keep accumulating for the next year or so? Then as I get closer to 135k, take a break, and wait for January to come, say in 2025, then hit the 135k point threshold?
Hey!
Every January 1st points reset to 0
You need to earn ALL 135k points in 2024. So you’ll need to time your credit card bonuses accordingly as outlined in the video
Let me know if that answers your question
@Max Miles Points got it! The reset is what I missed on my part. Since it's April I could either crush the sign up bonus (2) simultaneously and then il have roughly 1yr and a half of companion (what's left of this year plus next year) OR hope this promotion is around in Nov/Dec and crush it in January 2024 equaling to 2 full years...
@@TheDailyDoseLA yup correct ✅!
is it 80k for both business card or just the more expensive one ?
Just the more expensive one. The cheaper business card is 60k points!
This may be a dumb question, but once you earn the 135,000 pts. Do you need to keep the 135,000 pts in the account in order to keep the companion pass?
You don’t, you can use the 135k however you want
@@MaxMilesPoints can u book flights with southwest points and use a companion pass or does it have to be with cash?
I do have a personal Southwest cc with 91k points as today so when I should open my business southwest cc ? And when should I spend the $5k in that cc ? Thanks
You can open the card anytime, but you need to spend the points in 2023. So you could open your business card now, wait to spend in January and earn 80k points towards companion pass. But you'll still need to earn the rest of the points in 2023.
I accumulated over 150k points in less than 1 year. I called them before the year ended and the agent told me I was not able to get CP because the 80k bonus points I got for spending X amount does not go towards CP. I'm confused. Can we or can we not use the bonus points we earned towards Companion pass?
First