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Southwest Companion Pass

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If you want in, you need to move FAST. Like, TODAY fast. 🚨

Here’s your game plan:

1️⃣ Apply for a business card TODAY. Specifically, the one offering 80,000 points after $3K in spending. Don’t overthink it!

2️⃣ Wait 30 days, then apply for a personal card. Go for the one offering 60,000 points after meeting the spending requirement.

3️⃣ Hit those minimum spends ASAP. With your normal, everyday spending, of course. We are NOT going into debt for points. 😉

4️⃣ Make sure those points post in 2027. Timing is EVERYTHING right now.

Then? TRAVEL YOUR LITTLE HEART OUT. ✈️🌎

Book the flights. Take the trips. Bring your favorite person along. Make 2027 your year of going EVERYWHERE with that glorious Companion Pass.

And after that? We’ll regroup and chat about our next move. ✌🏼

🔗 Link in bio for the cards

If you want in, you need to move FAST. Like, TODAY fast. 🚨

Here’s your game plan:

1️⃣ Apply for a business card TODAY. Specifically, the one offering 80,000 points after $3K in spending. Don’t overthink it!

2️⃣ Wait 30 days, then apply for a personal card. Go for the one offering 60,000 points after meeting the spending requirement.

3️⃣ Hit those minimum spends ASAP. With your normal, everyday spending, of course. We are NOT going into debt for points. 😉

4️⃣ Make sure those points post in 2027. Timing is EVERYTHING right now.

Then? TRAVEL YOUR LITTLE HEART OUT. ✈️🌎

Book the flights. Take the trips. Bring your favorite person along. Make 2027 your year of going EVERYWHERE with that glorious Companion Pass.

And after that? We’ll regroup and chat about our next move. ✌🏼

🔗 Link in bio for the cards

🚨 Some REALLY disappointing news dropped today. And honestly? I knew this day might come, but I was hoping it wouldn’t.

Here’s what’s happening 👇

Under the announced changes, welcome bonuses, referral points, and bonus points earned from hotel stays will NO LONGER count toward earning the Companion Pass.

Translation? The shortcut we’ve used for years to earn BOGO flights without spending a fortune or flying constantly is going away.

The Companion Pass itself isn’t disappearing, but the path to earning it is becoming MUCH harder for the average traveler.

And that stings.

Because this has been one of the BEST travel hacks for families who want to travel more without breaking the bank.

SO WHAT DO WE DO NOW?

✈️ If you’ve been thinking about earning a Southwest Companion Pass, you may want to act FAST.

For years, our strategy was to time credit card bonuses to post in January, maximizing the Companion Pass for nearly two full years.

But with these changes, that strategy flips.
The potential opportunity now is to earn enough qualifying points BEFORE December 31, 2026, using the two-card method.

That could mean earning a Companion Pass valid through the end of 2027, along with a stash of Southwest points to put toward BOGO adventures next year.

But timing is EVERYTHING. Your bonuses must actually post before the deadline, and approval and bonus posting are never guaranteed.

I’m not going to sugarcoat it. This is a tough pill to swallow. I’m sad to see one of my favorite travel strategies potentially become out of reach for so many everyday families.

But you know what?

We’re not done traveling. We’re not done finding ways to save. And we’re definitely not giving up. We’re going to adapt, get creative, and DIVERSIFY. Because the Southwest Companion Pass was never the only way.

The goal has ALWAYS been more travel, more memories, and less money out of pocket. And we’re going to keep finding ways to make that happen. 💛✈️

🚨 Some REALLY disappointing news dropped today. And honestly? I knew this day might come, but I was hoping it wouldn’t.

Here’s what’s happening 👇

Under the announced changes, welcome bonuses, referral points, and bonus points earned from hotel stays will NO LONGER count toward earning the Companion Pass.

Translation? The shortcut we’ve used for years to earn BOGO flights without spending a fortune or flying constantly is going away.

The Companion Pass itself isn’t disappearing, but the path to earning it is becoming MUCH harder for the average traveler.

And that stings.

Because this has been one of the BEST travel hacks for families who want to travel more without breaking the bank.

SO WHAT DO WE DO NOW?

✈️ If you’ve been thinking about earning a Southwest Companion Pass, you may want to act FAST.

For years, our strategy was to time credit card bonuses to post in January, maximizing the Companion Pass for nearly two full years.

But with these changes, that strategy flips.
The potential opportunity now is to earn enough qualifying points BEFORE December 31, 2026, using the two-card method.

That could mean earning a Companion Pass valid through the end of 2027, along with a stash of Southwest points to put toward BOGO adventures next year.

But timing is EVERYTHING. Your bonuses must actually post before the deadline, and approval and bonus posting are never guaranteed.

I’m not going to sugarcoat it. This is a tough pill to swallow. I’m sad to see one of my favorite travel strategies potentially become out of reach for so many everyday families.

But you know what?

We’re not done traveling. We’re not done finding ways to save. And we’re definitely not giving up. We’re going to adapt, get creative, and DIVERSIFY. Because the Southwest Companion Pass was never the only way.

The goal has ALWAYS been more travel, more memories, and less money out of pocket. And we’re going to keep finding ways to make that happen. 💛✈️

If you’re just getting started with points and miles, these 3 things will set you up for success (and save you some major headaches down the road!).

1️⃣ Know your credit score & monitor your credit.

Create a free account with Credit Karma. Knowing where your credit stands is SO important when you’re getting into travel rewards. Plus, you’ll get alerts when new accounts show up on your credit report, helping you stay on top of everything.

2️⃣ Get organized from day one.

Trust me, you don’t want to try to keep track of everything in your head! 😂

We use two tools that make our lives so much easier:

💰 Monarch Money: Helps us track our spending across multiple accounts so we always know where our money is going.

💳 Travel Freely: A FREE tool that helps us track when we opened cards, upcoming annual fees, and important dates so nothing slips through the cracks.

3️⃣ Set up autopay IMMEDIATELY.

Seriously, don’t skip this step!

As soon as you’re approved for a new card, set up autopay. Sometimes you can even do this before the physical card arrives!

Paying your statement balance in full and on time helps you avoid interest, protect your credit score, and stay in good standing with the banks. Because paying interest defeats the whole purpose of earning free travel!

✨ These 3 habits have completely changed the way we’ve been able to travel using points and miles.

The secret isn’t just earning points. It’s having systems in place that help you earn and use them responsibly.

Save this for when you’re ready to start your points & miles journey! ✈️🌎

If you’re just getting started with points and miles, these 3 things will set you up for success (and save you some major headaches down the road!).

1️⃣ Know your credit score & monitor your credit.

Create a free account with Credit Karma. Knowing where your credit stands is SO important when you’re getting into travel rewards. Plus, you’ll get alerts when new accounts show up on your credit report, helping you stay on top of everything.

2️⃣ Get organized from day one.

Trust me, you don’t want to try to keep track of everything in your head! 😂

We use two tools that make our lives so much easier:

💰 Monarch Money: Helps us track our spending across multiple accounts so we always know where our money is going.

💳 Travel Freely: A FREE tool that helps us track when we opened cards, upcoming annual fees, and important dates so nothing slips through the cracks.

3️⃣ Set up autopay IMMEDIATELY.

Seriously, don’t skip this step!

As soon as you’re approved for a new card, set up autopay. Sometimes you can even do this before the physical card arrives!

Paying your statement balance in full and on time helps you avoid interest, protect your credit score, and stay in good standing with the banks. Because paying interest defeats the whole purpose of earning free travel!

✨ These 3 habits have completely changed the way we’ve been able to travel using points and miles.

The secret isn’t just earning points. It’s having systems in place that help you earn and use them responsibly.

Save this for when you’re ready to start your points & miles journey! ✈️🌎

Did you know you can transfer your Chase Ultimate Rewards points to multiple airline loyalty programs? 👀

Knowing your transfer partners is one of the BEST ways to unlock more value from your points and potentially book flights for way less! 💸

✨ Save this reel for the next time you’re ready to book a trip with Chase Ultimate Reward points and follow along for more points and miles travel tricks, tips, and hacks to help you travel more for less! 🌍

Did you know you can transfer your Chase Ultimate Rewards points to multiple airline loyalty programs? 👀

Knowing your transfer partners is one of the BEST ways to unlock more value from your points and potentially book flights for way less! 💸

✨ Save this reel for the next time you’re ready to book a trip with Chase Ultimate Reward points and follow along for more points and miles travel tricks, tips, and hacks to help you travel more for less! 🌍

I want to show my kids the world. But more than that, I want to raise kids who appreciate it. 🌎 Because there’s a fine line between giving your kids incredible experiences and raising kids who start to expect them.

Travel is a huge part of our family’s life, and I’m so grateful we’re able to do it. But I never want my kids to think flights, hotels, vacations, and new experiences are just things they’re owed.

I want them to understand the work and financial responsibility behind it. I want them to know how to figure things out when life gets uncomfortable, how to look out for each other, and how to treat people with kindness no matter where they are in the world.

And maybe most importantly, I want them to know that they don’t have to travel to have a beautiful, fulfilling life.

If they grow up and want to see every corner of the world, amazing. If they’re happiest building a simple life close to home, equally amazing.

Because the goal was never to raise well-traveled kids. It was to raise grateful, capable, kind humans. Travel is just one of the ways we’re trying to teach them that.

Curious what other parents think: What’s one lesson you’re intentional about teaching your kids?

I want to show my kids the world. But more than that, I want to raise kids who appreciate it. 🌎 Because there’s a fine line between giving your kids incredible experiences and raising kids who start to expect them.

Travel is a huge part of our family’s life, and I’m so grateful we’re able to do it. But I never want my kids to think flights, hotels, vacations, and new experiences are just things they’re owed.

I want them to understand the work and financial responsibility behind it. I want them to know how to figure things out when life gets uncomfortable, how to look out for each other, and how to treat people with kindness no matter where they are in the world.

And maybe most importantly, I want them to know that they don’t have to travel to have a beautiful, fulfilling life.

If they grow up and want to see every corner of the world, amazing. If they’re happiest building a simple life close to home, equally amazing.

Because the goal was never to raise well-traveled kids. It was to raise grateful, capable, kind humans. Travel is just one of the ways we’re trying to teach them that.

Curious what other parents think: What’s one lesson you’re intentional about teaching your kids?

Canceling within the first 12 months of opening a card is a big no-no. It can put you in a bad spot with the bank, potentially jeopardize your welcome bonus, and hurt your chances of future approvals.

So when SHOULD you cancel? 👀

Wait until you’ve held the card for at least 12 months. If you don’t want to pay the Year 2 annual fee, let it post, then cancel or downgrade within the bank’s refund window.

💰 Annual Fee Refund Windows:

🔹 Chase: 30 days
🔹 Capital One: Typically 30 days
🔹 Barclays: Often reported as 60 days, but some cards may have a 30-day window
🔹 Citi: Up to 37 days reported
🔹 Amex: 30 days after the statement closing date showing the fee

⚠️ These are commonly reported refund windows, not guarantees. Policies vary by card, and the clock may start when the fee posts or when your statement closes. Always confirm with your issuer!

💡 PRO TIP: Decide whether you plan to keep or cancel your card before the second-year annual fee posts. Once it does, contact your bank within 10 days to avoid any surprises, and so you don’t forget 😅

Save this post so you don’t lose hundreds in unnecessary annual fees and follow along for more points and miles tips and tricks ✈️💸

Canceling within the first 12 months of opening a card is a big no-no. It can put you in a bad spot with the bank, potentially jeopardize your welcome bonus, and hurt your chances of future approvals.

So when SHOULD you cancel? 👀

Wait until you’ve held the card for at least 12 months. If you don’t want to pay the Year 2 annual fee, let it post, then cancel or downgrade within the bank’s refund window.

💰 Annual Fee Refund Windows:

🔹 Chase: 30 days
🔹 Capital One: Typically 30 days
🔹 Barclays: Often reported as 60 days, but some cards may have a 30-day window
🔹 Citi: Up to 37 days reported
🔹 Amex: 30 days after the statement closing date showing the fee

⚠️ These are commonly reported refund windows, not guarantees. Policies vary by card, and the clock may start when the fee posts or when your statement closes. Always confirm with your issuer!

💡 PRO TIP: Decide whether you plan to keep or cancel your card before the second-year annual fee posts. Once it does, contact your bank within 10 days to avoid any surprises, and so you don’t forget 😅

Save this post so you don’t lose hundreds in unnecessary annual fees and follow along for more points and miles tips and tricks ✈️💸

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