Southwest Rapid Reward Visa Questions

[robfamily]

We have been getting an offer for 50,000 pts for opening an account with the Visa. I had been planning on trying to earn points for a companion pass for next calendar year. I have a couple questions.
First, if we get the card this December and use it for Christmas shopping, as long as we make sure that we do not hit the $2000 mark until the new calendar year will we be safe with earning points for the companion pass for the upcoming calendar year?
Next question, is there anyway way to fine a 50,000 bonus for the other Visa with a $69 annual fee?
Third, if we can find two 50,000 point offers if there any other secrets to earning the next 10,000 points or do we pretty much have to spend $10,000 on purchases?

 

[Shelly F - Ohio]

You have 90 days to charge the $2k it takes to get the points so you should be okay getting the 50K points credited for 2015.

Keep in mind if another 50K offered comes up which is usually does in the spring, you have to apply for a totally different card. So if you get the reg. card now your next card would have to be a business card. Per the fine print you can not get 50K again if you sign up for the card you already have.

In a years time we put every thing on our SWA credit card. I make purchases through the shopping sight on SWA which will award 1, 2 sometimes as high as 6 times the point per $1 plus if you use your CC through that sight you will get the 1 or 2 points you normally do.
Rent a car and you could earn 2400 at Budget for a 5-7 day rental.

 

[ibob52]

Next question, is there anyway way to fine a 50,000 bonus for the other Visa with a $69 annual fee?

I just did a very quick *google* search of ...

"southwest airlines personal plus chase visa credit card"

Results ... https://creditcards.chase.com/6000321?CELL=6924&vanity=a1/southwest/2ffpromobox

 

[Shelly F - Ohio]

He won't be able to apply for both of those cards to get 50K point on each one. Per the fine print you can not get 50K on two personal CC within a 24 month period. So he would have to get a personal CC and a business CC to get 50K.

Right now he would be better off with the $99 card because you earn 2 points per dollar verses the $69 card which is 1 for 1.

 

[sunrise717]

hubby and I have both applied for the 69 and 99 dollar SW cards and both have earned the 50k points on each of the 4 cards. Did not do it in the same calendar year so we did not earn the companion pass

 

[GOOFY D]

He won't be able to apply for both of those cards to get 50K point on each one. Per the fine print you can not get 50K on two personal CC within a 24 month period. So he would have to get a personal CC and a business CC to get 50K.

Right now he would be better off with the $99 card because you earn 2 points per dollar verses the $69 card which is 1 for 1.

The 2 points per dollar is only on SWA related purchases not every day purchases.

 

[robfamily]

I thought I had read on here in other posts that it was possible to apply for both personal cards and get the bonus on both. Hmmm.... I guess I will need to research that further. Glad to know that it should safe to apply for them now and get the bonus next calendar year.

 

[Hofmanns4]

DH uses the personal card for work expenses and gets reimbursed. We started with the $69 card and received 50k points Aug 2013. Then, last Jan, we signed him up for the $99 personal card and received the 50k again.

So, it seems like it does work as long as you get the upgraded card.

 

[jls886]

He won't be able to apply for both of those cards to get 50K point on each one. Per the fine print you can not get 50K on two personal CC within a 24 month period. So he would have to get a personal CC and a business CC to get 50K.

Right now he would be better off with the $99 card because you earn 2 points per dollar verses the $69 card which is 1 for 1.

I can't speak from experience, but I think some other DISers have reported being able to get both the $69 and $99 personal cards to qualify for companion pass.

Also, both cards get the 2 points/$1 spent on SW purchases and SW partner purchases (hotels and car rentals), for all other purchases it is 1 point/$1 for both cards as well.

They differ points-wise in their anniversary bonus. The $69 card gives you a 3,000 point anniversary bonus and the $99 card gives a 6,000 bonus. 70 points = $1 in Wanna Get Away fares. So, the $69 fee becomes $26.15 after the bonus, and the $99 fee becomes $13.29 after the bonus. Thus, your net annual fee is actually lower on the $99 card.

They also differ in that the $99 card is a Visa Signature card so carries some additional benefits from that.

 

[Shea&Van]

Howdeeeee!

Maybe it's just luck, but I applied for both the personal plus and the personal premier earlier this year. Got them both, did the minimum spending and was able to get both 50k bonus awards. I managed to get up to the magical 110k points threshold and obtained my SWA Companion Pass early this summer. No issues whatsoever...

The Companion Pass is awesome...already flown with it to Puerto Rico, Jamaica and soon to Orlando and Fort Lauderdale (Spring Break). It's good until the end of 2016.

Any questions feel free to ask!

Have a super day!

 

[hsmamato2]

OP, you can get both personal cards in your name, if you apply and qualify. but you must spend ALL in the CALENDAR YEAR you want your companion pass for. So christmas spending will not work. It has to be spending AFTER the last statement for the year closes, usually late Dec/into January. It's better to wait, and spend in Jan. onward to assure that you will spend in the proper year,to get the pass. If you spend earlier/before the END of your Dec. statement close, it will get you points, but won't count toward the pass. to be clear, if you want the pass for 2015/2016, you must spend in 2015 to get those points applied. january rolls over into a new year. It is amazing and the most valuable travel tool out there,IMHO.

 

[Shelly F - Ohio]

Just an FYI the 50K deal ended yesterday.

 

[jimandami]

Howdeeeee!

Maybe it's just luck, but I applied for both the personal plus and the personal premier earlier this year. Got them both, did the minimum spending and was able to get both 50k bonus awards. I managed to get up to the magical 110k points threshold and obtained my SWA Companion Pass early this summer. No issues whatsoever...

The Companion Pass is awesome...already flown with it to Puerto Rico, Jamaica and soon to Orlando and Fort Lauderdale (Spring Break). It's good until the end of 2016.

Any questions feel free to ask!

Have a super day!

We also earned the CP this year and yes, it's great. However, it is only good until the end of 2015, not 2016, just fyi.

 

[robfamily]

I am so glad I had my husband apply for a personal and a business card last night.
I am still confused about the points in the new year. I know that I wouldn't get the points per dollar that I spent in December, but I am concerned about the bonus points. As long as I don't spend $2000 until after the new year, shouldn't I be safe that the bonus would be credited to the new year? We have charitable giving that we need to do before the end of the year. It would help us reach the $2000 spending quickly.

 

[jls886]

I am so glad I had my husband apply for a personal and a business card last night.
I am still confused about the points in the new year. I know that I wouldn't get the points per dollar that I spent in December, but I am concerned about the bonus points. As long as I don't spend $2000 until after the new year, shouldn't I be safe that the bonus would be credited to the new year? We have charitable giving that we need to do before the end of the year. It would help us reach the $2000 spending quickly.

It is to your benefit to make sure that your bonus points don't post to your SW account until next year, so I would be sure not to hit your $2000 in spending until January, just to be safe. You should be fine doing some spending this month, just keep your total under $2000. The only way that will hurt you is that those points might not count toward the extra 10,000 points you'll still need. But, depending on when those points post and how that is all calculated by SW, if they post in 2015 they may still count for you. Just keep your 2014 spending under $2000 to be safe.

 

[robfamily]

It is to your benefit to make sure that your bonus points don't post to your SW account until next year, so I would be sure not to hit your $2000 in spending until January, just to be safe. You should be fine doing some spending this month, just keep your total under $2000. The only way that will hurt you is that those points might not count toward the extra 10,000 points you'll still need. But, depending on when those points post and how that is all calculated by SW, if they post in 2015 they may still count for you. Just keep your 2014 spending under $2000 to be safe.

Thank you. That is what I was thinking would work, but I just wanted some confirmation.

 

[jls886]

Thank you. That is what I was thinking would work, but I just wanted some confirmation.

The odds are, you'll be okay either way, but I would just play it safe. I just checked my account and all of my credit card points count as companion pass-qualifying points in the month in which they post. So my November spending closes/posts December 4. So, in your case, your statement won't close until January 2015 so you should almost certainly be fine either way, but with the year ending SW may throw a little wrench in things so playing it safe can't hurt.

 

[disneyeveryyear]

As for earning the additional 10,000 points, you will need to spend the $.

I found the best way to do it for me, was to pay college tuition for my DS20. Lucky for me, his college doesn't impose a fee if you pay by credit card.

 

[Magical-Memories]

We just applied for both the $69 and $99 in my husband's name (rec'd instant approval on both.) I didn't realize that about meeting the reward balance in the same calendar year..argh. We already put $2K on one of the cards (Xmas stuff I was going to pay in cash anyhow) and were going to start the 2nd card.

Arrgggh.

I was trying to get the companion pass. But even still, I think 100,000 in points from just meeting the spending requirements will still be a good deal..but that companion pass would have been sweeter... sigh.

 

[Satye1]

How does the companion work with Southwest cards???

Also does anyone know when SW will offer flights to Hawaii?