Southwest Companion Pass: Easiest Ways to Earn It

Travel enthusiasts often debate which airline status reigns supreme, but there is rarely an argument about the single most valuable perk in the industry. The Southwest Companion Pass holds that title comfortably. It allows you to bring a designated friend or family member along on any flight you book for just the cost of taxes and fees.

If you are looking to secure this pass for 2025, you need a strategy. Earning the pass requires hitting specific metrics, but you do not need to fly 100 times a year to get it. By leveraging credit card bonuses and spending portals, you can unlock this benefit without living at the airport.

Understanding the Value Proposition

The Companion Pass is essentially a Buy-One-Get-One-Free ticket for an unlimited number of flights during the validity period. The only cost for your companion is the mandatory government taxes and fees. For domestic travel, this is usually $5.60 each way.

The validity period is the true power of this perk. Once you qualify, you keep the pass for the remainder of the current calendar year plus the entire following calendar year.

For example, if you earn the pass in January 2025, you will hold that status for the rest of 2025 and all of 2026. That is nearly two full years of two-for-one travel.

The Requirements: The Magic Number is 135,000

To earn the Companion Pass, you must fulfill one of two requirements within a single calendar year:

  1. Fly 100 qualifying one-way flights.
  2. Earn 135,000 qualifying Companion Pass points.

For most travelers, flying 100 times is unrealistic. Therefore, the focus shifts entirely to earning 135,000 points.

It is important to note that Southwest credit card holders get a boost. If you hold a Southwest Rapid Rewards credit card, Southwest automatically credits your account with 10,000 Companion Pass qualifying points at the start of each year. This lowers your actual target to 125,000 points.

The Primary Strategy: Chase Southwest Credit Cards

The absolute fastest way to earn the pass is through sign-up bonuses on Southwest Rapid Rewards credit cards issued by Chase. These bonuses count toward the 135,000-point requirement.

Personal Credit Cards

Chase offers three personal cards. While offers fluctuate, welcome bonuses typically range between 50,000 and 75,000 points after meeting a minimum spend requirement (often $3,000 in the first 3 months).

  • Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus Credit Card: The entry-level card with a lower annual fee.
  • Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier Credit Card: A mid-tier option with a slightly higher anniversary point bonus.
  • Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card: Generally considered the best value. It includes a $75 annual Southwest travel credit and 7,500 anniversary points, which helps offset the $149 annual fee.

Business Credit Cards

If you have a side hustle, freelance business, or sole proprietorship, you are eligible for business credit cards. These often have higher bonuses.

  • Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier Business Credit Card: A solid entry option for business spending.
  • Southwest Rapid Rewards Performance Business Credit Card: This card is a powerhouse for point earning. It often features a sign-up bonus as high as 80,000 points, though it comes with a $199 annual fee.

The “Double Dip” Method

Chase restricts you to holding only one personal Southwest card at a time. However, you can hold one personal card and one business card simultaneously.

This is the most effective strategy to earn the pass immediately.

  1. Open a personal card (e.g., 50,000 point bonus).
  2. Open a business card (e.g., 80,000 point bonus).
  3. Meet the spending requirements on both.

The combined bonuses (130,000 points) plus the points earned from the actual spending (at least 6,000 to 10,000 points) will push you over the 135,000-point threshold instantly.

Secondary Strategies: Earning Without New Cards

If opening two credit cards is not an option, you can bridge the gap using spending portals and partners.

Southwest Rapid Rewards Shopping Portal

You should rarely buy anything online directly from a retailer’s site if you are chasing the Companion Pass. Instead, start at the Rapid Rewards Shopping portal.

Here is how it works:

  1. Log in to the Southwest shopping portal.
  2. Click on a retailer (like Nike, Home Depot, or Sephora).
  3. Complete your purchase as normal.

You will earn base points per dollar spent (often 1 to 4 points per dollar, but sometimes as high as 10 or 20 during holidays). These points count toward the Companion Pass. If you make a large purchase, such as a laptop or furniture, this can yield thousands of qualifying points.

Southwest Hotels

Booking hotels through Southwest Hotels (formerly heavily integrated with Rocketmiles) can be lucrative. When you search for hotels on the Southwest website, look for properties labeled “Rapid Rewards Plus.”

Some bookings offer 5,000 to 10,000 points for a multi-night stay. While these hotel rates might be slightly higher than booking direct, the massive influx of qualifying points can make the difference between earning the pass or missing it.

Rapid Rewards Dining

Link your credit card to the Rapid Rewards Dining program. When you pay for a meal at a participating restaurant, you earn bonus points automatically. This is a “set it and forget it” method that accumulates points in the background.

What Does Not Count?

It is vital to know which points do not help you reach the 135,000-point goal. Mistakes here can ruin your strategy.

  • Points Transferred from Chase Ultimate Rewards: If you have a Chase Sapphire Preferred or Reserve, you can transfer points to Southwest to book flights. However, these transferred points do not count toward Companion Pass status.
  • Purchased Points: Buying points directly from Southwest does not count toward the status.
  • Gifted Points: Points transferred to you from another friend’s account do not qualify.

Timing Your Application for Maximum Value

Timing is critical. The Companion Pass expires on December 31st of the year after you earn it.

  • Scenario A: You earn the points in November 2024. Your pass is valid for the rest of 2024 and all of 2025.
  • Scenario B (Optimal): You earn the points in January 2025. Your pass is valid for the rest of 2025 and all of 2026.

If you are close to the threshold at the end of the year, be careful. If your credit card statement closes on December 28th and the points post then, you earn the pass for the current year. If you wait until the statement closes on January 2nd, those points count toward the new year, potentially setting you up for nearly 24 months of benefits.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I change my companion? Yes. Southwest allows you to change your designated companion up to three times per calendar year. You must call Southwest customer service to make the switch.

Does the Companion Pass work on award tickets? Yes. This is why the pass is so valuable. If you use your points to book a flight for yourself, you can still add your companion for just the taxes and fees. It works on both cash fares and point redemptions.

Do I earn points on my companion’s ticket? No. The primary traveler earns points on their paid ticket (if paying cash), but the companion ticket does not generate any frequent flyer points since it is technically a free ticket.

Is there a seat restriction for companions? As long as there is at least one seat available for sale on the plane, you can add your companion. Southwest does not blackout dates or limit inventory for companions specifically. If a seat exists, it is yours.