When I first heard about the Companion Pass from Southwest Airlines, I thought it was too good to be true. After all, how can any airline offer unlimited free flights for a companion for an entire year? I’d heard of limited two-for-one/BOGO (buy-one-get-one-free) deals before, but this unlimited thing was new to me. On top of that, I was shocked to discover that Southwest was actually giving the Companion Pass away for free as an incentive to sign up for one of their Chase branded credit cards. So I dove in last November and I’m so glad I did.

While I’ve been enjoying free flights for my companion (aka my wife) this year, I’ve actually discovered the way to earn completely free flights for both me and my wife next year and you can, too.

Here’s how I did it:

I signed up for the Chase Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus credit card. After spending $1,000 in three months (incredibly easy to do), I got 40,000 bonus points.

Next, I signed up for the Chase Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier business credit card. I had to spend more ($4,000, I believe) to get the 60,000 point bonus.

With the credit card spend and bonuses, I already had 105,000 Rapid Rewards points. Another $5,000 in spending took me to 110,000 points, which automatically qualified me for a Companion Pass for next year.

“But that’s just a free flight for your companion!” I hear you screaming. It is. It’s also 110,000 points on top of the pass. I fly Southwest 4-5 times a year. As long as I plan my trips carefully and snag the very cheap Wanna Get Away fares — which can go for less than 3,500 points one-way — I can turn all of my points earned this year into free flights next year, thus achieving the rare feat of TOTALLY FREE FLIGHTS FOR ME AND A COMPANION ALL YEAR!

Now, the nitpickers reading this are probably shaking their heads because they think I have to pay taxes on those flights. HOWEVER, if I use my Chase Sapphire Reserve card to pay those taxes, I’ll get the fees credited back to my card as part of my $300 travel credit for the year. That means all of my flights, as well as those for my wife as my companion, will be totally free next year and I think that is totally awesome.

To recap:

Sign up for the Chase Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus credit card

Sign up for the Chase Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier business card

Use the massive sign-up bonuses to pay for flights via points

Sign up for the Chase Sapphire Reserve card and use it to pay for the taxes on the flights, so the cost gets credited back in the form of the $300 yearly travel credit.

Enjoy your new jetsetting life!

 

Main Photo:  Some rights reserved by TDelCoro

So, yeah, I definitely get a referral bonus if sign up for any of the cards I mentioned and linked to in this story. It’s a small gift to me for getting you free two-for-one flights for an entire year.