Perpetually earn TWO Southwest Companion Passes {here's how}

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In-depth blog post about tricks for earning a Companion Pass:

5/24 Rule Explained:

More on business cards for side hustles:

New Here?
Hi, I’m Katie from Katie’s Travel Tricks! I am here to help you learn the secrets that my family has been using for over a decade, using everyday expenses and welcome offers to supercharge your points earning. When you learn to do this, you can cover entire vacations every year.

Our family has been to Hawaii, Asia, the Caribbean, Europe — and more — all thanks to strategically earning and redeeming points. We've done this on a limited travel budget and now want to help you do it, too.

More from Katie’s Travel Tricks

[knickerbocher]

The most complete informative review I've heard period also very simplistic and straightforward, no confusion. Well done

[brentclark]

This is FANTASTIC.

What’s the game plan if we apply now (Feb 2024) to immediately qualify for the free companion pass until Feb 2025?

I like your plan for getting companion for 2 years and perpetually doing this back and forth with player 2 / spouse.

[beec]

my hesitation to get the biz card is cuz we’re supposed to only use biz related expenses on the biz card (meaning not for personal use)…even if ppl say chase doesn’t care, it’s against my principle to do it. how would we get a companion pass without spending $$$ and also not getting the biz cards?

[rachnagrunkemeier]

Your video is amazing! I wish I would have found this before I got approved for my business card in March of 2024. What should I do? Have I lost my 85k points for 2024 since it it’s starts overs in January 2025? Thanks for your help.

[mrsmakeuplover]

Thank you Katie! We would like to earn 2 cp with 3 cards but having a hard time figuring out the timeline…
Step 1: P1 - open business card on Oct 15. P1 spend all $5000.P1 Refer P2 in December after statement, twice.
Step 2: P2 - In Dec, with the referral, apply for 2 cards ( business and personal). P2 spends all minimum spendings.
Q: is there specific time on the P2 spending? Ex. When to finish? Doesn’t all need to be done by Dec?

Thank you!

[vincenbolden]

Do you have a video to show how to alternate 1 companion pass for a couple every 2 yrs once 1 person gets the companion pass.

[emilyrubalcava]

What do you suggest if I got the elevated offer personal card? Do I refer person 2 to two business cards after my December close date? Can I refer person 2 to one business card before my December close date and then in 30 days (in January) refer them to another business card? Then what happens in two years when we need to do it all over again?

[alexpike]

Thank you for the video! It’s incredibly helpful! Quick q, are you guys doing the referrals and both earning companion passes because you have a family of 4?

[kaina]

I got the Performance Business card in mid-October and plan to get a Premier Business card for my second business in mid-November. Both qualifying for the welcome bonuses in the first few days of January 2024. Then I will have the CP for most of 2024 and all of 2025. Then I will have my wife get the Performance Business in mid-Oct and Premier Card in mid-Nov of 2025 to qualify for the CP for most of 2026 and all of 2027.

[taramoler]

Wow😮 this information is amazing. I’ve never heard this strategy and it’s exactly what my family of 4 needs. Question: if P1 starts spending on their business card in November 2024 (say $1000), do those points get posted in December (and then not count for the 2025 points that we need all in that year to qualify)?

[nickmancini]

Good morning Katie, I am following the plan and after my December statement hit I have referred my wife for both a business and personal card following the procedure on the website. I was not given any confirmation or notification that the referral points came through. Is that normal? If so how long until you see those points posted, next statement?

[uLLdgs]

Great video! I watched it at least five times lol I think my wife and I are ready to apply this strategy this year, and it’s finally October!!
One quick question tho. With 85k sign up bonus on Personal account, would it be ok if one of us opens the personal card before the promotion ends on 10/9. Then apply for business in November?
Or is it even possible for one person to open both cards in the same month? Maybe not the same day. 😊

[riepham]

Thanks for your informative videos! My husband has the companion pass for 2023 and 2024. Since his companion pass is coming to an end at the end of 2024, I have 3 questions:
1) When is the best time to cancel his current SW Priority personal credit card and Southwest Performance Biz credit cards?
2) When should he reapply (with best chances of getting approved again with 800 credit score) to get companion pass again for the next 2025 and 2026 years?
3) I keep reading online that you should wait to apply again until after the date you received the bonus and not the day you opened the credit card-- is this true or am i misunderstanding?

Thank you!

[nickmancini]

I am thinking of starting this strategy on oct 15 as your video says but I am looking at the southwest site and they are offering a personal card bonus of 85, 000 points right now before 10/9/24. Should I forego opening up the business card first to chase this higher bonus to start or will the hinder the strategy? Thank you.

[nataliem]

Great video!
What if my husband already has the performance business? Can we start with the premier? He also already has the personal priority (which is his oldest card btw) so I’m having trouble figuring out how we would do this again in two years?

[ShantelGeringer-qy]

Is there a way to get 2 passes (myself and husband for our family of 5) i can open a business card but he doesnt have anything to be a busienss. We want to start now but not sure if the best strategy is he opens a personal amd then refers me to business and personal. We would still be quite a ways off i think. Thoughts? Also just found your page and am deep diving through everything! So much great information

[CourtneySaager]

Question, when you refer someone to a card doesn't it take a while for them to show up? Or will they for sure show up the next month statement close? The reason I am asking is my husband was planning to get a SW business card in November and then refer me to a personal and business card. I want to take advantage of the elevated personal card offer right now. if he referred me the beginning of December, and his statement closes the middle of December would it take at least a month for those points to process, and they would hit in January? Or would they for sure hit in December when his statement closes? I don't have a SW card but every other Chase card I have referred on usually takes longer then a couple weeks to post.

[KimZook-bj]

Thank you so much for this - so helpful! So as P1, I will need to do my $5000 spend on the business card AFTER my December statement posts, correct?

[TinaMonton-fyrc]

Quick question: My husband as one SW card and is 20, 000 short as of Nov. Is the best way to earn companion to refer a friend asap and hope those points post to his account in December 2024? Then he would earn companion for 2025? Or do we just need to start over and strategize for next year?

[kerierickson]

​ @katiestraveltricks What if the same person wants to get the companion pass again? I have it now for 2023-2024, and I want to be the one to get it again 2025-2026. My husband could get it, but it's me that flies with our son most often, frequently without my husband. Is there specific timing to canceling the personal card then reapplying for a new welcome bonus? What about the business card? Thanks for your help!