Southwest Companion Pass: Complete Guide to Free Flights

The Southwest Companion Pass is arguably the single most valuable benefit in the points and miles world. It lets you designate one person who flies free (just paying taxes and fees of $5.60 per one-way domestic flight) every time you book a Southwest flight. Once earned, the pass is valid for the remainder of that calendar year plus the entire following year — potentially up to 24 months of free companion flights.

What Is the Southwest Companion Pass?

When you earn 135,000 qualifying points in a single calendar year, Southwest automatically grants you a Companion Pass. You designate one companion (changeable up to 3 times per year), and that person flies free on every Southwest flight you book.

The math is simple: If you normally spend $3,000 on Southwest flights per year, your companion would spend the same. The Companion Pass saves you roughly $3,000 annually in companion airfare. Over a full 24-month period, that is $6,000+ in savings.

The pass applies to: - Revenue flights (paid with cash) - Award flights (booked with Rapid Rewards points) - All fare classes (Wanna Get Away, Anytime, Business Select) - Domestic and international Southwest routes (Mexico, Caribbean, Central America)

How to Earn the Companion Pass

You need 135,000 qualifying points in a calendar year. Here are the ways points qualify:

Method 1: Credit Card Welcome Bonuses (Fastest)

The fastest path combines welcome bonuses from Southwest personal and business credit cards. Chase issues all Southwest co-branded cards.

Current Southwest credit cards:

• Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus — 50,000 points after $1,000 spend in 3 months ($69 annual fee)
• Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier — 50,000 points after $1,000 spend in 3 months ($99 annual fee)
• Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority — 50,000 points after $1,000 spend in 3 months ($149 annual fee)
• Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier Business — 60,000 points after $3,000 spend in 3 months ($99 annual fee)
• Southwest Rapid Rewards Performance Business — 80,000 points after $5,000 spend in 3 months ($199 annual fee)

The optimal strategy: Apply for one personal card (50,000 points) and one business card (60,000-80,000 points). Combined with spending to meet the minimums, you can reach 135,000 points quickly.

Example: Southwest Priority (50,000 bonus + 1,000 from spend) + Southwest Performance Business (80,000 bonus + 5,000 from spend) = 136,000 qualifying points. Companion Pass earned.

Method 2: Spending Your Way There

If you put all spending on a Southwest card earning 1 point per dollar, you would need to spend $135,000 in a calendar year. For most people, this is not realistic. However, the Southwest Priority card earns 2x on Southwest purchases and 1x on everything else, so heavy Southwest flyers can accelerate this.

Method 3: Rapid Rewards Shopping Portal + Dining

The Southwest Rapid Rewards shopping portal and dining program earn qualifying points. These add up if you shop online frequently:

• Shopping portal: 2-10+ points per dollar at hundreds of retailers
• Dining program: 3 points per dollar at enrolled restaurants

Method 4: Rapid Rewards Partners

Hotel transfers, car rental partners, and other Southwest partners earn qualifying points, but at generally poor rates. Only use these to top off if you are close to the 135,000 threshold.

Timing Your Companion Pass Perfectly

This is the most important strategic decision. The Companion Pass is valid for the rest of the year you earn it plus the entire next year. So earning it in January gives you nearly 24 months, while earning it in December gives you barely 13 months.

The ideal timeline:

1. October-November (Year 1): Research and select your two Southwest cards
2. Late December (Year 1) or Early January (Year 2): Apply for both cards. If approved in late December, do NOT meet spending requirements until January
3. January (Year 2): Begin spending to meet both minimum spend requirements
4. Late January to February (Year 2): Welcome bonuses post to your account. Companion Pass earned in January or February of Year 2
5. Year 2 + Year 3: Enjoy nearly 24 full months of companion flights

Critical rule: Points count based on when they post to your Southwest account, not when you make the purchase. Allow 1-2 billing cycles after meeting minimum spend for bonuses to appear.

Chase Application Rules to Know

Chase has specific rules that affect your ability to get Southwest cards:

• 5/24 Rule: Chase will generally deny your application if you have opened 5 or more personal credit cards (across all issuers) in the past 24 months. Business cards from most issuers do not count toward 5/24, but Chase personal cards do.
• One Sapphire Rule: Not directly relevant to Southwest, but if you hold a Sapphire card, it does not affect Southwest applications.
• 2/30 Rule: Chase may deny if you have applied for 2+ Chase cards in 30 days. Space applications by at least 5 days, ideally 30+ days.
• Same product restriction: You cannot hold two of the same Southwest card simultaneously. You can hold one personal Southwest card and one business Southwest card at the same time.

Maximizing Companion Pass Value

Once you have the pass, here is how to extract maximum value:

Book when fares are high. The companion flies free regardless of fare price. A $400 one-way Business Select ticket saves you $400 for your companion, while a $49 Wanna Get Away fare only saves $49. Look for peak travel periods (holidays, spring break, summer) when fares spike.

Use points for expensive flights. Southwest points are worth about 1.3-1.5 cents each when redeemed for flights. Book a $500 flight with points (around 33,000 points), and your companion flies free on that same flight. You effectively get $1,000 in flights for 33,000 points — over 3 cents per point in value.

Fly frequently to high-value destinations. Hawaii routes from the mainland can run $300-$600+ each way. Your companion flying free on a Hawaii roundtrip saves $600-$1,200. Weekend trips to Las Vegas, Cancun, or Cabo also tend to have higher fares.

Book and cancel strategically. Southwest has no change or cancellation fees. If you see a cheap fare, book it. If fares drop later, cancel and rebook at the lower price. If plans change, cancel for a full refund (Wanna Get Away fares get travel credit; Anytime and Business Select get cash refunds).

Companion Pass FAQ

Can I change my companion? Yes, up to 3 times per calendar year through your Southwest account online.

Does my companion earn points? Yes, your companion earns Rapid Rewards points on their free flights, including tier-qualifying points toward A-List status.

Do I need to fly with my companion? Yes, you must be on the same flight. You cannot send your companion alone on a free ticket.

Does the pass work on award flights? Yes. Book a flight with Rapid Rewards points, and your companion still flies free.

What about international flights? The pass works on all Southwest-operated routes, including Mexico, Caribbean, and Central American destinations. The companion pays only the taxes and fees on international flights (typically $10-$50).

Can I earn a Companion Pass through elite status? A-List Preferred members earn a tier bonus of 25% more points on flights, which helps reach 135,000 faster. But there is no automatic Companion Pass through status alone.

Is the Companion Pass Worth It?

If you fly Southwest at least 4-6 roundtrips per year with the same travel partner, the Companion Pass delivers exceptional value. A couple taking 6 domestic roundtrips saves roughly $2,400-$4,800 per year in airfare.

Even accounting for the annual fees on two Southwest cards ($150-$350 combined), the savings far outweigh the costs. The pass pays for itself after just 1-2 roundtrips in most cases.

Bottom line: Time your applications for early January, combine a personal and business Southwest card, and enjoy up to 24 months of free companion flights. It is the best deal in travel rewards, period.