One Card Closes, Another Opens (Southwest Business)

Recently I closed one of my credit cards, the Barclays AA AAdvantage Aviator card. You know how they say, "When one door closes, another opens"? Well, when I closed one card I opened another. 🤣 Except it wasn't cause-effect or even karma. It's really more of a coincidence.

The new card I opened is the Chase Southwest Rapid Rewards Business Premier card. Yes, that's a mouthful. It always is with these cards. 🤣

It's not like I need this card to have one that pays benefits with Southwest Airlines. I've already got one. I already carry a personal card; now I have this business card, too. Yes, that's 100% permitted under their T&Cs.

I opened this card because I need the points. ...Well, I don't really need the points. I've got going on 500,000 Southwest points. But the points from this card also count for requalifying for Companion Pass, a very lucrative elite status. I need the points for that.

This card offers 60k points after spending $3k another 60k points after spending a total of $15k. I'll hit the first bonus this year; the 60k points, combined with what I'm already earning from flying and other activity this year, will put me well over the threshold for Companion Pass lasting through 2025. And I'll time my charges to snag the second 60k bonus next year. Those points will give me a good leg up on re-earning Companion Pass in 2025 to last through 2026.

At some point, hopefully, I'll get off this treadmill of earning points so I can focus on spending them. 🤣

Aww, Fuck. Covid Exposure.

I've been in company business meetings most of the past 2 days, sitting in a conference room with 20ish people. This evening at dinner I found out the colleague I've been sitting next to the past 2 days just tested positive for Covid-19. He skipped dinner and [edit:] drove home where he used an at-home test. He sent an email to everyone at the meetings advising of us positive result.

I wrote in response to his email, mindful of the large cc list:

Speaking as one of the people sitting right next to you the past two days, "Aww, sh😰t." Get better soon, and thanks for notifying us.

It's not a given that I'll be sick. I've had a successful record as a Covid dodger. I've never had Covid. Though I do worry. I already feel some cold-like symptoms— which could be a just a stray cough or two. But the sad fact of life in a world where Covid has become globally endemic is that any stray cough is reason for concern it's something worse.

My spouse has already chosen to sleep in a separate room from me. I'll watch myself for symptoms and use an at-home Covid test if it seems like I'm getting ill.