How to Earn the Southwest Companion Pass for 2027–2028
Updated October 2026
If your family takes a few domestic trips each year, the Southwest Companion Pass is a travel perk worth knowing about. It lets you bring one person, to anywhere Southwest flies (even Hawaii), with no blackout dates for just the price of taxes and fees. And there’s no limit to how many times you can use it while it’s valid, as long as a seat is available!
Imagine booking your own Southwest flight for 20,000 Rapid Rewards points and bringing your spouse or child along for just the taxes and fees, usually $5.60 each way on domestic flights.
We’ve used our Companion Pass to fly “two for one” on family trips, cheer competitions, and flights to get us to another airport before an international trip. It has saved us a ton of money and points over the years.
What Is the Southwest Companion Pass?
The Southwest Companion Pass is Southwest Airline’s most valuable perk in my opinion!
Once you've earned the Companion Pass, you can designate one person to fly with you on every Southwest flight you book. Whether you pay with cash or points, for only the taxes and fees.
Benefits include:
No blackout dates
Works on paid and award flights
Valid on domestic, international, and Hawaii routes
No limit on how many times you can use it while your pass is valid, as long as a seat is available
Change your designated companion up to three times each calendar year
Your companion can fly to Hawaii with you for just $5.60 using the Southwest Companion Pass
how to Earn the Southwest Companion Pass
To earn the Southwest Companion Pass, you need to earn 135,000 qualifying Rapid Rewards points in one calendar year.
The simplest way for many families to reach that total is through Southwest credit card sign-up bonuses. Southwest Rapid Rewards credit cardholders receive a 10,000-point boost toward Companion Pass qualification each calendar year, so you only need to earn the remaining 125,000 qualifying points.
Card combinations include:
One Southwest Business Credit Card AND one personal Southwest Credit Card, or
Two Southwest Business Credit Cards.
Stacy’s Tip:
To qualify for a Southwest personal card’s sign-up bonus, you cannot currently hold a Southwest personal credit card or have received a bonus on any Southwest personal card within the past 24 months. You must also be under Chase’s 5/24 rule, meaning you’ve opened fewer than five new personal credit cards across all banks in the past 24 months.
Why the southwest Companion Pass Is So Valuable
Unlike other airline companion tickets that can only be used once, the Southwest Companion Pass lets you bring your designated companion every time you fly Southwest while your pass is valid, as long as a seat is available.
That includes:
Flights booked with points
Flights booked with cash
Southwest domestic and international routes - even flights to Hawaii
Changing your Companion up to 3 times in one year
Your companion’s taxes and fees start at just $5.60 each way, or $11.20 roundtrip on most domestic flights. International taxes and fees are higher.
For families, this is a game changer. In the past two years I’ve save hundreds of dollars with the Companion Pass and now that Payton is in college in Arizona, we can go see her whenever we want because we can fly “two for one”.
When Is the Best Time to Earn the Southwest Companion Pass?
Timing is everything when it comes to getting the most value from your Southwest Companion Pass.
Once you earn it, your pass is valid for:
The rest of the calendar year you earn it in, plus
The ENTIRE following calendar year
For example, if you earn the Companion Pass in January 2027, it will be valid through December 31, 2028. That’s nearly two full years of two-for-one flights!
For max value, we want to have the Pass for as long as we can - which is about two years. However, I have had many readers tell me they earned it in the summertime because the dates and travel plans worked for them. So do what’s best for you.
My suggested credit card application timeline
Mid-October to December 2026: Apply for a Southwest business credit card. I think the business card can be harder to get approved for, so I recommend starting there. Wait until January 2027 to finish the minimum spending requirement so your sign-up bonus posts in 2027.
January 2027 or later: Apply for a Southwest personal credit card and complete its minimum spending requirement. I’ll share my recommendation below.
Stacy’s Tip:
You have three months from account opening to meet the minimum spend. Watch your spending! I’ve had readers finish too early and have their bonus post in December, leaving them with about one year of Companion Pass benefits instead of nearly two. Wait until January to finish, but don’t miss your three-month deadline!
We’ve been able to fly 2 for 1 to NYC in December for Christmas two years in a row
how to earn the southwest companion pass with credit cards
You can earn the Southwest Companion Pass by combining the sign-up bonuses from one Southwest business credit card and one Southwest personal credit card or from two different Southwest business cards.
Step 1: Apply for a Southwest Business Credit Card
Apply between mid-to-late October and December 2026. Remember, wait until January 2027 to complete the minimum spending requirement so your bonus points post in the new year.
Here are the two Southwest business cards to consider:
Southwest Rapid Rewards® Performance Business Credit Card - (Stacy’s Recommendation)
Earn 80,000 bonus points after you spend $5,000 in the first three months of account opening.
Annual Fee: $299
Complimentary Preferred seat at booking (this is a huge perk)
First checked bag free
Enjoy unlimited upgrades to an Extra Legroom seat within 48 hours prior to departure, at no additional charge, when available.
$120 credit for TSA PreCheck or Global Entry
Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Business Credit Card
Earn 80,000 bonus points after you spend $3,000 in the first three months of account opening.
Annual Fee: $149
Complimentary Preferred seat within 48 hours prior to departure, when available
First checked bag free
Step 2: Apply for a Southwest Personal Credit Card
Next, apply for a Southwest personal credit card in late December or January 2027. If you apply in December, wait until January to finish the minimum spending requirement.
There are three Southwest personal credit cards to choose from. They share the same bonus eligibility rules, so you cannot currently hold a Southwest personal card or have received a bonus on any Southwest personal card within the past 24 months.
I personally recommend the Priority card because it includes complimentary Preferred seat selection at booking. That can be a huge cost saver if you fly Southwest regularly!
Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card
Earn 50,000 points after you spend $1,000 in the first 3 months of account opening.
Annual Fee: $99
Complimentary Standard Seat selection within 48 hours of departure
First checked bag free
Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card
Earn 55,000 points after you spend $1,500 in the first 3 months of account opening.
Annual Fee; $149
Complimentary Preferred seat within 48 hours prior to departure, when available
First checked bag free
Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card
Earn 60,000 points after you spend $2,000 in the first 3 months of account opening.
Annual Fee: $229
Complimentary Preferred seat at booking at no additional charge, when available
First checked bag free
Unlimited complimentary Extra Legroom seat upgrades within 48 hours before departure, when available.
Payton and I flew to Indy for the Taylor Swift concert with our Southwest Companion Pass saving us hundreds of dollars!
Did Chase Add New Lifetime Bonus Language to Southwest Business Cards?
In September 2026, it was reported that some Chase application links for Southwest business credit cards showed wording suggesting you might not qualify for another sign-up bonus if you’d ever held that specific card.
But the wording isn’t on every application link. Chase has come out to say that it was an error, however, you can still find the lifetime bonus language on public links.
New lifetime bonus language on the public Southwest business card link
The 24-month language remains on the Southwest Business card referral link offers
For now, my recommendation for earning the Southwest Companion Pass stays the same. I’ll update this section if the terms change.
Make sure to click “Offer Details” before applying to make sure language reads 24-months
new Chase 3/24 Rule: Southwest Business Credit Card Eligibility
If you’re planning to earn the Southwest Companion Pass using credit card bonuses, there’s a new Chase restriction to consider. Multiple data reports indicate that business card eligibility now depends on your business structure:
Sole proprietors: Whether you apply with a Social Security number or an EIN, you need to be under 3/24. That means you’ve opened no more than three personal credit cards across all banks in the past 24 months.
LLCs: Current data points indicate that applicants applying through an LLC remain subject to Chase’s 5/24 rule, meaning fewer than five new personal credit cards in the past 24 months.
Southwest personal credit cards: These still follow the 5/24 rule.
If you’re using a Southwest business card and a personal card to earn the Companion Pass, check your card count before applying and apply for the business card first.
What does this mean going forward? If you are definitely over 3/24 and don’t think you’ll be approved for a Chase Southwest business credit card, you can:
Earn the Companion Pass during a promotional period. They offer these several times a year. You won’t have the CP for 2 years this way, but you may be able to benefit from “Two for One” travel for a period of time
Wait until you drop below 3/24 or alternate applications with your spouse so that one of you is eligible.
Wait for a possible increase on one of the personal Southwest cards. Last year we saw a 100k sign up bonus. This, plus the 10k points boost would mean you’d only need to earn another 25k points - which can be done in the shopping portal, referring a friend, Southwest dining, or Southwest hotel booking.
how to qualify for a southwest business card
You don’t need an LLC or a formal business name to apply for a business credit card. If you earn money from a side hustle, you can apply as a sole proprietor using your Social Security number.
Some examples of side hustles include:
Selling items on Facebook Marketplace or eBay
Walking dogs or pet sitting
Delivering for DoorDash or Uber Eats
Tutoring
Consulting or freelance work
Driving for Uber
Blogging or creating content
I have an entire Highlight on my Instagram on how to fill out a business card application.
Two for One flights means you get to bring a friend to NYC for your 17th Birthday!
Other Ways to Earn companion pass qualifying Southwest Points
In addition to credit card sign up bonuses, you can earn more Companion Pass qualifying points through:
Everyday spending on your Southwest credit card: Points from eligible purchases count toward the Companion Pass.
Paid Southwest flights: Earn points for flying, plus additional points when you pay with your Southwest credit card.
Southwest Rapid Rewards Shopping: Start your online shopping through the portal to earn points at participating stores.
Southwest Rapid Rewards Dining: Link your card and earn points when you dine at participating restaurants.
Southwest Hotels: Choose hotel bookings that offer eligible Rapid Rewards points.
Credit card referrals: Earn 20,000 points for each friend or family member approved through your referral link, up to 100,000 points per calendar year.
Click here to generate your Southwest credit card referral link. You’ll need the last four digits of your Southwest card.
If you’re working toward earning the Companion Pass in 2027, wait until January to start referring friends and family so those referral points post in the new year. They won’t post immediately, so allow time for them to reach your account.
which POINTS don’t COUNT TOWARDS THE southwest COMPANION PASS
Not all point transactions count toward earning the Companion Pass. These do not qualify:
Points transferred from Chase Ultimate Rewards to Southwest
Purchasing Southwest points
Flight bonus points
Tier bonus points
You can still use these points to book flights, but they won’t help you earn the Companion Pass.
The Companion Pass has saved us a ton with all-star Cheer out of state competitions
HOW to use your southwest companion pass
Once you've earned the Companion Pass, Southwest will notify you that it's active in your Rapid Rewards account.
Before booking your first trip, you'll need to designate your Companion.
You can change your designated Companion up to three times each calendar year, giving you plenty of flexibility if your travel plans change.
When you're ready to book:
Log into your Rapid Rewards account.
Book your own ticket using either cash or Rapid Rewards points.
After your reservation is confirmed, go to My Trips.
Select your reservation.
Click Add Companion.
Pay the required taxes and fees for your Companion's ticket.
That's it! Your Companion will be added to your reservation and can travel with you for just the cost of taxes and fees.
Stacy’s Tip:
I usually wait to add my companion so I can easily change my own booking if the price drops. Once your companion is booked, you’ll need to cancel their reservation before changing yours, then add them back afterward.
With the Companion Pass you can fly “Two for One” anywhere Southwest flies!
Frequently asked questions About the Southwest Companion Pass
Do I have to spend 135,000 points on the Companion Pass, or do I get to keep them?
You get to keep them! Earning 135,000 qualifying points unlocks the Southwest Companion Pass. It doesn’t deduct those points from your account.
You can then use your points to book your own flights and add your companion for just the required taxes and fees.
Does the Southwest Companion Pass work on flights booked with points?
Yes! Whether you book your flight with cash or Southwest Rapid Rewards points, you can add your designated companion for just the required taxes and fees.
Can you change your companion on the Southwest Companion Pass?
Yes, you can change your designated companion up to three times per calendar year. This makes it easy to switch between a spouse, family member, or friend depending on your travel plans.
Can my husband and I combine points or credit card bonuses to earn the Companion Pass?
No. All 135,000 Companion Pass qualifying points must be earned in one person’s Southwest Rapid Rewards account during the same calendar year.
That means you can’t get the personal card while your husband gets the business card and combine the bonuses. Both cards need to be in the same person’s name.
How much are taxes and fees with the Southwest Companion Pass?
On most domestic flights, your companion’s taxes and fees are $5.60 each way, or $11.20 roundtrip.
International taxes and fees are higher and vary by destination. You’ll see the total before completing the companion booking.
Does the Companion Pass work on all Southwest flights?
Yes! The pass is valid on all Southwest flights, including domestic, international, and Hawaii routes. There are no blackout dates. If there’s a seat available, you can book your companion on it.
How long is the Southwest Companion Pass valid?
Once you earn it, the Companion Pass is valid for the rest of that calendar year and all of the following year. That’s why timing your sign-up bonus is so important. You can stretch it to nearly two full years of two-for-one flights.
Promotional Companion Pass offers may have shorter expiration dates.
I already have a Southwest personal credit card. Can I earn another sign-up bonus?
You may be eligible again if:
You no longer hold any Southwest personal credit card.
It has been at least 24 months since you received a sign-up bonus on any Southwest personal card.
And you are under Chase 5/24
The 24-month clock starts when you receive the bonus, not when you’re approved for the card.
If you close your current card, allow time for Chase to update its records before applying again (typically 3-4 weeks).
We used our Companion Pass 4-5 times to reposition for a business class flight to Europe.
Make the Most of Your Southwest Companion Pass
The Southwest Companion Pass is one of my favorite ways to save on family travel. You can use your points to book your own flight and bring someone along for just the taxes and fees, trip after trip.
The biggest thing to remember? Timing. Keep an eye on your spending, make sure your bonuses post in the same calendar year, and aim to earn your pass early so you can enjoy nearly two full years of benefits.
Want more tips like this? Follow me on Instagram and Facebook where I teach families how to earn and redeem points to travel more for less!
Happy Travels!
