7 Ways to Earn Southwest Points This Holiday, 50k and more

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Update: The credit card offer in this post is no longer available. Check our credit card page for the latest offers.

Trying to score a free flight? Is your stash of Southwest points getting low? Do you need to earn a few points to get your Southwest Companion Pass (good for up to 2 years of free travel)? Then you’re in luck. Here are 7 ways to earn Southwest points this holiday.

1. 40,000 Point Southwest Credit Card

You can earn 50,000 Southwest points after spending $1,000 on purchases in the first 3 months of opening a Southwest Premier credit card.

With 40,000 points you’re almost half of the way to earning the Southwest Companion Pass and two years of free flights!

Read: How to fly free for two years

Read: Extreme miles and points collecting

2. 2,000 Bonus Points

Already got the Southwest credit card? You’ll get 2,000 bonus points if you spend $4,000 by December 31, 2016.

Enroll in this promotion at http://www.chase.com/mybonus/swa41.

3. Shopping

Save gas, time, and avoid the crowds by shopping online through the Southwest shopping portal. And earn lots of bonus Southwest points.

Here are just a few examples:

• 3,600 points from Verizon
• 2,700 points from T-Mobile
• 700 points when subscribing to the Wall Street Journal
• 15 points per $1 spent at Magazines.com

4. Dining

Sign-up for the Southwest Dining program and earn 1,000 bonus points after spending $25 in the first 30 days.

5. Car Rentals

You’ll earn up to 2,400 Southwest points per rental with Avis and save up to 35% through January 31, 2018.

• 600 points for 1 to 2 day rentals
• 1,200 points for 3 to 6 day rentals
• 2,400 points for 7+ day rentals

Use coupon code: MUAA042 and AWD K024700 in the Corporate/ID rate field for Avis.

You get up to 30% off and up to 2,400 Southwest points per rental from National through January 31, 2018.

• 600 points for 1 day rentals
• 1,200 points for 2 to 3 day rentals
• 1,800 points for 4 to 6 day rentals
• 2,400 points for 7+ day rentals

Use Contract ID: 5030514.

Note: Only the first 600 points per rental count towards your Southwest Companion Pass, A-List, and A-List Preferred elite status.

Pro-tip: Like hotel stays, book your car rentals in 1 day increments. This way you earn 4,200 points for a 7-day rental instead of only 2,400 points.

6. Lyft

Take your first ride with Lyft and get 1,100 Southwest points when you make your reservation at https://www.lyft.com/swarrewards, and you live near these airports:

• Austin-Bergstrom International Airport
• Chicago Midway International Airport
• Dallas Love Field
• Los Angeles International Airport
• Louisville International Airport
• McCarren International Airport (Las Vegas)
• Nashville International Airport
• Oakland International Airport
• Reagan National Airport (Washington, D.C.)
• San Antonio International Airport
• San Diego International Airport

Pro-tip: Get $5 Lyft credit when you use code: DEBRA191454

7. Hotels

Get 600 Southwest points each time you stay at these hotels:

• Best Western, Best Western Plus, and Best Western Premier Hotels and Resorts
• Carlson Rezidor Hotels (Country Inns & Suites by Carlson, Park Inn by Radisson, Park Plaza, Radisson, and Radisson Blu hotels and resorts)
• Choice hotels
• Hyatt
• La Quinta
• Marriott
• Mlife
• Starwood

Read: How to get free breakfast at hotels

Read: How to get free internet at hotels

Read: How to get free Sheraton Club Lounge access = free food and drinks

Conclusion

Take advantage of special bonuses and earn more Southwest points with these 7 ways to earn Southwest points this holiday.

You can earn bonus points on everything from rental cars, shopping to dining out.

Score big with a 40,000 point bonus on the Southwest credit card.

Pin this to your travel, travel hack or vacation board:

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Capital One Venture X Business

With the Capital One Venture X Business the welcome offer is 150,000 mile bonus after spending $30,000 on purchases in the first three months.

 

My favorite perks about this card are free Capital One Lounge access, earning 2X points on all purchases, and transferring miles to over 15 travel loyalty programs.

 

Learn more about the Capital One Venture X Business and how to apply

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Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is the best card to get started in the world of miles and points. It is the first card you should get to start traveling for free because the welcome offer is 60,000 points after spending $4,000 in the first three months.You can get up to $1,050 in Chase Travel value: the 60k points are worth $750 when booked through the Chase Travel portal. And you get up to $300 in statement credits on travel booked through the Chase portal your first year.

 

My favorite perks about this card are earning 5X points on travel when booked through the Chase portal (2X if direct purchase), 3X points on dining, $50 yearly credit on hotels booked through the Chase portal, no foreign transaction fees, and transferring points to 13 airline and hotel partners like Hyatt, United, and Southwest.

 

Learn more about the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card and how to apply