Southwest Companion Pass 2015-2016
Apr 3, 2016, 6:48 pm
#916
Join Date: Jun 2011
Posts: 66
Does points earned from transferring Choice points count towards the companion pass? All the articles by bloggers that I read said it does, but when we called SW tonight the reps don't seem to give the same answers and the twitter team said "only air travel counts" which i know is not true. We are planning to purchase choice points on Monday via Daily Getaway, but want to be sure if they count! Thanks.
Apr 4, 2016, 12:32 pm
#917
Join Date: Aug 2013
Posts: 49
4 Weeks to post
Just a data point for everyone. I reached my minimum spend on March 10. My statement, which closed March 25, shows 2,040 RR points earned. I just called to ask about the bonus points, verifying the offer for 50,000 after $2k. The rep said that it would take 4 weeks after my statement to post, and that I should expect the bonus points to post on midnight, April 25. This was for the Premier personal, but I imagine the same will be true for my Plus personal.
Apr 4, 2016, 2:44 pm
#918
Join Date: Jul 2015
Programs: HH Diamond, HGVC, WN RR, National Exec, Avis Preferred
Posts: 1,055
Just a data point for everyone. I reached my minimum spend on March 10. My statement, which closed March 25, shows 2,040 RR points earned. I just called to ask about the bonus points, verifying the offer for 50,000 after $2k. The rep said that it would take 4 weeks after my statement to post, and that I should expect the bonus points to post on midnight, April 25. This was for the Premier personal, but I imagine the same will be true for my Plus personal.
Apr 6, 2016, 9:03 pm
#919
Join Date: Feb 2004
Programs: IHG Spire Elite; Hyatt Platinum; SPG Preferred+; Club Carlson Gold; SW CP
Posts: 674
Just a data point for everyone. I reached my minimum spend on March 10. My statement, which closed March 25, shows 2,040 RR points earned. I just called to ask about the bonus points, verifying the offer for 50,000 after $2k. The rep said that it would take 4 weeks after my statement to post, and that I should expect the bonus points to post on midnight, April 25. This was for the Premier personal, but I imagine the same will be true for my Plus personal.
If you truly met the annual fee on March 10th and had a statement date (not a payment due date, but a statement date) of March 25th, you should have received the bonus points on that statement and they should have showed up in your Southwest Rapid Rewards account around March 27th. Were any of your purchases with Southwest or a Hotel or Rental Car partner? That would be one way you could have over 2,000 points but not have met the min spend requirement.
Apr 7, 2016, 8:14 am
#920
was jgoggan
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Michigan, USA
Programs: WN 650k+CP; BA 200k; AA 200k; HHonors 450k; IHG 300k Plat; Bonvoy 250k; Rad 225k
Posts: 203
I have seen some this time around where people earned it a few days before the statement date, but did not get the 50,000 bonus until the NEXT period. However, all of those were within about 3-4 days of the statement date. None as far back as 15 days beforehand. So, I agree with meecal -- I think it is much more likely that some of what you charged was not counted for some reason (such as the annual fee since you seem to be JUST above the cut-off for spend). You cut it pretty tight at 2,040.
- John...
- John...
Apr 8, 2016, 12:01 am
#921
Join Date: Mar 2016
Posts: 267
Greetings, I'm new to the game, found out about the CP accidently and since I got the 50K bonus for the premier SW CC, trying to figure out ways to reach 110k. I'm sitting at 70k CP qualifying points, won't be able to make 40k in purchases on CC, reading the forums and trying to find ways. There's no more Plus CC any more I can apply for additional 50k. I applied for the business one but got rejected since I have no business (duh), now I guess I can't apply for that one for 6 months. Thinking about applying for some card, get bonus points and transfer them, but not sure which cards. I read something about "choice hotels" here, but there is nothing on their site indicates it's by Chase and I can transfer points. Do Chase Saphire points transfer? I guess I can apply for that one and try to transfer. I tried MS, but 40k is a bit too much. Clerks at local stores already know me by first name LOL. Any tips or reference links would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.
Apr 8, 2016, 7:43 am
#922
Join Date: Jul 2001
Posts: 3,975
On the Chase Sapphire Preferred, the Ultimate Rewards points that you can transfer to RR are NOT CP-qualifying if transferred directly, but they are if you transfer them through Hyatt and lose more than half the points: 5000 UR to 5000 Hyatt to 2400 RR. So if you get the card (making sure you qualify under Chase's rule of no more than 5 cards issued by anyone in the last 24 months), you have a bonus of 50,000 UR points + 5000 for an authorized user with $4000 spending in 3 months. Let's say you get at least 5000 points for the spending, with some of it being on travel and dining which get double points, and 60,000 points transferred through Hyatt (or is there a maximum for this?) becomes 28,800 RR CP-qualifying points.
On Choice Hotels, points transferred from the program, earned from their non-Chase credit card or hotel stays (they often have offers of 8000 points for two stays) can transfer as CP-qualifying points: 6000 from Choice to 1800 RR, IIRC. I think it needs to be requested by phone.
On Choice Hotels, points transferred from the program, earned from their non-Chase credit card or hotel stays (they often have offers of 8000 points for two stays) can transfer as CP-qualifying points: 6000 from Choice to 1800 RR, IIRC. I think it needs to be requested by phone.
Last edited by rove312; Apr 8, 2016 at 9:19 am Reason: I think one figure needed correcting.
Apr 8, 2016, 6:07 pm
#923
Join Date: Mar 2016
Posts: 267
Thanks so much rove312! 28,800 is still a lot and makes achieving the 110k mark easier. But I didn't know that Chase has the no more than 5 card policy in the past 24m. That means I can't open both Saphire and Hyatt, wish I did a lot of research BEFORE I started opening these cards left and right LOL. Looks like the Hyatt card doesn't offer any bonus points (except 5k for an AU), so sounds like the only reason for opening the card would be to use it as a means for points transfer... hmmm. I'll look into to Choice CC. Thanks.
Any suggestions on what the best hotel or reward cards for Mexican resorts? LOL just daydreaming here : )
Any suggestions on what the best hotel or reward cards for Mexican resorts? LOL just daydreaming here : )
Apr 9, 2016, 12:20 am
#925
Join Date: Mar 2016
Posts: 267
On a different note, I signed up for the Venture Capital One, and it looks to me like that CC is actually a better deal to stack up travel points than SouthWest. Unless my math is wrong, looks like I need to pay $70 (to get 70 points) per $1 ticket price. Since Venture is giving double points per $1 and the rate is 100 points per $1 in ticket price, it comes down to only $50 in my spending (100 points) per $1 ticket price, on ANY airline. This doesn't take into account the SW promotions and specials though. Sorry if this is off topic, just wanted to ask you since you appear to be knowledgeable about this stuff. Thanks!
Last edited by DjRocket; Apr 9, 2016 at 12:26 am
Apr 9, 2016, 8:54 am
#926
Join Date: Feb 2004
Programs: IHG Spire Elite; Hyatt Platinum; SPG Preferred+; Club Carlson Gold; SW CP
Posts: 674
Oh, didn't realize that, thank you for the clarification!
On a different note, I signed up for the Venture Capital One, and it looks to me like that CC is actually a better deal to stack up travel points than SouthWest. Unless my math is wrong, looks like I need to pay $70 (to get 70 points) per $1 ticket price. Since Venture is giving double points per $1 and the rate is 100 points per $1 in ticket price, it comes down to only $50 in my spending (100 points) per $1 ticket price, on ANY airline. This doesn't take into account the SW promotions and specials though. Sorry if this is off topic, just wanted to ask you since you appear to be knowledgeable about this stuff. Thanks!
On a different note, I signed up for the Venture Capital One, and it looks to me like that CC is actually a better deal to stack up travel points than SouthWest. Unless my math is wrong, looks like I need to pay $70 (to get 70 points) per $1 ticket price. Since Venture is giving double points per $1 and the rate is 100 points per $1 in ticket price, it comes down to only $50 in my spending (100 points) per $1 ticket price, on ANY airline. This doesn't take into account the SW promotions and specials though. Sorry if this is off topic, just wanted to ask you since you appear to be knowledgeable about this stuff. Thanks!
One of the few upsides to using the SW card is that the points for everyday purchases do count toward CP. If you already have CP or will get it through other means though, it's rarely logical to use the Southwest card for purchases.
Apr 10, 2016, 9:26 am
#927
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: Florida
Programs: Hilton Diamond, Marriott Titanium, Delta Diamond, Hyatt Globalist, AA Executive Platinum
Posts: 241
If you have booked a companion with you using the companion pass, do both need to purchase EARLY BIRD CHECK IN for that benefit? Thanks
Apr 10, 2016, 9:49 am
#928
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: MCI
Programs: CBP Global Entry, WN A-List Preferred, WN Companion Pass
Posts: 2,007
Companion Pass in and of itself has no bearing on either the CP holder or the Companion with regards to OLCI and/or assigned boarding order.
Apr 10, 2016, 11:03 am
#929
Join Date: Mar 2016
Posts: 267
Using the Southwest card for purchases isn't usually the best way to rack up Southwest points. You can use a card like the Sapphire Preferred for bonus categories and generally be better off. If you have a Sapphire Preferred or Ink and a Freedom card, you can actually earn 5X points on the Freedom with its bonus categories and then transfer them to the CSP or Ink UR account and on to Southwest.
One of the few upsides to using the SW card is that the points for everyday purchases do count toward CP. If you already have CP or will get it through other means though, it's rarely logical to use the Southwest card for purchases.
One of the few upsides to using the SW card is that the points for everyday purchases do count toward CP. If you already have CP or will get it through other means though, it's rarely logical to use the Southwest card for purchases.