This yr has been a curler coaster for Southwest Airways. It has ditched its signature seating course of and free checked baggage coverage, overhauled its bank card lineup and inked new worldwide partnerships.
The newest information? An attention-grabbing supply on the Southwest® Speedy Rewards® Efficiency Enterprise Credit score Card (see charges and charges), which, if timed appropriately, can get you two complete years of the precious Companion Cross on high of a giant pile of Southwest Speedy Rewards factors.
However do not submit your utility simply but. Here is what it’s essential to learn about this supply and why you must wait to use to profit from it.
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Finest-ever supply on the Southwest Efficiency Enterprise card
The Southwest Efficiency Enterprise card simply launched a best-ever welcome supply: Earn 120,000 Speedy Rewards factors after spending $10,000 on purchases within the first three months from account opening. That is price a whopping $1,620 when redeemed for flights, primarily based on TPG’s September 2025 valuations.
Plus, this top-tier enterprise card comes with an extended checklist of perks, together with free checked baggage, most well-liked seat choice and anniversary bonus factors.
However earlier than you bounce on this supply, think about this: You possibly can additionally snag almost two years of Southwest’s legendary Companion Cross by including this card to your pockets. You simply should time your bank card utility and spending appropriately.
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Methods to earn a Companion Cross for two years
In case you are not accustomed to the Southwest Companion Cross, it is an unimaginable perk. It allows you to carry a chosen companion (who you’ll be able to change as much as 3 times per calendar yr) with you on just about each Southwest flight you are taking, whether or not you pay to your ticket with money or factors. So long as there’s an open seat on the aircraft, you’ll be able to add your companion for simply the price of the taxes and charges.
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Incomes a Companion Cross requires taking 100 qualifying one-way flights or incomes 135,000 qualifying factors in a calendar yr. Your move will likely be legitimate for the rest of the yr through which you earned it and the next calendar yr.
Since factors earned on Southwest bank cards — together with welcome bonuses — rely towards Companion Cross qualification, you will get 95% of the way in which to incomes a Companion Cross just by incomes the welcome bonus on the Efficiency Enterprise card. The welcome bonus will provide you with 120,000 factors, and the $10,000 minimal spend will earn you one other 10,000 or extra factors, since this card earns a minimum of 1 level per greenback spent on all purchases (although you’ll be able to earn bonus factors on particular spending classes).
And remember about considered one of this card’s many perks: a lift of 10,000 Companion Cross qualifying factors every year. These factors will land in your account inside 30 days of account opening and in January of every yr thereafter. Between that and the welcome bonus, you’ll be able to simply earn the 135,000 qualifying factors wanted to attain a Companion Cross.
However the quantity of worth you will get out of your move relies on how lengthy you might have it.
As an example you utilized for the cardboard proper now and bought authorised. Your 10,000 Companion Cross qualifying factors enhance would arrive inside 30 days. Then, should you met the $10,000 spending requirement and earned the 120,000 welcome bonus factors in November, you’ll earn your Companion Cross earlier than the tip of the yr. Your move could be legitimate for the remainder of 2025 — solely a month or two — and all of 2026.
As a substitute, we advocate ready till mid-October to use, then timing your purchases so that you attain the $10,000 minimal spend in January. That manner, these 120,000 bonus factors will hit your account in January. Your 10,000 Companion Cross qualifying factors enhance for 2026 will even hit your account in January, placing you inside 5,000 factors of incomes a Companion Cross.
Plus, no matter you spend after your assertion deadline in December will earn you factors towards subsequent yr’s Companion Cross. So, ideally, a minimum of $5,000 of your purchases towards the welcome bonus could be after that date, providing you with a minimum of 5,000 factors towards incomes a Companion Cross in 2026. Then, growth! You will earn a Companion Cross in January, and it will be good for the remainder of 2026 and all of 2027.
With a bit of planning, you’ll be able to nearly double the lifespan of your Companion Cross and thus maximize its worth.
Associated: Methods to rapidly earn the Southwest Companion Cross
Backside line
Who stated incomes a Southwest Companion Cross was arduous? With the Efficiency Enterprise card, you’ll be able to earn this invaluable move with one welcome bonus — and that is not together with the 120,000-plus Speedy Rewards bonus factors you will earn alongside the way in which.
Nonetheless, should you’re contemplating including this card to your pockets, we urge you to attend just a few weeks. Apply in mid-October, then time your spending so you will attain the brink wanted to earn a Companion Cross early subsequent yr to get essentially the most out of your move. In the event you continuously fly with a companion or pal, you will basically pay half the worth to your tickets, which might add as much as 1000’s of {dollars} of financial savings over two years.
