The Southwest Companion Pass is truly one of the most valuable perks in the world of travel. Imagine bringing a friend, family member, or loved one along on nearly every Southwest flight you take for almost free – just paying for taxes and fees. It's like a buy-one-get-one-free deal on airfare that can be used an unlimited number of times for up to two full years! But how many points do you actually need to unlock this incredible benefit? Let's dive in!
Step 1: Are You Ready to Unlock Unbeatable Travel Savings?
Before we get into the nitty-gritty, take a moment to consider how much you value travel with a companion. Do you frequently travel with a spouse, partner, child, or even a close friend? If so, the Southwest Companion Pass can translate into thousands of dollars in savings annually. If you're ready to drastically cut down your flight costs and embark on more adventures, then this guide is for you!
Step 2: Understanding the Core Requirement
To qualify for the Southwest Companion Pass, you have two primary paths to choose from within a single calendar year (January 1st to December 31st):
Fly 100 qualifying one-way flights: This means completing 100 paid Southwest flights within the year. For most leisure travelers, this is quite a challenging feat.
Earn 135,000 qualifying Rapid Rewards points: This is by far the more common and achievable method for the vast majority of people seeking the Companion Pass.
Important Note: As a Southwest Rapid Rewards Credit Cardmember, you receive a 10,000 Companion Pass qualifying points boost each calendar year. This means if you hold a Southwest credit card, you effectively only need to earn 125,000 qualifying points! This annual boost is a significant advantage.
Step 3: What Exactly Counts as "Qualifying Points"?
This is where it gets crucial. Not all Rapid Rewards points are created equal when it comes to the Companion Pass. Here's a breakdown of what DOES and DOES NOT count:
3.1 Points That DO Count Towards the Companion Pass:
Points earned from revenue flights booked through Southwest Airlines: This includes points earned when you pay for flights with cash, Southwest LUV Vouchers, gift cards, or flight credits. The number of points you earn per dollar depends on the fare type (e.g., Wanna Get Away, Anytime, Business Select).
Points earned on Southwest Rapid Rewards Credit Cards: This is arguably the fastest and easiest way to accumulate a large number of qualifying points. This includes:
Welcome bonuses (sign-up bonuses) from new credit card applications: These can be substantial and often provide a significant chunk of the points needed.
Everyday spending on your Southwest credit card: Points earned from your regular purchases using your Southwest card.
Referral bonuses: If you refer a friend who gets approved for a Southwest credit card, the bonus points you receive will count.
Base points earned from Rapid Rewards partners: This includes points earned through:
Rapid Rewards Shopping Portal: Shopping online through the portal can earn you bonus points with various retailers.
Rapid Rewards Dining program: Earn points by dining at participating restaurants.
Hotel and car rental partners: Booking hotels or rental cars through Southwest's partners.
3.2 Points That DO NOT Count Towards the Companion Pass:
It's vital to be aware of these so you don't waste your efforts:
Purchased points: Buying points directly from Southwest does not count.
Points transferred between Rapid Rewards Members: Gifting or receiving points from another member won't help you qualify.
Points converted from hotel and car loyalty programs: Transferring points from programs like Marriott Bonvoy or Hertz Gold Plus Rewards to Southwest Rapid Rewards will not count.
Points transferred from Chase Ultimate Rewards: While Chase Ultimate Rewards points can be a fantastic way to book Southwest flights, they do not count towards the Companion Pass qualification.
Points earned from Rapid Rewards program enrollment: Simple enrollment bonuses don't count.
Tier bonus points: Bonus points earned for holding A-List or A-List Preferred status do not count.
Flight bonus points: Promotional flight bonuses may not count towards the pass.
Points earned from Companion Pass reservations: Your companion flying with you does not earn points for either of you.
Cash + Points bookings: While you can book flights using a combination of cash and points, the points portion of the booking will not earn Companion Pass qualifying points.
Step 4: Crafting Your Strategy for Earning 125,000 Points
Given that earning 135,000 (or 125,000 with a credit card boost) points in a calendar year is the most common path, here's a step-by-step guide to achieving it:
4.1 The Credit Card Welcome Bonus Strategy (Highly Recommended!)
This is the cornerstone of most successful Companion Pass journeys. The key is to apply for two Southwest Rapid Rewards credit cards strategically.
Identify Two Cards:
Consider applying for one personal Southwest Rapid Rewards credit card (e.g., Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus, Premier, or Priority Card) and one Southwest Rapid Rewards Business credit card (e.g., Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier Business Card or Performance Business Card).
Why a personal and a business card? This allows you to earn two separate welcome bonuses. You can typically only hold one personal Southwest credit card at a time and only earn a welcome bonus on a personal card every 24 months. However, you can often hold both Southwest business cards simultaneously and also earn separate welcome bonuses on those. Even if you don't have a formal business, many individuals qualify for a business card based on freelance work, side gigs, or even selling items online.
Monitor for High Welcome Offers: Southwest and Chase (their credit card partner) frequently offer elevated welcome bonuses. Keep an eye out for offers that are 50,000 points or more on personal cards and 60,000-80,000 points on business cards.
Strategic Timing is Everything:
To maximize the duration of your Companion Pass, aim to have the welcome bonuses post to your Rapid Rewards account early in a calendar year. If you earn the pass in January or February, it will be valid for the rest of that calendar year AND the entire following calendar year. That's almost two full years of Companion Pass benefits!
This often involves applying for one card late in the current year and completing the spending requirements so the bonus points post in early January of the next year, and then applying for the second card early in that same year. Be mindful of your credit card statement closing dates. Points typically post after your statement closes.
Meet Minimum Spending Requirements: Once approved for each card, diligently meet the minimum spending requirement within the specified timeframe to unlock the welcome bonus points. Track your spending carefully!
4.2 Supplementing with Everyday Spending
While credit card bonuses are powerful, you'll likely need to earn additional points through your regular spending.
Make your Southwest credit card your primary card: Use it for all your everyday purchases to maximize point accumulation.
Leverage bonus categories: Southwest credit cards offer accelerated earning on Southwest purchases, and often on categories like local transit, commuting, internet, cable, phone services, and select streaming.
Utilize the Rapid Rewards Shopping Portal: Always check the portal before making online purchases. You can earn a significant number of bonus points per dollar spent at hundreds of retailers.
Enroll in Rapid Rewards Dining: Link your credit cards to the program and earn points automatically when you dine at participating restaurants.
4.3 Earning Points Through Travel (Less Common for Initial Qualification)
While flying Southwest and booking through their travel partners earns qualifying points, it's generally not enough on its own to reach the 135,000 point threshold quickly, unless you're a very frequent business traveler.
Paid Southwest Flights: You'll earn points based on the fare class.
Southwest Hotels and Car Rental Partners: Booking through these partners can also contribute.
Step 5: Tracking Your Progress and Designating Your Companion
Once you've started earning points, you'll want to keep an eye on your progress:
Check Your Southwest Account Online: Log in to your Rapid Rewards account on Southwest.com. Scroll down, and you'll find a section displaying your progress towards A-List, A-List Preferred, and most importantly, your Companion Pass qualifying points and flight segments.
Receive Your Congratulatory Email: Once you hit the 135,000 (or 125,000 with the boost) qualifying points, Southwest will send you an email congratulating you on earning the Companion Pass!
Designate Your Companion: After qualifying, you'll need to choose your designated companion. This can be done online through your Rapid Rewards account. You can change your designated companion up to three times per calendar year.
Step 6: Enjoying Your Companion Pass!
The best part! Once you have the Companion Pass, here's how to use it:
Book Your Flight First: You must book your own Southwest flight (either with cash or Rapid Rewards points).
Add Your Companion: After your flight is confirmed, go to the "My Trips" section of your Southwest account. You'll see an option to "Add Companion" to your booking.
Pay Taxes and Fees: You will only be responsible for the taxes and fees for your companion's ticket, which start from $5.60 one-way for domestic flights. International flights will have higher taxes and fees.
Unlimited Usage: There are no blackout dates or seat restrictions for Companion Pass travel. If there's an available seat on the flight, your companion can join you!
Frequently Asked Questions about the Southwest Companion Pass:
How to get the Southwest Companion Pass quickly? The fastest way to earn the Southwest Companion Pass is by strategically applying for two Southwest Rapid Rewards credit cards (one personal and one business, if eligible) and meeting their welcome bonus spending requirements early in a calendar year.
How to know if a purchase will count towards the Companion Pass? Generally, points earned from Southwest credit card spending (including welcome bonuses and referral bonuses), paid Southwest flights, and base points from Rapid Rewards Shopping, Dining, and travel partners will count. Points purchased, transferred from other loyalty programs (like Chase Ultimate Rewards), or transferred between members do not count.
How to check my Companion Pass progress? Log in to your Rapid Rewards account on Southwest.com, and you'll see your progress displayed under your account snapshot, indicating how many qualifying points or flights you've accumulated.
How to use the Southwest Companion Pass once I earn it? First, book your own flight (either with cash or points). Then, go to your "My Trips" section on Southwest.com and click "Add Companion" for your booked flight. You'll pay only the applicable taxes and fees for your companion.
How to change my designated companion? You can change your designated companion up to three times in a calendar year by logging into your Rapid Rewards account on Southwest.com and updating your Companion Pass preferences.
How to extend the validity of my Southwest Companion Pass? The Companion Pass is valid for the remainder of the calendar year in which you earn it and the entire following calendar year. To "extend" it, you would need to re-qualify for the pass in a new calendar year.
How to qualify for the Southwest Companion Pass without flying frequently? The most effective method without flying frequently is to accumulate 135,000 qualifying points (or 125,000 with a Southwest credit card boost) primarily through credit card welcome bonuses and everyday spending.
How to maximize the value of my Southwest Companion Pass? Maximize value by booking flights when fares are low (even with points), utilizing it for both short and long trips, and making sure to travel frequently with your designated companion during its validity period.
How to understand the annual 10,000 point boost for credit card holders? If you hold a Southwest Rapid Rewards Credit Card, Southwest automatically deposits 10,000 Companion Pass qualifying points into your account each calendar year (usually by January 31st or within 30 days of opening the card). This effectively reduces your earning goal to 125,000 points.
How to ensure my credit card points count for the correct calendar year? Points from credit card spending typically post to your Rapid Rewards account after your statement closes. To ensure points count for the desired calendar year, make sure your spending requirements are met and the points post before December 31st of that year, or strategically after December 31st if you're aiming for the following year's qualification.
