Southwest Companion Pass: How to Get It and Why It's Worth It

The Southwest Companion Pass is one of the most valuable perks in the points world. For up to two years, your designated companion flies free on every Southwest flight you take — only paying the taxes (~$5.60 each way).

Here’s everything you need to know about earning and using it.

What Is the Companion Pass?

Once you earn the Companion Pass:

Your companion flies free on every Southwest flight you book
Only pay taxes ($5.60 one-way domestic)
Valid through the end of the following year (earn it in January = ~24 months)
Works on points AND cash bookings
You can change your companion up to 3 times per year

Example: Book a $400 flight to Hawaii. Your companion pays $11.20 total. That’s essentially 50% off every trip.

How to Earn the Companion Pass

You need 125,000 qualifying points in a calendar year. Points from these sources count:

✅ Flying Southwest (revenue flights) ✅ Southwest credit card sign-up bonuses ✅ Southwest credit card spending ✅ Southwest shopping portal ✅ Dining rewards ✅ Partner transfers (Chase)

❌ Points transferred FROM Southwest don’t count ❌ Purchased points don’t count

The Fast Track: Credit Card Strategy

The easiest way to earn the Companion Pass is through Southwest credit cards.

Step 1: Apply for Two Southwest Cards

Option A: Personal + Business

Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier (personal)
Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier Business

This is ideal because business cards don’t count toward Chase’s 5/24 rule.

Option B: Two Personal Cards (if no business)

Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier
Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus
(Must be under 5/24)

Current offers (typical):

50,000-75,000 points per card after meeting spend
Combined: 100,000-150,000 points

Step 3: Meet Minimum Spend

Usually $1,000-$3,000 per card in the first 3 months.

Tips to meet spend:

Time with large purchases (furniture, insurance)
Pay bills you’d pay anyway
Buy gift cards (carefully)
Use Plastiq for rent

Step 4: Hit 125,000

If bonuses don’t quite get you there:

Everyday spending on the cards (1-2x points)
Southwest shopping portal (bonus points)
Southwest dining program

Timing Strategy

The key: Earn the Companion Pass early in the year.

Earn in January = Valid through December of NEXT year (~24 months)
Earn in December = Valid through December of NEXT year (~13 months)

How to time it:

Apply for cards in late November/early December
Meet spend but DON’T let bonuses post until January
Make a small purchase in January to trigger the bonus posting

Check your Rapid Rewards account — when you see 125,000 qualifying points, the pass is yours.

Using the Companion Pass

Adding Your Companion

Log into Southwest.com
Go to “My Account” → “Companion Pass”
Add your companion’s name and Rapid Rewards number

They must have a Southwest Rapid Rewards account (free to create).

Booking Companion Tickets

Book your flight as normal
After booking, go to “Manage Reservations”
Select “Add Companion”
Pay taxes only ($5.60/segment)

⚠️ Your companion can only be added AFTER you book. They can’t book separately.

Changing Your Companion

You can change your designated companion 3 times per calendar year. Choose wisely!

Common strategies:

Keep it as your spouse/partner
Change seasonally if you travel with different people
Save a change for emergencies

Companion Pass Value

Let’s do the math:

Scenario: 10 round-trip domestic flights per year

Average cost: $300/flight
2-year value: 20 flights × $300 = $6,000 in companion value

Hawaii trips: Round-trip to Hawaii = ~$600

2 Hawaii trips/year × 2 years = $2,400 value alone

The catch: You need to actually fly Southwest. If you rarely fly them, the pass has less value.

Is Southwest Right for You?

Companion Pass is great if:

You fly domestic frequently
Southwest serves your home airport well
You travel with the same person often
You value flexibility (no change fees)

It’s less valuable if:

You primarily fly international
Southwest doesn’t serve your routes
You usually travel solo
You prefer premium cabin products

Southwest routes map: Check Southwest.com to see if they fly where you need.

Southwest Points Basics

Even without the Companion Pass, Southwest points are valuable:

Earning:

Credit card spending
Flying Southwest
Chase Ultimate Rewards transfers (1:1)

Redeeming:

No blackout dates
Points = cash value (roughly 1.3-1.5¢ each)
Cancel anytime, points return instantly

Transfer from Chase: Chase Ultimate Rewards transfer 1:1 to Southwest. This can top off your account for award flights.

Common Questions

Can I use the Companion Pass on award flights?

Yes! It works on both cash and points bookings.

What if my companion cancels?

No problem. Cancel the companion booking, taxes refund as travel credit.

Can I add a companion to an existing booking?

Yes, as long as seats are available on that flight.

Does the companion earn points?

No. Only the primary ticketholder earns Rapid Rewards points.

Can I have multiple companions on one trip?

No. One companion per booking. If traveling with more people, book separate reservations.

The Strategy for 2026

If you want the Companion Pass starting in 2026:

Now: Check if you’re under Chase 5/24
Late 2025: Apply for Southwest cards
January 2026: Let bonuses post
January 2026: Earn any remaining points needed
January 2026: Enjoy ~24 months of free companion flights

Bottom Line

The Southwest Companion Pass is one of the best deals in travel. Two credit card bonuses can get you two years of buy-one-get-one-free flights.

If you fly Southwest regularly and travel with a partner, it’s a no-brainer.

Related reads:

Planning to earn the Companion Pass? Share your strategy in the comments!