Springfield News-Sun

Southwest offers Companion Pass through credit card

- Clark Howard Learn more money-saving tips online at Clark.com. SEND A GREAT HINT TO: Heloise Box 795001 San Antonio, TX 78279-5001 Fax: 1-210-HELOISE

This article was written by Nick Cole and originally appeared on Clark.com.

If you’re a frequent Southwest Airlines customer in search of a travel credit card, then now might be the time to consider adding one to your wallet.

Southwest Rapid Rewards Credit Cards from Chase are giving new cardmember­s the opportunit­y to earn Companion Pass privileges through Feb. 28, 2024.

This perk, along with 30,000 Rapid Rewards Points that don’t expire, can be earned by new cardholder­s after they spend $4,000 on purchases made with the card in the first three months from account opening.

The offer launched on Feb. 7, 2023.

So, if you hurry to apply and hit your spending requiremen­t, you can earn access to the Companion

Pass for nearly a full year.

Companion Pass is a Southwest Airlines benefit that allows you to choose one person to fly with you, free of airline charges (does not include taxes and fees from $5.60 one way) every time you purchase or redeem points for a flight.

If you hit the credit card spending bonus, then you’ll enjoy that compliment­ary period of Companion Pass access through the end of February 2024.

But after that, you will be required to requalify for access to the Companion Pass on an annual basis.

To requalify for your Companion

Pass, you’ll need to earn 135,000 Companion Pass qualifying points or fly 100 qualifying one-way flights in a calendar year. That’s a significan­t amount of travel.

But you’ll notice in the card descriptio­ns above that there are other ways to accrue points aside from flying, and there are bonus categories that will multiply your points earned on select spending.

You can read more about the Companion Pass requalific­ation process on Southwest’s website.

Dear Readers : I get so many letters on how to make more space in closets — they just don’t hold everything you want. Here’s how to create extra storage space:

1. Get storage boxes and color-coded hangers.

2. Use the space on the tops of closets by installing extra shelves or hanging racks. Place boxes on the top shelves.

3. Put hooks or over-thedoor hangers on the door.

4. Hang matching outfits on one sturdy hanger.

5. Get plastic crates and storage bins that can be stacked on top of each other.

6. Store out-of-season clothing in seldom-used suitcases.

7. Put old bookcases in closets for more storage.

8. Finally, clean out closets often to get rid of clothing that you are not wearing or that is outdated. Donate this clothing to a local charity in your area. —

Cleaning with baking soda

Dear Readers: If you have a box of baking soda in your kitchen cabinet, dampen a sponge with water, sprinkle baking soda onto it and then use it to wipe kitchen sinks, stainless steel and stovetops clean.

Baking soda is also great for cleaning and deodorizin­g. Curious as to what else you can clean with baking soda? I have put together a six-page pamphlet, “Heloise’s Baking Soda Hints and Recipes,” that you can receive by sending $5 and a long, self-addressed, stamped envelope to: Heloise/baking Soda, P.O.

John Buckingham, Long Beach, California

Reusing empty plastic peanut butter jars

Dear Readers: Don’t toss out empty plastic peanut butter jars. Clean them, and then use them to store rice, pasta and beans. They can be utilized as freezer containers, too. And, in the garage, they can hold nails and screws. When you are done with the jars, put them into curbside recycling bins. —

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