The Southwest Companion Move is without doubt one of the most coveted elite journey advantages. It has been round for a very long time now, and surprisingly, it nonetheless delivers the identical nice worth as at all times.
This move permits one other passenger to fly with you free of charge as many occasions as you need. They solely must pay taxes for his or her fare. Historically, the move is legitimate for the remainder of the 12 months it’s earned, plus the whole following 12 months. That’s why it’s greatest to earn it early within the 12 months, and presumably begin engaged on incomes it even earlier.
Necessities to earn this move have elevated a bit over time, however due to Southwest Fast Rewards bank cards you may nonetheless earn it with out even flying. So how does the Southwest Companion Move work? How will you earn it with bank card? How will you maximize its worth? Let’s bounce into the main points and see if getting the Southwest Companion Move is sensible for you.
What’s the Southwest Companion Move?
The Companion Move stands out as a coveted characteristic throughout the Southwest Fast Rewards program, providing vital financial savings. This perk lets you choose a journey companion to accompany you on any Southwest flight free of charge, whereas solely paying any taxes and charges. These typically price as little as $5.60 one-way for a home flight.
You need to use your move no matter whether or not you’re paying in your ticket with money or factors. It really works for home flights in addition to Southwest’s worldwide locations. There isn’t a restrict to what number of occasions you employ it whilst you’re eligible.
The Southwest Companion Move is legitimate for the remainder of the 12 months it’s earned, plus the entire following 12 months.
It’s also possible to change your designated companion as much as 3 times per calendar 12 months. That implies that you don’t have to carry the identical individual alongside every time you employ it.
The are two main guidelines to bear in mind when utilizing your move. First there have to be at the least one seat obtainable on the market in any fare class on a flight for which you’ve bought your personal ticket. And likewise, your companion can’t fly with out you.
Southwest Companion Move Necessities
To earn the Southwest Companion Move, it’s essential to fulfill one of many following necessities:
- Full 100 qualifying one-way flights inside a calendar 12 months, or
- Accumulate 135,000 Fast Rewards factors inside a calendar 12 months. Qualifying factors embody these earned by means of income flights booked with Southwest, factors acquired from Southwest bank card utilization, and base factors obtained from Fast Rewards companions.
Assembly both of those standards grants you the Companion Move for the rest of the qualifying 12 months and the next calendar 12 months. For example, for those who earn the Companion Move on the time of writing in January 2024, it will likely be legitimate till the till December 31, 2025.
Greatest Method to Earn the Southwest Companion Move
Until you’re flying Southwest fairly often, one of the best ways to earn the Southwest Companion Move is by accumulating the 135,000 Fast Rewards factors inside a calendar 12 months.
That requirement may appear intimidating at first, however bank cards will help. They often include good welcome bonuses, you earn Fast Rewards for on a regular basis purchases, and since 2023, you get an automated 10,000-point enhance annually just by having a cobranded Southwest card. All these factors rely towards the Companion Move necessities.
Getting one in all these playing cards will get you properly in your technique to incomes the Companion Move. It’s also possible to apply for a small enterprise and private Southwest bank card to make it even simpler. Clearly it’s greatest to use when there’s an elevated welcome provide, and you should regulate your Chase 5/24 standing to be eligible for these welcome bonuses.
Southwest Credit score Playing cards
Southwest Airways has three shopper bank cards which usually have welcome bonuses various between 50,000 and 75,000 Fast Rewards factors. All three playing cards often have the identical bonus, however they’ve completely different advantages and annual charges. Listed here are the three playing cards:
Southwest additionally presents two small enterprise bank cards with welcome presents often various between 60,000 and 80,000 factors:
You possibly can earn one of many shopper bank card bonuses for those who don’t have one of many three playing cards, and if in case you have not earned a bonus by means of these playing cards throughout the final 24 months. So you may’t apply for 2 private bank cards. Nevertheless, that rule doesn’t apply to cardmembers of the Southwest Fast Rewards Enterprise Card and Worker Credit score Card merchandise. So it’s potential to use and earn the welcome bonus for a small enterprise card and a shopper bank card.
Extra Methods to Earn Fast Rewards
Whereas bank card welcome bonuses get you a considerable amount of factors without delay, there are different methods to get you over the end strains for those who nonetheless want extra Fast Rewards.
You possibly can store on-line by means of Southwest’s Fast Rewards Buying mall and earn additional factors in your purchases. There are tons of standard retailers listed on that buying portal, so it’s undoubtedly price trying out. In addition they provide frequent bonuses.
Flying Southwest and paying with a Southwest card will earn you 2 factors per $1 spent. So a $200 flight will get you 200 factors for instance. It’s also possible to be a part of Fast Rewards Eating and earn extra qualifying factors when eating at taking part eating places and pay along with your enrolled card.
Issues like level transfers, or shopping for Fast Rewards won’t rely for the Companion Move.
Greatest Time to Earn the Southwest Companion Move
As talked about above, the Companion Move is legitimate for the rest of the 12 months wherein you earned it, plus the next full calendar 12 months. So it is sensible to earn it as early as potential in a calendar 12 months, so you may take pleasure in it for nearly two full years.
However timing is every part. As soon as these 135,000 Fast Rewards hit your account inside a 12 months, the clock begins.
So let’s say that you just want to earn the move for 2024 and 2025 by means of bank card bonuses. Then you definitely need your welcome bonus factors to hit your account in January of 2024. To try this, you’ll need to fulfill the minimal spend requirement after your December assertion shut date. That method, the welcome bonus will put up in your January assertion shut date.
Factors are credited in your the bank card assertion time limit, which is completely different out of your fee due date. This date is listed in your bank card assertion, however for those who haven’t obtained your card but, you may name or message Chase to ask when the time limit is. It’s additionally price noting which you could request to vary your time limit if you wish to time issues higher.
Simply take into account that you usually have three months to met the minimal spend requirement, from the date of approval. That doesn’t change once you change your time limit.
