Southwest 100,000 points = Companion Pass

[Brewersprts]

So I know everyone and their mom on this board knows about the southwest credit card 50,000 miles sign up miles but I just found out that if you get to 100,000 miles, you can get a companion pass.

My buddy signed up and got the 50,000 miles and is getting close to the 100,000 miles now and he flies a lot and is going to get the companion pass.

Now I know that for someone looking to just get their family to Disney once a year or less, that isn't really going to help. I also figure most people have no interest in a companion pass because they wouldn't get enough use out of it but I just thought I would share.

 

[hsmamato2]

Ummmmm.....Yes. one of the best things EVER for travel is that pass.

 

[lurkernj]

Yup, DH got one the middle of last year. It is good for the year that you get it, plus the following year. So far we've gotten in trips to key west and vegas, have reservations for New orleans and Disney (and will probably go to Arizona also to visit family), and might try to squeeze in one more vegas trip before it expires Dec 31.

It was mentioned quite some time ago on these boards, I think a bunch of us have done this.

 

[dcfromva]

So I know everyone and their mom on this board knows about the southwest credit card 50,000 miles sign up miles but I just found out that if you get to 100,000 miles, you can get a companion pass.

My buddy signed up and got the 50,000 miles and is getting close to the 100,000 miles now and he flies a lot and is going to get the companion pass.

Brewersprts,
It is actually 110,000 Qualifying Points, but with credit card points and flying your buddy should have it no time..

Your spouse, your best friend, or maybe your mother. Whomever you choose, your Companion can fly with you when you have Companion Pass status. Simply fly 100 qualifying one-way flights or earn 110,000 Qualifying Points in one calendar year.
http://www.southwest.com/rapidrewards/tiers-more-companion-pass

 

[liloca]

So that means that you need to pay for one ticket?

 

[DisneyFansInLINY]

We had the companion pass last year. Ahhhh I miss it so much! It was awesome.

 

[wiigirl]

Ummmmm.....Yes. one of the best things EVER for travel is that pass.

 

[Dreams0308]

I just signed up for the credit card and linked it to my rapid rewards account. Once you spend $2000 you get the 50,000 pts. Can my husband sign up for his own card (different from mine) and get his own 50,000 pts? Or will they not let you do this? Anyone have other ideas.......

Is there an easier way to get to that 110,000 threshold? Just curious...I might be thinking completely wrong.

 

[djmeredith]

I just signed up for the credit card and linked it to my rapid rewards account. Once you spend $2000 you get the 50,000 pts. Can my husband sign up for his own card (different from mine) and get his own 50,000 pts? Or will they not let you do this? Anyone have other ideas....... Is there an easier way to get to that 110,000 threshold? Just curious...I might be thinking completely wrong.

He can get a separate card and get the 50,000 points as well, but yours and his points would not be combined to help reach the 110,000. You however could apply for the other SW Visa (they have a Premier card and a Plus card) and get the additional points which would combine in your account.

 

[lurkernj]

So that means that you need to pay for one ticket?

Yes, you can pay for it or use some of those 110,000 points for the first ticket, then add a companion for free.

 

[msmama]

I've heard of it but never thought I'd get close enough to use it. Silly question - do you actually have to show 110,000 pts in your account? I accrue points fairly quickly, but then use them.

What's the difference between a "point" and a "qualifying point?"

(I have well over 25K usable pts right now, but it only shows be as having 2,000 "qualifying points").

 

[phewms]

I wish I would have known about this! We have been pulling from my bank of FF miles instead of DHs (he has the initial 50,000 and his card is canceled).

Thanks for the information. Noted for the future!

 

[hollypoast]

A friend of mine told me about the companion pass late last year. I read up on it on Million Mile Secrets and was able to earn a companion pass for my family. (Currently in my 7 year old daughters name-- you can change it up to 3 times during the life of the pass.) We did some initial planning and were able to earn the companion pass in early February of this year so our companion pass expires in December of 2015. (Almost two years of free travel for one of us!!!) With the 110,000 points and companion pass we've been able to book 8 round trip tickets for various trips and still have 25,000 points left to use for future travel. The great thing about this is that the companion can even fly free when the main traveler is traveling on points.

It took a lot of planning to earn it. Figuring out how to run that much $ through a CC without having to carry a balance was a crazy exercise... I ended up putting an excel spreadsheet together so I could keep track of it all but we where able to do it. It was worth it in the end... I still keep checking our tickets from time to time because I just can't believe it. Seemed too good to be true.

If you are interested I would recommend you read more on http://millionmilesecrets.com/new-to-miles-points-start-here/ by Daraius Dubash.

Very interesting but does take a lot of time and research. Good luck!

 

[lurkernj]

I've heard of it but never thought I'd get close enough to use it. Silly question - do you actually have to show 110,000 pts in your account? I accrue points fairly quickly, but then use them.

What's the difference between a "point" and a "qualifying point?"

(I have well over 25K usable pts right now, but it only shows be as having 2,000 "qualifying points").

You just have to "earn" 110,000 in one calendar year.

So if you wanted to do this, I'd recommend getting one credit card around October and don't hit your 2,000 until first week of January. That gives you about 52,000 in January. Then apply for the next card (we did the regular card first, then premium second so it looks like we wanted to upgrade the card). So maybe March/April you get the next bonus, giving you 104,000. Spend another 6,000 and you've got the companion pass for half of yr one, and all of yr 2.

 

[andrews_dad]

So if you wanted to do this, I'd recommend getting one credit card around October and don't hit your 2,000 until first week of January. That gives you about 52,000 in January. Then apply for the next card (we did the regular card first, then premium second so it looks like we wanted to upgrade the card). So maybe March/April you get the next bonus, giving you 104,000. Spend another 6,000 and you've got the companion pass for half of yr one, and all of yr 2.[/QUOTE]

Don't be like me... I got the one card's bonus points in 2013, and the premium in 2014.

 

[hollypoast]

You just have to "earn" 110,000 in one calendar year.

So if you wanted to do this, I'd recommend getting one credit card around October and don't hit your 2,000 until first week of January. That gives you about 52,000 in January. Then apply for the next card (we did the regular card first, then premium second so it looks like we wanted to upgrade the card). So maybe March/April you get the next bonus, giving you 104,000. Spend another 6,000 and you've got the companion pass for half of yr one, and all of yr 2.

We applied for our two cards within 3 weeks of each other, late fall last year and both were approved. Honestly, I was surprised but it went through no problem through their online application. And then made sure each bonus was earned in January then spend the rest to bring the account to 110,000 pts. Planning is key to this one...

 

[andrews_dad]

Chase Sapphire offers 40K points that can be transferred to SW points 1 to 1... can those points go toard the 11000 needed for companion pass???

 

[hollypoast]

Chase Sapphire offers 40K points that can be transferred to SW points 1 to 1... can those points go toard the 11000 needed for companion pass???

No, not directly. However, there is a way... it is outlined in the link below.* You need to first transfer then to Hyatt or Marriott points program and then transfer them to Southwest. However the ratio is not 1:1 so you loose some but it could be worth it if it earns you almost 2 years of free travel.

Here is the article from million mile secrets on earning a companion pass on Southwest.
http://millionmilesecrets.com/2012/11/14/southwest-companion-pass-2/

Then read...

*10 ways to get extra Companion Pass qualifying points by crediting car rentals, transferring hotel points etc.
http://millionmilesecrets.com/2012/01/09/southwest-companion/