Update: Some offers mentioned below are no longer available. View the current offers here.Official application links: Earn the Companion Pass and enjoy 2-for-1 travel for the rest of 2019 with the Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus Credit Card, the Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier Credit Card or the Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit CardOne of the best travel credit card sign-up bonuses we’ve ever seen is currently available on the three personal Southwest credit cards. If you sign up for the Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus, Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier or Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority card and spend $4,000 in the first 3 months, you’ll earn 30,000 Southwest points plus the Companion Pass through Dec. 31, 2019.However, you only have a day left to sign up and take advantage: This limited-time offer ends on Feb. 11.Southwest’s Companion Pass is a 2-for-1 travel perk: It lets you designate a friend or family member as your “companion” who can fly with you for free — minus taxes and fees — on your Southwest flights. This works for both your paid and award flights, so if you book a flight with points, you can really maximize the Companion Pass perk.The Companion Pass isn’t always available through a credit card sign-up bonus; traditionally, you need to earn 110,000 qualifying points or take 100 qualifying one-way flights in a calendar year. So signing up for one of the Southwest credit cards is quite the shortcut.However, keep in mind that you’ll only earn the pass through the end of 2019 with the sign-up bonus, whereas when you earn it through 110,000 qualifying points or 100 qualifying flights, you earn it for the remainder of the current year plus the entire following year. But if you earn the Companion Pass through one of the three cards’ sign-up bonuses and decide you want to extend it through 2020, you can go about earning 110,000 qualifying points (or taking 100 qualifying segments) to keep it through next year.If you aren’t sure which of the three cards makes the most sense for you, here’s a quick comparison:Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus Credit CardSouthwest Rapid Rewards Premier Credit CardSouthwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit CardAnnual fee$69$99$149Anniversary points bonus 3,000 Rapid Rewards points6,000 Rapid Rewards points7,500 Rapid Rewards pointsEarning rates2x on Southwest flights and hotel and car rental partners 1x everywhere else2x on Southwest flights and hotel and car rental partners 1x everywhere else2x on Southwest flights and hotel and car rental partners 1x everywhere elseOther perksN/AN/A$75 annual Southwest travel credit Four upgraded boardings per year (when available) 20% back on inflight drinks and Wi-FiTier Qualifying PointsN/AEarn up to 15,000 TQPs a year, 1,500 for each $10,000 spentEarn up to 15,000 TQPs a year, 1,500 for each $10,000 spentForeign-transaction fee3%NoneNoneIf you already travel on Southwest, the Companion Pass is an easy way to stretch your dollars and points further. Especially with the airline’s plans to add service to Hawaii in the near future (government shutdown-related delays notwithstanding), having 2-for-1 (or even 3-for-1, for parents with infants) travel could help you save big on an upcoming vacation.Sign up for our daily newsletterEmail addressSign upI would like to subscribe to The Points Guy newsletters and special email promotions. The Points Guy will not share or sell your email. See privacy policy.Just remember to apply for an eligible Southwest card by Feb. 11 if you’re interested, as the sign-up offer will end on that date.
1x everywhere else
Four upgraded boardings per year (when available)
20% back on inflight drinks and Wi-Fi
