{"id":1959,"date":"2026-10-28T12:14:15","date_gmt":"2026-10-28T12:14:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/babydollliz.com\/?p=1959"},"modified":"2026-10-28T12:14:15","modified_gmt":"2026-10-28T12:14:15","slug":"chase-and-southwest-launch-up-to-90000-point-bonuses-offering-one-final-window-for-the-famous-companion-pass","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/babydollliz.com\/?p=1959","title":{"rendered":"Chase and Southwest Launch Up to 90,000-Point Bonuses Offering One Final Window for the Famous Companion Pass"},"content":{"rendered":"

Chase and Southwest Airlines have rolled out some of the most lucrative welcome offers seen on the co-branded Southwest Rapid Rewards credit card portfolio. While earning up to 90,000 Rapid Rewards points after meeting minimum spending requirements is a significant draw for frequent flyers and points enthusiasts alike, industry observers note that the timing of these promotional offers carries far more strategic importance than the points alone.<\/p>\n

For a limited time, these elevated sign-up bonuses provide travelers with a final opportunity to unlock one of the most valuable perks in the travel industry: the Southwest Companion Pass. Under this renowned benefit, cardholders can designate one person to fly with them for just the cost of taxes and fees every time they purchase a revenue ticket or redeem Rapid Rewards points. The pass features no blackout dates and no complicated restrictions, making it a cornerstone strategy for couples and families looking to maximize their travel budgets.<\/p>\n

However, a major structural overhaul is looming on the horizon. Starting January 1, 2027, Southwest Airlines is fundamentally changing how travelers earn the Companion Pass, moving away from a points-based system and tying the benefit strictly to elite status qualification. Under the upcoming rules, flyers will need to amass 140,000 Tier Qualifying Points for the unlimited version of the pass. Crucially, credit card sign-up bonuses will no longer contribute toward this threshold. Standard credit card spending will only yield one Tier Qualifying Point per dollar spent, meaning consumers would need to charge an astronomical $140,000 to secure the pass through spending alone.<\/p>\n

\"Southwest<\/figure>\n

Despite the impending revamp, Southwest and Chase have established a final exception for prospective cardholders. Individuals who are approved for a new eligible Southwest credit card on or before December 2, 2026, will still have their bonus points count toward the Companion Pass under the legacy rules. This provision applies even if the cardholder completes the required minimum spending and triggers the bonus early in 2027. Travelers who successfully execute this strategy will secure buy-one, get-one-free flights through December 31, 2027.<\/p>\n

Beyond the Companion Pass, holding a co-branded Southwest credit card is becoming increasingly vital for frequent flyers navigating recent airline policy shifts. Following a series of significant changes implemented by the carrier, possessing a Southwest credit card remains the most straightforward method to secure a complimentary checked bag on every itinerary. Cardholders also benefit from annual bonus points, Group 5 boarding privileges, and various seat selection enhancements designed to improve the overall passenger experience.<\/p>\n

The Southwest Rapid Rewards\u00ae Plus Credit Card<\/h2>\n

As part of the broader portfolio refresh, the entry-level Southwest Rapid Rewards\u00ae Plus Credit Card features competitive promotional terms for consumers seeking to enter the Rapid Rewards ecosystem while maintaining modest annual fee commitments. The card continues to attract casual travelers who want reliable perks without premium overhead costs.<\/p>\n

The Southwest Rapid Rewards\u00ae Premier Credit Card<\/h2>\n

Stepping up in the product hierarchy, the Southwest Rapid Rewards\u00ae Premier Credit Card offers an expanded suite of benefits, including higher anniversary point multipliers and enhanced earning potential on everyday purchases. It serves as a popular middle-ground option for travelers who fly moderately throughout the year.<\/p>\n

\"Southwest<\/figure>\n

The Southwest Rapid Rewards\u00ae Priority Credit Card<\/h2>\n

At the top of the personal card lineup, the Southwest Rapid Rewards\u00ae Priority Credit Card delivers the maximum possible value for loyal customers. Featuring annual travel credits, elevated point earnings on Southwest purchases, and priority boarding privileges, it is designed for frequent flyers who maximize the airline’s domestic network.<\/p>\n

One Last Kick at the Companion Pass Can<\/h2>\n

For years, securing the Southwest Companion Pass followed a predictable formula. Travelers opened one or two strategic credit cards, allowed the substantial sign-up bonuses to handle the heavy lifting, and enjoyed nearly two full calendar years of companion travel. That foundational strategy expires permanently at the end of this year.<\/p>\n

Under the current framework, travelers must accumulate 135,000 Companion Pass-qualifying points, or complete 100 qualifying one-way flights, within a single calendar year. Promotional points generated from credit card welcome offers currently count directly toward that cumulative total. <\/p>\n

When the new system takes effect in 2027, Companion Pass-qualifying points will vanish entirely, replaced by elite status requirements that put the unlimited pass out of reach for the average consumer. Southwest’s grandfathering provision for applications approved by December 2, 2026, softens the blow, but it also alters the traditional timeline. Applicants no longer need to rush massive spending into a narrow year-end window. As long as approval is secured by the December deadline, cardholders can complete their minimum spending requirements on a normal schedule and still have the bonus count toward the legacy pass threshold.<\/p>\n

\"Southwest<\/figure>\n

The primary limitation of this final window is duration. A pass earned under this transitional exception will expire on December 31, 2027, regardless of when the bonus posts, eliminating the extended runway characteristic of past years. Furthermore, because no single personal card bonus reaches the 135,000-point requirement on its own, cardholders must bridge the gap.<\/p>\n

Because Chase restricts consumers to holding a single Southwest personal credit card at any given time, stacking two personal card bonuses is impossible. However, travelers can successfully bridge the points deficit by pairing a personal card with a small business offering, such as the Southwest\u00ae Rapid Rewards\u00ae Performance Business Credit Card. Because business card bonuses also fall under the December 2 carve-out date, applicants can combine a personal and business bonus to clear the threshold without depending on points arriving after the calendar turns.<\/p>\n

Going It With One Card<\/h2>\n

Flyers who prefer to manage a single credit card face a tighter margin. Even the maximum 90,000-point personal bonus leaves a significant deficit, requiring cardholders to generate tens of thousands of additional points through everyday spending, shopping portals, or revenue flights before the calendar year closes.<\/p>\n

Industry analysts emphasize that timing is critical because the qualification deadline is tied strictly to the date of account approval rather than the initial application submission. Because Chase applications can frequently pend for review over several days or weeks, prospective applicants are advised to submit their paperwork well in advance to accommodate potential verification delays or calls to reconsideration lines.<\/p>\n

\"Southwest<\/figure>\n

Eligibility restrictions remain firmly in place. Applicants must navigate Chase’s well-known 24-month restriction, which bars individuals from receiving a welcome bonus if they have earned one on any Southwest personal card within the preceding two years. Additionally, the cards remain subject to Chase’s strict 5\/24 rule, meaning consumers who have opened five or more credit cards across any issuing bank within the past 24 months will face automatic denial, regardless of their credit score.<\/p>\n

What Can You Do With the Points?<\/h2>\n

The elevated sign-up bonuses provide considerable flexibility when it comes time to redeem accumulated points. Unlike legacy airline programs that heavily restrict award space, Southwest maintains a dynamic pricing model tied directly to cash fares, ensuring that award availability remains transparent and accessible whenever revenue seats are open for booking.<\/p>\n

For example, short-haul domestic itineraries, such as a nonstop flight from Phoenix to Denver, frequently price out at modest point totals alongside nominal taxes and fees, delivering strong cent-per-point value. Similarly, more aspirational routes, such as transpacific services to Hawaii, demonstrate the tangible purchasing power of a large sign-up bonus. Roundtrip basic economy travel from West Coast gateways like Oakland to destinations like Maui can be secured for competitive point rates, allowing cardholders to offset substantial out-of-pocket travel expenses.<\/p>\n

What to Know Before You Apply<\/h2>\n

Careful preparation is essential before diving into the application process. Beyond verifying compliance with the 5\/24 rule and the 24-month bonus restriction, consumers should assess their spending habits to ensure they can comfortably meet the minimum purchase requirements without stretching their personal finances. <\/p>\n

\"Southwest<\/figure>\n

For households looking to maximize their overall flexibility, these cards also integrate well with broader travel strategies. Points earned in other Chase ecosystems, such as through the Chase Sapphire Preferred\u00ae Card or the Chase Sapphire Reserve\u00ae, can be transferred instantly and at a 1:1 ratio into a linked Southwest Rapid Rewards account, offering an additional avenue to top off balances when planning redemption strategies.<\/p>\n

Chase and Southwest have introduced a significant opportunity for travelers to secure substantial point balances while squeezing in one final attempt at the iconic Companion Pass under legacy rules. For consumers who frequently utilize the carrier’s domestic and near-international route network, these elevated offers represent a timely window to lock in meaningful travel savings before the loyalty program undergoes its sweeping transformation.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Chase and Southwest Airlines have rolled out some of the most lucrative welcome offers seen on the co-branded Southwest Rapid Rewards credit card portfolio. While earning up to 90,000 Rapid Rewards points after meeting minimum spending requirements is a significant draw for frequent flyers and points enthusiasts alike, industry observers note that the timing of…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1958,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1173],"tags":[1175,2646,2372,2649,79,2648,209,1972,2647,2272,2376,2645,1174,1176,122],"class_list":["post-1959","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-family-travel-and-adventures","tag-adventures","tag-bonuses","tag-chase","tag-companion","tag-family","tag-famous","tag-final","tag-launch","tag-offering","tag-pass","tag-point","tag-southwest","tag-travel","tag-vacation","tag-window"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/babydollliz.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1959","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/babydollliz.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/babydollliz.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/babydollliz.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/babydollliz.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1959"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/babydollliz.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1959\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/babydollliz.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/1958"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/babydollliz.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1959"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/babydollliz.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1959"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/babydollliz.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1959"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}