There are not that many people who truly understand how amazing the Southwest Airlines Companion Pass is, except maybe those who have it. Many simply confuse it with “companion certificates” featured by some credit cards, that merely offer a companion ticket for a single, paid booking, and often with restrictions.
But the Southwest Airlines Companion Pass is completely different, and unique. When you hold the Southwest Airlines Companion Pass, you can add your designated companion to an unlimited number of flights. This not only includes flights that you paid for, but also flights paid for by someone else (like your employer), or even award flights that you booked with points. And the only restriction is that the companion must be on the same flight as you, and travel must be complete by the time the Companion Pass expires.
Normally, you’d have to earn the companion pass by flying 100 qualifying one-way flights, or earning 110,000 qualifying points in a calendar year. But now, Southwest is offering a Companion Pass valid until the end of 2019, when you open a new Rapid Rewards credit card and meet the minimum spending requirement.
There’s no way to calculate the value of this offer, since you’ll be able to add a companion for free (plus any required government taxes and fees) to an unlimited number of flights between now and the end of the year.
Here are the three cards that are eligible for this offer:
Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card
This card offers new applicants the Companion Pass until the end of 2019, and 40,000 points after spending $1,000 on new purchases within three months of account opening. It also offers 7,500 bonus points each year on your account anniversary, and a Southwest travel credit of up to $75 each year. Other benefits include four upgraded boardings per year when available, and up to 20% back on in-flight purchases made with your card. There’s a $149 annual fee for this card, and no foreign transaction fees.
Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card
This version also offers new applicants the Companion Pass until the end of 2019, and 40,000 points after spending $1,000 on new purchases within three months of account opening. It also offers up to 6,000 bonus points each year on your account anniversary. There’s a $99 annual fee for this card, and no foreign transaction fees.
Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card
The entry-level version of this card also offers new applicants the Companion Pass until the end of 2019, and 40,000 points after spending $1,000 on new purchases within three months of account opening. It also offers up to 3,000 bonus points each year on your account anniversary. There’s a $69 annual fee for this card.
