Post all SW questions concerns, etc. here...

[eticketplease]

Does that 10k bonus hit when you get the card? I was under the impression that would come on the anniversary which wouldn’t be super helpful if I wanted to get the almost-full 2 years of CP

They get loaded on 1/1 looking at my SW



Transferring points from Chase Ultimate Rewards do not count though.

 

[TheOneWithTheTriplets]

Does that 10k bonus hit when you get the card? I was under the impression that would come on the anniversary which wouldn’t be super helpful if I wanted to get the almost-full 2 years of CP

Just to be clear, the Boost is not a bonus. It shows as you having earned that 10,000 RR towards the 135k companion pass requirement, but they don't *also* give you 10k RRs. The Boost shows up on 1/1 if you have the card open at the beginning of the year or within a few business days of opening the card for new cardholders. You can't double up the boost by opening a business and a personal or anything like that, either. The "boost" is essentially just changing the goalpost so that CC holders have to earn 125k to get CP whereas those who don't have the card have to earn 135k.

The anniversary bonus will be a real bonus that is deposited into your RR account a couple of days after the statement that closes over your anniversary period. That number changes based on which card you're getting and, if you have both business and personal cards, they will both generate an anniversary bonus.

 

[disneylover81]

I plan on booking a trip for Feb. 2026 on the next release date. I am confused about how this works. I have the Personal Priority card, which includes the seat selection at booking. However I am DH's companion the rest of 2025 and all of 2026. He has the Personal Plus and Premier Biz cards right now, which don't offer seat selection at booking. We will be booking on RR points, probably the now Anytime fare equivalent ticket. So if we book and pay the fees with my Priority card, would the seat selection at booking work for him, even though he's not the cardholder? And what about me being the companion. It says you have to be on the same reservation for everyone to be able to use the seat selection benefit, but companions get a different confirmation number.

 

[holyrita]

Can someone help me confirm I'm understanding this screenshot correctly from the bottom of https://www.southwest.com/customer-enhancements/cardmember-benefits ?

While the $75 travel credit and 4 upgraded boardings benefits are being removed from the Priority card, if I apply for the Priority card I would still be able to use those benefits before 12/31/2025?

 

[eticketplease]

While the $75 travel credit and 4 upgraded boardings benefits are being removed from the Priority card, if I apply for the Priority card I would still be able to use those benefits before 12/31/2025?

That's what I understand.

 

[TheOneWithTheTriplets]

We will be booking on RR points, probably the now Anytime fare equivalent ticket.

If you're booking this fare, you already get Preferred seat selection by fare class, so you don't need the credit card benefit.

So if we book and pay the fees with my Priority card, would the seat selection at booking work for him, even though he's not the cardholder?

For the sake of the thought exercise, let's assume that you're not booking a fare that allows for seat selection. The site is very clear that, if the cardholder is not on the reservation or is removed from the reservation, those seat selections are also removed. As to the companion, the note is as follows:

"Tier Member seating and checked bag benefits will extend to both you and your Companion for flights taking off January 27, 2026, and beyond."

It does NOT explicitly state that cardholder benefits for seating will carry over, only that Tier member seating will carry over. It also offers no indication as to whether the companion's tier status/cardholder status can transfer back to the primary reservation. We know, for instance, that the bag benefits on the main reservation carry over to the companion. But, if only the companion has a card or tier status, I haven't seen anything about their status transferring back to the main reservation, either in the basic details or in the footnotes.

And what about me being the companion. It says you have to be on the same reservation for everyone to be able to use the seat selection benefit, but companions get a different confirmation number.

Unfortunately, the text specifically about how companions will be treated for seat selection is vague. It for sure includes tier status, but how it lines up with ticket type or cardholder status I'm not finding outlined. Unfortunately, I'm pretty sure you get to be the guinea pig for this one next week...

 

[eticketplease]

I plan on booking a trip for Feb. 2026 on the next release date. I am confused about how this works. I have the Personal Priority card, which includes the seat selection at booking. However I am DH's companion the rest of 2025 and all of 2026. He has the Personal Plus and Premier Biz cards right now, which don't offer seat selection at booking. We will be booking on RR points, probably the now Anytime fare equivalent ticket. So if we book and pay the fees with my Priority card, would the seat selection at booking work for him, even though he's not the cardholder? And what about me being the companion. It says you have to be on the same reservation for everyone to be able to use the seat selection benefit, but companions get a different confirmation number.

It doesn't matter if a card is used but whether or not the primary card holder's RR account # is on the reservation.
So if you were both on the same reservation you would be able to do seat selection even if it was his miles.

Now with it being a companion we don't have enough details to know how that will work yet or at least I haven't seen them.

 

[TheOneWithTheTriplets]

View attachment 986839

Can someone help me confirm I'm understanding this screenshot correctly from the bottom of https://www.southwest.com/customer-enhancements/cardmember-benefits ?

While the $75 travel credit and 4 upgraded boardings benefits are being removed from the Priority card, if I apply for the Priority card I would still be able to use those benefits before 12/31/2025?

That's what I understand.

That's how I'm reading it, too. Bummer here is that the Upgraded Boarding ends 12/31 but there's still 3 weeks of flights before the seat selection benefit would take over. Since you can't use the Upgraded Boarding until 24 hours before the flight, that's 3 weeks where the highest card has no seating benefit. (By comparison, the lower cards can just add their EBCI before 12/31 even if the flight is in the first 3 weeks of 2026)

 

[disneylover81]

If you're booking this fare, you already get Preferred seat selection by fare class, so you don't need the credit card benefit.

I guess I missed that part, even though I caught myself looking over all the new info before I even asked here. It's so much to figure out and I am a creature of habit and don't like change very much.

For the sake of the thought exercise, let's assume that you're not booking a fare that allows for seat selection. The site is very clear that, if the cardholder is not on the reservation or is removed from the reservation, those seat selections are also removed. As to the companion, the note is as follows:

"Tier Member seating and checked bag benefits will extend to both you and your Companion for flights taking off January 27, 2026, and beyond."

It does NOT explicitly state that cardholder benefits for seating will carry over, only that Tier member seating will carry over. It also offers no indication as to whether the companion's tier status/cardholder status can transfer back to the primary reservation. We know, for instance, that the bag benefits on the main reservation carry over to the companion. But, if only the companion has a card or tier status, I haven't seen anything about their status transferring back to the main reservation, either in the basic details or in the footnotes.

We never check bags so I haven't even wondered about that, but since we both have the card, I guess we'd be covered either way. Although seeing the new AF's that were posted upthread, I feel like we may be canceling a card or two. I am especially unhappy about the $75 credit going away on the Priority card. What sucks for us, flying out of MEM, is SWA & Spirit are our only options for nonstops. We did fly out of desperation one way to MCO on Spirit earlier this year and did the big front seats, and DH was really impressed and has asked more than once to fly with them again. Time will tell about that I guess . . .

Unfortunately, the text specifically about how companions will be treated for seat selection is vague. It for sure includes tier status, but how it lines up with ticket type or cardholder status I'm not finding outlined. Unfortunately, I'm pretty sure you get to be the guinea pig for this one next week...

I will be the guinea pig and report back on Tuesday after purchase. I wish we could purchase after midnight, because I am more awake than when I have to get up super early the next morning and have to be stressed out trying to figure this new stuff out. Honestly, I am not against paying for a seat if I have to either, just to be able to sit where we want (which is up front in the first 5-6 rows.)

It doesn't matter if a card is used but whether or not the primary card holder's RR account # is on the reservation.
So if you were both on the same reservation you would be able to do seat selection even if it was his miles.

Now with it being a companion we don't have enough details to know how that will work yet or at least I haven't seen them.

I wish the seat selection for CP was made clear before Tuesday, but I will figure it out either way.

 

[eticketplease]

Honestly, I am not against paying for a seat if I have to either, just to be able to sit where we want (which is up front in the first 5-6 rows.)

Your priority card you could select seats at boarding but it is limited to the right hand side of 6, 7-13 and 17-30.

It is possible that you could upgrade for free with your card 48 hours before the flight.

If you have to sit in the first 6 rows you may want to just rely on DH's cards and cancel yours.

 

[katallo]

Looks as if annual fees are going up as well. Just received this email.

With updates to your card, your annual fee will be increasing to $99 in 2026. Before it does, we will send you more information about the change.

 

[DisneyRunner2009]

Can someone explain better how the 100,000 bonus point offer and obtaining an additional 35,000 points will get you companion pass for 2026 and 2027. Thanks.

 

[eticketplease]

Can someone explain better how the 100,000 bonus point offer and obtaining an additional 35,000 points will get you companion pass for 2026 and 2027. Thanks.

The companion pass is valid for the year you earn it and the next year.

The current sign up bonus is 100,000 points after spending $4,000 in 5 months.
The card comes with 10,000 points that are good towards companion pass only every year.

When you hit the Minimum spend of $4,000 your points will be credited in that statement so you would have 100,000 + whatever your spend was to get to the bonus.
If you spent $4k today on transactions that earn 1x per $ you would have at the end of your statement:
4,000 From Spend
100,000 Bonus for opening the card and spending $4k

That gives you a total useable points of 104,000 that are used toward flights.
By holding the card that also gives you 10,000 points that are only for the CP

This means you would have 114,000 towards the companion pass.
You would now need to accumulate 21,000 more points that are posted by 12/31/2025 to get to 135,000 needed for the companion pass.
Those points can come from flying, using the shopping portal, dining with restaurants or by using the card.
The 135,000 has be be completed by the end of the calendar year and don't roll over to try and get companion pass the next year.

As mentioned previously 5 months from today is 12/24/25 so if the bonus posted then and it qualified you for the CP you would only get it for 7 more days in 2025 plus all of 2026.

If you wait to get the card a little later and don't do any spending on the card until January 2026 you can hit the companion pass requirements early on in the year so you would then basically be getting 11 months of 2026 and all of 2027.

If you do put any spend on the card this year just make sure you don't hit that magic $4k mark as you would want the bonus 100K points to hit in January to have as long with the CP as possible.

Edit: It looks like the 100k offer will be good for applications until 9/17/2025 so if you applied on 8/15 that fifth month would end on 1/15/2025

 

[huskies90]

I didn't see the Annual Fee increase in the link previously posted. I googled and saw all the third party sites confirming the increase. Where is it official from SW?

I have the Priority card. I really don't see the benefit of keeping this card if the fee is going up to $229 with no $75 credit...I assume I can downgrade? Or do I cancel and apply for a new card?

***ETA: OK. Nevermind. I see it now. UGH!!! SWA you are killing me!!!!!!!

 

[geargrinder]

I don't think enrollment points count towards companion pass and all qualifying points and flights reset Jan 1st.

 

[eticketplease]

I don't think enrollment points count towards companion pass and all qualifying points and flights reset Jan 1st.

Correct

 

[tink fan]

Wow this is a great idea!! Have you already tried this?

Yep. Works perfectly!!!
And if you have EB booked for the flight you will not lose it by canceling the basic fare. This way you just upgrading to WGA+ and then changing back to a basic fare all on the original reservation.

 

[Simba's Mom]

I plan on booking a trip for Feb. 2026 on the next release date. I am confused about how this works. I have the Personal Priority card, which includes the seat selection at booking.

So will you be booking a flight on Tuesday? If so, at least I won't be alone trying to figure this all out as I book that morning. I don't have any kind of Southwest card, but I figured that if I paid for "Choice Preferred", I'd be able to book an assigned seat in the Preferred section. I really need to sit near the front of the plane-I need wheelchair assistance, and several times when I've gotten off later (hate to hold people up), people who haven't ordered a wheelchair take one anyways, so when I get off the plane, all the wheelchairs have gone. Fortunately I'll be going to WDW before this assigned seating change, so I just need to come home and paying more for one trip isn't the end of the world-just maybe the end of flying with Southwest.
Who else is trying out this new system on Tuesday?

 

[Smilelea]

I have the Priority card. I really don't see the benefit of keeping this card if the fee is going up to $229 with no $75 credit...I assume I can downgrade? Or do I cancel and apply for a new card?

I’m wondering this as well.

 

[TheOneWithTheTriplets]

I’m wondering this as well.

Wait until the fee and anniversary points hit, then call and talk to them about cancelling. Maybe you get lucky and they credit you the AF another year.

If not, how long has it been since you opened that card? If you're eligible for a new bonus, better to cancel that one and apply for a new one so you get a new set of bonus miles.