Chase Southwest Plus Credit Card: 50,000 Miles Welcome Offer

Chase Southwest Plus Credit Card Review

Highlights

• Welcome bonus counts toward Companion Pass: The welcome bonus counts toward the 125,000 points needed for Companion Pass, which helps you earn Companion Pass faster.
• Companion Pass: If you earn 125,000 qualifying points in a calendar year, you can get a Companion Pass. Whether you book a paid ticket or an award ticket, you can bring one companion along for free. (Your companion does not have to pay airfare, but taxes and fees still apply.) This is almost like doubling the value of your points. See also: Guide to Earning and Using Companion Pass
• SW points redeem at a fixed ratio: Redemptions are determined entirely by ticket price, so you can get great value during off-peak periods or when Southwest runs fare sales.
• Annual bonus: Starting in the second year, after you pay the annual fee each year, you receive 3,000 points, worth about $48 toward Southwest flights. That makes the card’s effective annual fee only $21.

Drawbacks

• Southwest points cannot be redeemed for flights between China and the U.S., so this card may not be useful if you do not travel within the U.S. very often.
• The value of Southwest points is fixed, so redemptions can be less favorable when cash ticket prices are high during peak travel seasons.

Introduction to Southwest Airlines

Southwest is generally considered a low-cost carrier, but it has grown very quickly, with an expanding network across the United States. In recent years, it has also added routes to Mexico and the Caribbean.
In addition, like the three major U.S. airlines—UA, AA, and DL—Southwest has its own frequent flyer program, with different elite status tiers and the ability to earn miles from flying.

However, the most attractive feature of Southwest is its Companion Pass. Once you earn it, two people can travel together while paying only for one ticket,
which offers excellent value.

Southwest also has one of the most flexible change policies in the industry, making it a great “Plan B” backup option. Even the cheapest fare can be canceled before departure, with the refund returned to your account in the form of credit. However, compared with UA and AA, Southwest does have slightly more delays.

• Guide to Southwest Airlines miles and loyalty program

Southwest Miles and Loyalty Program

Basics

• Point value: About 1.5 cents/point on average, meaning 100 points are worth about $1.5
• Redemption example: A $150 ticket usually costs around 10,000 points

Redemption Rules

Southwest miles can only be used for Southwest-operated flights. If a cash ticket is available, you can generally book it with points as well. We recommend redeeming points for Wanna Get Away fares first, since they offer the best value.

• Award tickets booked with points usually do not require paying taxes and fees
• Lower-priced tickets usually give better redemption value
• Higher-priced tickets offer slightly lower value, but usually not below 1.28 cents/point

Companion Pass

You can earn the Companion Pass by accumulating 135,000 points in a calendar year.

• Works on both cash tickets and award tickets
• Essentially gives you a “buy one, get one” benefit
• Validity: the year you earn it + the entire following year

If you use it often, it is one of the best options for two-person travel.

Quick Take

• Pros:
  • Easy redemptions; you can search and book directly on the official website
  • Point value is largely tied to ticket price, with no extra taxes and fees in most cases
  • Wanna Get Away fares usually offer strong redemption value
  • Value can effectively double when paired with the Companion Pass
• Cons:
  • Best suited mainly for domestic U.S. flights
  • Fewer international route options

Recommended Credit Cards

Personal Credit Cards

• Southwest Plus ($69 annual fee; 3,000 points every year)
• Southwest Premier ($99 annual fee; 6,000 points every year)
• Southwest Priority ($149 annual fee; $75 annual flight credit + 7,500 points every year)

Business Credit Cards

• Southwest Performance Business ($99 annual fee; 6,000 points every year)
• Southwest Premier Business ($149 annual fee; 6,000 points every year)

Application Tips

• You will be asked to enter your Southwest frequent flyer number when applying. Be sure to fill it in, or the system will automatically assign you a new account
• Among the three personal Southwest co-branded cards, you can only choose one to apply for
• Personal cards and business cards do not conflict, so you can hold both at the same time

How to Use Them

Welcome bonuses and points earned from everyday spending can both count toward the points needed for the Companion Pass. If you fly often, or pair a personal card with a business card, it is relatively easy to reach the Companion Pass threshold.

For long-term users, the effective cost of keeping these credit cards is very low. For example:

• A card with a $99 annual fee gives 6,000 points each year, worth about $90
• The effective annual fee is therefore close to $0

Chase Credit Card Application Guide

• Chase application status check link (login required). Or call: 888-338-2586
• The 5/24 rule: if you have opened more than 5 new cards in the past 2 years (including cards from other banks), you will not be approved for a new Chase card
• You can be approved for at most two Chase credit cards within every 30 days
• If you have received the welcome bonus on this card within the past 24 months (48 months for the Sapphire family), your application will be automatically denied
• You can call the reconsideration line (800-453-9719) to expedite card approval or request a review of a denied application.
• Having a Chase Checking account can help with getting approved for a credit card
• More on applying for Chase credit cards

Application Link