Chase is offering 100,000 bonus points after spending $12,000 total on purchases in the first 12 months with the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card. Annual fee is $69. This offer will expire on 12/7/2021 at 6pm EST.
Thanks to Community Member NVSGT for finding this deal.
Card Details:
Our best points offer ever! Earn up to 100,000 bonus points. Earn 50,000 bonus points after spending $2,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open, plus 50,000 more bonus points after spending $12,000 total on purchases in the first 12 months.
Now enjoy more benefits and more ways to earn.
3,000 anniversary points each year.
Earn 2X points on Southwest® purchases.
NEW! Earn 2X points on local transit and commuting, including rideshare.
NEW! Earn 2X points on internet, cable, phone services, and select streaming.
NEW! 2 EarlyBird Check-In® each year
All points earned count towards Companion Pass®.
Chase is offering 100,000 bonus points after spending $12,000 total on purchases in the first 12 months with the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card. Annual fee is $99.
Card Details:
Our best points offer ever! Earn up to 100,000 bonus points. Earn 50,000 bonus points after spending $2,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open, plus 50,000 more bonus points after spending $12,000 total on purchases in the first 12 months.
Now enjoy more benefits and more ways to earn.
6,000 anniversary points each year.
NEW! Earn 3X points on Southwest® purchases.
NEW! Earn 2X points on local transit and commuting, including rideshare.
NEW! Earn 2X points on internet, cable, phone services, and select streaming.
NEW! 2 EarlyBird Check-In® each year.
All points earned count towards Companion Pass®.
Chase is offering 100,000 bonus points after spending $12,000 total on purchases in the first 12 months with the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card. Annual fee is $149.
Card Details:
Our best points offer ever! Earn up to 100,000 bonus points. Earn 50,000 bonus points after spending $2,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open, plus 50,000 more bonus points after spending $12,000 total on purchases in the first 12 months.
7,500 anniversary points each year.
Now enjoy more benefits and more ways to earn.
NEW! Earn 3X points on Southwest® purchases.
NEW! Earn 2X points on local transit and commuting, including rideshare.
NEW! Earn 2X points on internet, cable, phone services, and select streaming.
Chase is offering 100,000 bonus points after spending $12,000 total on purchases in the first 12 months with the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card. Annual fee is $69.
Card Details:
Our best points offer ever! Earn up to 100,000 bonus points. Earn 50,000 bonus points after spending $2,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open, plus 50,000 more bonus points after spending $12,000 total on purchases in the first 12 months.
Now enjoy more benefits and more ways to earn.
3,000 anniversary points each year.
Earn 2X points on Southwest® purchases.
NEW! Earn 2X points on local transit and commuting, including rideshare.
NEW! Earn 2X points on internet, cable, phone services, and select streaming.
NEW! 2 EarlyBird Check-In® each year
All points earned count towards Companion Pass®.
Chase is offering 100,000 bonus points after spending $12,000 total on purchases in the first 12 months with the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card. Annual fee is $99.
Card Details:
Our best points offer ever! Earn up to 100,000 bonus points. Earn 50,000 bonus points after spending $2,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open, plus 50,000 more bonus points after spending $12,000 total on purchases in the first 12 months.
Now enjoy more benefits and more ways to earn.
6,000 anniversary points each year.
NEW! Earn 3X points on Southwest® purchases.
NEW! Earn 2X points on local transit and commuting, including rideshare.
NEW! Earn 2X points on internet, cable, phone services, and select streaming.
NEW! 2 EarlyBird Check-In® each year.
All points earned count towards Companion Pass®.
Chase is offering 100,000 bonus points after spending $12,000 total on purchases in the first 12 months with the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card. Annual fee is $149.
Card Details:
Our best points offer ever! Earn up to 100,000 bonus points. Earn 50,000 bonus points after spending $2,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open, plus 50,000 more bonus points after spending $12,000 total on purchases in the first 12 months.
7,500 anniversary points each year.
Now enjoy more benefits and more ways to earn.
NEW! Earn 3X points on Southwest® purchases.
NEW! Earn 2X points on local transit and commuting, including rideshare.
NEW! Earn 2X points on internet, cable, phone services, and select streaming.
These responses 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.
Opinions expressed here are the author's alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.
Thanks all for the advice around getting companion pass! Opted for the $149 card since it essentially pays for itself every year ($75 southwest credit and 7500 points annually).
Here's my plan for anyone who might benefit from it:
- Before 2022, spend UNDER $2000 (I'm aiming for $1800 to have a buffer) so that the 50,000 point bonus does not hit in this calendar year.
- In Jan (and before the 3 months from start of account) spend the remaining amount to get to $2000 for the first 50,000 bonus. (Total 50,000 points for 2022 towards 125,000 companion pass)
- SPEND LIKE CRAZY, to get the remaining of the 12k as quickly as possible. Second 50,000 point bonus hits after this. (Total 100,000 points towards 125,000 companion pass)
- In the course of this, in 2022, should accrue at least 10k points from spending point accrual (110,000 points towards 125,000 companion pass)
- for the remaining $15k points needed, either refer someone to the card for 20,000 points, or just migrate more of my spending to this card.
The goal is to get to 125,000 points accrued in 2022, as soon as possible in the calendar year to secure companion pass for the remaining months of 2022 and through all of 2023.
Thanks all, and good luck!
Also offering free canceled flights!
For spending using credit card, you can have minimum federal taxes deducted at your income source/salary etc and pay estimated taxes every quarter using credit card. 1.96% credit card fee is well offset by credit card point value/benefits. I have been doing that since I started cc churning. Just an idea for churners!
Sign up for a Slickdeals account to remove this ad.
Thanks all for the advice around getting companion pass! Opted for the $149 card since it essentially pays for itself every year ($75 southwest credit and 7500 points annually).
Here's my plan for anyone who might benefit from it:
- Before 2022, spend UNDER $2000 (I'm aiming for $1800 to have a buffer) so that the 50,000 point bonus does not hit in this calendar year.
- In Jan (and before the 3 months from start of account) spend the remaining amount to get to $2000 for the first 50,000 bonus. (Total 50,000 points for 2022 towards 125,000 companion pass)
- SPEND LIKE CRAZY, to get the remaining of the 12k as quickly as possible. Second 50,000 point bonus hits after this. (Total 100,000 points towards 125,000 companion pass)
- In the course of this, in 2022, should accrue at least 10k points from spending point accrual (110,000 points towards 125,000 companion pass)
- for the remaining $15k points needed, either refer someone to the card for 20,000 points, or just migrate more of my spending to this card.
The goal is to get to 125,000 points accrued in 2022, as soon as possible in the calendar year to secure companion pass for the remaining months of 2022 and through all of 2023.
Thanks all, and good luck!
Doing ANY spend in 2021 is stupid. Save ALL OF YOUR spend for the January statement as anything that hits BEFORE 2022 doesn't count towards 2022.
2nd: The $12,000 spend to get the 100,000 bonus COUNTS so you'd be at 112,000 points needing only 13,000 points to get companion pass.
I'm moving and have a bunch of big expenses planned, so I'd love to time this as well as I can to have the december statement hit as early in the month as possible. What's the ideal date to apply to ensure that happens?
So just to clarify, is it not possible to apply for one personal card and one business card to get this deal like I've done in the past? Did the put a stop to that?
Doing ANY spend in 2021 is stupid. Save ALL OF YOUR spend for the January statement as anything that hits BEFORE 2022 doesn't count towards 2022.
2nd: The $12,000 spend to get the 100,000 bonus COUNTS so you'd be at 112,000 points needing only 13,000 points to get companion pass.
You are wrong. I've had 3 companion passes so far and working towards my 4th one. Just got approved for the Priority card.
You are perfectly fine to spend *less than* $2000 in 2021. You do have to be very careful not to go over. I only pay online bills in this scenario to prevent any possible human error. E.g. someone accidentally charges you more than they should've, says "oops" and gives you a refund, but if the extra charge put you over $2000 even for a second, you will get your first 50,000 points post in 2021. E.g. there was one time when my wife took the credit card to the dentist and thought she was doing a nice thing by telling them to bill us ahead for a procedure they just scheduled... They did and my bonus hit too early that one time. So again, you are fine to spend this year, just don't go over the $2000. All spend from this year will count towards the required $2000 spend for the first 50,000 points.
So if you are absolutely paranoid - don't spend anything in 2021. However, I normally most of my spend in the October-December timeframe (e.g. $1800 out of $2000). Then comes January first I just buy some gift cards for $200 (or pay some bills), which makes me hit the $2000 spend in January. Then your points post and you have companion pass for the remainder of that year and the entire next one.
BTW, out of the three cards, the Priority card and not the Plus or Premier is the best. You will get $75 towards Southwest fees, so that makes you annual fee only $74 from $149. And you are getting 7500 points (instead of 3000 points with the Plus card). So for extra $5 you get extra 4500 points, which is worth over $45 (probably about $60-$70 or so, depending on how you value the points). So if you are actually planning to travel Southwest a fair amount (which you should with 100,000 points), I would recommend the Priority card, not the Plus or Premier.
Thanks all for the advice around getting companion pass! Opted for the $149 card since it essentially pays for itself every year ($75 southwest credit and 7500 points annually).
Here's my plan for anyone who might benefit from it:
- Before 2022, spend UNDER $2000 (I'm aiming for $1800 to have a buffer) so that the 50,000 point bonus does not hit in this calendar year.
- In Jan (and before the 3 months from start of account) spend the remaining amount to get to $2000 for the first 50,000 bonus. (Total 50,000 points for 2022 towards 125,000 companion pass)
- SPEND LIKE CRAZY, to get the remaining of the 12k as quickly as possible. Second 50,000 point bonus hits after this. (Total 100,000 points towards 125,000 companion pass)
- In the course of this, in 2022, should accrue at least 10k points from spending point accrual (110,000 points towards 125,000 companion pass)
- for the remaining $15k points needed, either refer someone to the card for 20,000 points, or just migrate more of my spending to this card.
The goal is to get to 125,000 points accrued in 2022, as soon as possible in the calendar year to secure companion pass for the remaining months of 2022 and through all of 2023.
Thanks all, and good luck!
As someone who's done this three times so far and is working on the fourth companion pass, this is about the perfect game plan.
The only small addition - you can also apply for a Business card as well using the same Southwest Rapid Rewards account and get your companion pass even earlier. E.g. right now there are two business cards with 60k and 80k bonus requiring only 5k spend. So once you do your 12k total spend to get 100k points on the personal card, do 5k spend to get a minimum of 60k more points - and you have a companion pass.
They did tighten the requirements for the business cards a bit, so it's not a sure thing of course.
Few years ago my wife signed up for both personal and business. She then listed me as authorized so I had a card in my name as well but it was her account.
It does show as a trade line on my credit.
I have never signed up though as a card member. Will being an authorized card user on with her previously unqualify me for the bonus here? We still have the account open and I am still an authorized card user.
Hi expert, I am thinking of getting priority that includes:
$75 Southwest® travel credit each year.
From the statement below, I think it is every 12 months of when the card is issue:
"The Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card offers a $75 annual credit towards Southwest purchases every cardmember year"
4 Upgraded Boardings per year when available.
you'll be reimbursed for up to four upgraded boardings to positions A1-A15 every anniversary year
My question is this credit per calendar year? meaning if I get one today so I have these this year and another one in 2022. has anyone has this card before? I think they both means every 12 months of when the card is issued. TIA.
Hi expert, I am thinking of getting priority that includes:
$75 Southwest® travel credit each year.
From the statement below, I think it is every 12 months of when the card is issue:
"The Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card offers a $75 annual credit towards Southwest purchases every cardmember year"
4 Upgraded Boardings per year when available.
you'll be reimbursed for up to four upgraded boardings to positions A1-A15 every anniversary year
My question is this credit per calendar year? meaning if I get one today so I have these this year and another one in 2022. has anyone has this card before? I think they both means every 12 months of when the card is issued. TIA.
Per cardmember year, not calendar year. I.e. next $75 credit will be 12 months after the card is approved.
Few years ago my wife signed up for both personal and business. She then listed me as authorized so I had a card in my name as well but it was her account.
It does show as a trade line on my credit.
I have never signed up though as a card member. Will being an authorized card user on with her previously unqualify me for the bonus here? We still have the account open and I am still an authorized card user.
You should be fine. You can even use her account to refer you to get your own card and she will get 20,000 point bonus for referring you (even though you are an authorized user on her account). Note, I don't work for Chase, this is to the best of my knowledge per info from various financial / travel blogs.
Argh. Literally applied for Priority card 2 days before this offer came out (inflight 50k offer - as I'm planning a lot of SWA flights this coming year).
Anyone have experience adjusting the promo offer you qualify for? I guess I'll need to call.
You are wrong. I've had 3 companion passes so far and working towards my 4th one. Just got approved for the Priority card.
You are perfectly fine to spend *less than* $2000 in 2021. You do have to be very careful not to go over. I only pay online bills in this scenario to prevent any possible human error. E.g. someone accidentally charges you more than they should've, says "oops" and gives you a refund, but if the extra charge put you over $2000 even for a second, you will get your first 50,000 points post in 2021. E.g. there was one time when my wife took the credit card to the dentist and thought she was doing a nice thing by telling them to bill us ahead for a procedure they just scheduled... They did and my bonus hit too early that one time. So again, you are fine to spend this year, just don't go over the $2000. All spend from this year will count towards the required $2000 spend for the first 50,000 points.
So if you are absolutely paranoid - don't spend anything in 2021. However, I normally most of my spend in the October-December timeframe (e.g. $1800 out of $2000). Then comes January first I just buy some gift cards for $200 (or pay some bills), which makes me hit the $2000 spend in January. Then your points post and you have companion pass for the remainder of that year and the entire next one.
BTW, out of the three cards, the Priority card and not the Plus or Premier is the best. You will get $75 towards Southwest fees, so that makes you annual fee only $74 from $149. And you are getting 7500 points (instead of 3000 points with the Plus card). So for extra $5 you get extra 4500 points, which is worth over $45 (probably about $60-$70 or so, depending on how you value the points). So if you are actually planning to travel Southwest a fair amount (which you should with 100,000 points), I would recommend the Priority card, not the Plus or Premier.
I am NOT WRONG, you are MISSING THE POINT of why it is stupid to spend ANYTHING in 2021 IF YOU DON'T NEED IT.
Say you spend $1,800 in 2021 so not to hit the threshold of $2,000 --- that means you have to spend ANOTHER $1,800 in 2022 as you just lost 1800 points you would have EARNED for 2022. It is NOT THAT DIFFICULT TO UNDERSTAND. This has nothing to do with the $2,000 spend and not hitting it....it's called wasting a spend you have no use for...
Also, that 50,000 points doesn't get you the companion pass...it is 125,000 points, so you'd start the year with 50,200 points....instead of 52,000 points, then 112,000 points once you hit the 2nd bonus.
Thanks all for the advice around getting companion pass! Opted for the $149 card since it essentially pays for itself every year ($75 southwest credit and 7500 points annually).
Here's my plan for anyone who might benefit from it:
- Before 2022, spend UNDER $2000 (I'm aiming for $1800 to have a buffer) so that the 50,000 point bonus does not hit in this calendar year.
- In Jan (and before the 3 months from start of account) spend the remaining amount to get to $2000 for the first 50,000 bonus. (Total 50,000 points for 2022 towards 125,000 companion pass)
- SPEND LIKE CRAZY, to get the remaining of the 12k as quickly as possible. Second 50,000 point bonus hits after this. (Total 100,000 points towards 125,000 companion pass)
- In the course of this, in 2022, should accrue at least 10k points from spending point accrual (110,000 points towards 125,000 companion pass)
- for the remaining $15k points needed, either refer someone to the card for 20,000 points, or just migrate more of my spending to this card.
The goal is to get to 125,000 points accrued in 2022, as soon as possible in the calendar year to secure companion pass for the remaining months of 2022 and through all of 2023.
Thanks all, and good luck!
What about the points of the 1800$ spent in 2021? If you do that strategy, those points won't count for the companion pass, right?
You are wrong. I've had 3 companion passes so far and working towards my 4th one. Just got approved for the Priority card.
You are perfectly fine to spend *less than* $2000 in 2021. You do have to be very careful not to go over. I only pay online bills in this scenario to prevent any possible human error. E.g. someone accidentally charges you more than they should've, says "oops" and gives you a refund, but if the extra charge put you over $2000 even for a second, you will get your first 50,000 points post in 2021. E.g. there was one time when my wife took the credit card to the dentist and thought she was doing a nice thing by telling them to bill us ahead for a procedure they just scheduled... They did and my bonus hit too early that one time. So again, you are fine to spend this year, just don't go over the $2000. All spend from this year will count towards the required $2000 spend for the first 50,000 points.
So if you are absolutely paranoid - don't spend anything in 2021. However, I normally most of my spend in the October-December timeframe (e.g. $1800 out of $2000). Then comes January first I just buy some gift cards for $200 (or pay some bills), which makes me hit the $2000 spend in January. Then your points post and you have companion pass for the remainder of that year and the entire next one.
BTW, out of the three cards, the Priority card and not the Plus or Premier is the best. You will get $75 towards Southwest fees, so that makes you annual fee only $74 from $149. And you are getting 7500 points (instead of 3000 points with the Plus card). So for extra $5 you get extra 4500 points, which is worth over $45 (probably about $60-$70 or so, depending on how you value the points). So if you are actually planning to travel Southwest a fair amount (which you should with 100,000 points), I would recommend the Priority card, not the Plus or Premier.
Priority annual fee would be $149 x 2 = $298 to get the annual credit and bonus miles. Calculation based on one year $149 is not accurate.
866 Comments
Your comment cannot be blank.
Featured Comments
Here's my plan for anyone who might benefit from it:
- Before 2022, spend UNDER $2000 (I'm aiming for $1800 to have a buffer) so that the 50,000 point bonus does not hit in this calendar year.
- In Jan (and before the 3 months from start of account) spend the remaining amount to get to $2000 for the first 50,000 bonus. (Total 50,000 points for 2022 towards 125,000 companion pass)
- SPEND LIKE CRAZY, to get the remaining of the 12k as quickly as possible. Second 50,000 point bonus hits after this. (Total 100,000 points towards 125,000 companion pass)
- In the course of this, in 2022, should accrue at least 10k points from spending point accrual (110,000 points towards 125,000 companion pass)
- for the remaining $15k points needed, either refer someone to the card for 20,000 points, or just migrate more of my spending to this card.
The goal is to get to 125,000 points accrued in 2022, as soon as possible in the calendar year to secure companion pass for the remaining months of 2022 and through all of 2023.
Thanks all, and good luck!
Sign up for a Slickdeals account to remove this ad.
Here's my plan for anyone who might benefit from it:
- Before 2022, spend UNDER $2000 (I'm aiming for $1800 to have a buffer) so that the 50,000 point bonus does not hit in this calendar year.
- In Jan (and before the 3 months from start of account) spend the remaining amount to get to $2000 for the first 50,000 bonus. (Total 50,000 points for 2022 towards 125,000 companion pass)
- SPEND LIKE CRAZY, to get the remaining of the 12k as quickly as possible. Second 50,000 point bonus hits after this. (Total 100,000 points towards 125,000 companion pass)
- In the course of this, in 2022, should accrue at least 10k points from spending point accrual (110,000 points towards 125,000 companion pass)
- for the remaining $15k points needed, either refer someone to the card for 20,000 points, or just migrate more of my spending to this card.
The goal is to get to 125,000 points accrued in 2022, as soon as possible in the calendar year to secure companion pass for the remaining months of 2022 and through all of 2023.
Thanks all, and good luck!
2nd: The $12,000 spend to get the 100,000 bonus COUNTS so you'd be at 112,000 points needing only 13,000 points to get companion pass.
2nd: The $12,000 spend to get the 100,000 bonus COUNTS so you'd be at 112,000 points needing only 13,000 points to get companion pass.
You are perfectly fine to spend *less than* $2000 in 2021. You do have to be very careful not to go over. I only pay online bills in this scenario to prevent any possible human error. E.g. someone accidentally charges you more than they should've, says "oops" and gives you a refund, but if the extra charge put you over $2000 even for a second, you will get your first 50,000 points post in 2021. E.g. there was one time when my wife took the credit card to the dentist and thought she was doing a nice thing by telling them to bill us ahead for a procedure they just scheduled... They did and my bonus hit too early that one time. So again, you are fine to spend this year, just don't go over the $2000. All spend from this year will count towards the required $2000 spend for the first 50,000 points.
So if you are absolutely paranoid - don't spend anything in 2021. However, I normally most of my spend in the October-December timeframe (e.g. $1800 out of $2000). Then comes January first I just buy some gift cards for $200 (or pay some bills), which makes me hit the $2000 spend in January. Then your points post and you have companion pass for the remainder of that year and the entire next one.
BTW, out of the three cards, the Priority card and not the Plus or Premier is the best. You will get $75 towards Southwest fees, so that makes you annual fee only $74 from $149. And you are getting 7500 points (instead of 3000 points with the Plus card). So for extra $5 you get extra 4500 points, which is worth over $45 (probably about $60-$70 or so, depending on how you value the points). So if you are actually planning to travel Southwest a fair amount (which you should with 100,000 points), I would recommend the Priority card, not the Plus or Premier.
Here's my plan for anyone who might benefit from it:
- Before 2022, spend UNDER $2000 (I'm aiming for $1800 to have a buffer) so that the 50,000 point bonus does not hit in this calendar year.
- In Jan (and before the 3 months from start of account) spend the remaining amount to get to $2000 for the first 50,000 bonus. (Total 50,000 points for 2022 towards 125,000 companion pass)
- SPEND LIKE CRAZY, to get the remaining of the 12k as quickly as possible. Second 50,000 point bonus hits after this. (Total 100,000 points towards 125,000 companion pass)
- In the course of this, in 2022, should accrue at least 10k points from spending point accrual (110,000 points towards 125,000 companion pass)
- for the remaining $15k points needed, either refer someone to the card for 20,000 points, or just migrate more of my spending to this card.
The goal is to get to 125,000 points accrued in 2022, as soon as possible in the calendar year to secure companion pass for the remaining months of 2022 and through all of 2023.
Thanks all, and good luck!
The only small addition - you can also apply for a Business card as well using the same Southwest Rapid Rewards account and get your companion pass even earlier. E.g. right now there are two business cards with 60k and 80k bonus requiring only 5k spend. So once you do your 12k total spend to get 100k points on the personal card, do 5k spend to get a minimum of 60k more points - and you have a companion pass.
They did tighten the requirements for the business cards a bit, so it's not a sure thing of course.
It does show as a trade line on my credit.
I have never signed up though as a card member. Will being an authorized card user on with her previously unqualify me for the bonus here? We still have the account open and I am still an authorized card user.
$75 Southwest® travel credit each year.
From the statement below, I think it is every 12 months of when the card is issue:
"The Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card offers a $75 annual credit towards Southwest purchases every cardmember year"
4 Upgraded Boardings per year when available.
you'll be reimbursed for up to four upgraded boardings to positions A1-A15 every anniversary year
My question is this credit per calendar year? meaning if I get one today so I have these this year and another one in 2022. has anyone has this card before? I think they both means every 12 months of when the card is issued. TIA.
Sign up for a Slickdeals account to remove this ad.
$75 Southwest® travel credit each year.
From the statement below, I think it is every 12 months of when the card is issue:
"The Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card offers a $75 annual credit towards Southwest purchases every cardmember year"
4 Upgraded Boardings per year when available.
you'll be reimbursed for up to four upgraded boardings to positions A1-A15 every anniversary year
My question is this credit per calendar year? meaning if I get one today so I have these this year and another one in 2022. has anyone has this card before? I think they both means every 12 months of when the card is issued. TIA.
It does show as a trade line on my credit.
I have never signed up though as a card member. Will being an authorized card user on with her previously unqualify me for the bonus here? We still have the account open and I am still an authorized card user.
Anyone have experience adjusting the promo offer you qualify for? I guess I'll need to call.
You are perfectly fine to spend *less than* $2000 in 2021. You do have to be very careful not to go over. I only pay online bills in this scenario to prevent any possible human error. E.g. someone accidentally charges you more than they should've, says "oops" and gives you a refund, but if the extra charge put you over $2000 even for a second, you will get your first 50,000 points post in 2021. E.g. there was one time when my wife took the credit card to the dentist and thought she was doing a nice thing by telling them to bill us ahead for a procedure they just scheduled... They did and my bonus hit too early that one time. So again, you are fine to spend this year, just don't go over the $2000. All spend from this year will count towards the required $2000 spend for the first 50,000 points.
So if you are absolutely paranoid - don't spend anything in 2021. However, I normally most of my spend in the October-December timeframe (e.g. $1800 out of $2000). Then comes January first I just buy some gift cards for $200 (or pay some bills), which makes me hit the $2000 spend in January. Then your points post and you have companion pass for the remainder of that year and the entire next one.
BTW, out of the three cards, the Priority card and not the Plus or Premier is the best. You will get $75 towards Southwest fees, so that makes you annual fee only $74 from $149. And you are getting 7500 points (instead of 3000 points with the Plus card). So for extra $5 you get extra 4500 points, which is worth over $45 (probably about $60-$70 or so, depending on how you value the points). So if you are actually planning to travel Southwest a fair amount (which you should with 100,000 points), I would recommend the Priority card, not the Plus or Premier.
Say you spend $1,800 in 2021 so not to hit the threshold of $2,000 --- that means you have to spend ANOTHER $1,800 in 2022 as you just lost 1800 points you would have EARNED for 2022. It is NOT THAT DIFFICULT TO UNDERSTAND. This has nothing to do with the $2,000 spend and not hitting it....it's called wasting a spend you have no use for...
Also, that 50,000 points doesn't get you the companion pass...it is 125,000 points, so you'd start the year with 50,200 points....instead of 52,000 points, then 112,000 points once you hit the 2nd bonus.
Here's my plan for anyone who might benefit from it:
- Before 2022, spend UNDER $2000 (I'm aiming for $1800 to have a buffer) so that the 50,000 point bonus does not hit in this calendar year.
- In Jan (and before the 3 months from start of account) spend the remaining amount to get to $2000 for the first 50,000 bonus. (Total 50,000 points for 2022 towards 125,000 companion pass)
- SPEND LIKE CRAZY, to get the remaining of the 12k as quickly as possible. Second 50,000 point bonus hits after this. (Total 100,000 points towards 125,000 companion pass)
- In the course of this, in 2022, should accrue at least 10k points from spending point accrual (110,000 points towards 125,000 companion pass)
- for the remaining $15k points needed, either refer someone to the card for 20,000 points, or just migrate more of my spending to this card.
The goal is to get to 125,000 points accrued in 2022, as soon as possible in the calendar year to secure companion pass for the remaining months of 2022 and through all of 2023.
Thanks all, and good luck!
What about the points of the 1800$ spent in 2021? If you do that strategy, those points won't count for the companion pass, right?
You are perfectly fine to spend *less than* $2000 in 2021. You do have to be very careful not to go over. I only pay online bills in this scenario to prevent any possible human error. E.g. someone accidentally charges you more than they should've, says "oops" and gives you a refund, but if the extra charge put you over $2000 even for a second, you will get your first 50,000 points post in 2021. E.g. there was one time when my wife took the credit card to the dentist and thought she was doing a nice thing by telling them to bill us ahead for a procedure they just scheduled... They did and my bonus hit too early that one time. So again, you are fine to spend this year, just don't go over the $2000. All spend from this year will count towards the required $2000 spend for the first 50,000 points.
So if you are absolutely paranoid - don't spend anything in 2021. However, I normally most of my spend in the October-December timeframe (e.g. $1800 out of $2000). Then comes January first I just buy some gift cards for $200 (or pay some bills), which makes me hit the $2000 spend in January. Then your points post and you have companion pass for the remainder of that year and the entire next one.
BTW, out of the three cards, the Priority card and not the Plus or Premier is the best. You will get $75 towards Southwest fees, so that makes you annual fee only $74 from $149. And you are getting 7500 points (instead of 3000 points with the Plus card). So for extra $5 you get extra 4500 points, which is worth over $45 (probably about $60-$70 or so, depending on how you value the points). So if you are actually planning to travel Southwest a fair amount (which you should with 100,000 points), I would recommend the Priority card, not the Plus or Premier.
Sign up for a Slickdeals account to remove this ad.