Southwest Airlines Companion Pass & How to Get the Maximum Benefit
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The Southwest Airlines Companion Pass is one of the most coveted rewards in the airline industry, offering unbeatable value for frequent flyers. Whether you’re a seasoned traveler or new to Southwest, understanding how the Companion Pass works, how to earn points through credit cards and purchases, and how to maximize its benefits can significantly enhance your travel experience. By joining your Rapid Rewards account and leveraging bonus offers, you can accelerate your earning of qualifying points and enjoy more free flights throughout the year.
This comprehensive guide will help you learn how to earn the Southwest Airlines Companion Pass, answer common questions about the companion program, provide examples of point-earning strategies, and cover everything you need to know to maximize your rewards and travel benefits with Southwest Airlines.
What is the Southwest Airlines Companion Pass?
With the Southwest Companion Pass, you can nominate a companion to fly with you for free (minus taxes and fees, starting at $5.60 one way) every time you book a flight using your Rapid Rewards account.
This applies to all tickets, including those earned through points or purchased with a credit card, making the Companion Pass a highly valuable benefit for travelers looking to earn more rewards and save on annual fees.
The Southwest Companion Pass remains a premier travel reward, valid for the rest of the year it’s obtained and the entire subsequent year. Additionally, you are allowed to change your designated companion up to three times within the calendar year, providing flexibility in selecting who flies with you and maximizing your rewards.
How to Earn the Southwest Companion Pass
There are several ways to earn the Southwest Companion Pass:
- Flying: You must fly 100 qualifying one-way flights in a calendar year to earn enough points for the Companion Pass.
- Earning Points: You can earn 135,000 qualifying points in a calendar year through various methods, including flying with Southwest Airlines, making purchases on Southwest Rapid Rewards credit cards, and leveraging Rapid Rewards partners.
| Ways | Requirement |
|---|---|
| 💳 Points | Earn 135,000 qualifying Rapid Rewards points |
| ✈️ Flights | Take 100 one-way qualifying flights |
Southwest Companion Pass Credit Card
Using a Southwest credit card is one of the fastest ways to earn the Companion Pass. With welcome bonuses typically ranging from 40,000 to 80,000 points, you can significantly boost your progress toward earning the pass. Remember that the Companion Pass qualifying points are derived from revenue flights, purchases on Rapid Rewards Credit Cards, and base points from partners. Some points, such as those from program enrollment or tier bonuses, don’t qualify.
Participating in promotional offers like Southwest Rapid Rewards Business Credit Cards: New Limited-Time Offers will speed up your path to earning the Companion Pass, with some welcome bonuses reaching up to 120,000 points.
One of the latest promotions allows you to get a Companion Pass along with a welcome 30,000 bonus points when you apply for a personal credit card by March 31, 2025 and spend $4,000 within 3 months after applying.
Another fast way to get a Southwest Companion Pass is to combine two Southwest personal and business credit cards.
Fast Track Strategy: Credit Cards Combo
Combining a Southwest personal and business credit card can earn you up to 120,000–130,000+ points, getting you within reach of the Companion Pass after minimal additional spend.
| Card | Typical Bonus | Annual Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus (Personal) | 50,000–75,000 points | $69 |
| Southwest Premier Business Card | 60,000–80,000+ points | $99 |
There are both personal and business versions of the cards, each with its own set of benefits and earning rates – Comparative Analysis: Business vs. Personal Southwest Cards.
Best Time to Apply for the Southwest Companion Pass (2025–2026 Strategy)
To maximize the Companion Pass duration — and possibly get nearly 24 months of two-for-one flights — timing your credit card application is crucial.
Here’s how to do it:
- Apply for a Southwest credit card in September or October 2024.
- This ensures your spending and bonus post at the right time.
- Meet the minimum spending requirement within the 3-month window.
- Let the bonus post in January 2025.
- Even if you complete spending in late 2024, waiting for the statement close in January will push points into the 2025 qualifying year.
- Continue earning points to reach the 135,000-point threshold in 2025.
- Welcome bonuses often fall short, so factor in spending, partner offers, and referrals.
- Once qualified, your Companion Pass is valid for the rest of 2025 and all of 2026.
- To keep it beyond 2026, you’ll need to requalify in 2026 using the same strategy.
Be careful not to let the welcome bonus post in December 2024, or it will count for 2024 and expire at the end of 2025.
How to Book with the Southwest Companion Pass
Booking with the Companion Pass is straightforward:
- Book Your Flight: Purchase or redeem points for your flight through Southwest’s Rapid Rewards website.
- Add Your Companion: Once your flight is booked, you can add your designated companion through your Rapid Rewards account.
For any bookings, remember to reserve your companion’s spot after your ticket is confirmed to ensure both reservations are processed smoothly. If needed, speak with a Customer Representative for booking assistance.
Designating a Companion
- Log into Your Account: Access your Southwest Rapid Rewards account online.
- Add Companion: Navigate to the “My Account” section and select “Companion Pass” to add your companion’s details.
Changing Your Companion
You can change your designated companion up to three times in a calendar year. This flexibility allows you to share the benefits of the Companion Pass with different people throughout the year, enhancing your travel experiences.
In addition to enjoying unlimited flights with your companion on qualifying bookings, consider pairing your Companion Pass strategy with other Southwest credit card rewards, such as shopping bonuses or dining deals, to maximize your points earning and enhance your overall travel experiences. Pass with different people throughout the year.
How to Change Your Companion
You can do this easily via your Rapid Rewards profile:
- Log in to your Southwest account
- Go to “My Account” → “Companion Pass”
- Update your companion’s info
- Wait for confirmation before booking a new companion’s flight
Once a change is made, you can’t reverse it until your next allowable switch (3x total per calendar year).
Requalifying Each Year
The Companion Pass isn’t forever. To keep it, you’ll need to:
- Earn 135,000 qualifying points again each calendar year, or
- Fly 100 one-way segments
You can repeat the same credit card and spend strategy every other year to alternate between earning years and travel years.
Conclusion
The Southwest Companion Pass is a powerful tool for frequent travelers, offering substantial savings and flexibility. Learn the rules, take advantage of the bonus offers, and plan how best to spend to maximize this fantastic travel benefit. Utilize various ways to earn points and rewards through your credit card and partners to fully benefit from the Companion Pass: traveling more with family, reducing the cost of business travel, or visiting new destinations.
