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We’ve covered the WHAT, now let’s break into the HOW. I’ll start this way: This is the easy way. If you can manage to use this strategy you will get your Companion pass more quickly with less effort. In Part 3 I’ll detail alternative routes.

The Strategy

I decided to go the route of signing up for 2 Rapid Rewards Credit Cards where the combined sign up bonuses were equal to the points needed for a companion pass.

In early 2018 the rules surrounding Rapid Rewards Credit Cards changed. Previously anyone could get two different personal Southwest cards and take advantage of the two bonuses. This was altered so that you can only receive a sign up bonus from 1 personal Rapid Rewards Credit Card every 24 months.

So how did I get around this? Enter the Southwest Rapid Rewards Business Credit Cards. You can still receive a bonus for 1 personal card + 1 business card.

Although the amount of points needed, cards available and sign up bonuses have changed a little in 5 years (holy crap it’s been 5 YEARS since we did this?!) the basic strategy and prize is the same. Instead of 110,000 points, you need to accumulate 135,000 points. One thing they do to off set this change for credit card holders is start you off with 10,000 qualifying points on January 1st. These are not points that you can spend, but they will count toward the 135,000 essentially making it 125,000 as long as you are a card holder of any one card on January 1st.

Important Considerations

One thing to note: the perfect timing to start applying for cards and make this happen is October/November. 90 days will put you just into January which will give you the longest possible time with the pass. You would apply for the business card first and then the personal card 30 days later. The key here is to NOT spend the entire minimum spend amount until after January 1st. Most people choose to keep the majority of spending until after the new year so they don’t accidentally go over (common wisdom is to leave $1,000 until then).

Card #1 – Rapid Reward Business Card

Rapid Rewards Performance Business Card

Minimum Spend in 90 days: $5,000
Bonus: 80,000 Points

Rapid Rewards Premier Business Card

Minimum Spend in 90 days: $3,000
Bonus: 60,000 Points


For me it was easy. I had been operating my LuLaRoe business as a sole proprietor for the last 3 years. I applied using my SSN and was approved about a week later. You can also make this work if you have any type of side gig where you work as a contractor, freelancer, sell goods online, have a rental property, etc.

The newer Performance card comes with twice the annual fee as the Premier card and additional spend requirements, but does come with some better perks: 3,000 additional points a year on your anniversary, $100 TSA Pre-Check/Global Entry credit, 365 In-flight WiFi credits and 4 upgraded boardings. In my opinion these perks make up for the extra $100 a year. You are also under no obligation to keep any cards you sign up for after 1 year if they don’t make sense for you, your spending and budget. You points won’t go away and you won’t lose your companion pass.

Card #2 – Rapid Rewards Personal Card

Rapid Rewards Plus, Premier or Priority Card

Your goal after being approved for the business card is to make up the difference in points needed with a personal card. So for example if you go for the 80,000 point bonus with $5,000 in spend, you will need a 40,000+ point sign up bonus with a personal card. Luckily the current offers (10/26/23) for all personal cards is 50,000 points on referral links for $1,000 spend or 75,000 points on the public link for $3,000 in spend. This gives you a lot of flexibility in how much you’ll have to spend in 3 months. For our standard spending, without something like annual insurance checks or a large home improvement purchase, $6,000 would be our sweet spot. Don’t do extra spending you normally wouldn’t or that gets you into debt just to hit these sign up bonuses!

Visually here are your current card combinations:

Performance BusinessPremier Business
Personal Cards – Public Offer✅ 163,000 Points
$8,000 Spend in 3 months
✅ 141,000 Points
$6,000 Spend in 3 Months
Personal Cards – Referral Offer✅ 136,000 Points
$6,000 Spend in 3 months
❌ 114,000 Points
$4,000 Spend in 3 Months

I picked the Priority card because it fit my needs the best with no international fees and I thought it was the best bang for your buck with $75 in annual travel credit & a few upgraded boardings so Adam (my 6’7” husband companion) can get good seats on long flights. All personal cards carry the same sign up bonus. I still to this day hold the Priority card because of the value that one provides compared to the annual fee.

Need to bridge the difference of a lower sign up bonus? Can’t apply for the Business Card? Your hopes and dreams are not dead yet! Part 3 has all the extra ways to earn points that count towards your companion pass. While the earlier in the year you can get to 135,000 the better, as long as you gather all those points by 12/31 you still get one full year of companion pass.


My data points 2018

Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier Business Credit Card
Applied: Nov 9
Card received: Nov 17
Minimum Spend in 3 Mo for Bonus: $3,000
Bonus: 60,000 points
Annual Fee: $99
Anniversary Bonus: 6,000 points

Month 1 Spend: $523.52 + $99 Annual Fee
Month 1 Points: 524
Month 1 Close Date: 12/2/18
Points Delivered: 12/3/18
Spend to go: $2476.48

Month 2 Spend: $2504.27
Month 2 Points: 2505
Month 2 Close Date: 1/2/19
Points Delivered: 1/7/19
Spend to go: $0

Month 3 Spend: $376.39
Month 3 Points: 377
Month 3 Close Date: 2/2/19
Points Delivered: 2/3/19
Spend to go: $0
Bonus Amount: 60,000
Bonus Delivered: 2/3/19

Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card
Applied: Nov 29
Card received: Dec 6
Minimum Spend in 3 Mo for Bonus: $2,000
Bonus: 50,000 points
Annual Fee: $149
Annual Travel Credit: $75
Anniversary Bonus: 7,500 points

Month 1 Spend: $1,697.90 + $149 Annual Fee
Month 1 Points: 1698
Month 1 Close Date: 12/28/18
Points Delivered: 12/29/18
Spend to go: $302.10

Month 2 Spend: $1,380.08
Month 2 Points: 1,381
Month 2 Close Date: 1/28/19
Points Delivered: 1/30/19
Spend to go: $0
Bonus Amount: 50,000
Bonus Delivered: 1/30/19

Total Base points from Bonus + Minimum Spend: 115,000 points
Anticipated Anniversary Points: 27,000
Points from normal spending: YMMV

What can you get with 142,000 points? I’ve shared our plans/goal here.