Get Your Free Plus One Flight Ticket Throughout the Year With These Check-in Bonuses
A companion ticket, one of Southwest Airlines’ most coveted plus-one benefits on flights, is available as part of the new Chase Consumer Credit Cards Welcome Bonus. Here’s what you need to know, as well as other important suggestions.
How to qualify for the Companion Pass
To qualify, you need to apply for one of the three cards listed below.
- Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus Credit Card
- Premier Southwest Rapid Rewards Credit Card
- Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card
If you spend $ 5,000 on purchases within the first three months of opening an account, you will be eligible for 30,000 bonus points and a Companion Pass, which allows a friend or loved one to enjoy free flights (excluding taxes and fees) until February 28th. 2022. The offer expires on March 10, 2021.
Some restrictions apply: Current cardholders are not eligible, as are previous cardholders who have received the Southwest Welcome Bonus in the past 24 months (business card holders are excluded from these restrictions, however).
While it’s not worth spending a lot of money on rewards alone , it’s a good deal. Typically, only the most dedicated power users can qualify for the Companion Pass bonus by flying 100 one-way flights or earning 125,000 qualifying points in one calendar year (you earn 1-5 points for every dollar you spend traveling).
Spending $ 5,000 on a credit card in three months isn’t easy, but you can use the card for large but planned payments for things like rent, tax arrears, or refundable business expenses . Just remember to use only the money you have and pay off your credit card immediately after the transaction.
You also need to be realistic about how much travel you will be doing, and weigh that against the total value you will receive from a card that basically offers travel benefits while we are in a pandemic. In other words, it would be a good card for the income-stable optimists planning to travel later this year.
COVID considerations
Please check your local travel restrictions and guidelines for COVID before registering. The CDC is asking people to postpone travel and stay at home to prevent the spread of COVID, so you’ll want to stick with important travel, at least until the pandemic (hopefully) dies down. There is no guarantee that these restrictions will be lifted, so consider this as a risk when applying for a travel card.
Other good travel card welcome bonuses
New members of the British Airways Visa Signature Card , Iberia Visa Signature Card and Aer Lingus Visa Signature Card are offered a similar deal to earn a Travel Together companion ticket. To earn it, you must spend $ 20,000 within the first year after opening your account, however please note that this is the only voucher and has many redemption restrictions . The bonus also entitles you to a 50,000 reward points bonus after you spend $ 3,000 in the first three months.
Below are some other notable consumer travel card offerings based on the cash value of their current welcome bonuses as per The Points Guy :
Chase Sapphire Privilege Card
Earn 60,000 points by spending $ 4,000 on purchases within the first three months. The annual fee is $ 95.
Estimated buyout cost: $ 1200.
Chase Sapphire Backup Card
Earn 50,000 points by spending $ 4,000 on purchases in the first three months. The annual fee is high at $ 550.
Estimated ransom value: $ 1,000.
Platinum card from American Express
Earn 75,000 Membership Points by spending $ 5,000 on purchases within the first six months. However, there is a hefty $ 550 annual fee.
Estimated buyback value: $ 1,500.
Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
Earn 60,000 bonus miles by spending $ 3,000 on purchases within the first three months from your account. The annual fee is $ 95.
Estimated buyback value: $ 840.