Latest news with #SouthwestCompanionPass
Epoch Times
27-05-2025
- Business
- Epoch Times
6 Expert Tips to Travel Smart and Stay out of Debt
Ana Staples Traveling for vacation gets expensive fast. It's no wonder more than half of U.S. adults (54 percent) are planning to skip travel altogether this summer, according to Bankrate's Summer Travel Survey. And of those who do plan to travel, almost a third (29 percent) are expecting to go into debt to pay for it. Many Bankrate experts have a rule not to carry a credit card balance, but we sure love to travel. And I'm going to share with you our favorite tips on how we make vacations happen without going into debt. Plan Far in Advance It's such a romantic notion to fly somewhere on a whim. I'd love to be that person who suddenly decides on a Friday night to spend the weekend in Spain and then simply does it. Sadly, that would put me in the kind of debt I can't afford. If that's true for you too, plan as far in advance as you can, says Bankrate's credit cards writer Ryan Flanigan. 'You can often get better prices or availability the further out you book,' Flanigan explains. 'Also, you can budget how much you need to save or make a plan to earn the miles and points you need for your trip.' Use Credit Card Rewards Speaking of rewards credit cards, I would be able to afford very little travel without them. For that reason, I try to book flights and hotels for every trip with points and miles. Related Stories 5/5/2025 1/21/2025 Sarah Gage, Bankrate's credit cards managing editor, does the same. 'That way, my only expenses are food (outside of what I can get for free at the hotel), transit and excursions,' she says. 'It's not always doable—we're going to VidCon this year, and there's no way to do the hotel on points, for example—but it makes a major difference in the overall number and quality of trips we can take.' Besides, travel credit cards, as well as hotel and airline loyalty programs, sometimes offer extra perks. For example, I greatly enjoy expedited airport security and lounge access that comes with my Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card. Bankrate senior writer Katie Kelton earns her points with Southwest. Doing so gets her some free travel as well. 'Lately, my boyfriend and I have been making good use of the Southwest Companion Pass!' she says. 'It's gotten us to Hawaii and Montana just this year.' Have a Separate Savings Account It's best to save cash for everything that you don't pay for with rewards. Think the portion of the hotel costs you don't have enough points for, food, entertainment, shopping, and anything else you want to do on your vacation. I like to keep my travel fund separate from my emergency savings. This is the money I save specifically to spend on vacations without feeling guilty for touching my rainy day fund. It helps to compartmentalize and keep things structured. For both my emergency fund and travel fund, I have high-yield savings accounts. This type of account tends to offer much higher returns than a traditional savings account. Be Open-Minded on Destination Certain places are more expensive to go to than others. But spending less money doesn't mean you'll leave with fewer amazing memories. 'I'm a fan of letting the deal plan the trip,' says Brooklyn Lowery, a senior editor on Bankrate's credits cards team. 'We have some places we know we want to go, but we're also just travel-curious. If I spy a great flight deal—either points or cash—I'm likely to say, 'Let's go there!' and figure out the details later.' Lowery notes that such an approach doesn't always lead to the cheapest option overall, but the random destinations they've been to have never been disappointing. Liza Carrasquillo, a credit cards editor for Bankrate, also likes to rethink destinations. 'I can't afford to go to Japan to see the cherry blossoms right now, but I can take a long drive to Washington, D.C.,' she says. Be Flexible With Timing It helps to be flexible with where you're going—as well as when you're going there. For example, traveling during any kind of major holiday might save you some paid time off. The problem is, many people have the same idea. This causes increased travel demand and, as a result, higher airfare prices. Kelton also suggests traveling during the offseason, 'like eyeing Portugal in the early winter.' It also matters what day and time you're traveling, notes Carrasquillo. 'Flying super early or on red eye flights, as well as flying out during the week, can save money,' she says. Seek Ways to Bring Costs Down Finally, there are ways to bring your traveling budget down that go beyond flights and accommodations. Kelton offers some examples. 'I also often book with Turo because it's cheaper and has better options than traditional rental car companies,' she says. 'And I opt for Airbnbs because you can find unique, cool stays for as good or better prices than hotels.' I also like to get creative when it comes to saving on travel. For instance, I went to Germany for nine days last year and spent under $500. I used public transport and walked a lot, ate like a local and shopped for groceries. It was as unforgettable as it was inexpensive. The Bottom Line A vacation can be a tough thing to afford if you're hoping to travel. Plenty of people are even willing to go into debt for it—but it doesn't have to be that way. From planning far in advance to using credit card rewards and staying flexible, there are steps you can take to make your vacation happen without running a balance. Safe travels! Copyright 2025 Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Dear Readers: We would love to hear from you. What topics would you like to read about? Please send your feedback and tips to
Yahoo
24-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
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 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.
Yahoo
13-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Limited-time only — Earn Southwest's Companion Pass as a credit card welcome bonus
Southwest Airlines is bringing back one of its most covetable credit card offers — but only for a limited time. Now through March 31, you'll have the chance to earn a Southwest Companion Pass and 30,000 Rapid Rewards bonus points when you spend $4,000 within the first three months of opening a new Southwest credit card. If you're a regular Southwest Airlines flyer or you're looking to save on an upcoming vacation, this offer can help you score major discounts on travel in 2025. Here's how to choose the best Southwest card for your wallet and get started:You can earn the limited-time welcome bonus when you open any of the three consumer co-branded credit cards from Southwest and Chase: Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card After opening your new card account, you'll need to spend at least $4,000 within the first three months to get the two-part bonus: Earn Companion Pass from Southwest through Feb. 28, 2026 Earn 30,000 Rapid Rewards pointsWith Southwest's Companion Pass, you can choose a companion to travel with you on Southwest flights for free — not including taxes and fees, which start from $5.60 one-way. There's no limit to the amount of flights you can use your Companion Pass on, and it applies to both paid and award flights booked with points. You can change your designated companion up to three times in a calendar year. Normally, you earn Companion Pass by flying 100 one-way qualifying flights or earning 135,000 qualifying points in a calendar year. The pass is then valid through the end of the next calendar year. Remember: When you earn Companion Pass through the limited-time welcome offer, it's only valid through February 2026. To maintain your Companion Pass benefit after that, you'll need to qualify through these methods of qualifying flights or points earned. Before deciding between the three Southwest Rapid Rewards credit cards, make sure you compare the annual fees, benefits, and rewards. Why we like it: The Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus card has the lowest annual fee at $69, but that doesn't mean it's lacking in value. You will earn a slightly lower rewards rate on Southwest purchases (2x instead of 3x) compared to the other cards, but you'll still get 10,000 Companion Pass qualifying points each calendar year and 25% off in-flight purchases. Plus, the two annual EarlyBird Check-Ins (valued at $15-$99 one-way) could cancel out the annual fee alone when you fly we like it: The $149 annual fee Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority card has the most potential value to offer frequent Southwest Airlines flyers. Its rewards are the same as you'll get with the Rapid Rewards Premier. Some benefits are identical too, including in-flight discounts; annual Companion Pass qualifying points; and 1,500 tier qualifying points for every $5,000 you spend. However, you'll also get an increased 7,500 bonus points each calendar year and get reimbursed when you purchase up to four upgraded boardings (for positions A1-A15) each anniversary year. Upgraded boardings alone can cost between $30 and $149 per segment flown. This is also the only one of the three Southwest cards to offer an annual travel credit. Each year, you'll get up to $75 in statement credits toward Southwest purchases (not including in-flight purchases and upgraded boarding). Why we like it: The Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier card earns a boosted 3x points on Southwest purchases, plus it has slightly more benefits for its $99 annual fee than the Rapid Rewards Plus card. You'll get the same EarlyBird Check-Ins, in-flight discount, and annual Companion Pass qualifying points. But the Rapid Rewards Premier offers a higher 6,000 bonus points on your account anniversary and 1,500 tier qualifying points toward A-list status for every $5,000 you spend. Qualifying for A-list status (by flying 20 qualifying one-way flights or earning 35,000 TQPs in a calendar year) comes with perks like priority boarding, boosted bonus points on flight purchases, same-day flight changes, and value of your Rapid Rewards points can vary depending on your trip and when you book, but the points you'll get as part of this welcome offer can go a long way toward future travel savings. For example, say you earn 30,000 bonus points with this welcome offer by making $4,000 in non-category purchases. That means you'll earn 4,000 points on top of the 30,000 bonus points for a total of 34,000 Rapid Rewards points within the first three months. Here's where that might take you: Southwest Airlines primarily serves domestic travelers in the U.S., but it does have some routes to the Caribbean, Mexico, and Central America, where you can get a solid value for your points. Traveling from Houston, you could go on a weeklong spring getaway to Cancun, Mexico for as little as 31,540 points. The taxes and fees for this trip will add another $130.55 to the total, but that's still a great price for an international roundtrip flight. There are plenty of opportunities to save on domestic travel, too. You can score a nonstop itinerary between New York and Chicago right now for just 26,511 points (plus $11.20 in taxes and fees) — even over the busy Memorial Day holiday weekend. Later in the summer, roundtrip fare between San Diego and Denver could set you back just 27,593 points (plus the same $11.20 in taxes and fees). These flights, for example, are for a weeklong stay in Colorado on nonstop routes: And don't forget: On top of the savings you'll get for using points for these award flights, you'll save even more when you bring a friend with the Companion Pass benefit. After you book your ticket, take advantage of your Companion Pass by going into your Southwest account and adding your companion to your trip article was edited by Rebecca McCracken Editorial Disclosure: The information in this article has not been reviewed or approved by any advertiser. All opinions belong solely to 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.
