The Southwest Companion Pass is a great way to save money when flying with another individual. What makes it special is that it allows you to bring a companion with you on any Southwest flight for just the cost of the taxes and fees. This can be a friend, family member or anyone else and includes flights paid for with cash or points.
The requirements to earn the Companion Pass may seem daunting — you must fly 100 qualifying one-way flights or earn 135,000 qualifying Rapid Rewards points in a calendar year. However, you can earn a Companion Pass much more easily with the help of a Southwest credit card.
Here's everything you need to know about how to earn and use a Southwest Companion Pass.
What is the Southwest Companion Pass?
The Southwest Companion Pass allows you to bring a guest on any Southwest flight for the cost of the taxes and fees, only $5.60 per person on one-way flights within the U.S. You can take advantage of the benefit an unlimited number of times (while your Companion Pass is valid) for cash or points flights anywhere that Southwest flies.
The Companion Pass benefit only applies to a designated companion, so you can't bring a random stranger on a whim. However, you can change your designated companion up to three times per calendar year, so you don't necessarily need to bring the same person along each time you use it. The only major restriction of the Companion Pass is that your companion cannot fly without you.
Best of all, the Southwest Companion Pass can be used throughout the rest of the year you earn it as well as the entire next year. Meaning if you qualify for it in January or February, you'll be able to use it through the end of December the following year, which gives you almost two full years of use.
Having a Companion Pass can double the value of your Southwest points, which makes the rewards you earn from certain Chase credit cards more useful. This is because Chase Ultimate Rewards® points transfer at a 1:1 ratio to Southwest Rapid Rewards (when you have a Chase card that allows transfers). Just remember that any points you transfer to Southwest don't count toward earning a Companion Pass.
The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card packs a punch for a $95 annual fee card, offering annual travel credits, comprehensive travel protections and more.
- You can transfer rewards to all of Chase's travel partners including World of Hyatt, Southwest Rapid Rewards and many more
- Long list of travel and shopping protections
- $50 annual Chase Travel hotel credit
- Has an annual fee
- Requires a high credit score
Highlights
Highlights shown here are provided by the issuer and have not been reviewed by CNBC Select's editorial staff.
- Earn 75,000 bonus points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
- Enjoy benefits such as 5x on travel purchased through Chase TravelSM, 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases
- Earn up to $50 in statement credits each account anniversary year for hotel stays through Chase TravelSM
- 10% anniversary points boost - each account anniversary you'll earn bonus points equal to 10% of your total purchases made the previous year.
- Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Lost Luggage Insurance and more.
- Complimentary DashPass which unlocks $0 delivery fees & lower service fees for a min. of one year when you activate by 12/31/27. Plus, a $10 promo each month on non-restaurant orders.
- Member FDIC
Balance transfer fee
Either $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater
How to get the Southwest Companion Pass
You'll need to earn at least 135,000 qualifying Rapid Rewards points or take 100 qualifying one-way revenue flights in a calendar year to earn the Southwest Companion Pass. You can earn Companion Pass qualifying points in many ways, including through Rapid Rewards Dining, Rapid Rewards Shopping or with Southwest's hotel, rental car and travel partners.
One of the easiest ways to quickly amass qualifying points is to earn a large Southwest credit card welcome bonus, as those bonus points count toward earning a Companion Pass. Additionally, you get an automatic 10,000-point boost each year simply by having a co-branded Southwest card, so you'll effectively only need to earn 125,000 qualifying points in a year to qualify for a Companion Pass.
Points you transfer to Southwest or points you purchase will not help you qualify for a Southwest Companion Pass.
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Which credit cards help you earn the Southwest Companion Pass?
The trick to earning the Southwest Companion Pass quickly is taking advantage of the right credit card welcome bonuses. Southwest had offered new personal co-branded cardholders a limited-time offer, where they can earn a Companion Pass® good through Feb. 28, 2027.
Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card
With the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card, you can earn 80,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
The Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card is an affordable card that makes sense for the occasional Southwest traveler.
- Valuable welcome bonus
- 3,000 bonus points every card member anniversary
- Not especially rewarding for common expenses such as groceries or dining
Highlights
Highlights shown here are provided by the issuer and have not been reviewed by CNBC Select's editorial staff.
- Earn 80,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening
- 3,000 anniversary points each year.
- Earn 2 points per $1 spent on Southwest Airlines® purchases
- Earn 2 points for every $1 you spend at gas stations and grocery stores on the first $5,000 in combined purchases per anniversary year
- Cardmembers and up to 8 additional passengers in the same reservation can check their first bag at no additional cost.
- Select a Standard seat within 48 hours prior to departure, when available.
- Earn 1 point for every $1 spent on all other purchases.
- No foreign transaction fees.
- Member FDIC
Balance transfer fee
Either $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater
Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card
Should you opt for the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card, you could earn 85,000 bonus points after spending $2,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening
The Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card is Southwest's mid-tier card and is valuable if you regularly travel to or from destinations Southwest serves.
- 6,000 bonus points on each account anniversary
- Rapid Rewards Points never expire
- Travel protections
- Limited value when you're not traveling with Southwest
- $149 annual fee
Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card
The card offering the most points is the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card, which earns a 90,000 bonus points after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
The Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card is a perfect fit for serious Southwest fans who can easily maximize its benefits like upgraded boardings and an annual travel credit.
- Valuable welcome bonus
- 7,500 bonus points every card member anniversary
- $75 annual Southwest travel credit
- Limited value when you're not traveling with Southwest
- High annual fee
Highlights
Highlights shown here are provided by the issuer and have not been reviewed by CNBC Select's editorial staff.
- Earn 90,000 bonus points after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
- 7,500 anniversary points each year.
- Earn 4 points per $1 spent on Southwest Airlines® purchases, including flights, inflight, and Southwest gift cards.
- Earn 2 points for every $1 you spend at gas stations and restaurants
- First checked bag free for Cardmembers and up to 8 additional passengers in the same reservation.
- Select a Preferred seat at booking, at no additional charge, when available.
- Cardmembers and up to 8 passengers in the same reservation will board with Group 5 giving them earlier access to overhead bins.
- No foreign transaction fees.
- Member FDIC
Balance transfer fee
Either $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater.
The Southwest personal credit cards also earn Southwest Rapid Rewards points on purchases, which count toward earning a Companion Pass.
Southwest business cards
There are also two Southwest business credit cards, which you can pair with a personal card. If you qualify for business credit cards, this is a great strategy for earning a Companion Pass since the welcome bonuses from both personal and business Southwest cards count toward Companion Pass qualification.
- Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Performance Business Credit Card: Earn 80,000 points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening (see rates and fees).
- Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Premier Business Credit Card: Earn 60,000 points after you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first three months your account is open (see rates and fees).
- Welcome bonus counts toward earning a Southwest Companion Pass
- Up to 365 in-flight Wi-Fi credits every year
- Four Upgraded Boardings per year (when available)
- Global Entry, NEXUS or TSA PreCheck® credit every four years
- High annual fee
- Limited value when you're not traveling with Southwest
Highlights
Highlights shown here are provided by the issuer and have not been reviewed by CNBC Select's editorial staff.
- Earn 80,000 points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
- 9,000 bonus points after your Cardmember anniversary.
- Earn 4X pts on Southwest® purchases.
- Earn 2 points for every $1 you spend at gas stations and restaurants
- Earn 2X points on hotel accommodations booked directly with the hotel
- Earn 2X points on local transit and commuting, including rideshare.
- First checked bag free for Cardmembers and up to 8 additional passengers in the same reservation.
- Cardmembers and up to 8 passengers in the same reservation will board with Group 5 giving them earlier access to overhead bins
- Member FDIC
Balance transfer fee
Either $5 or 5% of the amount of each transaction, whichever is greater.
The Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Premier Business Credit Card can help your business save on Southwest travel but offers less value for other travel.
- Valuable welcome bonus helps you qualify for a Companion Pass
- 6,000 bonus points every card member anniversary
- Up to $500 in credits for point transfer fees every year (Benefit expires December 31, 2025)
- Limited value when you're not traveling with Southwest
- No bonus spending categories for common business purchases like office supplies, shipping or advertising
Highlights
Highlights shown here are provided by the issuer and have not been reviewed by CNBC Select's editorial staff.
- Earn 60,000 points after you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open.
- 6,000 bonus points after your Cardmember anniversary.
- Earn 3X points on Southwest Airlines® purchases.
- Earn 2 points for every $1 you spend at gas stations and restaurants on the first $8,000 in combined purchases per year
- First checked bag free for Cardmembers and up to 8 additional passengers in the same reservation.
- Select a Standard or Preferred seat within 48 hours prior to departure, when available.
- Cardmembers and up to 8 passengers in the same reservation will board with Group 5 giving them earlier access to overhead bins.
- No foreign transaction fees.
- Member FDIC
Balance transfer fee
Either $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater.
If you apply for both a personal and a business Southwest card, be aware of the Chase 5/24 rule. If you've opened five or more credit cards (from any card issuer, not just Chase) within the past two years, your Chase credit card application is more likely to be denied.
You also won't qualify for a new Southwest personal credit card welcome bonus if you currently have a personal Southwest card or have received a welcome bonus from any Southwest personal card in the last 24 months. The Southwest business cards have a similar restriction, you are ineligible for the welcome bonus if you have that Southwest business card or have earned a welcome bonus from that Southwest business card in the last 24 months.
Unfortunately, you can only earn one boost of 10,000 Companion Pass qualifying points each calendar year, regardless of how many Southwest credit cards you have.
FAQs
What are the restrictions for the Southwest Companion Pass?
The Southwest Companion Pass has a few restrictions: You have to designate a specific travel companion (you can change it three times a year), you must book your ticket first, you must be present, and your companion cannot travel without the pass holder.
Can you fly internationally with a Companion Pass?
Yes, you can use a Southwest Companion Pass to fly internationally with Southwest, but know that the taxes and fees you're required to pay might be slightly higher.
What's Southwest's 10-minute rule?
Southwest's 10-minute rule says if you no longer plan to travel, you must change or cancel your ticket at least 10 minutes before the flight's original scheduled departure or you may not receive a refund.
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