Southwest Approved - 50,000 points offer

[Happy_2_B]

Instead of opening a card in another persons name, open another card in YOUR name (same RR acct)--I did this last year. Got 1 SWA plus card and 1 SWA premier card, both offering 50K points deal. $69 + $99 annual fees (but you get 3K/6K points added annually so that is almost a wash). Then charge $10K ASAP (charge EVERYTHING you normally wouldn't, & deduct from checking so you can pay it off each month.) As soon as you do this, you get the 50K+50K+10K (from charges). When you do this, you qualify for a companion pass for the rest of this year and all of next (anyone can earn this when then earn 110K points in a calender year--but I couldn't do that if I charged every penny we spend!). That means a companion can fly free with you on every trip you take. And you can change your companion up to 4x/yr.
With DS in college, DD a senior doing college visits plus DH & I like to vacation so this has saved us a TON. Hoping to do this in DH's name the beginning of next year.

Totally agree with this post. That Companion Pass is worth it's weight in gold. You can also transfer points out of some other programs like Choice Hotels to make up the difference instead of spending real money. Timing is important as well. You don't want to hit the 110k until January or February. That way you get the rest of that year (SWA considers this a partial year- but word on some of the boards is this may change)- plus the following full year as your 'actual' year.

 

[KKB]

If I understand the policy correctly, you don't want to start charging until AFTER January--I believe you must earn 110K Rapid reward points within a calendar year to qualify. So it would be tough to get it in January--but, yes, to get the most benefits you want to do it as close to the beginning of the year as possible.
We are cruising in early March & I didn't figure I could chance it--first you have to FIND the 50K deal for both the premium & plus cards (which you could apply for in December), wait for the cards to arrive, make your charges ($5K on each card), wait for the 50K bonus to appear on your RR acct for each card (doesn't take long), apply for companion pass. Most of the point transactions are prompt, but you do have to figure some wait time. Last year I got cards in June; I think Sept. was the earliest companion fare we were able to take advantage of. We have been able to take advantage of 9 flights using the companion pass--saving us probably $3K+.

 

[cindermomma]

Ok - I REALLY want to do this! So please walk me through step by step as this is all new to me. Are these offers found all the time? (The 50K bonus?) And I want to start this process in December then to get the cards in January? We are flying down to Disney in May - do you think I could have this done by then? (The spending requirements should be fine with us - I will put all our bills, groceries, ect. on card). Thanks friends!!

 

[KKB]

Premier card link:
https://creditcards.chase.com/a1/so...SWA+-+Brand+-+BMM/sea/HzGy9xTx/Southwest+Card
Premier business card link: (don't know if this works for you or not)
https://creditcards.chase.com/a1/southwest/PremierBizR?CELL=PNG
The PLUS card is currently at 25K bonus. DO NOT apply for it at that level, or it will be much more difficult (or impossible) to get 100K points. Even if you get the Premier card & do your charges in January, you need to wait for the Plus card to put out a 50K offer. (unless you can get the business card)

 

[cindermomma]

Got ya. Thanks for the fast reply! I always check the website "Gottadeal" and they are pretty good at announcing when they have the 50K offer. I will watch for it. Thanks!

 

[Marionnette]

Ok - I REALLY want to do this! So please walk me through step by step as this is all new to me. Are these offers found all the time? (The 50K bonus?) And I want to start this process in December then to get the cards in January? We are flying down to Disney in May - do you think I could have this done by then? (The spending requirements should be fine with us - I will put all our bills, groceries, ect. on card). Thanks friends!!

No, the offers are not always as generous. The 50K bonus is available now but it is generally in the 40K range.

You also need to keep in mind that you don't have forever once you get the card in order to qualify for the bonus. So, applying now and waiting until January would be of no help. You would want to apply no earlier than mid-October of this year in order to get your card and delay reaching the spend threshold until Jan. 2016. if you want to try to qualify for the Companion Pass for 2016 & 2017.

 

[KKB]

Marionette--not quite right.
SWA points offers--I have only seen 25K or 50K, I have never seen 40K--and that would make getting companion pass a lot more challenging.

BUT you are INCORRECT about getting the card in October. The points you earn in Oct-Dec. would NOT count toward a companion pass. You must earn 110K RR points in a single CALENDER year to qualify. So since the promo requires $2K spent within 3 months, you would not want to get the card until Nov. 1 at the earliest, imo. (and personally I would wait...) Then do not charge until Jan. 1. You would then need to charge $2K before the end of January to get the 50K bonus. Additionally, you would need to apply for another card as well around the same time. (they offer plus, premier & Premier business). Again, do not charge until Jan. 1. Between the 2 cards you would need to charge $10K to qualify for Campanion pass (50K + 50K in promos + 10K in charges--although if you charge SWA you get 2x credit=100K RR points).
It will be interesting to see if the offers dry up around that time...I didn't find out about it until April or May 2014, but still chose to take advantage of it.
Ideally you want to get both cards & charge $10K (and pay it right off!!) as close to the beginning of the year as possible (but not before) to get as close to 2 full years to take advantage of the companion pass.

BTW, someone mentioned you could change the companion pass 3x--it is better than that. You can essentially have 4 different companions EACH YEAR. After you put who your companion is, you can change it 3x the first year & 4x the second. It does not need to be a different person each time...I started with DH, changed to DD, changed to DH, after the first of the year to DD, to Mom & back to DH. I actually screwed up--I had one more change last year & I should have changed DD before the end of the year. Mom could have flown free with us next week--luckily it was our cheapest ticket of the year.

 

[Marionnette]

Marionette--not quite right.
SWA points offers--I have only seen 25K or 50K, I have never seen 40K--and that would make getting companion pass a lot more challenging.

The 50K RR on the premium card is a limited time offer. I've seen 40K offers, but they were snail mail offers.​

BUT you are INCORRECT about getting the card in October. The points you earn in Oct-Dec. would NOT count toward a companion pass. You must earn 110K RR points in a single CALENDER year to qualify. So since the promo requires $2K spent within 3 months, you would not want to get the card until Nov. 1 at the earliest, imo. (and personally I would wait...) Then do not charge until Jan. 1. You would then need to charge $2K before the end of January to get the 50K bonus.

I said to apply NO EARLIER than mid-Oct. in order to get the card by early November. You will have until mid-January to meet your spend. Begin charging up to - but not beyond - the required spend through Nov. and Dec. This allows you to take advantage of holiday spending. Make your final spend in January before the 3 months are over. Your 50K will post to your RR account in late Jan/mid Feb, depending on your closing date. Those 50K RR will count toward Companion Status in 2016.​

 

[KKB]

Marionette, if the poster is trying to get a companion pass (as she indicated), you method will require her to charge MORE than necessary.. All those charges done in Nov/Dec will could toward her 50K bonus promo but will NOT count toward her 110K required to in one calendar year to qualify for a companion pass. You need to get your 2-50K promo points after the first of the year AND charge $10K AFTER the first of the year You must accumulate 110K in RR points in one CALENDAR year to qualify for companion pass--any charges made in Nov/Dec would count toward points earned in 2015. If one is trying to earn a companion pass for 2016-17 with maximum value, you need to earn 110K starting in 2016. So it would be fruitless to charge anything on the SWA before Jan. 1 if your goal is companion pass.

I am not trying to be rude here; but I don't want the poster to be misinformed & have it cost her a lot of $!

 

[Shelly F - Ohio]

The 50K RR on the premium card is a limited time offer. I've seen 40K offers, but they were snail mail offers.​

I said to apply NO EARLIER than mid-Oct. in order to get the card by early November. You will have until mid-January to meet your spend. Begin charging up to - but not beyond - the required spend through Nov. and Dec. This allows you to take advantage of holiday spending. Make your final spend in January before the 3 months are over. Your 50K will post to your RR account in late Jan/mid Feb, depending on your closing date. Those 50K RR will count toward Companion Status in 2016.​

Incorrect. If you get the card in Nov the points you earn from the charges for Nov will be credited in Dec and not be credited toward the companion pass because the pass points must be earned in 1 calendar year. Jan - Dec. Its better to get the card at the earliest would be Dec. That way the points for Dec will get credited in Jan.

Yes she will met the $2k spending limit and get the 50K in points but the charges she/he makes in Nov will not count toward the 110K in points for the companion pass. So you will have to spend an additional 10K to get the point needed to get the pass where as if you wait and get the cards in Dec you will only have to spend and additional $6k to get the pass.

I applied for my cards in late Dec and had earned Companion Pass status in March.

 

[KKB]

Just read this article...there seems to be some confusion...
http://aviationblog.dallasnews.com/...es-over-the-companion-pass-he-didnt-get.html/
SO...the credit card says PURCHASES must be made in a calendar year (which is what I have been saying) BUT apparently this man didn't get his purchases made after Dec. 8 credited until January so SWA is claiming he didn't make the 110K threshold within the calendar year so he didn't qualify.

Just more reason to attempt to do this as soon after the first of the year as possible! (tho the cards can be applied for in Nov. or Dec., but I wouldn't charge until after the first of the year just to be sure! Too valuable to not get it!

Shelly--thanks for further clarifying!

 

[Shelly F - Ohio]

But you don't want to get the card in Nov. You only have 90 days to charge $2k to the card. By getting the card in Nov and waiting till Jan. to charge to the card means you have to spend $2 in one month to get the 50K . Get the card in mid to late Dec. The first closing statement for the card will be Jan. and then it gives you till March to rack up $2k in charges.

 

[KKB]

No, you don't need to get the card that early BUT if you are trying to get companion status ASAP in a year, you want that card in your hands before January 1 to start charging!

 

[kristenlees]

yay for getting the card i don't know anything about the companion pass (seems lots of other people do though) but DH and I each got a Southwest card and both got 50,000 miles. It paid for our Disney flights and we still have a bunch of miles, woohoo. We easily met the $2k within 3 months just by paying bills and groceries.
also, not sure if someone answered this about the inflight thing - we did not apply 'in flight' and still got our 50k (each) no problems