Bad news for points and miles enthusiast as Southwest completely closes the window for members to transfer mileage and points from other partner loyalty programs toward qualifications for a Companion Pass. Furthermore, points converted from hotel and car loyalty programs, and e-Rewards, e-Miles, Valued Opinions and Diners Club will no longer count toward qualification for a Companion Pass.
One of the most attractive offers to date is the 110,000 qualifying SouthWest Rapid Rewards Points earned in a calendar year would equate towards Southwest Companion Pass that is good for an unlimited number of flights for the rest of that year and all of the next; which has now become so much more difficult to achieve. Not only that but this is unfortunate news for those planning to reap Marriott’s Travel Package in order to earn a Companion Pass. Definitely a “All good things must come to an end” sort of ordeal as we graze 2017.
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Southwest Airlines Summary:
- Points converted from hotel and car loyalty programs, and e-Rewards, e-Miles, Valued Opinions and Diners Club will no longer count toward qualification for a Companion Pass.
- Signing up for two Chase Southwest Cards would essentially have earned you 106,000 points, 4,000 points away from SW CP trigger however, the 5/24 Rule and Transfer revision made this method indecisively more difficult.
- Transferring 90,000 SPG Points to 270,000 Marriott points and redeeming the Marriott points for 7 nights + 120,000 Rapid Rewards Points no longer triggers the CP.
Alternative Options:
- Referral links for both Chase SouthWest Cards are still available for 50K sign-up.
- The Marriott Package is still a pretty swell deal (7 nights).
- You can still use the points to get the package and get another airline.
Southwest Airlines Companion Pass Terms:
Southwest released the following statement to confirm the changes:
We’re working to protect the integrity and value of Southwest’s industry-unique Rapid Rewards® Companion Pass by closing a loophole that previously allowed Members to transfer mileage and points from other partner loyalty programs toward qualification for a Companion Pass. As we closed this loophole, we also updated our terms and conditions which now clarifies that points converted from hotel and car loyalty programs, and e-Rewards, e-Miles, Valued Opinions and Diners Club will no longer count toward qualification for a Companion Pass. Members will continue to earn Companion Pass benefits through paid flights flown on Southwest, points earned through spend with Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards credit cards, and base points earned through transactions with Rapid Rewards partners.
Considering that companies usually give notice or even a grace period before changing their T&C, Privacy Policy, it’s with great shame that this feature or “loophole” has come to it’s end. Definitely a huge disappointment for those looking to move/collect points to earn a companion pass early in the year.
Conclusion:
Now, the fact that the Southwest transfer feature was pulled without any further notice, it’s definitely reached out to Points and Miles enthusiast in the worst way possible. You will now no longer be able to transfer your points from hotel and car loyalty programs, and e-Rewards, e-Miles, Valued Opinions and Diners Club to SouthWest Miles… Which makes it so much more difficult to trigger the points necessary for Companion Pass. Points transferred via Chase Ultimate Rewards never counted towards a companion pass, so within the Marriott merger, it was bound to happen. Definitely a bad start into 2017 for point enthusiast everywhere. Don’t forget to check out our complete list of Credit Card Promotions today!
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