How does southwest companion pass work

Once you've got your new Southwest credit cards, you can help bridge the gap to reaching , points by using them for all of your spending.

The Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards shopping portal and dining program allow you to earn extra points when you shop at certain retailers or eat at participating restaurants. With the shopping portal, you have two options to earn points.

First, you can go directly to the Rapid Rewards shopping website, search for participating retailers, and click through to shop. You can search for participating merchants through the dining program website. Again, this strategy may not be enough alone for most people to earn the pass.

But coupled with a Southwest credit card and everyday spending, it could be enough to get you there. After you qualify for the Companion Pass, start planning as many trips as possible to maximize the value of the perk. Depending on how you use them, they could go a long way. Is the Southwest Companion Pass worth it? If Southwest flies through your local airport and you regularly travel with a family member or friend, the Southwest Companion Pass can offer incredible value.

You can also call to make this change. Technically, you can purchase Southwest points with cash. Depending on the number of points you purchase, each point may end up costing you double its redemption value. So, no, typically it is not worth it to buy Southwest points.

Yes, hotel reservations booked through SouthwestHotels. As long as the hotel is a Rapid Rewards partner, the points earned are considered qualified base points. Here are the best strategies for earning Rapid Rewards points:. Get a Southwest Airlines credit card and earn the sign-up bonus: This can get you well on your way to that ,point goal. Book a hotel stay or rental car with a Rapid Rewards partner and pay with your card.

This includes recognizable names like Hyatt, Marriott, Hertz and Budget. Shop online through Southwest's bonus mall: Spending money through Rapid Rewards Shopping partners can net you extra points for your regular spending. Become a Rapid Rewards Dining member: When you dine at participating restaurants and pay with your enrolled card, you can earn more qualifying points.

It's understandable to want to earn a Companion Pass as quickly as possible. Just note that these "shortcuts" won't work:. But transferred points are not Companion Pass-eligible. Don't try to buy your way to a Companion Pass: Points that you purchase directly won't count, nor will points transferred between members, or converted from hotel and car loyalty programs.

Don't run afoul of Chase's "One Southwest Card" rule : If you already have a Southwest consumer card, you likely will not be eligible for another. Similarly, if you've already earned a sign-up bonus from a Southwest consumer card within the past 24 months, you likely cannot qualify for a different consumer card. What is a Southwest Airlines Companion Pass? Nerdy tip: If you can time it so you qualify for the pass in January, you'll essentially be getting two-for-one tickets for nearly two years.

That could add up to some serious savings. It will take a while for a new Companion Pass card to arrive in the mail for your new companion, but the change is implemented for online booking purposes within seconds. If you have two trips close together with different companions, things can get a bit tricky. It is theoretically possible that the March 15 flight could sell out before March 1, leaving your spouse high and dry for the March 15 trip.

If a flight does sell out, you may find yourself in the position of having to book a new flight for yourself at a higher price to find an itinerary with availability for your companion.

Using the Southwest Companion Pass is a breeze. With travel starting to pick up again, this is the perfect way to travel more often next year — and even into if you wait to earn the points until Terms Apply. Disclaimer: The responses below are not provided or commissioned by the bank advertiser.

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