Are you ready to unlock one of the most incredible travel perks available? Imagine flying with a loved one for nearly free, not just once, but every single time you fly Southwest Airlines for up to two years! This isn't a dream; it's the reality of the Southwest Airlines Companion Pass. If you've ever wondered how to make your travel budget stretch further, or how to experience more adventures without breaking the bank, then you've landed on the right page. This comprehensive guide will walk you through every step of earning and maximizing the legendary Southwest Companion Pass.
Let's dive in and turn your travel aspirations into a reality!
The Magic of the Southwest Companion Pass: What is it, Exactly?
The Southwest Companion Pass is truly a game-changer for frequent flyers and travel enthusiasts alike. In essence, it allows you to designate one person to fly with you for free (you only pay taxes and fees, which typically start at just $5.60 one-way for domestic flights) on any Southwest flight you take, whether you've purchased your ticket with cash or Rapid Rewards points. And here's the best part: there are no blackout dates or seat restrictions. If there's a seat available on the flight you're on, your designated companion can be there with you.
The Companion Pass is valid from the time you earn it until the end of the following full calendar year. This means if you earn it early in the year, say in February 2025, you'll have it for the rest of 2025 and all of 2026 – that's almost two full years of incredible savings!
Step 1: Understand the Core Requirement - The Golden Number
To earn the Southwest Companion Pass, you need to meet one of two criteria within a single calendar year (January 1st to December 31st):
Sub-heading: The Two Paths to Companion Pass Glory
Option A: Fly 100 Qualifying One-Way Flights.
This path is pretty straightforward, but it requires a lot of flying. For most leisure travelers, this isn't the most feasible option. It's typically for business travelers who are constantly on Southwest planes.
Option B: Earn 135,000 Qualifying Rapid Rewards Points.
This is the path most people pursue, and for good reason! It's much more attainable, especially with the strategic use of Southwest co-branded credit cards. We'll focus heavily on this method as it offers the quickest and often most efficient way to snag the Companion Pass.
Sub-heading: What Counts as Qualifying Points?
Not all Rapid Rewards points are created equal when it comes to the Companion Pass. Here's what does count:
Points earned from revenue flights booked directly through Southwest Airlines.
Points earned from Southwest Rapid Rewards Credit Cards, including:
Points from meeting welcome bonus requirements on new cards. This is often the fastest way to accumulate a large number of points.
Points from everyday spending on your Southwest credit card.
The annual 10,000 Companion Pass qualifying points boost for Southwest Rapid Rewards Cardmembers (this effectively reduces your target to 125,000 earned points if you're a cardholder!).
Base points earned from Rapid Rewards partners, such as hotel stays, car rentals, and through the Rapid Rewards Shopping and Dining portals.
And what doesn't count?
Purchased points.
Points transferred between Members.
Points converted from other loyalty programs (like Chase Ultimate Rewards, hotel or car loyalty programs).
Tier bonus points (A-List, A-List Preferred).
Flight bonus points.
Step 2: Strategize Your Earning - The Credit Card Advantage
For most individuals, leveraging Southwest's co-branded credit cards issued by Chase is the most efficient and reliable method to earn the 135,000 qualifying points.
Sub-heading: The "Two-Card Strategy"
Since you can only hold one personal Southwest credit card at a time and receive a welcome bonus, the common and highly effective strategy involves applying for two Southwest credit cards in the same calendar year:
Option 1: One Personal Card + One Business Card.
This is often the most popular approach. You can apply for a personal Southwest Rapid Rewards credit card (Plus, Premier, or Priority) and a Southwest Rapid Rewards business credit card (Premier Business or Performance Business).
Many people are surprised they can qualify for a business card! If you have any kind of side hustle, freelance work, or even plan to start a small business, you might be eligible to apply as a sole proprietor using your Social Security Number.
Option 2: Two Business Cards.
If you don't want a personal card or have already received a personal card bonus recently, you might consider opening two different Southwest business credit cards. Ensure you wait at least 30 days between applications if pursuing this route.
Sub-heading: Timing is Everything!
This is a critical aspect of maximizing your Companion Pass. You want to earn the 135,000 points as early in the calendar year as possible.
Why early? Because the Companion Pass is valid for the remainder of the calendar year in which you earn it, plus the entire following calendar year.
Example: If you earn the pass in March 2025, it's valid for March-December 2025 and all of 2026. That's nearly two full years!
If you earn it in December 2025, it's only valid for December 2025 and all of 2026 – still great, but you missed out on almost a full year of usage.
How to time it: Many people apply for their first card late in the current year, aiming to meet the spending requirement and have the bonus points post to their Rapid Rewards account in January of the following year. Then they apply for the second card in January or early February of that same year, meeting the spending and having those points post within the same calendar year. This ensures all 135,000 qualifying points are earned in the target calendar year. Be very careful to ensure your welcome bonus points post in the desired year; check your credit card statement closing dates.
Step 3: Execute Your Earning Plan - Rack Up Those Points!
Once you've chosen your credit card strategy, it's time to diligently earn those points.
Sub-heading: Meeting Minimum Spend Requirements
Focus on the Welcome Bonuses: The most substantial chunk of points will come from the welcome offers on your new Southwest credit cards. Make sure you meet the spending requirements within the specified timeframe (usually 3 months) to unlock these bonuses.
Everyday Spending: Once you've met the welcome bonuses, continue to use your Southwest credit card for your regular purchases. Points earned on all eligible spending count towards the Companion Pass.
Rapid Rewards Shopping & Dining: Don't forget about these easy ways to earn extra points!
Rapid Rewards Shopping Portal: Log in to the portal before shopping online at hundreds of popular retailers. You'll earn bonus points per dollar spent in addition to your credit card points.
Rapid Rewards Dining: Link your credit cards to your dining account and earn points automatically when you dine at participating restaurants.
Sub-heading: Monitoring Your Progress
Southwest makes it easy to track your Companion Pass progress.
Log in to your Rapid Rewards account on Southwest.com.
Your progress towards the 135,000 qualifying points or 100 qualifying flights will be displayed in your account snapshot. Keep a close eye on this!
Step 4: Designate Your Companion - The Free Flyer Choice!
Once you've successfully earned the 135,000 qualifying points (or flown 100 qualifying flights), Southwest will notify you that you've earned the Companion Pass!
Sub-heading: How to Choose Your Companion
Online Designation: Log in to your Rapid Rewards account on Southwest.com. On your account snapshot or in the "My Account" section, you'll find an option to "Choose Your Companion" or "Enter Companion Info."
Provide Information: You'll need to enter your chosen companion's legal first name, last name (as it appears on their government-issued ID), date of birth, and gender. Make sure this information is accurate as it must match their identification for travel.
Confirmation: Once submitted, your companion will be designated. Southwest will also send you a physical Companion Pass card (though you don't typically need this for booking, it's good to have for reference).
Sub-heading: Can You Change Your Companion?
Yes, you can! Southwest allows you to change your designated companion up to three times each calendar year.
How to Change: You usually need to call Southwest Customer Service (1-800-435-9792) to change your companion. You cannot do this online.
Important Note: If you have any existing flights booked with your current companion, you'll need to cancel their portion of those reservations before you can change your designated companion. Allow some time for the change to process.
Step 5: Book Your Flights - Unleash the Savings!
Now for the fun part: using your Companion Pass!
Sub-heading: The Booking Process
Book Your Flight First: You must book your own flight on Southwest Airlines before you can add your companion. You can pay with cash or redeem your Rapid Rewards points.
Add Your Companion:
Online: After your flight is booked, log in to your Rapid Rewards account. Go to your "My Trips" section. You'll see your upcoming flight, and there should be an option to "Add Companion" next to your reservation. Click this link.
Follow Prompts: Review the pre-filled companion information. You will then be prompted to pay the applicable taxes and fees for your companion's flight (starting at $5.60 one-way for domestic).
Confirm: Complete the transaction. Your companion will receive their own separate confirmation number.
Via Phone: You can also call Southwest Customer Service (1-800-248-4377) and inform the representative that you'd like to use your Companion Pass to add a companion to your existing reservation.
Sub-heading: Key Things to Remember When Booking
Availability: Your companion can only be added if there is an available seat on your flight. While there are no blackout dates, flights can and do sell out. It's always best to add your companion as soon as possible after booking your own flight, especially for popular routes or times.
No Further Companion Passes: A Companion's reservation is not considered a purchased flight, so you cannot use their flight to book another Companion Pass reservation.
Boarding: Your companion will generally receive a sequential boarding position based on when their reservation was made and checked in. If you have A-List/A-List Preferred status or purchased a Business Select fare, your companion will receive a boarding position based on whichever is applicable to them (time of check-in, their status, or EarlyBird Check-In if purchased for them). Southwest does not have a strict policy against saving seats.
Step 6: Enjoy Your Travels! - The Real Benefit
The true value of the Southwest Companion Pass becomes apparent as you embark on your travels. Think about:
Spontaneous Getaways: With essentially two-for-one fares, a weekend trip becomes much more affordable.
Family Adventures: If you travel frequently with a spouse, child, or close friend, the savings are substantial.
Maximizing Points: Using points to book your flight, and then adding a companion for just the taxes/fees, essentially doubles the value of your Rapid Rewards points! This is where the pass truly shines.
Don't underestimate the power of this perk. It can easily save you thousands of dollars annually, opening up new travel opportunities you might not have considered before.
10 Related FAQ Questions
How to qualify for the Southwest Companion Pass?
To qualify, you must earn 135,000 Companion Pass qualifying points or fly 100 qualifying one-way flights within a single calendar year (January 1st to December 31st).
How to earn the 135,000 qualifying points quickly?
The fastest way is typically by opening two Southwest co-branded credit cards (one personal and one business, or two business cards) and earning their welcome bonuses in the same calendar year. Points from everyday spending on these cards and the annual 10,000-point boost also count.
How to choose your designated companion after earning the pass?
Once you qualify, log in to your Rapid Rewards account on Southwest.com, navigate to your account snapshot or "My Account" section, and you'll find an option to "Choose Your Companion" where you'll enter their legal name and date of birth.
How to add a companion to an existing Southwest flight reservation?
After you've booked your own flight, log in to your Rapid Rewards account, go to "My Trips," locate your upcoming flight, and click on the "Add Companion" link. You will then pay the taxes and fees for their ticket.
How to change your designated companion?
You can change your designated companion up to three times per calendar year. To do so, you typically need to call Southwest Customer Service. Any existing reservations with the current companion must be canceled first.
How to ensure your credit card points count towards the Companion Pass in the correct year?
Be mindful of your credit card statement closing dates. For points to count in a specific calendar year, the spending that earns them (especially welcome bonuses) must post to your Rapid Rewards account by December 31st of that year. Many strategically aim for bonuses to post in early January for almost two years of pass validity.
How to use the Companion Pass for international flights?
The Companion Pass works for international Southwest flights as well. The main difference is that the taxes and fees for international companion tickets will be higher than the standard $5.60 one-way for domestic flights, as they include additional international fees.
How to book flights if I want to use my Companion Pass for a family of three or more?
The Companion Pass allows one designated companion to fly free with the pass holder. If you have a family of three, for example, you would book two paid tickets (one for you, one for the third person) and then add your companion for free.
How to check my progress towards earning the Companion Pass?
Simply log in to your Southwest Rapid Rewards account on Southwest.com. Your progress towards the qualifying points or flights will be clearly displayed on your account dashboard.
How to maximize the value of the Southwest Companion Pass?
Earn it early in the calendar year to get nearly two years of usage. Combine it with booking your own flights using Rapid Rewards points to essentially get two tickets for the price of just the taxes and fees on one, maximizing the value of your points.
