Whether for business or pleasure, traveling with a companion is much more fun.  Right now (if you act fast) you can pick up 100,000 rapid rewards miles and a Southwest companion pass for free and enjoy bringing someone with you for free for almost 2 years. 

This morning I flew home on Southwest after a quick business trip.  I had booked my trip less than two weeks ago and still my journey home cost a minimal 5,700 points (or $89 without Rapid Rewards Points).  I was using points I had picked up using my new Southwest Credit Card  (50,000 rapid rewards points for signing up which is a screaming deal until it expires Nov 28, 2011).

That’s the magic of flying on Southwest airlines.  They come through with simple booking, no-fee changes, and a rapid boarding process. 

Here’s how you can set yourself up with 100,000 rapid rewards points ($1650) AND earn a companion pass so that you can take someone with you until the end of 2013.

How it works:

1.     Apply for the Southwest Credit Card ( Rapid Rewards Plus Card), make one purchase and you’ll earn 50,000 rapid rewards points.

2.     Apply for the Southwest Rapid Rewards Business Plus Card, make one purchase and voila! You now have 50,000 more points (for a total of 100,000)

3.     Now all you need to do is earn another 10,000 points and you’ll be eligible for a Southwest Companion Pass which is good for the rest of the year, plus the entire following year!

4.     If you can time this well by earning your Companion Pass in January or February of 2012, you’ll be able to bring a companion with you for almost two years!

Here are some ways to earn those extra 10,000 miles and get your Companion Pass:

·       Earn them the traditional way by flying on Southwest

·       Spend $10,000

·       Spend $5,000 with your card on hotel, car rental or airfare via Southwest

·       Transfer Wyndam or Choice Hotel Points to top off your rapid rewards account

·       You can even transfer American Membership Rewards points to Choice points, and then transfer the Choice points to Southwest

·       Look for other ways to earn points, for example you can watch this video and get 1000 rapid rewards points for free

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

What are your thoughts about the Southwest Companion pass?  Have you or anyone you know had experience using the companion pass?