Southwest Will Allow Hotel & Other Transfers To Work For Companion Pass Eligiblity Until March 31st, 2017

At the start of the year it was announced that Southwest would no longer allow the following points to count towards the companion pass:

  • Points converted from hotel and car loyalty programs
  • e-Rewards
  • e-Miles
  • Valued Opinion
  • Diners Club

According to The Points Guy, they have decided that these transfers will count towards companion pass status until March 31st, 2017. This is great news (and maybe much needed news for Southwest after they erroneous sent out an e-mail stating some customers had qualified for a companion pass or A-List status). I hate no notice changes and I don’t think they are a good move from a long term business perspective as they shatter any trust customers have in your brand.

I also know some readers have transferred and even purchase points to SPG/Marriott in order to use Mariott’s flight + hotel packages to get the companion pass. I just hope people didn’t transfer to other programs already. You can read more about the companion pass here.

 

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JG
JG (@guest_335317)
January 7, 2017 15:40

I will probably redeem for a Category 9 Marriott. I’ve previously read that it is best to do the Cat 1-5 redemption and upgrade with points in case I don’t need a Cat 9. Is this still the case and will the amount of points be the same? Thx

JG
JG (@guest_335558)
January 8, 2017 10:59

Found the answer in the Wiki on the thread at FT. Apparently, you just pay the difference in points when upgrading to a higher category. So just do the cat 1-5 if you don’t have plans.

josh
josh (@guest_335003)
January 6, 2017 17:20

Where is the publication from Southwest? I don’t want to play musicals chairs.

Corey
Corey (@guest_334919)
January 6, 2017 12:12

If I transfer points to SW before March 31, will they still count towards the CP after March 31? For example if I transferred and had 100,000RR before March 31, could I still earn the companion pass by receiving 10,000 more RR (through flying) after March 31?

Maomi
Maomi (@guest_334499)
January 5, 2017 17:31

https://www.southwestaircommunity.com/t5/Southwest-Stories/Companion-Pass-qualification-changes-in-the-New-Year/ba-p/50377

I believe this is the “official” page. I printed it as a PDF file, LOL. According to Marriott rep, it takes up to 3 business days for points to show up in the WN account.

sdb4u
sdb4u (@guest_334433)
January 5, 2017 16:17

Anyone interested for referral links for 50k SIgnup for Chase SW PLUS card. shoot a mail to [email protected].

Win – Win

Jay
Jay (@guest_334377)
January 5, 2017 13:53

The language on the website still says not eligible on transfers, has anyone actually done it or should I wait. Also if anyone has an official screenshot from SW that we can use as proof to allow if somehow they don’t honor it.

Naresh Gupta
Naresh Gupta (@guest_334353)
January 5, 2017 12:47

What does this all mean? So If I transfer enough hotel points to SWA to get companion pass prior to March 31st, will this comp pass be good till Dec 2018?

I am somewhat confused.

Ty
Ty (@guest_334273)
January 5, 2017 04:52

If we don’t have the required 90k SPG could we transfer Amex MR to Starwood and then to Marriott for the Hotel+Flights package?

Ty
Ty (@guest_334820)
January 6, 2017 04:30

but wouldn’t that basically mean 1:1 MR to Marriott? Thoughts?

T
T (@guest_334247)
January 5, 2017 02:04

Is there a normal time frame for when i points transfer has to begin with Marriott to get the points in time? a few days? a few weeks?

calwatch
calwatch (@guest_334245)
January 5, 2017 01:55

The funny thing is that all the blogger hype at this being the last chance ever for most people to get the Companion Pass without flying or excessive MSing means that the transfers will be totally slammed and devalue the product for the next two years. Before the change, it was something that could be found with a search but was not broadcast from the rooftops as this is today. Southwest should have announced the change around fall of last year but instead sprung it on people unsuspectingly on January 1, when people had made their year end points purchases already. To their credit, they are eating it – big time – while regular joes and business travelers will pay higher buckets or deal with sold out flights.

Whon cares?
Whon cares? (@guest_334288)
January 5, 2017 06:44

And………?

Dave Hanson
Dave Hanson (@guest_334336)
January 5, 2017 11:58

Right on Calwatch. No-notice devaluations always damage the issuer’s brand, but often they have collateral damage too.