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The Southwest Airlines Companion Pass is one of the most coveted airline perks, and right now you can pick one up as part of a limited-time Southwest credit card welcome bonus.
With a Companion Pass, whenever you book a Southwest flight you can bring along a companion and only have to pay the taxes for their flight ($5.60 for one-way flights within the U.S.). You can even use the Companion Pass for flights you booked with points, which makes the Southwest points you can earn from these new bonus offers even more valuable.
These three Southwest co-branded airline credit cards feature the new offer:
- Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card
- Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card
- Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card
CNBC Select has the details of the promotion and how to qualify for the offer.
Limited-time Southwest Airlines Companion Pass bonus
For a limited time, you can earn the Southwest Companion Pass and bonus points after signing up for a Southwest consumer credit card and meeting the minimum spending requirements. Here's what you'll earn:
- A Companion Pass which is valid through Feb. 28, 2025
- 30,000 Southwest Rapid Rewards points
To earn the bonus, you must spend $4,000 on qualifying purchases with the card in the first three months from account opening.
Normally, you need to fly 100 one-way qualifying flights on Southwest or earn 135,000 qualifying points to earn a Companion Pass. When you earn a Companion Pass the traditional way, it's valid for the rest of the year you earn it and all of the next year. This means, if you met the requirements in June 2024, you'd have a Companion Pass through Dec. 2025 — 18 months. With this promotion, the pass is easier to earn, however, it's only valid until Feb. 2025, which is at most 12 months.
Southwest cards with Companion Pass welcome bonus
This new offer is now available for each of the personal Southwest credit cards. So no matter which card is the best fit for you, you'll have an easy path to earning a Companion Pass.
Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card
Who's this card best for: The Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card is great for someone looking for a low annual fee travel credit card and flies with the airline occasionally. With just a $69 annual fee, you'll have access to perks such as two EarlyBird Check-Ins each year, 3,000 points every year on your cardmember anniversary, and 25% back on inflight purchases.
Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card
Who's this card best for: The Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card is a solid choice for someone who travels more regularly with Southwest. The Plus earns 2X points per dollar spent on Southwest flights, while the Premier gives 3X. The card has a $99 annual fee, but you'll also get two EarlyBird Check-Ins per year, 25% back on inflight purchases, 1,500 tier qualifying points (TQPs) for every $10,000 you spend on purchases with the card and 6,000 Southwest points every account anniversary.
Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card
Who's this card best for: The Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card is Southwest's premium credit card and comes with great perks for anyone who frequently flies with Southwest. It comes with an annual $75 travel credit, 7,500 Southwest points every account anniversary and four upgraded boardings per year for a $149 annual fee. Plus, you'll earn 1,500 TQPs for every $10,000 you spend on purchases with the card.
Who's eligible to earn a Southwest card welcome bonus?
To qualify for a Southwest credit card welcome offer, you must:
- Not be a current Southwest Rapid Rewards Credit Card member, and
- Not have received a new cardholder bonus for any Southwest Rapid Rewards Credit Card in the past 24 months
Those restrictions don't apply to Southwest business credit cards or employee cards.
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Bottom line
The Southwest Companion Pass is an amazing travel deal for couples and families. Right now, you can easily earn a Companion Pass as part of a limited-time Southwest credit card welcome bonus offer. However, the pass you earn with this deal isn't valid for as long as a traditional Companion Pass.
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