The Southwest Better half Move permits a circle of relatives member or pal to fly without cost with the passholder on all flights. It’s a go back and forth hack to limitless half-priced flights, and is excellent for speedy getaways at Walt Disney Global with an Annual Move. This information to SWA’s Better half Move covers the best way to get it, which is simple with the tactic lined right here–and it might final for almost 2 complete years!
Let’s get started with the nuts and bolts about how the Southwest Better half Move works as soon as obtained. Upon getting the Better half Move, you designate a traveler who will you utilize it, after which any fare you purchase or e book with miles on Southwest Airways (SWA) comes with a unfastened fare at the identical flight for that spouse. There are nonetheless a small quantity of taxes and charges they’ll need to pay, however that best quantities to ~$6 on maximum airfare.
So say you e book a fare for $99 from Chicago to Orlando. Your spouse flies without cost, which means that you just’re necessarily getting half-priced flights for either one of you (purchase one, get one unfastened). With Southwest’s many ‘Wanna Get Away’ gross sales, you must pay even much less. Again once we lived within the Midwest, those gross sales plus the Better half Move have been our ‘secret weapon’ for inexpensive WDW journeys. And this information covers precisely how we made it paintings with out flying a ton to qualify for the Better half Move the ‘earned’ method…
There are a host of little regulations and quirks that make the Southwest Better half Move much more fantastic. As famous above, you’ll be able to designate someone as your spouse. On the other hand, you’ll be able to additionally trade your SWA spouse as much as thrice by means of calling Southwest Speedy Rewards. (We’ve by no means executed this, however have pals who’ve strategically used their allocated adjustments to make use of the Southwest Better half Move to go back and forth with other folks.)
The actual worth of the Southwest Better half Move comes right down to its restrictions. Or somewhat, lack thereof. Lots of you’re most probably lovers of SWA as it’s circle of relatives pleasant and doesn’t cater to trade vacationers just like the legacy carriers. Smartly, identical thought applies right here. The Southwest Better half Move can be utilized an infinite selection of occasions and it’s not topic to any particular fare magnificence obstacles. Which means that as there’s a seat to be had on the market at the aircraft, you’ll be able to use it for the most affordable money fares or Speedy Rewards issues redemptions.
In different phrases, the Southwest Better half Move is NOT a type of illusory “reductions” that lets you “save extra” by means of spending extra. Walt Disney Global dealhounds will have to know this sport moderately neatly, having observed not-so-special provides that require the acquisition of pricier programs or longer remains to obtain a cut price.
With the Southwest Better half Move, you’ll be able to spend as low as conceivable and nonetheless save. I’ll be fair with you–it turns into like an addictive problem to maximise your financial savings and beat your previous “ratings.” The primary yr that we had a Better half Move, we traveled nearly each weekend. It used to be reasonably priced and superb; one of the vital best possible years of our lives.
All of this almost definitely sounds too just right to be true, or like there’s a large catch coming. In all probability that you just best can qualify for the Southwest Better half Move by means of repeating some ridiculous feats of energy or spending a boatload of cash with SWA. No, you don’t want to fly within the center seat for 124 consecutive flight segments or acquire $33,000 price of in-flight meals & drinks.
Conventional Method to Earn a SWA Better half Move
To make certain, there are methods to qualify for the Southwest Better half Move which can be extra “conventional.” The 2 strategies marketed on SWA’s website are flying 100 qualifying one-way flights in a calendar yr, or incomes 135,000 Speedy Rewards issues in a calendar yr.
Clearly, the ones are giant hurdles. Whilst a frequently-flying blogger, I’ve by no means hit the necessities the “fair” method. (To not say the opposite is devious–since SWA isn’t aimed toward trade vacationers, I’m guessing it’s how greater than 90% of vacationers qualify for the Better half Move.)
Shortcut to Southwest Better half Move
What we’ve all the time executed is open two Southwest Chase bank cards, one non-public card and one trade card (one thing as pedestrian as promoting on eBay qualifies you for a trade card). I almost definitely misplaced a tight selection of you proper there, as I do know many of us have this intense hatred for bank cards.
I’m no longer happening the street of debating whether or not bank cards are an evil software created to line the wallet of rich monetary establishments or are nice equipment that show you how to download advantages for the cash you spend on a regular basis, anyway. All I will be able to say is that since we’ve held our first bank cards, the 2 people have gained tens of hundreds of bucks in rewards, and I’ve by no means paid a unmarried cent in pastime…all with out making any Faustian Bargains!
We’ve by no means taken the time to calculate the price of what we’ve acquired by the use of bank card rewards, however it’s simply over $100,000 at this level. I wouldn’t be in the least shocked if it have been in truth nearer to $250,000.
We first began bank card hacking once we have been freshly out of school, didn’t have a lot cash, and leveraged bank card rewards closely to do aspirational touring that differently would’ve been out of succeed in.
In its early years, this weblog would possibly as neatly have contained a PBS-style disclaimer studying, “this venture is made conceivable by means of a beneficiant grant from the high quality other people at Visa and American Categorical.” Bank card corporations didn’t know they have been investment crucial analysis into theme park traveling technique and burgers, however I’d love to suppose they’d’ve supported the motive regardless. However I digress.
Reducing to the chase, you’ll be able to recently get the Southwest Efficiency Industry bank card with a sign-up bonus of 80,000 issues after you spend $5,000 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening. (You’ll be able to earn those bonuses by the use of our referral hyperlink.)
At the side of that, get any of the 3 non-public SWA bank cards. (I’d go for the ground tier, because it has the bottom annual charge and this card goes to be in large part redundant to the Southwest Efficiency Industry card, anyway.) With any of the ones, you earn 50,000 issues after you spend $1,000 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening.
In tandem, you’ll earn over 135,000 Speedy Rewards issues whenever you meet the minimal spend. (Bonus issues of 130,000 plus spending of no less than $6,000.) Should you’re going to check out for this, you will need to that you just hit your spending objective strategically.
The Southwest Better half Move is just right for the total calendar yr after the yr you earn it.
Which means that a Better half Move earned in December 2026 expires on December 31, 2027 since you earned it this yr. In contrast, a Better half Move earned in January 2027 would expire on December 31, 2028.
That’s nearly a complete yr of additional use just by making sure that you just don’t hit the spending necessities till after your December remark closes, in order that the issues are posted in January 2027. Should you’re savvy with spending, you’ll be able to get the Southwest Better half Move by means of January 5, 2027 and stay it till December 31, 2028!
Beating Southwest’s Dangerous Adjustments
The opposite bonus of getting one (or on this case, two) of the Southwest bank cards is that you just’ll nonetheless get a unfastened checked bag with Southwest regardless of the tip of its fan-favorite ‘luggage fly unfastened’ coverage final yr. That used to be a seismic shift for Southwest, and extra main adjustments arrive quickly.
As of January 27, 2026, Southwest is changing its conventional open-seating “livestock name” with a structured assigned seating style and a brand new Teams 1–8 boarding procedure. Which means that it not issues in the event you’ve were given speedy arms at check-in; that is every other pay to play transfer within the course of legacy carriers. As with the tip of ‘luggage fly unfastened’, this doesn’t actually have an effect on Southwest bank card holders, who obtain usual seat variety and precedence boarding.
Whilst our view is that the adjustments Southwest is making are in most cases unhealthy for customers and for the airline’s distinctive persona and major draw, Speedy Rewards Credit score Cardholders nonetheless could possibly make the adjustments paintings to their benefit. That’s doubly true if costs drop both because of decrease Fundamental fares or decrease call for as different dependable consumers soar send…or each.
That would possibly make the Southwest Better half Move much more treasured going ahead. “May” is the operative phrase there. Once more, we’re no longer lovers of the adjustments Southwest is making, and likened them to Bob Chapek’s reign of terror as CEO of Disney. Simply looking for a possible silver lining right here!
Chase 5/24 Rule Caution
Some other essential factor to remember this is Chase’s 5/24 rule.
With this, you gained’t be capable to get maximum Chase playing cards in the event you’ve opened 5 bank card accounts throughout all banks up to now 24 months. Qualifying for the Southwest Better half Move by the use of bank cards and signup bonuses knocks out 1 of your 5. (Now not 2, as trade playing cards aren’t reported to the private credit score bureaus.)
Should you’re a bank card beginner, that’s almost definitely no longer a priority for you. The Chase 5/24 rule is aimed toward bank card churners and hardcore hackers (or, I assume, serial spenders), who aren’t the objective target market of this submit. Nonetheless, in the event you’re bearing in mind entering the fantastic international of go back and forth hacking and are extra vulnerable to fly the world over and on different airways, you will have to give critical attention as to whether you need to burn a card on Southwest Airways.
Why SWA’s Better half Move is Best for Disney Fanatics
Should you’re a pair or circle of relatives basically touring to Walt Disney Global or Disneyland, the Southwest Better half Move is just about a no brainer. There are few signup bonuses with as a lot doable as this one–the ‘worth ceiling’ at the Southwest Better half Move is amazingly top!
We’ll as soon as once more be offering every other plug for the 10 Very best and 10 Worst Weeks to Talk over with Walt Disney Global in 2026 & 2027. Severely, this combines quantitative and qualitative concerns when figuring out when to seek advice from, and includes a vary of dates.
Particularly, we’d suggest those that come with the next:
- EPCOT Global Pageant of the Arts (our favourite EPCOT match!)
- Get started of EPCOT Flower & Lawn Pageant (our third-favorite EPCOT match–additionally a good time of yr for an get away from chilly climate!)
- Put up-Easter (nice climate and coffee crowds)
- Mid-September (very low crowds, Halloween + Meals & Wine, depressing climate)
- Put up-Thanksgiving (100% Christmas, nice climate, low crowds)
In fact, that’s simply Walt Disney Global. We actually will have to put in combination a identical best possible & worst weeks submit for Disneyland. For now, right here’s what we’d goal:
- Lunar New 12 months (low crowds & cool climate)
- Meals & Wine (identical)
- Early Halloween
- Early Christmas
Our Reviews with the Better half Move
The primary couple of occasions we had Southwest Better half Passes, we additionally went onerous on seeing the U.S. Nationwide Parks and towns we had by no means visited. Amongst those have been Acadia Nationwide Park (for fall colours), Rocky Mountains Nationwide Park, San Francisco and Pinnacles Nationwide Park, Yosemite Nationwide Park, Nice Smoky Mountains Nationwide Park, Grand Canyon Nationwide Park, and others I’m almost definitely forgetting.
Clearly, everybody has other pursuits–the salient level is that there’s so much to peer in the US, and also you don’t want to use the Southwest Better half Move simply on Walt Disney Global or Disneyland. As revenge go back and forth involves an finish in all places, there are probably to be nice offers around the board–together with on airfare–making the following couple of years a good time to have this go.
We discuss from revel in, as we first were given the Southwest Better half Move at the bottom of the Nice Recession. I nonetheless have spreadsheets with go back and forth prices from again then and, holy cow, have been a few of the ones journeys reasonable!
With that during thoughts, we will have to additionally proportion our tale with the Southwest Better half Move paired with a Walt Disney Global Annual Move to function a cautionary story.
It used to be ~15 years in the past and we lived within the Midwest, already visiting Walt Disney Global a pair occasions consistent with yr. Annual Passes have been a fragment in their present value, however so too have been common tickets (and the no-expiration possibility nonetheless existed then).
Upon getting the Southwest Better half Move in hand, you’ll use that “unfastened” airfare to justify much more journeys. Agree with us. You get a ‘wanna break out’ electronic mail with cut price airfare from SWA, and e book a snappy 3-day seek advice from. Dear as they’re now, you purchase an Annual Move, justifying it on a per-day price foundation and at the lodge reductions it’ll get you.
You get started doing D23 and different area of interest occasions. You e book journeys only for cushy openings or AP previews. A couple of lengthy weekend journeys consistent with yr becomes being at Walt Disney Global each month.
“Desiring” to avoid wasting much more cash on lodges, you sign up for Disney Holiday Membership. You get super-into images and get started a weblog to show the arena to your entire loopy ideas and obsessions. Ok, possibly that final very particular instance isn’t universally acceptable!
Level being, it’s a slippery slope and qualifying for a Southwest Better half Move to save cash would possibly finally end up costing you a lot more cash within the long-term. It may additionally building up your happiness and high quality of existence. We discuss from revel in on all of this. So do with this knowledge what you’ll.
Joking apart, getting the Southwest Better half Move in our newlywed years used to be one of the vital best possible selections we’ve ever made. Sure, it did result in extra journeys to Walt Disney Global and Disneyland, at the side of the entire above, which in a roundabout way additionally unleashed all of my rambling ideas on the net. Nevertheless it additionally allowed us to peer the US and feature many memorable reports in combination that formed our courting and who we’re.
To not finish this on a sappy word or anything else, however we’re company believers within the worth of go back and forth to extend horizons, be informed concerning the international and your self. The Southwest Better half Move is a brilliant conduit for all of that. And to be transparent, this weblog isn’t in truth funded by means of a beneficiant grant from Chase Financial institution, Visa, The Walt Disney Corporate, or Southwest Airways (…but?). We’re simply actually go back and forth and notice the price it has had in our lives. Without or with this, we’d inspire everybody to go back and forth extra–even supposing that suggests Megabus $1 fares, taking the teach someplace new, and so forth!
Making plans a Walt Disney Global commute? Find out about lodges on our Walt Disney Global Lodges Evaluations web page. For the place to devour, learn our Walt Disney Global Eating place Evaluations. To save cash on tickets or resolve which sort to shop for, learn our Pointers for Saving Cash on Walt Disney Global Tickets submit. Our What to Pack for Disney Journeys submit takes a novel take a look at artful pieces to take. For what to do and when to do it, our Walt Disney Global Experience Guides will lend a hand. For complete recommendation, the most efficient position to begin is our Walt Disney Global Commute Making plans Information for the entirety you want to grasp!
YOUR THOUGHTS
Have you ever ever had the Southwest Better half Move? Did you earn it the ‘fair’ method or make the most of bank card hacking to procure it? Are you keen on SWA or do you like different low price or legacy carriers? Will you check out for Southwest’s Better half Move? Do you settle or disagree with our recommendation? Any questions we will let you solution? Listening to your comments–even while you disagree with us–is each fascinating to us and useful to different readers, so please proportion your ideas underneath within the feedback!
