The Southwest Companion Move is likely 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 yr it’s earned, plus all the following yr. That’s why it’s finest to earn it early within the yr, 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’ll be able to nonetheless earn it with out even flying. So how does the Southwest Companion Move work? How are you going to earn it with bank card? How are you going to maximize its worth? Let’s soar into the small print 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 function throughout the Southwest Fast Rewards program, providing vital financial savings. This perk allows you to choose a journey companion to accompany you on any Southwest flight free of charge, whereas solely paying any taxes and costs. These usually value as little as $5.60 one-way for a home flight.
You should utilize your move no matter whether or not you’re paying to your ticket with money or factors. It really works for home flights in addition to Southwest’s worldwide locations. There isn’t any restrict to what number of occasions you employ it whilst you’re eligible.
The Southwest Companion Move is legitimate for the remainder of the yr it’s earned, plus the entire following yr.
You may as well change your designated companion as much as thrice per calendar yr. That signifies that you would not have to deliver the identical individual alongside every time you employ it.
The are two main guidelines to remember when utilizing your move. First there have to be a minimum of one seat accessible on the market in any fare class on a flight for which you’ve bought your individual ticket. And likewise, your companion can not 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 yr, or
Accumulate 135,000 Fast Rewards factors inside a calendar yr. Qualifying factors embody these earned by way 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 yr and the next calendar yr. As an example, should you earn the Companion Move on the time of writing in January 2024, will probably be legitimate till the till December 31, 2025.
Greatest Solution to Earn the Southwest Companion Move
Until you’re flying Southwest fairly steadily, the easiest way to earn the Southwest Companion Move is by accumulating the 135,000 Fast Rewards factors inside a calendar yr.
That requirement may appear intimidating at first, however bank cards can assist. They normally include good welcome bonuses, you earn Fast Rewards for on a regular basis purchases, and since 2023, you get an computerized 10,000-point enhance every year just by having a cobranded Southwest card. All these factors rely towards the Companion Move necessities.
Getting considered one of these playing cards will get you effectively in your technique to incomes the Companion Move. You may as well apply for a small enterprise and private Southwest bank card to make it even simpler. Clearly it’s finest to use when there’s an elevated welcome provide, and you want to keep watch over 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 normally 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 normally various between 60,000 and 80,000 factors:
You possibly can earn one of many shopper bank card bonuses should you don’t have one of many three playing cards, and if in case you have not earned a bonus by way of these playing cards throughout the final 24 months. So you’ll be able to’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 doable 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 directly, there are different methods to get you over the end strains should you nonetheless want extra Fast Rewards.
You possibly can store on-line by way of Southwest’s Fast Rewards Shopping center and earn additional factors to your purchases. There are tons of well-liked retailers listed on that procuring portal, so it’s positively value testing. 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. You may as well be a part of Fast Rewards Eating and earn extra qualifying factors when eating at collaborating eating places and pay together 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 yr by which you earned it, plus the next full calendar yr. So it is sensible to earn it as early as doable in a calendar yr, so you’ll be able to get pleasure from it for nearly two full years.
However timing is the whole lot. As soon as these 135,000 Fast Rewards hit your account inside a yr, the clock begins.
So let’s say that you just wish to earn the move for 2024 and 2025 by way of bank card bonuses. Then you definately need your welcome bonus factors to hit your account in January of 2024. To try this, you will have to satisfy the minimal spend requirement after your December assertion shut date. That approach, the welcome bonus will publish in your January assertion shut date.
Factors are credited in your the bank card assertion cut-off date, which is completely different out of your fee due date. This date is listed in your bank card assertion, however should you haven’t acquired your card but, you’ll be able to name or message Chase to ask when the cut-off date is. It’s additionally value noting you can request to alter your cut-off date 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 if you change your cut-off date.
