How to Earn the Southwest Companion Pass and Other Free Flights (2019)

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There are few travel rewards as exciting as a companion flight. These offers can amount to a “buy one, get one” free deal, or at least pretty close to free. Some of the best travel rewards credit cards can offer a companion pass, but the terms can vary dramatically. Some companion passes are only good for certain types of flights and to certain places, while others are less limited.

Earn Companion Flights via these Travel Rewards Credit Card Offers

The Platinum Delta SkyMiles® Credit Card from American Express and the Platinum Delta SkyMiles® Business Credit Card from American Express

Both of these cards offer you a companion certificate each year upon renewal. This certificate is valid for one round-trip, domestic, main cabin (economy class) ticket within the contiguous 48 states. The personal card offers new applicants 35,000 welcome miles and 5,000 Medallion Qualifying Miles after you spend $1,000 on new purchases within three months of account opening. You also receive a $100 statement credit when you make a Delta purchase with your card within the first three months after account opening.

The business card currently offers new applicants 35,000 welcome miles and 5,000 Medallion Qualifying Miles after you spend $1,000 on new purchases within three months of account opening. You also receive a $100 statement credit when you make a Delta purchase with your card within the first three months after account opening. Other benefits include a complimentary checked bag, Main Cabin Priority Boarding, and a 20% savings on in-flight purchases. There’s a $195 annual fee for both of these cards or $250 if the application is received on or after 1/30/2020.

The Delta Reserve® Credit Card from American Express and the Delta Reserve for Business Credit Card

These cards also offer you a companion certificate each year upon renewal. But this certificate is valid for either an economy class or first class, round-trip, domestic, ticket within the contiguous 48 states. The personal card offers new applicants 40,000 welcome miles and 10,000 Medallion Qualifying Miles after you spend $3,000 on new purchases within three months of account opening.

The business card currently offers new applicants 40,000 welcome miles and 10,000 Medallion Qualifying Miles after you spend $3,000 on new purchases within three months of account opening. You also receive a $100 statement credit when you make a Delta purchase with your card within the first three months after account opening. Other benefits include a complimentary checked bag, Main Cabin Priority Boarding, and a 20% savings on in-flight purchases. $450 annual fee ($550 if the application is received on or after 1/30/2020.

Both of these cards offer the Miles Boost that lets you earn 15,000 bonus miles and 15,000 Medallion® Qualification Miles (MQMs) after you spend $30,000 or more in eligible purchases on your card within a calendar year. You can also earn an additional 15,000 welcome miles and 15,000 MQMs after you spend $60,000 in eligible purchases on your card in the same a calendar year, for a total of 30,000 welcome miles and 30,000 MQMs. However, starting January 30, 2020, you will no longer earn welcome miles with this benefit. These cards also offer a SkyClub membership, a free checked bag, and priority boarding. There’s a $450 annual fee for this card.

The Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card, Rapid Rewards Premier Credit Card, and Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card

These three cards all offer you up to 75,000 welcome points of the 125,000 you need to earn a Companion Pass from Southwest. You earn 40,000 points after you spend $1,000 on purchases in the first three months your account is open, plus another 35,000 points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 6 months your account is open. This gives you a total of 75,000 bonus points, as well as at least 5,000 points from the spending you did to earn it.

If you earn this, plus another 45,000 points in a calendar year, you’ll receive unlimited companion airfare (plus government taxes) until the end of the next calendar year. Some people do this by also opening up one of the Southwest business card accounts. These cards have annual fees$69. $99 and $149, respectively.

CitiBusiness® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Mastercard®

This card offers you a domestic $99 companion certificate after you make $30,000 in purchases within a cardmember year and renew your card. This is valid for a domestic, economy class, round-trip flight within the contiguous 48 states. Other benefits include a complimentary checked bag, preferred boarding, and a 25% savings on in-flight food and wifi.

This card also offers you 65,000 welcome miles after spending $4,000 within four months of account opening. There’s a $99 annual fee for this card that’s waived the first year.

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