I am hoping this is the right place for my question....my apologies, if not. I am pretty new to the credit card/miles game.

I am trying to decide which credit card applications to do next and have two options...

1. I have a USAir card and would like to get an American card to get the sign up bonus which will give me enough miles for a round trip to Asia in first class. However, that trip is more than a year away so I am hoping I could wait and get an American card much later, but worried that my USAir card will turn into American and then I won't be eligible for the American sign up bonus.

2. The Southwest cards for a companion pass. I ideally would like to get 2 personal cards, but not sure if that would go through. I could apply for a business card as I do a little bit of teaching on the side, but that makes me also nervous somehow - I don't really feel like I have a business. BUT, now seems like such a great time to capitalize on the sign up bonuses to get the companion pass.

Thoughts? I've been agonizing about this a bit. I don't like to sign up for too many cards per cycle so not really interested in doing both plans.

Thanks in advance from a frequent flyer rookie.