Last call: Earn Southwest's Companion Pass as a credit card welcome bonus
The Southwest Companion Pass — a coveted perk for Southwest credit card members — lets you choose a companion to fly with you for free one-way, minus taxes and fees. Considering Southwest's various destinations — like Costa Rica, Mexico, and the Dominican Republic — that's a huge potential savings on your next trip or two.
But act quickly — this offer ends at 9 a.m. EST on April 1, 2025.
All three Southwest personal cards have the Southwest Companion Pass limited-time offer, but each has slightly different perks and benefits. Remember, Southwest is eliminating free checked bags for everyone, but there are still ways to get a free bag, including if you have a Southwest credit card.
Why we like it: The Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus makes sense if you want the lowest annual fee on a Southwest credit card. But a low annual fee doesn't mean a low-quality card. You still get 3,000 anniversary points each year to help offset the fee, as well as a free checked bag (once the new rules go into effect on May 28, 2025).Why we like it: The Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority makes sense if you want more Southwest benefits, including 7,500 anniversary points per year, four upgraded boardings per year, and a $75 Southwest annual travel credit. This card is likely a better fit for frequent Southwest travelers who can take advantage of the increased benefits.Why we like it: The Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier strikes a balance between its annual fee and provided benefits. We generally think the Southwest Plus and Southwest Priority cards are better cards when comparing their fees and benefits, but the Premier could make sense if you want a card that fits between the two.
You only have to cover the taxes and fees for a second ticket when using the Southwest Companion Pass. Southwest Airlines flies to more than 100 airports across 11 countries, which gives you plenty of opportunities to save money when flying with a friend or family member.
Adding a companion to a roundtrip flight to Honolulu from Los Angeles would only cost you $11.20. For this itinerary, the total cost for two people would be about 25,000 points and $22.40 in taxes and fees.
A companion on a roundtrip flight from Austin to Boston would also only cost $11.20. The total cost for two people in this example would be about 17,000 points and $22.40 in taxes and fees.
Fancy a trip to Costa Rica? It would only cost $85.83 in taxes and fees to add a companion on this roundtrip flight from Denver to San Jose. The total cost for two people would be about 14,000 points and $177.66 in taxes and fees.
You can take a quick trip to Aruba and only pay $90.06 to add a companion. The total cost for two people on this roundtrip flight from Orlando to Aruba would be about 23,000 points and $180.12 in taxes and fees.
Editorial Disclosure: The information in this article has not been reviewed or approved by any advertiser. All opinions belong solely to the Yahoo Finance and are not those of any other entity. The details on financial products, including card rates and fees, are accurate as of the publish date. All products or services are presented without warranty. Check the bank's website for the most current information. This site doesn't include all currently available offers. Credit score alone does not guarantee or imply approval for any financial product.
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