Tag Archives: Southwest Airlines

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Which Credit Cards Offer Free (or Almost Free) Companion Tickets?

There are many choices when it comes to increasing our miles and points so we can travel more for less. Recently, however, when using my companion passes and free tickets from credit cards, my friend Carrie asked how that worked and which credit cards came with that perk. Good question!  There are many credit cards that come with free bags or priority boarding. Along with those benefits, these three credit cards also provide a free (or almost free) companion ticket benefit.

Bank of America Alaska Airlines Visa Signature Credit Card

The Alaska Airlines credit card is one I’ve had for many years and I never miss using the Companion Fare. Essentially, this annual benefit is a free buy-one-get-one ticket in economy class. The primary traveler must pay the fare, but the companion pays just $99 plus taxes and fees. I always get more than the annual fee of $75 in value per year using this fare. I’ve used it for trips across the US and most recently to Seattle. The certificate is easy to apply to your fare and more than worth the annual fee.

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Southwest Airlines to Hawaii…….YES Please!

Aloha! Ready for that cup of Kona coffee, or that authentic poke bowl? All year long whenever I’ve flown Southwest Airlines, I always ask the SWA employees if they’ve heard anything new about when Southwest will be flying to Hawaii. They’ve never given me any insider information, so we laugh when I tell them it’s likely the day after my SWA Companion Pass expires Southwest will commence flights to Hawaii!

Yesterday we got some news.

Southwest held a meeting in Honolulu and revealed approximate dates Southwest flights will go on sale and start flying to Hawaii. SWA also announced that their two free checked bags and free flight change policies will remain intact for flights to Hawaii. Executive Vice President and Chief Revenue Officer Andy Watterson told the press that the announcement of flights will come by October at the latest, and service would “begin possibly just weeks thereafter.”

Destinations

Southwest will serve the following Hawaiian destinations:

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Is Earning the Southwest Companion Pass Worth It?

Though many people who have been in the miles and points hobby for a while now know A LOT about travel related topics, there is ALWAYS something to learn. Especially since this year I’ve had the Southwest Airlines Companion Pass and book fares like a $177 one way non-stop fare from Newark to San Diego for TWO, I’m fielding questions about everything Southwest and particularly the Companion Pass.

It is for sure one of the best deals in travel. With the Companion Pass, you can bring a companion on any flight the Companion Pass holder chooses. It works for flights booked on points or paid for with cash. The companion only has to pay taxes each way. You can also change your companion up to three times per year. A Companion Pass is good from the time you earn it through the end of the next calendar year. The Companion Pass is also relatively easy to achieve with Chase Southwest Credit Cards because both spend and the initial welcome bonuses count toward the requirements to earning the pass. The Companion Pass can potentially save you hundreds or even thousands of dollars. Continue reading

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Buy Points Promos: Up to 50% Bonus on JetBlue Points & 30% Discount on Southwest Airlines Points

Good evening everyone, I hope your week is off to a great start.  Earlier today, I got an email from JetBlue and Southwest Airlines reminding me that each loyalty program has a buy points promo that is ending soon (8/8 for JetBlue and 8/13 for Southwest Airlines).  I don’t recommending buying miles and points unless you have an immediate use for the miles and points.  Always check the match before pulling the trigger, but if you need to buy miles or points for an award redemption, I recommend buying them when they are on sale.

Depending on the number of JetBlue points you purchase, you can get a 20-50% bonus.  This promo ends on Wednesday, August 8, 2018, so you have a few more days to decide if you need more JetBlue points.

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Westin Denver Airport Review: Go from Gate to Hotel Room in 25 Minutes (or Less)

Good morning everyone, happy Friday.  Last week, my girlfriend and I had a late night flight into Denver International Airport (DEN).  Due to a slight delay, we landed after midnight.  If you’ve ever flown into DEN, you know the airport is in the middle of nowhere, with no hotels closeby.  That was true until recently when the Westin Denver Airport hotel opened.  Nightly rates were $300+, so I opted to use 12,000 SPG.  Thankfully, the hotel is attached to the main terminal, so I was able to get from the gate to our room in 25 minutes.

According to the DEN Airport website, the Westin Denver International Airport has 519 guest rooms, 35 suites, and was “designed to resemble a bird in flight—its curved roof mimicking the concave shape of Jeppesen Terminal’s white peaked roof.”  Underneath the hotel, is the RTD train that connects DEN airport to Denver’s Union Station.  The one-way trip takes 40 minutes, costs $9 per person and runs pretty frequently.  In this post, I will share how to get to the hotel from the various terminals and show photos of our room.  Enjoy!

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Image source: https://www.starwoodhotels.com/westin/property/overview/index.html?propertyID=3685

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