Final 20 Hours! Signup For A Southwest Card And Get An Unlimited Use Free Companion Pass, Plus 30,000 Points!

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Update: This offer ends at 6:59am on 3/14 ET.


Limited time card signup bonuses

Until 3/13/23, you can get a companion pass and 30,000 points when you signup for a Southwest consumer card and spend $4,000 within 3 months!

The pass allows you to bring a companion with you for free whenever you fly Southwest, even if you are flying on a free ticket! That effectively doubles the value of your Southwest points. There is no limit to the number of free companion flights that you can take.

You can add a companion onto new bookings or onto existing bookings.

The only thing you’ll pay on domestic flights is the $5.60 security fee. On international flights there will be variable international taxes due.

The companion pass from this offer will be valid through 2/28/24.

If you earn 125,000 points from signup bonuses, credit card spending, and Southwest flights in 2023 then your companion pass will be extended and will be valid through 12/31/24.

  • The Chase Southwest Consumer Priority card has a signup bonus of 30K Southwest points and a companion pass valid through 2/28/24 for spending $4,000 in 3 months.
    • The card offers some amazing benefits for Southwest loyalists including 4 annual A1-A15 boarding upgrade certificates, $75 in annual Southwest travel credit, 7.5K Southwest points upon every card anniversary, 25% off in-flight purchases, triple points on Southwest purchases, double points on local transit and commuting, rideshare, internet, cable, phone, and select streaming, and the ability to earn unlimited tier points towards A-List status. $149 annual fee.

  • The Chase Southwest Consumer Premier card has a signup bonus of 30K Southwest points and a companion pass valid through 2/28/24 for spending $4,000 in 3 months.
    • The card offers 6,000 points every card anniversary, 2 early-bird checkins per year, 25% off in-flight purchases, triple points on Southwest purchases, double points on local transit and commuting, rideshare, internet, cable, phone, and select streaming, has no foreign transaction fees, and the ability to earn unlimited tier points towards A-List status. $99 annual fee.

  • The Chase Southwest Consumer Plus card has a signup bonus of 30K Southwest points and a companion pass valid through 2/28/24 for spending $4,000 in 3 months.
    • The card offers 3,000 points every card anniversary, 2 early-bird checkins per year, 25% off in-flight purchases, double points on Southwest purchases, on local transit and commuting, rideshare, internet, cable, phone, and select streaming. $69 annual fee.


  • The Chase Southwest Performance Business Credit Card has a signup bonus of 80K Southwest points for spending $5,000 in 3 months.
    • The card offers some amazing benefits for Southwest loyalists including 4 annual A1-A15 boarding upgrade certificates, 9K Southwest points upon every card anniversary, 365 free Wi-Fi passes annually, 4 points per dollar spent on Southwest, double points on social media and search engine advertising, internet, cable, and phone services, local transit and commuting, and rideshare, Global Entry/Pre-Check credit, and the ability to earn unlimited tier points towards A-List status. Having this card also allows for $500 in credits to transfer Southwest points between accounts. $199 annual fee.


  • The Chase Southwest Business Premier card has a signup bonus of 60K Southwest points for spending $3,000 in 3 months.
    • The card offers 6,000 points every card anniversary, 25% off in-flight purchases, 2 earlybird checkins per year, 3 points per dollar spent on Southwest, double points on local transit and commuting, and rideshare, has no foreign transaction fees, and the ability to earn unlimited tier points towards A-List status. Having this card also allows for $500 in credits to transfer Southwest points between accounts. $99 annual fee.


Comparison chart:

CardSouthwest Consumer PrioritySouthwest Consumer PlusSouthwest Consumer PremierSouthwest Business PremierSouthwest Performance BusinessInk Business Cash® Credit Card Business
Signup bonus75K bonus points for $3K spend in 3 months75K bonus points for $3K spend in 3 months75K bonus points for $3K spend in 3 months60K Southwest points for spending $3K in 3 months80K Southwest points for spending $5K in 3 months.90K Chase points for spending $6K in 3 months
Annual Fee$149$69$99$99$199$0
Anniversary Bonus7.5K Southwest points3K Southwest points6K Southwest points6K Southwest points9K Southwest pointsNone
Annual Southwest travel credit$75NoneNoneNoneNoneNone
Annual Southwest A1-A15 boarding upgrade certificates4NoneNoneNone4None
Annual Southwest EarlyBird CheckinsNone222NoneNone
Points per dollar spent on Southwest323345 if you buy Southwest gift cards on Staples.com or in office supply stores
Points per dollar spent on social media and search engine advertising111121
Points per dollar spent on Internet, Cable, and Phones222125
Fee credit for transferred pointsNoneNoneNone$500 per cardmembership year$500 per cardmembership yearNone
Points per dollar spent on select streaming222115 if you buy gift cards on Staples.com or in office supply stores
Points per dollar spent on local transit and commuting, and rideshare222225 if you buy gift cards on Staples.com or in office supply stores
Points per dollar spend elsewhere111115 on telecom, office supplies, and gift cards from office supply stores, 2 on gas and dining, 1 elsewhere
Credit for Southwest in-flight WiFi25% cash back25% cash back25% cash back25% cash backFull credit, up to 365 times per yearNone
Credit for Southwest in-flight drinks25% cash back25% cash back25% cash back25% cash backNoneNone
Credit for Global Entry/Pre-CheckNoneNoneNoneNoneFull credit every 4 yearsNone
Points count towards companion passYesYesYesYesYesNo
Foreign transaction fees0%3%0%0%0%3%
Annual Companion Pass Bonus 10K points (Max 10K per Southwest account)10K points (Max 10K per Southwest account)10K points (Max 10K per Southwest account)10K points (Max 10K per Southwest account)10K points (Max 10K per Southwest account)None
Tier qualifying points towards A-list Status1.5K tier points for every $10K spent through 12/31/23

1.5K tier points for every $5K spent effective 1/1/24
None1.5K tier points for every $10K spent through 12/31/23

1.5K tier points for every $5K spent effective 1/1/24
1.5K tier points for every $10K spent through 12/31/23

1.5K tier points for every $5K spent effective 1/1/24
1.5K tier points for every $10K spent through 12/31/23

1.5K tier points for every $5K spent effective 1/1/24
None
Visa Savings Edge cash back NoneNoneNoneYesYesYes

Welcome bonus terms:

Officially you can only have one active Southwest consumer card, but you can have each of the Southwest business cards. However there are DDF reports of getting approved for multiple Southwest consumer cards at the same time. Post your results in the comments!

Consumer cards: You can get the bonus as long as you don’t have an active Southwest consumer card and haven’t received a Southwest consumer card bonus in the past 24 months.

Business cards: You can get the bonus as long as you don’t have the exact same business card active and you haven’t received a bonus on the exact same business card in the past 24 months.


5/24:

Typically, Chase cards are be subject to 5/24 restrictions, meaning that you are not likely to be approved if you have been approved for 5 or more consumer credit cards in the past 24 months. Note that the Chase system automatically counts cards like authorized user cards and store cards as cards that count towards 5/24, but if you explain to Chase that those cards are merely authorized user cards or store cards they can manually approve you for a new card.

However there have been many reports of 5/24 rules being waived for co-brand consumer cards like there.

You can check your credit report for free at the federally authorized annualcreditreport.com to check how many accounts are shows as being open in the past 24 months.


Value of Southwest points

The value of Southwest points is variable based on the paid fare.

For example:

  • A nonstop flight from Los Angeles to Las Vegas on 3/8 costs $38.98 or 1,860 points+$5.60. That’s a value of 1.79 cents per point.
  • A nonstop flight from LaGuardia to Tampa on 3/28 costs $68.98 or 4,176 points+$5.60. That’s a value of 1.52 cents per point.
  • A nonstop flight from LaGuardia to Houston on 3/28 costs $69.98 or 4,253 points+$5.60. That’s a value of 1.51 cents per point.
  • A nonstop flight from LaGuardia to Atlanta on 3/28 costs $73.98 or 4,562 points+$5.60. That’s a value of 1.5 cents per point.
  • A nonstop flight from LaGuardia to Orlando on 3/5 costs $98.98 or 6,492 points+$5.60. That’s a value of 1.44 cents per point.

With companion pass, you’ll double the value of your points! Plus each Southwest cards comes with anniversary bonus points!


Companion Pass Status

With the consumer cards, you will get a companion pass and 30,000 points after spending $4,000 in 3 months. The companion pass is valid through 2/28/24 and allows you to bring a companion with you for free whenever you fly Southwest, including Hawaii, even if you are flying on a free ticket! That effectively doubles the value of your Southwest points. There is no limit to the number of free companion flights that you can take.

You can designate a companion and change that companion up to 3 times in a calendar year, so you can name up to 4 companions over the course of a year.

If you earn 135,000 points from signup bonuses, credit card spending, and Southwest flights in 2023 then your companion pass will be extended and will be valid through 12/31/24. If you hold a Southwest credit card on the first business day of the calendar year, you’ll be awarded with 10,000 Companion Pass points, so you would need to earn 125,000 Companion Pass points in 2024 to earn a pass good through 12/31/25!


Transfer Chase Points To Southwest to maximize the value of your Companion Pass:

You can transfer points from the following Chase cards to Southwest at a 1:1 ratio. You can redeem those Southwest points and bring a companion with you for free, doubling the value of your points!

If you, a member in your household, or an authorized user has one of the following Chase cards, you can transfer points into miles:

  • Chase Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card® Card has a 60K signup bonus, earns 2.1 points per dollar on travel, 3.1 points per dollar on dining, streaming, and online groceries, has a $50 hotel credit, can transfer all Chase points into miles, and points are worth at least 1.3 cents each for paid travel ($95 annual fee). Read more here.
  • Chase Sapphire Reserve® has a 60K signup bonus, earns 3 points per dollar on dining/travel, has a $300 travel credit, can transfer all Chase points into miles, and points are worth at least 1.5 cents each for paid travel ($550 annual fee with $300 travel credit). Read more here.
  • Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card  earns 3 points per dollar on shipping, advertising, and travel, can transfer all Chase points into miles, and points are worth at least 1.25 cents each for paid travel or pay yourself back categories ($95 annual fee). Read more here.

Chase no-annual fee cards that are fantastic for earning points, but require one of the cards above for points transfers include:

  • Ink Business Cash® Credit Card earns 5 points per dollar on cable, TV, telecom, cellular, office supply stores, and gift cards from office supply stores, plus 2 points per dollar on dining and gas ($0 annual fee). Read more here.
  • Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card earns 1.5 points per dollar everywhere ($0 annual fee). Read more here.
  • Chase Freedom Flex has a 20K signup bonus, plus 5 points on rotating categories, 5 points per dollar on travel purchased through the Chase Ultimate Rewards portal, and 3 points per dollar on dining and drugstores ($0 annual fee). Read more here.
  • Chase Freedom Unlimited® has a signup bonus offering 3 points per dollar on up to $20K of spending in your first 12 month, afterwards earn at least 1.5 points per dollar everywhere, 5 points per dollar on travel purchased through the Chase Ultimate Rewards portal, and 3 points per dollar on dining and drugstores ($0 annual fee). Read more here.

Annual travel credit

If you have the Southwest Consumer Priority card you’ll get reimbursed for $75 in annual spending on Southwest flights!


Fee credit for transferred points:

Southwest charges a fee of 1 cent per point for points transferred to other members. Business card holders can now get a credit of up to $500 per cardmembership year for transferred points, which would cover the fees for up to 50K points. You can effectively pool together your family’s points for free!


Upgraded boarding certificates

If you have the Southwest Consumer Priority Card or the Southwest Performance Business Card you’ll get reimbursed for 4 annual purchases of upgraded A1-A15 boarding positions so that you can get some of the best seats on the plane.  Upgraded boardings may be purchased at the departure gate or ticket counter on the day of travel. These cost $30-$50, so this is a benefit worth up to $200 per year.

On other cards you’ll get 2 EarlyBird checkins per year.


25% cash back on in-flight purchases:

Most Southwest cards now offer 25% cash back on top of points for purchases of drinks and Wi-Fi on Southwest flights!


Inflight WiFi Credit: 

If you have the Southwest Performance Business Card you’ll receive a statement credit equal to $8 Southwest WiFi charge on up to 365 charges per year! That will let you connect all of your family’s devices when you fly Southwest so that you can save a bundle!


Global Entry/Pre-Check/NEXUS credit:

If you have the Southwest Performance Business Card you’ll get reimbursed for Global Entry/Pre-Check/NEXUS MembershipYou can get reimbursed for those fees ($85 for Pre-Check or $100 for Global Entry and Pre-Check or $50 for NEXUS with Global Entry and Pre-Check) every 4 years. Membership lasts for 5 years, so you will be able to renew before your membership lapses. Global Entry/Pre-Check make flying so much easier and its great to see more cards add this benefit as I can get Global Entry and Pre-Check for free for my entire family that way! Read more here.


A-List Status:

With most Southwest cards you can now earn 1,500 tier points towards A-List status for every $10,000 spent with no cap on earnings. You can learn more about A-List status here.


Free changes and cancellations. Lock in low fares with no penalty

Southwest allows you to cancel an award flight and redeposit the points in your account for future use without any penalties.

Thinking of taking a trip but not 100% sure about it? With Southwest points you can lock in a good rate and just cancel the trip free of charge at any point before the flight if you can’t make it!

You can use the points for yourself or book award tickets for anyone else you want to give a ticket to.

Southwest allows you to redeem points for any seat on any flight. There are no blackout dates or capacity controls.

When Southwest has a fare sale the amount of points go on sale as well as it tracks to the price of the ticket. Best of all Southwest will refund your points if the price of your award ticket falls!  Just rebook your trip online for the same dates or give them a call for the credit.

Southwest points will never expire as long as you earn points every 24 months.


Cash back on top of points

Chase business cards in the chart above are eligible for additional cash back via Visa Savings Edge.

That means you can earn points plus cash back at ParkWhiz, Budget, Chevron, AutoZone, Boost Mobile, MGM hotels, Wyndham hotels, and more.


Business card information, benefits, and 5/24

3 of the cards in the chart above are business cards, but you may already have a business that needs a card to keep track of expenses. For example if your name is Joe Smith and you sell items online, or if you have any other side business and want a credit card to better keep track of business expenditures you can open a business credit card for “Joe Smith” as the business. You don’t need to file any messy government paperwork to be allowed to do that. Just be sure to select “Sole Proprietorship” as the business type and just use your social security number in the Tax Identification Number field.

It’s important to just write your own name as the business name if you are just applying for your own small business as a Sole Proprietorship that doesn’t have any business paperwork.

All of the cards in this post are subject to 5/24 restrictions. However, it’s important to note that business cards from most banks, including Chase business cards, do not get added to your 5/24 count of recently opened cards. That’s because business cards from most banks don’t show up on your personal credit report and the 5/24 count is based off of your personal credit report.

Another benefit of business cards not reporting on your personal credit report is that your credit score won’t be hurt when you spend money on your cards. When you spend money on personal cards your score will be hurt even if you pay your bill on time. That’s because a whopping 30% of your credit score is based on credit utilization, so you lose lots of points even if you pay your bills before the statement due date. You can pay off your credit card bill before your statement close date to avoid that, but that takes effort and laying out money well before you have to. Additionally it’s good to have the statement close with a couple dollars to show the card is active and being paid every month. On business cards from banks like AMEX and Chase the spending is not reported on your personal credit report, so you can wait until the money is due without it having a negative effect on your score. That also means if you close the card, it won’t have an effect on your credit score.


As always, Southwest benefits include:

  • 2 free checked bags per passenger.
  • Free in-flight messaging.
  • Free in-flight streaming entertainment, including movies, live TV, on-demand TV, music, destination guides, and games.
  • No change fees to switch your flight. Whether you are on a paid or an award flight you can change without penalty!
  • No cancellation fee to cancel your flight (you will get Southwest credit for the full amount paid, even on non-refundable wanna get away fares) or to cancel and redeposit your award flight and get a refund for taxes paid.
  • A refund of the fare or point difference if the price of your flight goes down after you buy it, just call to get the credit at any time before your flight!

Which Southwest card will you signup for?

Leave a Reply

12 Comments On "Final 20 Hours! Signup For A Southwest Card And Get An Unlimited Use Free Companion Pass, Plus 30,000 Points!"

All opinions expressed below are user generated and the opinions aren’t provided, reviewed or endorsed by any advertiser or DansDeals.

Mont

If you have the plus card last year, can you get a priority card this year and qualify?

Alex

How long do I need to wait after I cancel the card I opened last year before applying for new one?

RJ

Anyone have the Chase reconsideration number handy? Will it help to call if the application status is “In Review” instead of declined? Have a large purchase coming up before the end of the month and want to have the card sooner rather than later to help meet the purchase requirements for the bonuses.

Chase reconsider

800-278-8830

I have the same situation, So let us know how it went. thanks

RJ

Submitted the application last night. Called the number you provided and after getting prompted for SSN and entering it, was informed that the application was approved and card should arrive in 5-7 business days.

Jacob H

When do I receive/able to use the companion pass, is it after 3 months or after spending $4,000 within those 3 months? can I use the companion pass if I spend $4,000 within the first month of receiving the card?

magnus

The points have to make their way into your SWA account at which point the pass will become active. Points don’t transfer over until your statement cuts. (At least that’s what happened last year).

Abbw

I signed up for the previous companion pass deal in 3/2021 (the plus card) and downgraded the card to a free tier but its still active. Should I cancel my card then apply for a new one or the premiere card? How long should I wait from cancelation, love to have some general guidance, thanks in advance!

Tzvi

My wife got denied and called reconsideration almost a month ago, it’s still under review by the chase system. Is there anything to be done to get it through today so the companion pass will work?

pearl

Thanks so much Dan! If your credit reports are frozen, BTW, watch for an email from Chase regarding your application that tells you which credit bureau they are requesting info from. Do a temporary lift and then call Chase back immediately at the number they provide and ask Chase to redo the request on the spot. I got instant approval.

Zack

Why not just temporarily lift the freezes before you apply?

pearl

You could definitely lift the freeze temporarily with all three of the major agencies and leave yourself vulnerable until they run the report. (Yes, I am paranoid) You can’t tell which of the three they will use. I have found it easier to wait for the almost instantaneous email informing me of which account I need to thaw. I then call back the number I am given by the credit card and opt to speak to an actual human being and request that they try again. They will usually run the report while I wait on the phone and give me their answer on the spot. If I am accepted, I have only one account to refreeze. If declined, I am on the phone with the person who might be able to tell me why.

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