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The Ultimate Guide to the Southwest Companion Pass [2024]

Katie Seemann

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Table of Contents

What is the southwest companion pass, how to earn the southwest companion pass, how to use the southwest companion pass, final thoughts.

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The Southwest Companion Pass is one of the best deals available in the world of travel. While it’s not a fit for everyone, if you are a frequent Southwest Airlines flyer, it can save you a significant amount of money on flights.

This pass allows you to add a companion to any Southwest Airlines ticket for just the cost of the taxes and fees. Even better, if you time it right, you can get this perk for almost 2 full years.

Since Southwest has expanded its network, you can use the Companion Pass to get to popular vacation destinations like Hawaii and international locations including Mexico and the Caribbean.

If you’re intrigued by the Southwest Companion Pass, you’re in the right place. In this post, we’ll show you exactly what it is and more importantly, how to get one so you can save big bucks on your next flight.

The Southwest Airlines Companion Pass is the highest-level award that a member of the Rapid Rewards loyalty program can achieve. It allows you to essentially get unlimited buy-one-get-one-free tickets for up to 2 years. All you pay for are the taxes and fees for the second ticket.

While the Southwest Companion Pass is considered elite status by some, it’s not actually a status level and doesn’t include any Southwest Airlines elite status benefits. Southwest has 2 elite status levels, A-List and A-List Preferred, that are earned separately from the Companion Pass.

You can earn both a Southwest Companion Pass and A-List/A-List Preferred status but the benefits don’t cross over.

How Does the Southwest Companion Pass Work?

The Southwest Companion Pass allows you to add a companion to any Southwest ticket . All you need to do is pay the taxes and fees for the companion which are $5.60 for a one-way flight within the U.S. ($11.20 round-trip). Taxes and fees are higher on international flights , averaging ~$75 each way.

The companion can be added to any ticket as long as there is a seat available. The original ticket can be purchased with cash or points and the available seat doesn’t have to be in the same fare class as the original ticket.

For example, if you purchase a Wanna Get Away fare and want to add a companion later but there are only Business Select fares available, you’d still be able to add your companion even though the original ticket was a Wanna Get Away fare.

It’s best to add your companion at the time of booking to ensure a seat is available, but it’s not required. A companion can be added at any time, as long as Southwest has a seat for sale.

Bottom Line: The Southwest Companion Pass allows you to add a companion for just the cost of the taxes and fees ($5.60 one-way on a domestic ticket) to any and every flight you take while you have the pass. It can be used an unlimited number of times and works on tickets purchased both in points or cash.

Rapid Rewards members can earn a Southwest Companion Pass in 2 ways:

• Fly 100 qualifying one-way flights in a calendar year
• Earn 135,000 qualifying points in a calendar year

Once you qualify for the Companion Pass, it is valid for the remainder of the calendar year in which you earn it and the entire next calendar year.

That means if you can earn a Companion Pass in January, you’ll have it for almost 2 full years. If you earn your Companion Pass in December, you only get to keep it for about 1 year.

As you can see, timing is critical when earning a Companion Pass. The earlier in the year you can earn it, the longer the pass is good for.

Another important thing to know about the Southwest Companion Pass is that once you earn the required 135,000 points, you’ll still have those points in your account to use for flights. You don’t have to “buy” the Companion Pass with points. It simply activates as soon as you earn 135,000 points in a calendar year.

Bottom Line: You’ll get a Southwest Companion Pass after earning 135,000 qualifying points or flying 100 qualifying one-way flights in a calendar year. It’s valid for the remainder of the year in which you earn it and the next calendar year.

Earning the Southwest Companion Pass With Credit Cards

The easiest way to earn the Southwest Companion Pass is through credit card welcome bonuses earned by meeting minimum spending requirements. That’s because you’ll earn large chunks of qualifying points at 1 time and because as a Southwest credit cardholder, you’ll get a yearly 10,000-point boost toward Companion Pass Qualification.

The 10,000-point boost only counts toward Companion Pass qualification — they are not redeemable Rapid Rewards points.

Chase offers the following Southwest Airlines co-branded credit cards :

This card focuses on the Southwest traveler with anniversary points, travel credit, upgrades, and money back on inflight purchases.

The Southwest Rapid Rewards ® Priority Credit Card is the most premium personal Southwest card offering from Chase. When you peel back the curtain, it is easy to see why.

Not only does the card offer multiple bonus categories to help you earn more Southwest Rapid Rewards points, but it is also loaded with benefits that are sure to offer quite a bit of value to Southwest flyers.

Here is a full overview of the card to help you decide if it is a good fit for your wallet.

• 3x points per $1 on Southwest purchases
• 2x points per $1 on local transit and commuting, including rideshare purchases
• 2x points per $1 on internet, cable, phone services, and select streaming purchases
• $149 annual fee
• Does not earn transferable points
• Earn 50,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
• 7,500 anniversary points each year.
• Earn 3X points on Southwest ® purchases.
• Earn 2X points on local transit and commuting, including rideshare.
• Earn 2X points on internet, cable, and phone services; select streaming.
• $75 Southwest ® travel credit each year.
• No foreign transaction fees.
• Member FDIC
• APR: 21.49% - 28.49% Variable
• Foreign Transaction Fees:  None

Southwest Rapid Rewards Frequent Flyer Program

Earn Southwest points on every purchase, plus anniversary points, Tier Qualifying Points, and points toward the Companion Pass!

Another week, another flight. Flying weekly can get tiring, but you know that every flight gets you closer to taking some great vacations with your significant other or your favorite travel buddy.

To save money on the flights, you like to use Southwest Airlines.

So why not get the Southwest Rapid Rewards ® Premier Credit Card to help you earn extra Rapid Rewards points?

• 2x points per $1 on Rapid Rewards hotel and car rental partners
• 2x points per $1 on local transit and commuting, including rideshares
• $99 annual fee
• Does not earn transferable rewards
• Earn 75,000 bonus points after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
• 6,000 anniversary points each year.
• Earn 3X points on Southwest ®  purchases.
• 2 EarlyBird Check-In ®  each year.
• Foreign Transaction Fees:  $0

This card makes it easy to earn unlimited points and qualify for the Southwest Companion Pass.

If you spend a lot of time in the air, it’s important to get a great deal on your plane tickets.

Southwest Airlines can help you get those deals.

One way to save is by using the Southwest Rapid Rewards ® Plus Credit Card . This card helps you earn points for all your spending, and earning more reward points is always a good thing for a busy traveler!

• 2x points per $1 on Southwest purchases
• 2x points per $1 on internet, cable, phone services, and select streaming
• $69 annual fee
• 3,000 anniversary points each year.
• Earn 2X points on Southwest ® purchases.
• 2 EarlyBird Check-In ® each year.
• Earn 1 point for every $1 spent on all other purchases.

Additionally, there are 2 Southwest co-branded business card options:

• Southwest ® Rapid Rewards ® Performance Business Credit Card
• Southwest ® Rapid Rewards ® Premier Business Credit Card

Southwest Credit Card Rules

You should be able to earn a Companion Pass, or come very close, by earning 2 welcome bonuses (after meeting minimum spending requirements). Since you can’t have 2 personal Southwest co-branded credit cards at once, this needs to be done by opening 1 personal Southwest card and 1 business Southwest card.

Hot Tip: Qualifying for a business credit card may be easier than you think. Your business doesn’t need to be big to qualify for a credit card. Many small businesses, such as selling items on eBay, running a blog, or driving for Uber, can allow you to apply for business credit cards.

If you’ve had a Southwest credit card in the past or currently have one, you’ll need to determine how long it’s been since you’ve earned a new cardmember bonus. You’ll only be eligible for a Southwest credit card welcome offer if you don’t currently hold a Southwest card and it’s been more than 24 months since you’ve earned a bonus.

These rules apply separately to personal and business cards. For example, if you currently hold a Southwest business credit card and earned a bonus within the past 24 months, you’re still eligible to earn a bonus on a Southwest personal card and vice versa.

Timing Your Credit Card Bonuses

To get the most out of your Southwest Companion Pass it’s important to time your qualification correctly. Since the Companion Pass is valid for the rest of the calendar year in which you earn it and the entire following calendar year, you’ll get the most use out of it if you earn it early in the calendar year .

If you’re planning to earn most of your points through credit card welcome offers, you’ll want to ensure those points post as early in the year as possible.

Of course, you can wait until January 1 to apply for your new credit cards, but if you want to get a head start, you can apply for the credit cards in November or December. Start spending on the cards right away but don’t finish the minimum spend requirement until January 1. That way, after meeting your minimum spending requirement, your welcome points will post in January and you’ll have a Companion Pass for almost 2 years.

Other Ways To Earn 135,000 Qualifying Points

Earning the Southwest Companion Pass from credit cards is just one way to do it, but there are lots of other ways to earn the required 135,000 qualifying points:

• Revenue flights
• Partner hotel stays
• Partner car rentals
• Spending on Southwest-branded credit cards (based on when the points post to your account)
• Southwest credit card referral bonuses
• Rapid Rewards Dining (based on dining date)
• Rapid Rewards shopping portal (based on purchase date)

Southwest has additional partners and the base points you earn from these partners do count toward Companion Pass qualification:

• 1-800-Flowers.com (based on purchase date)
• Energy Plus (based on posting date)
• Harry & David (based on purchase date)
• Laithwaite’s Wine (based on purchase date)
• Make It Count – Marathon (based on posting date)
• NRG Home (based on posting date)
• Rocketmiles (based on the date of stay)
• Reliant Energy (based on posting date)
• Xoom (based on posting date)

You’ll notice some points qualify in the year they are posted and some points qualify based on the purchase date. This can be very important if you’re trying to qualify at the end of a calendar year.

For example, if you’re 5,000 points short in December so you do some extra spending on your credit card, those points won’t count unless they post in December. If they post in January they would count toward the next year’s qualification.

Hot Tip: The Southwest Companion Pass will be awarded as soon as you earn the required 135,000 Rapid Rewards points. You can then use those points to purchase tickets — you don’t have to cash them out to get the Companion Pass!

What Points Don’t Count Toward Southwest Companion Pass Qualification?

Here’s a look at the points that do not qualify for Southwest Companion Pass status:

• Flight bonus points
• Gifted points
• Partner bonus points
• Partner program transfers
• Points transferred from Chase Ultimate Rewards
• Promotion bonus points (except for credit card welcome and referral bonuses)
• Purchased points
• Tier bonus points
• Transferred points

How To Check Your Southwest Companion Pass Qualifying Points Balance

If you aren’t sure how many Companion Pass qualifying points you currently have, you can check your balance in your online account. First, click on View Details underneath your points total. Then choose the year you want to see and filter the list by Companion Pass Qualifying Points .

Designating and Changing Your Companion

Once you’ve earned your Companion Pass, the first thing you need to do is to choose your official companion.

Southwest allows you to select any 1 person to be your companion at any given time, and you can change that person up to 3 times a year, for a maximum of 4 companions over the course of the year.

You’ll be able to designate your initial companion online, but you’ll need to call Southwest at 800-435-9792 to change your companion. The first companion needs to be removed from any future reservations before a second companion can be designated.

According to the Southwest website, changing your companion can take up to 21 business days to process, however, in practice, it happens almost instantly most of the time.

Using your Southwest Companion Pass is incredibly easy.

First, you’ll need to book your ticket as you usually would. It can be purchased with points or cash and can be for any fare category (Wanna Get Away, Wanna Get Away Plus, Anytime, or Business Select).

Once your ticket is booked, you can add your companion either through Southwest.com or via phone.

On the website, you will see a place to click that says Add Companion . This is located just below your flight information, next to the links to cancel or change your flight. Simply click the button and enter the required information to add your companion. You’ll also need to pay the taxes at this point, which will be $5.60 for a one-way domestic trip.

To add a companion over the phone, just call reservations and let the representative know you will be using your Companion Pass to add another passenger to your flight.

Your companion can be added up until the time of the flight, as long as there are still seats for sale. This is true even if the price has gone up since you bought your ticket.

After you add a companion, you’ll see the companion confirmation number (which will be different from the original ticket) with your flight information.

Since your companion will have a different confirmation number, you’ll both have to check in for your flight separately. This can result in different boarding positions , which can potentially make sitting together more difficult.

If you want to ensure you’re sitting next to your companion on the plane, you may want to consider purchasing EarlyBird Check-In or using an Upgraded Boarding pass from the Southwest Priority card and Southwest Performance Business card .

There are some additional rules for Companion Pass tickets that you’ll want to keep in mind:

• Your companion must be ticketed and travel on the same flight as you
• If you change your flight, you must also change your companion’s flight
• If you cancel your flight , your companion’s flight will also be canceled
• The companion ticket is not considered to be a paid ticket, and therefore cannot have another companion added
• The companion ticket doesn’t earn points
• There are no blackout dates for Companion Pass tickets

How To Change a Companion Pass Flight

If you need to make a change to a flight that includes a companion, you can do it in 1 of 2 ways. You can call Southwest to make the change, or you can make the change online. To change a ticket that includes a companion online, you’ll first need to cancel the companion ticket. Then you can make a change to the original ticket and add the companion back once the change is made.

The Southwest Companion Pass is one of the best deals in travel. It allows you to add a companion for just the cost of the taxes and fees on any Southwest flight for up to 2 years.

To earn a Companion Pass you need to earn 135,000 qualifying points in a year or fly 100 one-way flights. Thankfully, credit card welcome offers are considered qualifying points, so earning a Companion Pass may be easier than you think.

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How to Add a Companion to an Existing Southwest Airlines Reservation

Good morning everyone.  A few days ago, I shared how long it took for your Southwest Airlines Companion Pass to post to your account after you made your first purchase.  Yesterday, my girlfriend received a letter from Southwest Airlines with her new Companion Pass card.  The card is just for looks and doesn’t really do anything, but it is still cool to have.  This is what the Southwest Airlines Companion Pass welcome letter looks like.  In this post, I will show you how to add your Southwest Airlines Companion to an existing Southwest Airlines reservation.

Log into your Southwest Airlines account and click the My Account link at the top of the page.

Then scroll down to the My Trips section and find the trip you want to add your Southwest Airlines Companion to.  Then click the Add Companion link.

The cost for your Southwest Airlines Companion ticket will be as low as $5.60 for domestic flights and will be higher for international flights.  Scroll down and click the Continue button.

Your Southwest Airlines Companion Pass information will be prefilled, but you can enter their Trusted Traveler Number (TSA PreCheck number / Global Entry number).  Enter an email address for the confirmation email to be sent to, select your payment method (or use Southwest Airlines travel funds), then click the Purchase button.

Congratulations, you just booked a Southwest Airlines flight for your Southwest Airlines Companion.  Each Companion Pass ticket booked will have a unique reservation number that differs from the primary Southwest Airlines reservation number.  Since my Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards Number was not on the reservation, I tried to add my number online.

I went through the usual process of adding my Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards Number…

Typed in my Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards Number…

But got an error message everytime time I tried to add my Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards Number.

I reached out to Southwest Airlines on Twitter and they told me that Southwest Airlines Companion reservations are basically award tickets and will not earn Southwest Airlines Rapid Reward Points.  The only reason you would want to add your Southwest Airlines Rapid Reward Number to the reservation is so the reservation would show up in your companion’s Southwest Airlines account.  And to do that, you would have to call in and have them manually add your Southwest Airlines Rapid Reward Number to each reservation.  That was too much work, so I let it go.

To see the Southwest Airlines Companion reservation, go back to your My Account page, scroll down to My Trips and you should see your confirmation number and your Southwest Airlines Companion’s confirmation number.  If you click on the flight, you can see more information.

This shows the primary Southwest Airlines reservation.  If you click the View Companion Confirmation link, you will see details of your Southwest Airlines Companion’s reservation.

I tried to add my Southwest Airlines Rapid Reward Number from here and got the same error message as before.  If you can’t add your Rapid Reward Number online, why does Southwest Airlines show you a link to add your Rapid Rewards Number online?

One last piece of advice.  If you need to make any changes or cancellations to the primary Southwest Airlines reservation, you will need to cancel the Southwest Airlines Companion reservation first, then you can change or cancel the primary reservation.  If you have any questions about adding a Southwest Airlines Companion to your existing Southwest Airlines reservation, please leave a comment below.  Have a great day everyone!

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5 thoughts on “ how to add a companion to an existing southwest airlines reservation ”.

Can I book a flight with 7 people for example, and then add an 8th person (my companion) to the flight? I’m not sure if I should just book myself a flight first, add my companion, then book the flights for everyone else.

If you don’t mind the added work, I recommend booking every passenger separately so they each get their own SWA record locator. It makes it much easier to rebook and get a cheaper price later on. Check out this post for more details: https://travelwithgrant.boardingarea.com/2018/04/15/new-southwest-airlines-flight-rebooking-process/

I don’t have my Companion Pass yet, but I hope to by the time I want to travel in July. If I book my ticket now (in January), can I add my companion when it gets closer to flight time? Say, in June after I’ve earned the Companion Pass?

Yes, as long as there is at least 1 open seat on the flight, you can add your companion to the flight once you have your SWA Companion Pass.

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How To Select Your Companion and Use Your New Southwest Companion Pass

Reviewed by JT Genter

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You’ve done your research, you’ve met the qualification requirements, and now it’s finally here: Your Southwest Companion Pass. That little metaphorical golden ticket that opens up a whole new world of cheap travel options is now yours. Now your job switches from earning the Southwest Companion Pass to maximizing it.

Here's how to select your companion and use the Southwest Companion Pass.

Page Contents

Earning the Southwest Companion Pass

How to check your companion pass progress, how to select your initial southwest companion, how to book southwest companion flights, who can you choose as your southwest companion, when does the southwest companion pass expire, can you still live a fulfilling travel life without a companion pass, final thoughts, a quick refresher on the one perk to rule them all.

The Southwest Airlines Companion Pass is one of the most popular perks in the points and miles world, and for good reason. Holders of the Companion Pass can fly with a friend or family member — or even an enemy, really, whoever they'd like — for just the cost of taxes and fees. And it works for both revenue flights and award redemptions.

Southwest flies all over the United States (including Hawaii) and even serves a few international destinations like Costa Rica, Mexico, Belize, and more. So you can see why the Southwest Companion Pass can be so valuable.

To earn the Southwest Companion Pass , Rapid Rewards members need to earn 135,000 qualifying points or fly 100 qualifying one-way flights per calendar year. Ways to earn the 135,000 qualifying points needed include:

• Spending on a Southwest credit card
• Flying on Southwest
• Hotel stays booked through partners
• Car rentals booked through partners
• Rapid Rewards Shopping
• Rapid Rewards Dining
• Southwest credit card referral bonuses

You may also be able to shortcut earning the Companion Pass entirely. Southwest periodically offers an unlimited Southwest Companion Pass as part of a credit card sign-up bonus.

Related: Current Offers for the Chase Southwest Credit Cards

So, how do you know when you actually have the pass? Fortunately, Southwest makes it incredibly easy to find out. Whether you've earned the Companion Pass through a sign-up bonus offer or the hard way earning points with Southwest, the process to check is the same.

Just head over to Southwest's website and log in to your Southwest Airlines account. Navigate to the “ My Account ” button at the top right. Once to the page, scroll to the area labeled “My Rapid Rewards,” and your Companion Pass progress will be listed right there — along with a few other pieces of information.

Once you have earned your Southwest Companion Pass, you can either call in to set up your initial Companion or watch out for an email from Southwest. This email will redirect you to the correct place and allow you to set up your Companion.

If you deleted the email, no worries; you can still select your initial Companion Pass companion on the Southwest website. Make sure you have their information on hand. Southwest will require you to have your companion's:

• Full name as it appears on their ID
• Street address
• Email address
• Phone number

Before you can book a free Companion Pass flight, you must first purchase your ticket. Head to the Southwest Airlines website and log into your account. Navigate to the flight search engine and enter your desired flight info — departure and arrival, dates, etc.

No need to select two passengers at this point. Even if you plan to add your companion to this flight, you'll only need to select one passenger. But this is also a good time to check the search results for seat availability.

Southwest doesn't have any blackout dates for companions, but Southwest must still have a seat available. So, if a flight literally only has one seat left for sale, you will not be able to book your companion on it.

Continue with the search, select the flights you would like, and finish your booking. Once your flight is officially booked, visit the “My Trips” tab and navigate to the “Upcoming” section where your flight is listed.

Select the “Add Companion” link. Make sure the info is correct for your Companion, and once you confirm everything is as it should be, hit “Purchase.”

A Companion Pass holder is eligible to fly with one Companion for only the cost of taxes and fees. And that typically consists of just $5.60. So, think of the Southwest Companion Pass as a true two-for-one.

You can officially change your Southwest Companion three times per calendar year — in addition to your initial Southwest Companion Pass companion. So, you can technically select four different companions per calendar year. Before you commit to adding your companion, it's a great idea to have somewhat of a strategy in play. That way, you don't end up being stuck with a companion you do not plan on flying with often for whatever reason.

If you need to change your Southwest Companion Pass companion, you must call 1-800-435-9792. Southwest states that you will need to allow up to 21 business days to process and mail a replacement card, but normally it doesn't take that long. The change usually takes place almost instantly in your Rapid Rewards account.

A Companion Pass is good “…for the entire calendar year immediately following the year in which you qualified.” If you somehow earn a Southwest Companion Pass on January 10, 2024, you will have it for the rest of 2024 and all of 2025.

As your Companion Pass gets near its expiration, you'll need to book and take your Southwest flights by December 31 of whichever year it expires. Flights scheduled to leave after this date will not qualify for the free flight any longer.

As a mother of four young kids who loves to travel, you would think that getting the Southwest Companion Pass would be a priority for me. Well, I have a confession — I have never actually held one of these elusive little unicorns.

My journey into the points and miles world started before Chase’s notorious 5/24 rule was implemented. At the time, I — and plenty of others in this hobby — could never have imagined a rule like 5/24 being implemented. But, long story short, one day, Chase clamped down, and my chance to easily earn the Companion Pass was over before it had even begun.

The Southwest Companion Pass can hold immense value, especially for families and extra-especially for families who enjoy traveling domestically. However, plenty of programs out there offer amazing enough redemptions. I'm living proof of the ability to easily earn large quantities of miles. While maybe the value doesn’t always necessarily match the Companion Pass, they can still help you reach your travel goals.

Related: Ultimate Guide to Companion Fares, Companion Passes & Companion Tickets

The Southwest Companion Pass can offer amazing value. If you can earn one and it fits your travel goals, do it.

For one, Southwest's award program and redemptions are so easy to understand. It doesn't involve spending days digging around ExpertFlyer and calling centers in Australia in the middle of the night to try and grab a flight on an airline that may or may not actually have real availability. And their customer-friendly policies are hard to beat.

So, for simplicity's sake alone, the Companion Pass moves up several levels on the value scale.

But I wouldn't necessarily recommend waiting until you're under 5/24 just for the sake of easily earning the Companion Pass. You may be better off revamping your strategy as the opportunity cost to wait may not be worth it.

The comments on this page are not provided, reviewed, or otherwise approved by the bank advertiser. It is not the bank advertiser's responsibility to ensure all posts and/or questions are answered.

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SW companion pass is really a good offer

Great bonus, I would like to apply if I am eligible. I had a Southwest card in the past. Do you know how long I have to wait to qualify for the sign up bonus again? It’s been about five years that I cancelled my first card.

It’s 24 months since the last time you earned a bonus from the welcome offer. You should be ok. More details on this here – https://awardwallet.com/blog/current-southwest-credit-card-offers/

Southwest Companion pass is always a selling point and good to have.

So, are most people who are getting the CP doin it by getting two Southwest credit cards simultaneously?

That’s the simplest path. You don’t necessarily need to get them at the exact same time, but one shortly after another is the path most people take.

The companion pass is very good with Southwest. The 30k+CP offer isn’t as good to me as the higher bonus without the CP included because you’ll need the points regardless so unless you are someone that can use the CP 10 times a year you might be better off with the older offers for more points and earn it through spending and offers. Also, time it so that you earn it just after the first of a calendar year for the most value. For those that earn the CP, the companion doesn’t board in your same group letter if you have status but that is minor.

The companion pass is truly valuable for those who does NOT enjoy international travels.

Wow! I’m really impressed this looks great. I think I’d like to try it out.

Really wish Delta would do something like this.

If you’ve got a sustainable MS route, you probably should worry less about 5/24 / sign-up bonuses and just get a card and keep it!

Did not know the benefits. It may be convinient to me and my family. I’ll look into it in detail.

Great deal! Might just join Southwest to take advantage.

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How to Add a Companion to Southwest Flights Booked Through a Travel Portal

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Million Mile Secrets reader, Camilla , commented :

Can you book a Southwest flight through the Chase travel portal using Chase Ultimate Rewards points, and then add a companion if you have the Companion Pass ?

Folks with the Companion Pass can add a companion to any Southwest flight .  It doesn’t matter if it’s booked directly through the airline or a travel portal!

This is good news for folks with the Companion Pass looking to get Big Travel on Southwest with the Chase Sapphire Reserve .  Because points linked to your Sapphire Reserve account are worth 1.5 cents each  when you book travel through Chase.

Or those using the Pay With Points perk with The Business Platinum® Card from American Express .

I’ll show you how to add your companion to a Southwest flight  when you book through a travel portal.

How To Add Companion to Southwest Flight

Link:   4 Secret Airlines You Can Book With Chase Ultimate Rewards Points  

Link:    Not All Chase Ultimate Rewards Points Are Equal!

I’ve written a step-by-step guide to using AMEX Membership Rewards points to book Southwest flights and add a companion .

You can also  redeem Chase Ultimate Rewards points for Southwest flights .  But you’ll have to call Chase at  866-951-6592  to book Southwest flights this way.

Remember to  pay with the right card .  Depending on the card you use, your Chase Ultimate Rewards points are worth different amounts when you book travel through the Chase portal .

You’ll get the best deal  using points linked to your Sapphire Reserve card .  Because points are worth 1.5 cents each .

When you book this way, you’re basically paying cash for the flight.  This means you’ll earn Southwest loyalty points and credit toward  A-List status !

Here are the steps to add your companion to a Southwest flight after you’ve booked through the Chase travel portal.

Step 1.   Find Your Southwest Confirmation Number

After you call Chase to book your Southwest flight, you’ll get an email confirmation with your flight details.

You’ll see the Southwest flight confirmation number at the top of the email.  Keep this information handy.

Step 2.   Link the Confirmation to Your Loyalty Account

Next, you can link the confirmation to your Southwest account.  Go to the Southwest website  and enter your Southwest confirmation number from the Chase email and your name .

Then, you can enter your Southwest loyalty account number.

Now the flight will appear in your Southwest account.

Step 3.   Add Your Companion

After the flight is linked to your loyalty number, you can visit your Southwest account page, and click “ Add Companion. ”

Finally, just pay the taxes and fees for your companion and you’re all set!

Remember paying taxes and fees for your companion with the  Chase Sapphire Reserve  will trigger the card’s  annual $300 travel credit .

And if you pay with  The Business Platinum® Card from American Express  and select Southwest as your airline , you can get back $200 per year for charges on Southwest.  This means it’s possible for  you and your companion to fly with zero out-of-pocket expense .

Bottom Line

You can add a companion to  any Southwest flight .

Redeem Chase Ultimate Rewards points for a Southwest flight by calling Chase at  866-951-6592.   Then, go to the Southwest website  and link the confirmation number you received via email to your loyalty account .  After, you’ll see the flight in your Southwest account and can add a companion .

When you book through Chase, you’ll get the best deal using points linked to your Sapphire Reserve account .  Because points are worth 1.5 cents each .

Thanks for the question, Camilla!

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The Pros and Cons of Southwest’s Companion Pass

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Update: Southwest Airlines announced in July several upcoming changes to its boarding system, seat assignments and cabin configuration. Red-eye flights are also now bookable on certain routes. Read more of the news here .

The Southwest Companion Pass is one of the most coveted symbols among Southwest frequent flyers. It's Southwest Airline's version of a buy-one-get-one deal, where you buy a flight and one lucky buddy gets to fly for free (aside from taxes and fees). But even fairly frequent Southwest flyers will have a hard time getting their hands on one.

It can be tough to earn, and its value lies in how often you use it once you have it. If you have a regular travel companion like a sibling, partner or BFF — and your travel plans this year involve attending six weddings, heading home for the winter holidays and spending the summer on the beaches of Hawaii — then you’ll more than likely save many hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars by using it.

But you’ll also have to put in money (either in terms of purchasing Southwest airfare or spending money on a Southwest credit card ) to earn it. So is the Southwest Companion Pass really all it's cracked up to be?

A quick overview of the Southwest Companion Pass

To earn the Companion Pass, you either need to take 100 qualifying one-way flights or earn 135,000 qualifying points in a calendar year. Among the best ways to earn qualifying points include:

Booking revenue airfares on Southwest (meaning it excludes tickets booked on points).

Booking a hotel or renting a car through one of Southwest’s partners.

Using a Rapid Rewards credit card.

Online shopping through the Rapid Rewards Shopping portal.

Once you’ve reached either the flight or point threshold, you’ll earn the Companion Pass for the following full calendar year, plus the remainder of the year in which you earned it.

» Learn more: Southwest Companion Pass: Why you want it and how to get it

The pros of the Southwest Companion Pass

You don’t need us to tell you that getting a two-for-one deal (plus taxes and fees, which start at just $5.60) on flights for at least a year is a sweet deal. But here are a few other reasons why the Southwest Companion Pass is one of the best deals out there:

You can still use the Companion Pass when booking with points

If you’ve accumulated the 135,000 Rapid Rewards points needed to earn the Companion Pass, then odds are you’ve got a ton of points to burn on airfare. You can use your points to book a Southwest flight for yourself, then use your pass to book your travel partner’s flight — essentially getting two flights for the price of none (aside from dipping into your points pool and paying taxes and fees).

» Learn more: Your guide to booking award flights on Southwest

Points earned through Rapid Rewards credit card welcome offers count toward reaching that Companion Pass

Taking 100 qualifying one-way flights could feel like an enormous feat, but if you’re open to applying for a Southwest credit card, your path to a Companion Pass could be significantly easier. Applying for a new credit card typically means you’ll take the path that requires you to earn 135,000 qualifying points to get a Companion Pass.

Occasionally, you can earn a Companion Pass as part a Southwest card's welcome offer. Currently available offers are as follows:

on Chase's website

Earn 50,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.

Earn 85,000 bonus points after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.

You aren’t committed to one companion

Your travel plans might entail flying with your sibling to a wedding, taking a friend to Vegas and going on a romantic getaway to Hawaii with your partner. You can make all those trips happen on the Companion Pass, and they don’t all have to be with the same person.

You may change your designated companion up to three times each calendar year that you hold it.

However, you can’t hold multiple reservations with different companions at the same time. Any reservations with the current designated companion need to be canceled or completed before changing your designated companion, and you should also allow up to 21 business days for processing when you change that person.

This flexibility is a great benefit, but you’ll need to plan ahead to take advantage of it.

» Learn more: Southwest Airlines sweet spots

The cons of the Southwest Companion Pass

It’s easy to see why the Companion Pass is great, but it’s important to recognize that everything comes at some sort of cost. The value you get out of the pass might not be worth the effort you put into its pursuit.

Even with a credit card bonus, you’ll need to spend some money

Getting approved for a Rapid Rewards credit card and earning the welcome offer can certainly help get you a good chunk of the way toward Companion Pass ownership, but it won’t get you all the way there (unless a pass is included with the bonus).

Usually, you’ll get the most points from Southwest’s business card. If you have any sort of small business and can get approved, you’ll get a healthy welcome bonus from the Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Performance Business Credit Card : Earn 80,000 points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening and an additional 40,000 points when you spend $15,000 in 9 months.

You’ll have to make up the difference through other means, like spending on your credit card. And with that comes risk that you could end up spending more than you should for the sake of earning miles.

Always weigh what you’ll spend to earn the pass versus how much the pass could save you. If you were going to buy new appliances and charge them to a credit card anyway, then it might make sense to use that to help you reach your Companion Pass. Just don’t fall for the trap of convincing yourself that it’s time to upgrade your perfectly good refrigerator because it’ll get you free flights (it’ll still cost you the price of a brand-new refrigerator).

Rapid Rewards credit cards may not provide the best value

Earning a Companion Pass will cost you either 100 qualifying one-way flights or 135,000 points. These two cards provide a signup bonus, but that still may not be enough to earn the Companion Pass if you don't put enough spend on the card.

Earn 60,000 points after you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening and an additional 60,000 points when you spend $15,000 in 9 months.

Earn 80,000 points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening and an additional 40,000 points when you spend $15,000 in 9 months.

Let’s say that after earning those bonus points — coupled with points you’d earn from your regular Southwest flights — you’re still short of the 135,000 points needed to earn another pass. You’ll earn 1 point for every $1 spent on general purchases on Southwest Rapid Rewards credit cards, so you could spend several thousand more on a Southwest credit card to earn it.

» Learn more: Full review of the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card

But that amount of cash may be better spent on another travel rewards card . For example, with the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card , you’ll earn this bonus: Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $750 when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.

This card offers 2x points on travel (5x points if you book your travel through Chase's travel portal), 3x on dining and 1x on all other purchases, so you may be able to earn points more quickly for all your travel spending — and transfer your points to Chase partners if you travel with carriers other than Southwest. And yes, the Southwest Rapid Rewards program is a partner loyalty program with Chase Ultimate Rewards® .

It’s important to compare the value of any points you’ll earn on these cards . Currently, NerdWallet values Southwest points at about 1.5 cents per point and Chase Ultimate Rewards points® from the Sapphire cards at about 2.2 cents each.

» Learn more: NerdWallet’s Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card review — a must-have card for travelers

Or, take a card with a straightforward rewards structure like the Citi Double Cash® Card , which earns 2% rewards on all eligible purchases — 1% when you make a purchase and 1% when you pay it off. That $50,000 in spending on that card would ultimately net you $1,000 in straight cash back. In that scenario, ask yourself if you’d rather have $1,000 or a Companion Pass. Frequent travelers might still find a Companion Pass worth more than $1,000, but you may not.

You’ll likely always feel pressured to book Southwest for as long as you hold it

You might be someone who generally takes Southwest flights, but what if you find yourself in a situation where the Southwest flight requires a layover and the United one is direct? What if you’re trying to get to Daytona Beach, Florida (which has its own airport), but the nearest Southwest-served airport is in Orlando?

You might feel tempted to take advantage of your Companion Pass by booking the flight with the layover, or landing in Orlando and taking the hour drive to the coast. But if you miss the layover, and the hour-long cab ride to your hotel costs $100, you might question if that half-price pair of tickets was really worth it.

To change the buddy whom you’ve designated the companion on your Southwest Companion Pass, you’ll have to call Southwest at 1-800-435-9792. You can change that person up to three times each calendar year that you hold the pass. Southwest warns that you should allow up to 21 business days for processing the change.

No, Rapid Rewards Companion Pass travel does not count toward qualification for A-List status. Additionally, no points are awarded for flights taken by the person flying on a Companion Pass reservation.

One way to qualify for the Companion Pass is through taking 100 qualifying one-way flights booked through Southwest within a calendar year. A one-way qualifying flight is defined by Southwest as a one-way revenue trip on the airline, including any intermediate stops or connections (a layover does not count as two flights). Additionally, those points must have been earned and posted to your Rapid Rewards account prior to the end of the calendar year in order to count toward your pass.

Yes, Southwest considers children ages 12 through 17 who are traveling alone as Young Travelers, which is different than Unaccompanied Minors. Southwest does not monitor Young Travelers during travel, as opposed to Unaccompanied Minors. Unaccompanied Minors are escorted onto the aircraft by a Southwest Airlines employee before general boarding begins and are supported through the flight by a flight attendant. These travelers are also subject to a $50 one-way service charge, though Young Travelers are not.

The bottom line

The Southwest Companion Pass is one of those benefits that rewards travelers dream about. After all, it essentially cuts the airfare cost for partner trips in half. But it’s not easy to earn when it's not included with a Southwest card sign-up bonus, and travelers can easily fall into the trap of spending more than they should just to earn it. Remember to weigh the cost of the pass against how much you’ll spend to earn it. And if you’re not a dedicated Southwest flyer, it’s OK if you want to skip it altogether.

How to maximize your rewards

You want a travel credit card that prioritizes what’s important to you. Here are some of the best travel credit cards of 2024 :

Flexibility, point transfers and a large bonus: Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

No annual fee: Wells Fargo Autograph℠ Card

Flat-rate travel rewards: Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

Bonus travel rewards and high-end perks: Chase Sapphire Reserve®

Luxury perks: The Platinum Card® from American Express

Business travelers: Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card

1x-5x 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases.

60,000 Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $750 when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.

1.5%-5% Enjoy 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, and unlimited 1.5% cash back on all other purchases.

Up to $300 Earn an additional 1.5% cash back on everything you buy (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year) - worth up to $300 cash back!

on Capital One's website

2x-5x Earn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase, every day. Earn 5X miles on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options

75,000 Enjoy $250 to use on Capital One Travel in your first cardholder year, plus earn 75,000 bonus miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening - that’s equal to $1,000 in travel.

Why I Love the Southwest Companion Pass (and How to Get One)

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There are few things that bring me as much joy as (basically) free travel, and through strategic use of travel rewards credit cards I’ve been able to make it happen. One of my favorite strategies? The Southwest Companion Pass promotion that lets me bring a guest for almost-free every time I fly the airline!

In this article I’ll explain why the Southwest Companion Pass is amazing, along with the Southwest Companion Pass trick for getting one. After reading this article you’ll even know some strategies for booking trips before you earn your Companion Pass!

Southwest Companion Pass cheat sheet

Updated for June 2024 Southwest credit card offer details

In 30 seconds, here’s how to earn the Companion Pass with Southwest credit cards:

• Free flights for a companion of your choosing for the rest of this year and next year
• Open a Chase Southwest Rapid Rewards personal card before June 26, hit $3000 in spending within the first three months – this is currently an elevated offer of 85,000 points
• Open a Chase Southwest Rapid Rewards Business card ~30 days later, hit $3000/$5000 in spending within the first three months depending on which card you choose

What is the Southwest Companion Pass

Southwest gives its most loyal flyers some serious benefits, from priority boarding to free internet all day every day. But in parallel to its regular loyalty tier, Southwest offers another perk: Companion Pass.

What is the Southwest Companion Pass? In short, it allows the holder to bring their designated companion with them on any flight with an open seat for just the cost of mandatory government fees. Within the United States it’s just $5.60 cents each way, while international tickets could run up to $150 for your companion. That’s still a lot less than an entire plane ticket!

How long does the Southwest Companion Pass last? It’s good for the rest of the year in which you earn it and all of the next year! If you’re really strategic about when you earn your Companion Pass (more on that in a moment) you’ll have it for around 23 months.

How does Southwest Companion pass work? Just buy your ticket as you normally would, using points, flight credits or your credit card, and then add your companion after you’re done – keep reading to see screenshots of exactly what it looks like.

The even more amazing part of the Southwest Companion Pass is that there’s no limit to how many times you can use it until it expires. By the time it’s all done I will have used my companion pass for Hawaii , Florida , Mexico , Los Angeles , Texas , Nashville and more. It’s saving us thousands of dollars on travel and allowing us to travel more, totally guilt-free.

If your travel patterns change, the good news is that you can switch your companion up to three times per year with a quick phone call. I’ve done it and it was no big deal!

Southwest Companion Pass trick

Ok now your big question is probably “how do you earn a Southwest Companion Pass?” There are two ways.

The hard way to earn the Companion Pass is to fly 100 one-way trips/50 round trips or earn 135,000 Companion Pass qualifying points in a single calendar year – that would require about $16,000 in spending if you stick to the least expensive Wanna Get Away fares (which start at earning 6 points per dollar but get more valuable as you hit A List and A List Preferred status).

But I’d rather do things the easy way, which is to open two Southwest credit cards , put some spending on them and call it a day. Points that you earn from credit card spending and sign up bonuses count toward 135,000 qualifying points, plus credit card owners get a 10,000 Companion Pass qualifying point boost in their tally – so you’ll really just need to collect 125,000 qualifying points in a single calendar year.

1) The first step to earn the Companion Pass is you’ll open a Southwest business credit card. You’re eligible for this even if you don’t have a “traditional business” – even a side hustle like selling on Marketplace or mowing lawns counts, as those are ways you can work to earn money.

Southwest offers two business credit cards (find them on the right side of that page). As of this writing the $99 Premier Business Southwest credit card starts you off with 60,000 bonus points after spending $3000 in the first three months, while the $199 Performance grants you 80,000 bonus points after spending $5000 in the first three months. The more expensive business credit card also comes with a $100 credit toward TSA PreCheck or Global Entry plus four upgraded boardings and 365 WiFi credits.

For a frequent Southwest flyer, I think the Performance Business credit card is worth the extra fee. As of this update, you can choose either business card to pair with a personal card and will earn the companion pass without additional spending.

2) Your second step to earn the Companion Pass open a Southwest personal credit card . Some people say it’s harder to get the business card if you’ve just gotten a personal card with Chase, though to be honest I opened them in the oppose order and lived to tell the tale! As of June 2024 they all come with an 85,000 point sign up bonus offer after you reach $3000 in spending during the first three months.

The three personal Southwest credit card options have some important distinctions even though the spending thresholds and sign up bonus points earned are the same. Note that you’re only allowed to have one of these three cards, and I don’t think the mid-tier card is even worth considering.

The least expensive option out of pocket is the $69 Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus credit card – I got this in haste without realizing just how much I’d be flying Southwest! It doesn’t really give you any fancy extra perks, and it’s important to know that this card charges foreign transaction fees.

In my opinion, the best choice (and what I had my husband get) is the $149 Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority credit card. This is the most expensive option but the fee is worth it! Upon account opening the Priority comes with a $75 Southwest credit every year and an extra 4500 points (worth around $70) on every anniversary – plus no foreign transaction fees and some other nice perks.

So right now you probably think I’m off my rocker for claiming that spending $348 on credit card fees is worth it. But I promise it is! Because in addition to your Southwest Companion Pass, you’ll also walk away with at least 136,000 Southwest Rapid Rewards points that you can use to book travel (since you’ll earn Rapid Rewards points from your spending as well)! That’s worth more than $1600, but if you bring your companion on every flight it’s worth over $3000 . That’s a pretty incredible ROI. For a real-world data point, I recently used 58,000 points per person for round trip ticket from Ohio to Hawaii for spring break – and of course, my companion’s ticket was just $5.60 each way in taxes.

If you’re a family with multiple adults and multiple kids, each adult can open the same two credit cards and take a kid with them for free! All of a sudden, family travel got a lot more affordable.

Another great feature is that once you have your credit cards, you can share your referral link with friends to get Southwest points if they sign up for credit cards. Those points count toward your companion pass! If you time your referrals to December at the end of your first year, they will count toward extending your companion pass for an additional year.

You can always check your progress in your Rapid Rewards account status tracker on the right side.

How to Maximize Your Southwest Companion Pass

Now that you’ve figured out how to earn a Southwest Companion Pass, the real fun begins: using it!

Southwest makes it really easy to book flights for your companion. When you’re looking at flights, make sure that there’s at least one additional seat in addition to your own available. However, you only need to book one ticket with your money, credits or Southwest Rapid Rewards points. After you’ve booked your ticket, you’ll see a big blue plus icon on the flight details screen of your app or a white button in the reservation box on the website – both clearly say “Add Companion”. You’ll be taken through screens to confirm the flight and then select how to pay the taxes and fees. If you’ve already designated your companion, the whole thing takes just a few seconds!

But there are a few little Southwest Companion Pass tricks I want to share with you from my own experience to help you squeeze out the most value.

Adding a Southwest companion – READ THIS

Once you earn enough points, you’ll see this beautiful banner show up in your Southwest Rapid Rewards account. Congratulations! But not so fast…

Once glitch we’ve noticed is that the online form to add a companion does not have a field for your companion’s Rapid Rewards number. Hopefully this will be changed at some point. I recommend that you call Southwest customer service at 1-800-I-FLY-SWA and have them add the companion with their Rapid Rewards number. They’re very friendly and the process is quick!

If you add your companion online, a new “customer number” will be assigned. While that’s not the end of the world since companions don’t earn points or qualifying flights, it’s one more thing to keep track of (especially if your companion has other non-companion flights or prior credits.

When to add a companion on Southwest flights

First, one of the things I love about Southwest is the ability to quickly hit the “change” button to reclaim credit if the price of a booked flight drops. It’s so simple and quick, and has saved us thousands of dollars. But if you have a companion itinerary attached to the flight, you need to either cancel the companion and then make the change or call Southwest to request a fare adjustment. I’ve done both.

This gets me to my next point: sometimes you’ll want to add a companion ticket right away if you expect the flight to sell out (like spring break to Hawaii) but sometimes you can wait on the companion if the route doesn’t look busy (like Nashville in summer). Postponing the companion ticket makes it easy to check frequently for fare drops, but if I see that Wanna Get Away fares are almost gone that’s a good time to add my companion to ensure a seat.

However, even if you don’t see a seat available for a companion just keep checking. Thanks to their generous policies people cancel Southwest tickets alllllll the time.

Below you can see how the reservation screen changes when you add a companion. You’ll also see that I’ve used a different strategy for each leg of the flight (one was paid with points and the other with flight credits so I had to book them separately anyway).

Booking flights before you have Companion Pass

The next tip is a really important one for families. How can you book a companion seat if you don’t have Southwest Companion Pass yet or if you know that you’ll need to change your Southwest companion between trips? Obviously if you’re traveling to popular destinations during school breaks it’s really important to have enough seats for everyone! There are a few ways to handle this.

Option 1: If you know you’ll fly Southwest often, just book everyone together as usual. When you earn your Companion Pass, call Southwest and tell them to switch all of your companion’s flights to the Pass. I did this on a day when I wasn’t especially busy and it took around 45 minutes for a dozen flights. The representative was very helpful and we got a lot of points in my account and flight credits back in my daughter’s account. You can see above that I’ve done this for one of our upcoming flights, which I fear might sell out because it’s a popular travel time.

The flight credits are a bit of a nuisance because your companion doesn’t need them! I wound up making and cancelling several “dummy” bookings as Wanna Get Away+ fares, because then the credits became transferrable and could be moved to my account. Again, it was kind of a pain to do because there were lots of credits and you can only use three payment methods per booking.

If you’re booking everyone on points, this option is really simple and what I recommend.

Option 2: Book your Southwest flight as usual for everyone who will not be a companion, and then book a refundable Anytime fare or Rapid Rewards points tickets for the companion-to-be. If your companion will be an adult, that’s all there is to it. If your companion will be a child and you’re essentially just holding a seat for them, on some routes the website will specifically ask if you want to link their reservation to your own – that avoids unaccompanied minor fees and allows you to book routes with a plane change.

Once you designate your companion, you can cancel that flight for a full refund to your original payment form and then add them as your companion. This is my favorite Southwest Airlines Companion Pass trick because it allows you to hold the seats you need without racking up tons of flight credits!

Book flights the day new schedules are added

Southwest adds about six weeks of flights at a time, and at the bottom right corner of the search page you can always find out when the next round of flights will become available. I usually see them pop up around 6-8am Eastern time.

If you’re looking at popular routes ( aloha! ) it’s common to see fares double a few days after release. Sometimes they’ll go back down, and if they do you can use the “change” feature to get your points or credits back. But I have never regretted buying the morning of flight releases, and when I’ve been late to the party I’ve almost always been frustrated. Even if you’re just speculating, it’s worth locking in those tickets while you can because you can change them until 10 minutes before your flight.

Get more Southwest Points from other credit cards

The Southwest credit cards are fine, but after the sign up bonus I wouldn’t say they’re amazing for earning the volume of points you need for monthly trips as a family. What’s my Southwest Companion Pass trick for getting the most value for my travel? I top up my Southwest points by transferring from my Chase Sapphire Preferred credit card . It comes with a nice 60,000 sign up bonus for a modest $95 annual fee, plus it earns 3 points per dollar on dining and 2 points per dollar on travel. Those can become Rapid Rewards points instantaneously when I transfer from the Chase app.

I pair that card with the Chase Freedom Unlimited , which has no annual fee and earns 3 points per dollar on dining and drugstores plus 1.5 points per dollar on everything else. That made paying for braces less painful! Unfortunately the Freedom Unlimited can’t transfer points on its own (only with a Sapphire card) and it also charges foreign transaction fees so it’s not a great card on its own.

Southwest Companion Pass FAQs

I recommend waiting until ~November to open the Southwest business credit card and then December to open the personal Southwest credit card, unless you’ll get started in the new year. That will minimize the risk of the Companion Pass qualifying points hitting your Rapid Rewards account before the new year. You don’t want to earn the Southwest Companion Pass for just the last week of the year or have the sign up bonuses from account opening on each card hit in different years!

Unfortunately credit card points do not count toward A List or A List Preferred, so if you earn your Companion Pass by opening credit cards you will not receive A List benefits.

Point transfers do not count toward Companion Pass (or A List status).

Chase allows you to earn a bonus on the same Southwest credit card every 24 months. You can close your Southwest credit card after you’ve held it for 12 months if you don’t feel like you’re getting value from it, and then restart the entire two credit card Companion Pass strategy outlined above. Alternatively, if you have lots of friends or a spouse to refer to Southwest credit cards then those referrals can be enough to keep your Companion Pass for another cycle. You will have to continue paying the credit card annual fee in this case, but may still find it better than closing and re-opening credit cards.

The annual fee for credit cards does not count toward your purchases in the first 3 months for account opening. You will not earn your sign up bonuses if you stop your other purchases right when the statement total reaches the early spending threshold.

Chase and Southwest allow you to earn a bonus on their cards every 24 months. If you last earned a bonus at the beginning of 2022, you’re eligible again! Just close your card, wait a few weeks and apply again.

You can use your Companion Pass for international flights in the same way as domestic flights. However, taxes can be up to $150 round trip depending on the destination. It’s still a great deal, and Southwest has flights to many fantastic destinations in Central America and the Caribbean.

Before you go…

I know this is a ton of information to digest, so I suggest that you read over it a few times to make sure you’ve got it down! Be sure to read about my favorite travel rewards credit cards for families to help you travel more for free.

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15 lessons from 15 years of having the Southwest Companion Pass

Editor's Note

Update: Some offers mentioned below are no longer available. View the current offers here .

2023 marked my 15th year as a Southwest Companion Pass holder. If all goes as planned, I will secure years 16 and 17 soon, too.

For the last decade and a half, I've earned the pass in many ways. One of my favorite methods is through Southwest credit cards . In fact, this is how I've earned the pass a few times in the past and how I hope to earn it again in 2024 and 2025.

With the current heightened offers on Southwest credit cards , earning the pass through the credit card welcome bonuses is significantly easier. My goal this time is to earn the pass as early in 2024 as possible, allowing me to be a passholder for 51 weeks in 2024 and a full 52 weeks in 2025.

Thanks to the Southwest Companion Pass, I've been able to fly to domestic and international destinations where my husband, my daughter, my son, my mom, my sister or a friend flies with me for free (other than taxes) as my companion. Unfortunately, I've never calculated my true savings, but I know it's well over $10,000 at this point.

If you're yearning for your own chance to fly two-for-one, this particular moment is actually one of the best times to earn the Southwest Companion Pass. You can even follow the same process I went through by applying for one (or two) Southwest's credit cards now and then waiting until January for your points to post.

Right now, with the Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus Credit Card, Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier Credit Card and Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card, you can earn 75,000 bonus points after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.

Once you meet the full minimum spend requirement, you'll end up with 75,000 qualifying points toward the Companion Pass.

To earn the pass, you need to earn 135,000 points in a calendar year. However, if you're a cardmember on the first of the year, you'll earn an additional 10,000 qualifying bonus points toward the pass. So once all of the qualifying points are posted to your account, that'll leave you with 50,000 points remaining to earn the pass.

To earn the rest of the needed 50,000 points, there are a few options.

The easiest method — and the one I am pursuing currently — is to apply for a Southwest business credit card and get its welcome bonus. Currently, both the Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier Business Credit Card and Southwest Rapid Rewards Performance Business Credit Card are offering welcome bonuses that will earn you the remaining points required.

If you aren't eligible for a business card (although, a lot of people are), you can earn the necessary points with additional credit card spending, flying Southwest points or doing partner activity, such as using the Southwest shopping portal.

To maximize the pass length, however, you'll want to apply for the card(s) now but ensure all of your welcome bonus points are posted in 2024. This will earn you the pass for the rest of 2024 and all of 2025, meaning you'll want to wait until 2024 to meet the minimum spend on the credit card.

Related: How to quickly earn the Southwest Companion Pass

Although the pass is pretty straightforward, there are still some things you should know. Fortunately, by having the pass for well more than a decade, I've learned the ins and outs of the pass. Hopefully, I can help you realize its maximum potential.

Maximize your time with the pass

Although I covered some of this above, being strategic as to when to earn the Companion Pass is extremely important. You'll earn the pass for the rest of the calendar year in which you reach the qualifying threshold, plus the entire following year.

For example, earning the pass on Jan. 15, 2024, will give you the pass through Dec. 31, 2025 — that's 23 and a half months as a passholder. Earn the pass in November 2024, and it will still expire on Dec. 31, 2025, giving you only 15 months to use it. If you earn the pass this year, for example, in December 2023, it will expire on Dec. 31, 2024. That's just 13 months at most with the pass.

So, now is the perfect time to start working on earning the pass.

Even though you might apply for the credit cards now while it's still 2023, the points only count toward the year they are posted to your account, regardless of when you apply for the card. So, if you apply in November or December 2023 and wait until January 2024 (or later) to meet the minimum spend, you'll earn the points in 2024. This will count toward the 135,000 qualifying points required to be a passholder for 2024 and 2025.

Typically, points post two to five days after your statement closes in the month you meet the minimum spend requirement. So, if you are looking to earn the pass as quickly as possible, try to meet the minimum spend the moment Jan. 1 hits. If you do so, the points will post once your statement closes, allowing you to start using the pass as soon as possible — as long as you've earned the full 135,000 qualifying points.

You can book the primary passenger's flight now

Even if you've not yet earned the pass, you can still book the primary passenger's flight now. Then, once you earn the pass, you can add your companion to your flight. Just know that if the flight sells out before you secure your pass, you won't be able to tack on your companion.

Because of that, I recommend booking a seat with points for your companion. This will save a spot for them on the plane, and then you can cancel that points reservation and rebook with the Companion Pass without losing the seat. If you don't earn it in time, your companion will still be on your flight via points.

Anyone can be your companion

You can designate anyone as your companion. It can be your significant other, your child, your parent, your best friend, your worst enemy — anyone.

You can change your companion up to three times per calendar year. After you set your initial companion, you can change it three times in 2024 and then three times in 2025 — if you earn the pass in 2024.

This means you can have up to seven different people fly with you on the pass over two different calendar years. You can also pick a person as a companion multiple times. For example, let's say you earn the pass in a few months and designate your spouse as the companion. You can then change your companion to your child (the first change), then a few months later to your friend (the second change). A few months after that, you can change back to your spouse (the third change).

Tip: If you don't use up your three changes in a given year, change your companion in December to the person flying with you first in the following year.

Related: The best Southwest Airlines credit card for family travelers

Companion changes happen instantly

Although you can initially designate your companion online through your Southwest account right after earning your pass, you'll have to call the airline at 800-435-9792 when you need to designate a different companion.

Online, the Southwest Companion Pass FAQs tell you that it can take up to 21 business days to process your new companion, but this isn't the case in practice. As soon as you call Southwest and give them your new companion's information, your pass is instantly updated, and you can book your companion's ticket right away.

Within a few weeks (most likely that "21 business days"), you'll receive your new Companion Pass in the mail with your name and your companion's. Having the physical pass is nice, but I've never needed to show it to anyone in all my years.

Depart with one companion, return with another

Because the companion change is immediate, there have been times when I used the pass for one passenger on my departure and another passenger for my return. For example, a few years ago, I flew to Florida with my parents and met my husband there. I used the Companion Pass for my mom on the flight down and for my husband on the return flight.

Immediately after my flight with my mom landed, I called Southwest and had them change the name on my Companion Pass to my husband. Once he was listed as my companion, I booked his flight for the return. There is a slight risk to this since you aren't adding your companion until a few days before departure. There only needs to be one seat available on your flight to book your companion's reservation, but if the flight happens to be sold out, you could end up in a not-so-great situation.

Tip: Even though the first passenger isn't flying with you on the return, book a companion ticket for them for the return. This will hold a seat, and when you change your companion (and cancel the first companion's reservation), that should open up a seat on the flight. You can then quickly book your new companion onto the flight. The Southwest representative whom you speak with can do it all for you. There will be a little lag time between canceling the old ticket and booking the new ticket. So, for a fully booked flight, you risk the chance that another passenger swoops in within those few minutes and books that seat.

The pass has no blackout dates or seat restrictions

This is a truly no-strings-attached pass.

Unlike many other companion passes in the travel world, there are no blackout dates, seat restrictions or fare restrictions. Your companion can fly with you for free seven days a week, 52 weeks a year. This even includes peak times, such as the day before Thanksgiving, winter break and any other day when many other airlines block their mileage redemption options.

As long as there's at least one seat available for purchase on your flight (after you book your own ticket), you can add the companion to your reservation. This applies even if a "Wanna Getaway" fare is sold out and only the really expensive Business Select fare is available.

Related: How to use the Southwest Companion Pass

Use the pass unlimited times throughout the year

Yes, you read that correctly. Your companion can fly with you for free an unlimited number of times while the Companion Pass is valid. Unlike some other passes, it's not a one-time pass. Theoretically, you can use it every single day for a year with no restrictions.

Tip: The Companion Pass passenger must always fly with the primary passenger.

Your companion must check in separately

Although your companion is tied to your reservation, both passengers receive different confirmation numbers. This means that the two passengers must check in separately.

Since Southwest doesn't have seat assignments, you board based on the boarding number shown on your boarding pass. Southwest will allow you to start checking in for your flight 24 hours in advance; the earlier you check in, the better the boarding number you'll have.

You'll want to check in both passengers at the same time so the boarding numbers are back to back if possible. If you forget to check in with your companion, the two of you may not be in the same boarding group, making it harder to find seats together. Other options include Early Bird Check-In , or using some of the four upgraded boarding positions available per year with the Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card.

Related: Everything you need to know about the best seats on Southwest Airlines

The pass can be used on any ticket type

As I mentioned earlier, there are no restrictions on using the pass. You can use the Companion Pass reservation on any ticket type, regardless of whether the primary passenger paid for a ticket with cash or points. This means you can use your points from the current credit card welcome bonus to pay for your flight, and both you and your companion will fly virtually free.

You can also transfer points from Chase Ultimate Rewards to Southwest from cards like the Chase Sapphire Reserve or Chase Sapphire Preferred Card at a 1:1 ratio and book travel that way.

Points redeemed can be used from the companion's account

The points used to book your flight can come from any account, even your companion's Rapid Rewards account. You just need to make the reservation in your name and attach your Rapid Rewards number to the flight. The reservation will then show up in your Southwest account and allow you to tack on your companion's reservation.

Southwest doesn't automatically add your companion to the reservation

When you book your flight, Southwest won't automatically add your companion to your reservation. You need to make the reservation yourself manually, but it only takes a minute.

Tip: Once you book your flight, make sure to add your companion right away, so you don't forget. If you change your companion, you can easily cancel the old companion's ticket for no fee. The amount paid on taxes/fees will be credited right back to the credit card used. Here's a step-by-step guide on how to use the Southwest Companion Pass .

Also, if you, by chance forget to add your companion onto your flight and the flight ends up sold out, keep on refreshing for the next few days as a seat typically comes available at some point.

Your companion can fly standby

Earlier this year, Southwest added a phenomenal benefit for all passengers: the option to fly standby for free . This means that regardless of your fare type, you can fly standby.

However, the process works slightly differently when flying on the Companion Pass. If you and your companion want to use the same-day standby benefit, the only way to get added to the standby list is in person at the airport — you can't use the Southwest app or website.

Additionally, there must be a seat available for both you and your companion on the desired flight.

Related: What it's really like flying Southwest Airlines all the way to Hawaii

You can use the pass for any route or destination

The Companion Pass can fly a passenger for free to any destination Southwest flies. This includes all domestic and international destinations, including Hawaii.

Note that the taxes and fees you pay on your companion ticket for international flights can be significantly more than those for domestic flights. On domestic flights, all you have to pay is the Passenger Fee, also known as the September 11 Security Fee, which is $5.60 per ticket per one-way flight. However, you'll pay the same amount in fees on international flights as if you used points for the flight.

You can easily see the fees by making a mock reservation for the two city pairs while selecting the points option. For example, a round-trip flight to Aruba will cost you about $90. A round-trip flight to Montego Bay, Jamaica, will cost you more than $140. (If your flight requires a layover, your taxes and fees might be slightly higher still.)

Related: The best all-inclusive resorts in Jamaica, from honeymoon hot spots to family-friendly resorts

Tip: Look to Puerto Rico for a Caribbean feel or at one of Hawaii's many islands to avoid international taxes.

Cancel your companion's reservation if you need to change a flight

Southwest has one of the best ticket change policies in the airline industry. You can change a flight at any time for no fee up to 10 minutes before departure time. This means you can always rebook a flight if the price goes down — saving your family money and/or points.

The only caveat to this policy is if you have a companion already added to your reservation. In that case, to change a ticket (or rebook the same flight at a lower price), you'll need to cancel your companion's reservation first. After changing your ticket, manually add your companion to the reservation. Your companion's ticket will not automatically follow your reservation to your new flight, even if you are rebooking the same flight to capture a price drop.

Companions get the same perks as other passengers

Even though your companion's reservation is essentially free, they still get the same perks as any other passenger booked on points. This means if you're flying for free with the Companion Pass, you still receive two free checked bags and no change or cancellation fees .

Companion reservations are also eligible to board the plane early by purchasing Early Bird Check-In or an upgraded boarding position . You can even use the complimentary upgraded boardings from the Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority card if the primary traveler uses the card to pay for the upgraded boarding position.

The companion won't receive Rapid Reward points for your flight or segments toward status (similar to a passenger who uses points for a flight), but it's great that Southwest still provides many perks to those flying for free.

Bottom line

Southwest makes using the Companion Pass extremely easy — which is a large part of why the perk is so valuable.

There are no hidden surprises, and it's a terrific value for families. So get the Companion Pass and start flying. It could save your family thousands of dollars a year, depending on how much you travel.

• Official application link: Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus Credit Card
• Official application link: Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier Credit Card
• Official application link: Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card
• Official application link: Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier Business Credit Card
• Official application link: Southwest Rapid Rewards Performance Business Credit Card

• Book a Flight
• Manage Reservations
• Explore Destinations
• Flight Schedules
• Track Checked Bags
• International Travel
• Flight Offers
• Low Fare Calendar
• Upgrade My Flight
• Add EarlyBird Check-In
• Check Travel Funds
• Buy Carbon Offsets
• Flying with Southwest
• Book a Hotel
• Redeem Points for Hotels
• More Than Hotels
• Hotel Offers
• Best Rate Guarantee
• Rapid Rewards Partners
• Book a Vacation Package
• Manage My Vacation
• Vacation Package Offers
• Vacation Destinations
• Why Book With Us?
• FLIGHT STATUS
• CHANGE FLIGHT

Companion Pass ®

Traveling is more fun with a plus-one. Take a friend or Family Member with you on your next Southwest ® flight when you earn a Companion Pass.

Friends fly when you do.

Companion Pass is the benefit that allows you to choose one person to fly with you, free of airline charges (does not include taxes and fees from $5.60 one-way) unlimited times whenever you purchase or redeem points for a flight.

To qualify, simply fly 100 qualifying one-way flights or earn 135,000 qualifying points 1,3 in a calendar year. You’ll earn a Companion Pass for the following full calendar year, plus the remainder of the year in which you earned it. For even more flexibility, Companion Pass Members can change their designated Companion up to three times each calendar year.

How to earn Companion Pass

Earn Companion Pass qualifying points every time you use your card.

Wanna get more with your Rapid Rewards ® Credit Card?

Earn Companion Pass ® qualifying points when you use your Rapid Rewards Credit Card 1

Shop and dine

Get more points when you shop at our online retailers or dine with our participating restaurants.

Fly 100 one-way qualifying flights in a calendar year and earn qualifying points 3 for every dollar you spend on a qualifying flight. You can also earn qualifying points by booking a hotel or renting a car through one of our partners. 1

Home and lifestyle

Purchases you already make also get you points. Who doesn’t love that?

Companion Pass tips

Companion Pass holders can now board together with their Companions. 2 Already a Companion Pass Member? See how you can maximize your membership with these helpful tips!

Designate your Companion

• Log in to your Rapid Rewards account at  Southwest.com ® .
• On your Snapshot tab, locate  Choose Your Companion , click  Enter Companion Info , and follow the posted instructions.
• Or if you’d prefer, give us a call at  1-800-435-9792 .

Tips on traveling with your Companion

• Reservations are required for all Companion Pass travel. You must book your flight prior to booking your designated Companion’s flight. 
• After booking your flight, visit the  My Trips  section of your account. Find your flight in the Upcoming Trips section and click the  Add Companion link. Click  Continue  to proceed to the purchase screen and review your Companion information. Click Purchase  to complete your Companion’s flight reservation. A Companion’s reservation is not considered a purchased flight, and therefore, another Companion Pass reservation cannot be booked from it.
• If you would like to book through a Customer Representative, call  1-800-248-4377  and notify him/her that a Companion Pass will be used.

Who can get a Companion Pass?

A Member who flies 100 qualifying one-way flight segments booked through Southwest or earns 135,000 tier qualifying points 1,3 per calendar year will qualify for Companion Pass.

Companion Pass qualifying points can be earned when you use your Rapid Rewards® Credit Card. 1

Southwest Rapid Rewards ™ Cardmembers will earn one boost of 10,000 Companion Pass qualifying points each calendar year. 1

Companion Pass

Fly 100 qualifying flights or earn 135,000 Companion Pass qualifying points 1

Important information

1 Companion Pass® qualifying points are earned from revenue flights booked through Southwest®, points earned on Rapid Rewards® Credit Cards, and base points earned from Rapid Rewards partners. The following do not count as Companion Pass qualifying points: purchased points; points transferred between Members; points converted from hotel and car loyalty programs, e-Rewards®, Valued Opinions, and Diners Club®; points earned from Rapid Rewards program enrollment, tier bonus points; flight bonus points; and partner bonus points (with the exception of the Rapid Rewards Credit Cards from Chase). No points nor tier or Companion Pass qualifying points will be awarded for flights taken by the Companion when flying on a Companion Pass reservation. Cash + Points bookings will not earn Rapid Rewards points, tier qualifying points for A-List or A-List Preferred status or Companion Pass qualifying points. Points earned during a billing cycle on a Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards Credit Card from Chase are not available for redemption or qualification for Companion Pass status until they are posted on your billing statement and posted to your Rapid Rewards account. Only points posted on your billing statements and posted to your Rapid Rewards account during the same calendar year are available for qualification for Companion Pass status. For example, if you make a purchase after your December billing statement cycle date, the points on those purchases will not count toward Companion Pass status in the year the purchase was made; they will appear on your January billing statement and post to your Rapid Rewards account in January.

Companion Pass Qualifying Points Boost: As a Southwest Rapid Rewards Cardmember, you will earn one boost of 10,000 Companion Pass qualifying points each calendar year. The boost will be deposited into your eligible Rapid Rewards account by January 31st each calendar year or up to 30 days after account opening. To receive Companion Pass qualifying points boost your credit card account must be open and not in default at the time of fulfillment. Only one credit card account per Southwest Rapid Rewards Member (Rapid Rewards Member must be the primary Cardmember on that account), is eligible for one boost of 10,000 Companion Pass qualifying points per calendar year. JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. is not responsible for the provision of, or failure to provide, the stated benefits and services.

2 Upon check in, you and your Companion will receive sequential boarding positions except if you purchased a Business Select® fare or added the Companion after you had been assigned a boarding position. For Business Select fares, only the purchaser will receive an A1-A15 boarding position and the Companion will receive a boarding position based on whichever is applicable—time of check-in, A-List or A-List Preferred status, or EarlyBird Check-In®. If you purchased a Wanna Get Away®, Wanna Get Away Plus or an Anytime fare and either you or your Companion is an A-List or A-List Preferred Member, you will both receive reserved boarding positions.

3 Qualifying flights include flights booked and flown through Southwest and flights paid entirely with dollars, Southwest LUV Vouchers, gift cards or travel funds, and with no portion of the purchase price paid for with Rapid Rewards points. Cash + Points bookings will not earn Rapid Rewards points, tier qualifying points for A-List or A-List Preferred status or Companion Pass qualifying points.

Rapid Rewards terms and conditions apply. Review the full terms here .

Southwest Rapid Rewards™ Credit Cards are issued by JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. Member FDIC.

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© 2024 Southwest Airlines Co. All Rights Reserved.

You can earn qualifying points by:

• Booking flights
• Earning points issued on Southwest Rapid Rewards credit cards
• Earning points from Rapid Rewards partners

You won't earn qualifying points for the following:

• Purchased points
• Points transferred between Rapid Rewards members
• Points transferred from Chase Ultimate Rewards ®
• Points converted from hotel and car loyalty programs
• Points converted from e-Rewards, e-Miles, Valued Opinions, and Diners Club
• Points earned from Rapid Rewards program enrollment
• Tier bonus points
• Flight bonus points
• Partner bonus points

Maximizing the value of the Southwest Companion Pass

If you want to maximize the time you hold the Companion Pass, you need to plan out the timing just right. If you're going through the work of getting a pass, then you should maximize the amount of time you have to use it. 

As soon as you earn the pass, it will be valid through the rest of that calendar year and the following year. For example, if you earn the Companion Pass in 2024, it will expire at the end of December 2025. That means:

• If you earn the required number of points in November 2024, you will only be able to use the Companion Pass through December 2025 — just a little over a year.
• But if you earn the Companion Pass in June 2024, you can use it through December 2025 — nearly two years of nearly-free travel.

The year in which your qualifying Southwest Companion Pass points are posted to your account is the year for which they will count toward the Companion Pass.

With this in mind, the best time to start planning to get the Companion Pass is toward the end of a calendar year, or very early in the new year. 

Earn the Southwest Companion Pass with Credit Cards

Earning the Companion Pass by flying thousands of miles is doing it the hard way. You can earn the required number of points more easily by opening and spending on Southwest credit cards, since their welcome bonus offers and points earned from spending count toward the qualifying points you need.

Southwest consumer credit cards

Earn 3X points on Southwest® purchases. Earn 2X points on Rapid Rewards hotel and car rental partner purchases. Earn 2X points on local transit and commuting, including rideshare. Earn 2X points on internet, cable, and phone services, and select streaming. Earn 1 point for every $1 spent on all other purchases.

21.49% - 28.49% Variable

Earn 50,000 bonus points

Good to Excellent

• Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Generous annual benefits, including a Southwest travel credit and 7,500 anniversary points, plus upgraded boardings and in-flight discounts
• Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. If you fly Southwest several times a year, the benefits easily outweigh the annual fee
• Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Annual fee is low compared to other premium airline credit cards
• con icon Two crossed lines that form an 'X'. Highest annual fee among Southwest consumer cards

If you can make use of the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card's many benefits and perks, it's well worth the annual fee. Otherwise, have a look at other Southwest cards like the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card and Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card, which have lower annual fees but the same elevated welcome bonus offer.

• Earn 50,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
• 7,500 anniversary points each year.
• Earn 3X points on Southwest® purchases.
• Earn 2X points on local transit and commuting, including rideshare.
• Earn 2X points on internet, cable, and phone services; select streaming.
• $75 Southwest® travel credit each year.
• No foreign transaction fees.
• Member FDIC

All three of the personal Southwest credit cards offer generous welcome bonuses of 50,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening

Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card

Southwest rapid rewards® priority credit card, southwest rapid rewards® premier credit card, southwest business credit cards.

You can easily earn the Companion Pass by earning a bonus from one of these personal cards and one from a Southwest business credit card, plus the points you'll earn from spending enough to meet both bonuses.

Here's what the two Southwest business cards currently offer:

• Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Performance Business Credit Card — 80,000 points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening and an additional 40,000 points when you spend $15,000 in nine months
• Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Premier Business Credit Card — 60,000 points after you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening and an additional 60,000 points when you spend $15,000 in nine months

How to earn the remaining points you need for the Companion Pass

If you only open one Southwest card, you'll usually be short on the number of points you need for earning a Companion Pass. To earn the remaining points, there are a few strategies:

• Use the Southwest card for your everyday spending and all other bills and expenses — and boost your earnings even more by making online purchases through the Southwest shopping portal
• Fly Southwest, where you'll earn between 6 and 12 points per dollar, depending on the fare type
• Book hotels through Southwest Hotels (in partnership with Booking.com)
• Rent a car through Southwest Book a Car
• Sign-up for Rapid Rewards Dining and eat out at participating restaurants

Compare Southwest personal credit cards

Each credit card comes with different perks and annual fees. Here's what you should know about each personal card.

The Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card is the lowest-tier card in this Southwest family, with an annual fee of $69.

Infrequent Southwest flyers get great benefits on this entry-level card: 

• 2x on Southwest purchases
• 2x on Rapid Rewards hotel and car rental partner purchases
• 2x on local transit and commuting, including rideshare
• 2x on internet, cable, phone services, and select streaming
• 1x on everything else

You'll also get 3,000 points on your card anniversary, two EarlyBird Check-Ins each year, 25% back on inflight drinks and Wi-Fi purchases, and a boost of 10,000 Companion Pass qualifying points per calendar year.

Learn more about this card in our Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus credit card review . 

The Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card is the middle child of the credit card family, with a good range of benefits to offset the $99 annual fee.

Premier cardholders earn rewards at the following rates:

• 3x on Southwest purchases
• 2x on local transit and commuting, including rideshares
• 2x on Internet, cable, phone services, and select streaming services

You earn 6,000 Rapid Rewards points each year when you renew the card, and get two complimentary EarlyBird check-in credits each year. You'll also earn 1,500 Tier Qualifying Points toward A-List status for every $5,000 you spend with no limits, as well as 25% back on inflight purchases. Finally, you'll also receive a boost of 10,000 Companion Pass qualifying points every year, which gives you a head start on earning your next Companion Pass.  

Learn more about this card in our Chase Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier credit card review . 

The Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card is Southwest's top-tier consumer credit card, and a great option for frequent Southwest travelers to keep in their wallet.

The earning rates on the Priority card mirror those of the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card. Priority cardholders earn: 

• 1 point per dollar on everything else

You'll also receive 7,500 Rapid Rewards points on your card anniversary, earn tier-qualifying points toward A-List elite status when you spend money on this card, and receive a $75 annual Southwest travel credit as well as four upgraded boardings per year when available.

The Priority card also gives you 25% back on inflight drinks and WiFi, and a boost of 10,000 Companion Pass qualifying points each calendar year.

Learn more about this card in our Southwest Priority Card review . 

Both of Southwest's business credit cards offer great value for a reasonable annual fee.

Earn 4X points on Southwest® purchases. Earn 3X points on Rapid Rewards® hotel and car rental partners. Earn 2X points on rideshare. Earn 2X points on social media and search engine advertising, internet, cable, and phone services and 1X points on all other purchases.

Earn up to 120,000 bonus points

• Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. 4x bonus points on Southwest purchases
• Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Valuable Southwest perks including four upgraded boardings per year, in-flight Wi-Fi credits, and 9,000 points each year on your anniversary
• con icon Two crossed lines that form an 'X'. $199 annual fee is on the high side

The Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Performance Business Credit Card is a great fit for small business owners who frequently fly Southwest, especially if you often purchase inflight WiFi.

• Earn 80,000 points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening and an additional 40,000 points when you spend $15,000 in 9 months.
• 9,000 bonus points after your Cardmember anniversary.
• Earn 4X pts on Southwest® purchases.
• Earn 3X points on Rapid Rewards® hotel and car rental partners.
• Earn 2X points on rideshare.
• Earn 2X points on social media and search engine advertising, internet, cable, and phone services and 1X points on all other purchases.
• 4 Upgraded Boardings per year when available.

Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Performance Business Credit Card

The Southwest Performance Business card is a heavy hitter for frequent Southwest travelers, especially if you often purchase WiFi during your flights. This card currently offers a welcome bonus of 80,000 points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening and an additional 40,000 points when you spend $15,000 in nine months, worth $1,680 based on Business Insider's valuations.

This card has the highest annual fee out of all Southwest credit cards, at $199. In exchange, you get a slew of benefits that are worth significantly more than what you pay, assuming you can utilize most of them. 

You'll earn Rapid Rewards points at the following rates: 

• 4x on Southwest purchases
• 3x on Rapid Rewards hotel and car partners
• 2x on rideshare
• 2x on social media and search engine advertising
• 2x on internet, cable, and phone services
• 1 point per dollar on everything else 

You get 365 inflight WiFi credits with the Southwest Performance card. This is one of the most unique (and generous) perks for inflight WiFi across all airlines and credit cards. You'll still earn rewards for each $8 WiFi purchase, but receive it back in the form of a statement credit on your next bill. And the high number of annual WiFi credits available means that you can connect your cellphone, iPad, and laptop on every flight (if you so desire) without ever running out of credits. 

You'll also earn 9,000 Rapid Rewards points each year on your card renewal anniversary; 1,500 tier-qualifying points toward A-List elite status for every $5,000 spent on the card; $100 Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee credit; four complimentary upgraded boardings per year when available; and a boost of 10,000 Companion Pass qualifying points each calendar year. 

Read more about this card in our Southwest Performance Business card review .

Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Premier Business Credit Card

The Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Premier Business Credit Card is a strong choice for business travelers who occasionally fly on this airline, especially if you can make use of the welcome bonus: 50,000 points after you spend $1,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.

For a $99, you'll get many of the same benefits as the Performance card with slightly lower earning rates: 

• 2x on Rapid Rewards hotel and car partners
• 2x on rideshares
• 1 per dollar on everything else

Cardholders get two EarlyBird Check-Ins per year, 25% back on inflight purchases, 1,500 tier-qualifying points toward A-List elite status for every $5,000 spent on the card, and a boost of 10,000 Companion Pass qualifying points each calendar year. They also receive 6,000 Rapid Rewards points each year on their card renewal anniversary. 

Read more in our Southwest Premier Business card review .

Booking flights with the Southwest Companion Pass

As a Companion Pass holder, you can book your flight to your desired destination using cash or points. Once your flight is confirmed, you can add your companion for the same flight online, through the Southwest mobile app, or by calling Southwest customer service.

There's no limit to how often you can use the Companion Pass — as long as you're flying and there's at least one spare seat on the plane, you can book it for your travel buddy.

How to designate your Southwest companion

Once you earn the Companion Pass, you can designate your travel companion in the Southwest system. The good news is that you can change to a different companion up to three times per calendar year for a total of four separate companions if you so choose. This means that you can bring along different friends for different trips if you plan your strategy correctly.

Before you start scouring the Southwest site for your next bestie adventure, you must first register your designated companion on your Southwest Rapid Rewards account.

To do so, log into your Rapid Rewards account at Southwest and click Choose Your Companion under the Snapshot tab. Enter all of the requested information about your companion until the process is complete. A Companion Pass member kit and membership card will arrive within 10 business days.

You don't need to wait for your Companion Pass member kit to arrive in the mail before you start booking tickets. In fact, you don't really need the pass itself at all; you can add a companion to any flight you've already booked for yourself directly through the app or the website, and they will receive a confirmation number and boarding pass just like any other passenger. 

Add your companion to a reservation

Once your own flight is booked, visit the My Trips section of your account. Find your flight in the section titled "Upcoming" and click on the "Add Companion" link. Here, click "Continue" to proceed to the next step where you can purchase your companion fare and review the information. Once you hit the "Purchase" button to complete your booking reservation, you're all set.

You can also book via phone and notify the customer service representative that you will be using a Companion Pass.

How to change your designated companion

You cannot switch your companion online yourself; instead, you need to speak with Southwest directly at 800-435-9792. The process is straightforward: A customer representative will take the information about your new designated companion and make the switch.

You cannot book new travel with your next companion until all travel with your current companion is complete. For example, if you're traveling to New York with your sister in August, but want to fly to Los Angeles with your spouse in September, you cannot add your spouse as your companion until your trip in August is completed.

If you use points and need to cancel for any reason, all of your points will be restored to your account.

What is the Southwest Companion Pass worth?

Southwest is largely a domestic and Caribbean airline, but it also serves many popular destinations such as Mexico, Aruba, the Bahamas, Hawaii, and Costa Rica. The value you'll get from the Southwest Companion Pass depends entirely on how often you and your travel companion fly Southwest. You could easily save tens of thousands of dollars with this perk.

Southwest points are worth 1.4 cents each toward flights, on average, based on Business Insider's current points and miles valuations . But the Companion Pass can effectively double the value of your points.

Once you've successfully earned the 125,000 additional points necessary to qualify for the Companion Pass (again, the qualification is 135,000 points, but Southwest cardholders get a 10,000-mile boost), you'll have enough points for at least $1,750 in Southwest flights: 125,000 points x 1.4 cents each.

The Companion Pass allows you to bring along another person for just the cost of taxes and fees, meaning you could potentially get $3,500 in flights ($1,750 x 2) just from the points you earned to qualify for the pass.

Southwest Companion Pass frequently asked questions

To earn the Southwest Companion Pass, you must earn 135,000 qualifying points or fly 100 qualifying flights within a calendar year.

Yes, you can change your designated companion up to three times each year for a total of four distinct companions. 

You'll still need to pay mandatory taxes and fees on Companion Pass flights, which typically cost just $5.60 on one-way direct flights within the U.S.

Yes, the Companion Pass can be used for both domestic and international flights offered by Southwest Airlines.

Plan your travel well in advance, consider weekend getaways and vacations, and keep an eye on Southwest sales and promotions to stretch the value of your pass even further.

The Southwest Companion Pass is one of the best travel benefits in the industry. If you hold a Southwest Companion Pass, you can bring one designated travel companion on any Southwest flight you take for just the cost of taxes and fees, as long as there's at least one extra seat on the plane. The Companion Pass works on both paid flights and award travel.

Southwest companion fares are almost free — you'll only pay for any associated taxes and fees, which are often as low  as $5.60 on most domestic one-way direct flights. Taxes and fees must be paid in cash. 

After you earn the Southwest Companion Pass, you'll see a banner in the center of your account page prompting you to designate a travel companion. Once you do so, you'll see your Companion Pass badge and companion name on the right side of your account page. 

You can earn the Southwest Companion Pass through the year following the one in which you earn the required 135,000 points or complete your 100th flight. Thus, you'll earn the Companion Pass for nearly two full years if you can complete the requirements in January each year. 

The Southwest Companion Pass is unlimited. You can bring your designated companion on any flight that you take yourself, as long as there's an extra seat on the plane. You can even use the Companion Pass on Southwest award flights booked with Rapid Rewards points.

The Companion Pass can be used for both domestic and international travel on Southwest Airlines.

Your companion cannot fly on a companion fare unless you are on the same flights, but they can still book their own travel through Southwest as a regular passenger. If you want to travel one leg with a companion but go your separate ways later on, book two one-way tickets instead of a round-trip ticket. 

Why You Should Trust Us: How We Evaluated the Southwest Companion Pass

Our travel experts at Business Insider have been Southwest Companion Passholders since the early 2010s, utilizing their own passes to bring friends and family across the nation on leisure, business, and other personal travel. We've compiled our best tips and tricks into this guide to help you do the same. 

Editorial Note: Any opinions, analyses, reviews, or recommendations expressed in this article are the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any card issuer. Read our editorial standards .

Please note: While the offers mentioned above are accurate at the time of publication, they're subject to change at any time and may have changed, or may no longer be available.

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