When Do Points from the Southwest Credit Card Post for the Companion Pass?


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A few days ago I wrote about an awesome offer for all three Southwest credit cards. All three cards are offering 60,000 bonus points which we’ve never seen before. Typically the offer is 25,000-40,000 points and when a “limited time offer” comes around it is raised to 50,000 points. There are also times where one of the cards might jump to 60,000 points, but this time around it is all three cards with this increased 60,000 point offer!

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Key Links:

  • Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards Plus Card: Earn 60,000 points after spending $2,000 on the card within the first 3 months; $69 annual fee. This card will earn you 3,000 bonus points on your account anniversary. You can learn more about Airline credit cards here.
  • Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards Premier Card: Earn 60,000 points after spending $2,000 on the card within the first 3 months; $99 annual fee. This card will earn you 6,000 bonus points on your account anniversary. You can learn more about Airline credit cards here.
  • Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards Premier Business Card: Earn 60,000 points after spending $3,000 on the card within the first 3 months; $99 annual fee. This card will earn you 6,000 bonus points on your account anniversary. You can learn more about this credit card here.

*If you have any questions on which credit card to apply for, feel free to email me!

While earning this amount of Southwest points is awesome for those looking to increase their Southwest balance to redeem for some free flights, one of the real benefits is that the points earned from the sign up offer DO count towards the points needed to earn the Southwest Companion Pass. For those of you not aware of this Companion Pass, you can read this post here. But essentially, it allows someone to fly with you an unlimited number of times for free (plus taxes/fees) for the life of the pass. The pass expires December 31st the following year you earn it. 

So if you are looking to earn the pass, an easy way is to sign up for two Southwest credit cards. Since each card earns you 60,000 points, that will give you a total of 120,000 points. To earn the pass, all you need is 110,000 points. Apply for two cards, get approved, meet the minimum spend, and you are done – the pass is yours! But, you will not earn the pass immediately upon applying for the cards. Remember, you must meet the minimum spend! So that means you must spend $2,000 on each card within three months. Once you meet the minimum spend, the points will post to your Southwest account a few days after your statement close date. So if you meet the minimum spend on the 1st of the month and your statement doesn’t close until the 26th, the points probably will not him your account until around the 30th. So you’ll have to wait until then! This is why knowing your statement close date is important! And to make sure you maximize the length of the pass, it is a good idea to try to spend the $2,000 on each card as soon as possible!

I’ve personally had the Southwest Companion Pass for close to 10 years so if you have any questions about earning the pass or using the pass, let me know!

Editorial Disclosure: Opinions expressed here are author's alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post.

The responses below are not provided or commissioned by the bank advertiser. Responses have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by the bank advertiser. It is not the bank advertiser's responsibility to ensure all posts and/or questions are answered.

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reisa
reisa
6 years ago

Great article. Just applied for the biz card. Received it. Have a dumb question. Will the account info and points info show up in my same chase account or do i have to re-add it to chase online? its not showing up!!

James
James
6 years ago
Reply to  reisa

If I apply this week and spend the required amount will the points post before the end of the year. I already have 70000 points for this year

Peryn St. Raymond
Peryn St. Raymond
6 years ago
Reply to  dealswelike

I applied for the business card in November and reached the minimum spend by my closing date of Dec 14th but haven’t received the bonus points yet as of 12/20. They only gave me the regular points. Do you know if they are earned in 2017 if they will still count towards my companion pass even if they don’t hit my account yet? The lady at Southwest that I spoke to said they would but I’m skeptical that they saw I was about to hit companion pass and are now going to wait until January to give me the bonus points…

Pete
Pete
6 years ago
Reply to  dealswelike

I received the business card and did not get the bonus points until 3 days after my second statement. I did meet the required spending and more on the first statement.

Peryn St. Raymond
Peryn St. Raymond
6 years ago

I did meet the minimum spend requirement without the annual fee. I spoke with customer relations and the person I spoke with said it could take 6-8 weeks although, like you, I have always received the bonus points pretty soon after closing date once earned. I’m going to give it until Friday 12/22 but I have a feeling they are just trying to not give me the points until January so that I won’t qualify…if you have any other advice it is very much appreciated!

Nancy
Nancy
6 years ago

I received the companion pass this past April but it says only good until 12/31/17. I thought it would be good until 2018.
I currently have 67000 towards new pass when should I increase points in order to earn this pass for 2 yrs I can apply for another card but will do when points are higher. When do I need to make my due date on my statement, in order to maximize receiving pass for 2 yrs. also do my points on my business card go towards pass or is that separate? Thanks

nancy
nancy
6 years ago
Reply to  dealswelike

Well now I’m thoroughly confused. I called southwest & the lady told me that pass expired 12/31/17 & in order to have a pass for 2018 I need to get to 110,000 which it shows on my account? I tried to do a screen shot but my computer wouldn’t allow me to for some reason?

Angela
Angela
6 years ago

Hello! I am applying for the two cards to receive the bonus points that will make me eligible for the companion pass. Do I need to earn all bonus points in the same calendar year? I applied for the first card today, 9/6. So I must spend the 2k to earn the bonus points by December 6 (3 months). I will then get the other card, and spend the minimum to receive another bonus. This will happen by February. So the first bonus is earned in December, and the second in February. Will I be eligible because I reach the 110,000 points in February 2018, or will I not be eligible because half of those were awarded in December 2017? Thanks for the insight.

Dave Wadlington
Dave Wadlington
6 years ago

Southwest has the 60,000 points deal going now, but not sure when it will end. I want to get the card so I can get the Companion Pass in 2018. I assume the Bonus Points apply toward the Pass in the year they are posted to your account. Do you know if I applied later in the month of September, when they would set my Statement date and if I waited until December to spend the $2,000 requirement, would the Bonus Points get posted in January? Their information says to expect up to 8 weeks for the points to post. Thanks

Justin Lewis
Justin Lewis
6 years ago

@ Dave – Hypothetically, if you were to open the account Sept 15th, then your 3 Month window would expire on Dec 15th. So, move your Statement closure date to the 3rd or so, and then spend the last of the $2000 between Dec 4th & 15th. You will be within the window, but it will not post until your next statement date, Jan 3rd; securing the points for the 2018 year. (If i’m wrong, hopefully someone will let me know!)

dan ford
dan ford
6 years ago

So is it safe to apply now and get the points posted in January?
You only have 3 months to spend $2000, but if I apply on 9/11/17, what is the lead time to get the car, and spend by the end of 3 months and still have posted bonus in January?

Or do I need to wait another few weeks before applying?
Thanks!

Stacia
Stacia
6 years ago

HI!!! I just made the mistake of applying and getting approved for a card with 60k points. I’m nervous because it will be arriving any day. If by chance I receive the card the last week of September, I’m close to October. I should have waited until December 30 to apply but I mistakenly did not. What’s the best plan of action to get the points in January 2017? Can I call Chase and ask them to wait to issue the card until later in the year? Can it be postponed?

Steven Y
Steven Y
6 years ago
Reply to  Stacia

If you apply in Septemeber, THE KEY is to not to exceed your spend amount until after your December statement closes. So what I did was as soon after I got approved (yesterday)
I called and asked them what was my statement date to figure out that therefore then I got in writing in a secure message. Here’s what you need to know and get writing if possible through SM.

1. YOU NEED TO KNOW YOUR DECEMBER STATEMENT CLOSE DATE AND YOUR SPEND AMOUNT. 2. YOU NEED NOT EXCEED YOUR SPEND AMOUNT UNTIL AFTER DECEMBER’S STATEMENT CLOSE.

Steven Y
Steven Y
6 years ago
Reply to  Steven Y

Oh yeah, the reason you want to do this after the December close date is that the points will not post until your Jan. statement. making to eligible for 2018/19 Companion Pass.

Rose Stanley
Rose Stanley
6 years ago

Besides airline mileage/tickets, what else can the points be used for?

Bob A
Bob A
6 years ago

Approved 10/2. Statement close date – Nov1st , Dec1st, Jan1st. If I hit the spend anytime after Dec 1st,
bonus posts in 2018? That correct? Maybe I request to change close date a couple/few days later to be safe? Thanks.

Pete Watt
Pete Watt
6 years ago

Anyone have a phone number to contact Chase Southwest business card to find out what happened to my 60,000 points? I need them to post before years end. Thanks for any info.

Jay Cee
Jay Cee
6 years ago
Reply to  Pete Watt

it’s on the back of the card

Pete
Pete
6 years ago

Would anyone have a phone number for the chase southwest business card (not the number on the back of the card) to find out why my bonus 60,000 miles were not posted to my account. Need the points before years end for companion pass. I called the number on the card. Answer I got was wait.

Pete
Pete
6 years ago
Reply to  dealswelike

My first statement closing date was Oct 08 and I met the minimum with that statement. My wife and I always met the minimum on our other Southwest cards on the first statement and the bonus was always posted 2 days after statement I guess I’ll wait till next statement before calling again. Thanks

Samuel
Samuel
6 years ago
Reply to  Pete

Have your points posted yet? My statement closes on Nov 4th and I’m hoping my points post a few days after that.

Pete
Pete
6 years ago
Reply to  Samuel

No points as of yet. I’m waiting for the second statement close to see if points are added.If not added to the phone I go.

Pete
Pete
6 years ago
Reply to  Samuel

60,000 points posted on my second statement. Made companion pass.

Joe
Joe
6 years ago

I signed up for 2 cards on October 1st, I just got a bill that says my closing date is October 19th and payment due November 16th. Which would make my 3rd month closing date December 19th and payment due January 16th. So will I get my points in December or in January when I pay the bill? Naturally I want the points in January so I will have 2 years on the companion pass.
Also does spend $2000 in first 3 months mean 3 actual months or 3 bills? If it is actual months I should not exceed the $2000 until after my closing date of December 19th but before December 1st?

Greg
Greg
6 years ago

I’m at 105,500 points what should I do?!

Cat
Cat
6 years ago
Reply to  dealswelike

Sometimes there are good bonus points when you book a hotel through southwest’s website. I’ve seen 4K points for a single night stay. Good luck!

Mary Campbell
Mary Campbell
6 years ago

Will the $69 annual fee automatically be applied to the card when you sign up for one?

nancy
nancy
6 years ago

I’m @ 90,000 points, 20,000 from 110,000. I was denied the 60,000 card because I had applied & received a card within the last 12 mos. How can I get to the 20,000 needed, to obtain the pass again? I have purchased a new IPhone X through the portal & also a subscription which will be a total of 6700 points but I want to save for next year if I can’t hit 110,000 by end of year & post by end of year. ANy suggestions?

Nancy
Nancy
6 years ago
Reply to  dealswelike

Yeah I just ordered Bose head phones for extra points but somehow I’m thinking I may not hit the mark. Oh well!

Chris
Chris
6 years ago

My southwest card close date is the 8th of the month. I have 4000 more points to get the companion pass again. Do I have to earn them by December 8th or do I have until Dec 31 and they then post on Jan 8. And points earned after 12/31 until 1/7 do not count for 2018.

Michele
Michele
6 years ago

Hi! I have a question I’m hoping you can help me with. I was able to sign up for both the premier and plus card when they had the 60k bonus. I waited until the last minute so I could hit my spending at the beginning of next year and have the companion pass for almost all of 2018 and then 2019. My card approval date was 10/3 so I “officially” have until 1/3/18 to hit my spending. My statement close date is the 4th of the month for both cards. So, my question is: if I hit my minimum spend sometime between 12/4 and 1/3, the points won’t show up on the Southwest system until after the 1/4 statement, correct? If I hit the minimum spend in December I just want to make sure they don’t actually get credited to Southwest until next year. But it sounds like like you’re pretty sure they won’t credit to Southwest until after the statement date? Thanks for any help you can provide!

Kevin Sutcliffe
Kevin Sutcliffe
6 years ago

Hi. I’m at 102,000 points and just past the December billing cycle date. I know more credit card spending won’t earn me more points this year based on previous posts you’ve answered. Will booking additional flights/hotels for December use help for this year or am I too late to do more?

Lisa
Lisa
6 years ago

I have a different problem. My husband met his spend on Nov 12 for the business card, already received the credit card statement. But the bonus miles and Companion Pass did not post to his Southwest account. Only the miles for the amount he spent got posted. When he called Chase, the first guy was clueless. He told us to call Southwest. Then when we called Chase again, another guy said the bonus and Companion Pass will post Dec 12. Today is Dec 12, I have yet see any of that in his account. Has this happen to any one before?
I used the same offer and already received my Companion Pass and bonus miles by the time the credit card statement came.

Here is the only uncertainty: I usually take screenshots of my applications including the promotion page. But I forgot to take the screenshot of the promo page for his application. I can’t remember if I originated the application through the promotion link. But subsequent screenshots of his application show the same URL with the same promo codes int the URL in my application screenshots. I assume since the URLs are the same between his and mine, we should be safe, right?

Has anyone taken a long time before getting their bonus and Companion Pass?

Jamie
Jamie
6 years ago

Hi! I had a question hoping you could help ease my mind! My statement close date was Dec 20. I just met my minimum spend today (without realizing I was that close). But since I’m after my December close date, I should be good and get the bonus points in January 2018, right? Do you know of any cases where they awarded bonus points based on date minimum spend was reached instead of statement date? I haven’t met the minimum spend on my business card yet bc I want to do that in January 2018 also but I want to make sure I don’t get my Premier in 2017 and Business in 2018 and split up my points so that I can’t get the CP. Thanks!

Chris
Chris
6 years ago

I got my credit card and earned 40k points. Unfortunately, a week later, Southwest offered 50k to new subscribers. I have a few questions. SW also gave me a companion pass. How does that work and does it expire? Can I only choose one person or switch them out? Do they have to be on my exact flight or can they live in another city.

Kim
Kim
5 years ago

I applied for the premier card and earned the bonus points in 2018. I applied for the business card in 2018 to earn enough points for the companion pass in 2019. My closing statement date is the 8th. I was $50 shy of hitting the minimum spending for the bonus points in Oct. If I spend enough to hit the minimum in Nov before my Dec closing statement. Will the bonus points hit my account in time to earn the companion for 2019?

Could I transfer the points from my premier card to my business card and close the premier card without losing points? I applied for one card in 2017 and another card in 2018. I’m trying to see if I can avoid paying for both cards in 2018.

Melissa
Melissa
5 years ago

Question! If I open the the credit cards this month (November 2018) and start spending on the card and my bonus points post in 2019 – those points count for 2019 and are not back dated or based on the date my account was opened? Just want to make sure I do this right! Thanks!

Ronald D
Ronald D
5 years ago

Hello! My close date for both SW personal and business card is every 4th of the month. my first statement already came out last 12/4/18 I just hit the minimum spend yesterday 12/13/18 for both cards. Since my close date for this cycle is on 1/4/19 does it mean it will be posted 2 to 5 days after statement close date? For me it does not matter if its 2 to 5 days or 4 to 6 weeks as long it will be posted for next year 2019. I hope they wont post my welcome bonus during this current cycle.

Susan
Susan
5 years ago

I applied for 2 RR Rewards cards in December 2018. I have been using both cards and am slightly over minimum spend on one and not quite there on the other; however, is it safe to say that since my very first statement does not come out until the 3rd week in January, it really would not matter how much I put on it in December of 2018. All the spend and all the bonus points should show up in January of 2019 and once I spend an additional 6K I will obtain the coveted Companion Pass. Is that correct or am I actually in jeopardy because I went over the minimum spend on one of my cards in December? Thank you for your insight.

Sam
Sam
5 years ago

Hi, will any Credit Card spend ( December 7th statement closing date) from December 8th to January 8th, 2019 Post in January? Or does credit card spend post back to December transactions? I am referring to normal Credit Card spend points and not anything to do with the Chase Bonus.

Thank you!

A O
A O
5 years ago

Hi,

I reached the minimum spend a week before Jan 1st and it reset and I lost 40,000 points towards companion pass even though it said in their terms and conditions that it would take 6 to 8 weeks to post. Is there anyone I can talk to to help with this, or is all hope lost? I still have 20,000 extra bonus points pending but I think it’s impossible to rack up 90,000 remaining points to get the companion pass within the year. I am pretty distraught because I followed their terms.

Brad
Brad
5 years ago

I have a question about the timing of the anniversary bonus points for this card. I know that, depending on the version of the card, the Southwest credit card provides either 3,000 or 6,000 Rapid Rewards points upon the cardholder’s anniversary date. Do these points post before or after the new year’s annual fee posts? I would like to cancel the card after receiving all of my first year bonus points (i.e., the 65,000 points based on spend), but I’m willing to hang onto it until the anniversary bonus points post. Yet I don’t want to pay the next year’s annual fee. So do you recommend I cancel right away or wait until the anniversary bonus points post? It all comes down to the timing of when exactly the new annual fee kicks in. Thanks for your guidance.

Sue G
Sue G
4 years ago

How do you apply for 2 Southwest credit cards? Do I need to put one in my husbands name? Then how do you put the points together?

Sue G
Sue G
4 years ago

How do I apply for two Southwest credit cards? Do I put one in my husbands name , if so then how do I put the points together?

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