Companion Pass and American Express Rewards
Jan 17, 2010, 10:19 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 403
Companion Pass and American Express Rewards
Hi all, I know not everyone has American Express (or even enough points to make this worth it), but for those who do -- it's too good to be true -- you can actually use your American Express points to transfer over enough credits to get you a companion pass??
So I have 56 credits accrued over the past 365, and I can't seem to ever make it over that. I noticed that it is counting my Amex transfers AND actually, Chase credit card transfers (I realize now it probably counts everything).
So all I need to do is transfer over 44 rapid rewards credits (yeah, it's a lot of points though), and I have a companion pass for a year!
Now, yes, it has to be worth it - you have to travel enough to make it worthy. But, I figure my wife and I pay $4,000+ to travel to various places on Southwest, so a savings of $2,000 (plus a few free roundtrips in there) is worth the 60,000 some odd points that this will cost (considering you can barely get a small flat panel for that many points).
So, maybe a good way to save some money if it's worth it to you, but it definitely pays to use miles!
Also, I hear Amex credits count towards the winter bonus promotion, but I think you can only use it three times...
So I have 56 credits accrued over the past 365, and I can't seem to ever make it over that. I noticed that it is counting my Amex transfers AND actually, Chase credit card transfers (I realize now it probably counts everything).
So all I need to do is transfer over 44 rapid rewards credits (yeah, it's a lot of points though), and I have a companion pass for a year!
Now, yes, it has to be worth it - you have to travel enough to make it worthy. But, I figure my wife and I pay $4,000+ to travel to various places on Southwest, so a savings of $2,000 (plus a few free roundtrips in there) is worth the 60,000 some odd points that this will cost (considering you can barely get a small flat panel for that many points).
So, maybe a good way to save some money if it's worth it to you, but it definitely pays to use miles!
Also, I hear Amex credits count towards the winter bonus promotion, but I think you can only use it three times...
Jan 17, 2010, 10:21 am
#2
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 403
Re: Companian Pass and American Express Rewards
Sorry I just saw that this is hardly news to anyone on this board.
But it is important to note that these credits should be transferred before the program expires.
I'll read the other posts before posting next time! :-)
But it is important to note that these credits should be transferred before the program expires.
I'll read the other posts before posting next time! :-)
Jan 18, 2010, 9:16 pm
#5
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: LAS
Programs: SWA
Posts: 1,320
Sure, just spend $120,000 ($1200 x 100 RR credits) on your SWA Chase card vs. the $150,000 ($1500 x 100 RR credits) you would have had to put on your AmEx MR card. This means you can't accrue the credits and dump them all in at one time.
Jan 18, 2010, 11:52 pm
#8
Join Date: May 2000
Location: Houston, TX, USA
Programs: UA 1K, AA Lifetime Platinum, DL Platinum, Honors Diamond, Bonvoy Titanium, Hertz Platinum
Posts: 7,969
That's right - under the current system, anyone with an Amex card that has MR can literally buy a WN Companion Pass by paying $3750 (plus tax) to Amex and then immediately transfer them to Rapid Rewards. Not a single flight on Southwest, nor a single purchase on Amex, is necessary. So, for people that currently don't have an Amex, it can be accomplished in just a few days by signing up for a new Amex - no need to wait for spend or flights to accrue.
Jan 19, 2010, 6:50 am
#9
Join Date: May 2007
Location: DFW
Programs: WN A+, AA, HYATT DIAMOND, SPG
Posts: 1,125
but don't forget, for your 100 RR credits you'll get 6 RR reward tickets too. The companion pass is possibly the best perk on Southwest, that is if you like to travel with your wife and/or best friend.
Jan 19, 2010, 7:00 am
#10
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: LAS
Programs: SWA
Posts: 1,320
That's right - under the current system, anyone with an Amex card that has MR can literally buy a WN Companion Pass by paying $3750 (plus tax) to Amex and then immediately transfer them to Rapid Rewards. Not a single flight on Southwest, nor a single purchase on Amex, is necessary. So, for people that currently don't have an Amex, it can be accomplished in just a few days by signing up for a new Amex - no need to wait for spend or flights to accrue.
Jan 19, 2010, 9:56 pm
#14
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: USA
Programs: AC SE100K, F9 100k, NK Gold, UA *S, Hyatt Glob, Bonvoy Titanium
Posts: 5,191
That works out to $312 per month. To break even, you would need to fly one $310 ticket per month. To make the CP worthwhile, you would need to fly with your companion at least 2x per month. If you were buying your tickets, you would earn 48 RR credits, halfway to your own CP.
6 round trip tickets anywhere they fly plus bring a companion or named coworker on these 6 plus any other flight for 13 months is a huge deal. Here I thought they were closing the Amex partnership just to prevent people from redeeming all 100 credits at once. Now it seems some folks haven't even spent a dime buying any goods on an amex card.
the 6 round trips, to the right person or business traveller, might just save them six $900 round trip airfares ($429+tax each way, last minute travel). So $4500 savings pax1, $4500 savings companion, and buy 1 get 1 airfare for the rest of the 13 months.
Maybe it's the drink coupon books? WN has to print and give away 6 coupon books to each CP earner every year, that has to add up...
Jan 19, 2010, 10:22 pm
#15
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: LAS
Programs: SWA
Posts: 1,320
works out to MUCH LESS than $312/month.
6 round trip tickets anywhere they fly plus bring a companion or named coworker on these 6 plus any other flight for 13 months is a huge deal. Here I thought they were closing the Amex partnership just to prevent people from redeeming all 100 credits at once. Now it seems some folks haven't even spent a dime buying any goods on an amex card.
the 6 round trips, to the right person or business traveller, might just save them six $900 round trip airfares ($429+tax each way, last minute travel). So $4500 savings pax1, $4500 savings companion, and buy 1 get 1 airfare for the rest of the 13 months.
Maybe it's the drink coupon books? WN has to print and give away 6 coupon books to each CP earner every year, that has to add up...
6 round trip tickets anywhere they fly plus bring a companion or named coworker on these 6 plus any other flight for 13 months is a huge deal. Here I thought they were closing the Amex partnership just to prevent people from redeeming all 100 credits at once. Now it seems some folks haven't even spent a dime buying any goods on an amex card.
the 6 round trips, to the right person or business traveller, might just save them six $900 round trip airfares ($429+tax each way, last minute travel). So $4500 savings pax1, $4500 savings companion, and buy 1 get 1 airfare for the rest of the 13 months.
Maybe it's the drink coupon books? WN has to print and give away 6 coupon books to each CP earner every year, that has to add up...
That's right - under the current system, anyone with an Amex card that has MR can literally buy a WN Companion Pass by paying $3750 (plus tax) to Amex and then immediately transfer them to Rapid Rewards. Not a single flight on Southwest, nor a single purchase on Amex, is necessary. So, for people that currently don't have an Amex, it can be accomplished in just a few days by signing up for a new Amex - no need to wait for spend or flights to accrue.
And I think your analysis might have a flaw. You mention $900 R/T ($429+tax each way, last minute travel), but award availability might get in the way.