How to Earn the Southwest Companion Pass

Companion passes allow you to get a second ticket on a flight without paying the full fare. While several airlines offer companion passes, Southwest’s is often considered to be the Holy Grail. 

This guide will walk you through why it’s so valuable, how to get the Southwest Companion Pass®, and how to maximize using it.

What is the Southwest Companion Pass?

The Southwest Companion Pass is so coveted because you can use it as many times as you want in the year you earn it and the following year. Plus, unlike other airlines that charge you a flat fee north of $99 for your companion’s fare, with the Southwest Companion Pass you only pay the taxes and fees on your plus-one’s ticket. 

Depending on how you time it, you are nearly getting a buy-one, get-one ticket for two years of flying with Southwest Airlines! 

Southwest Companion Pass key facts:

• Companion fare cost: taxes and fees only
• Frequency: as many times as you like, as long as it is valid
• Length valid: the year you earn it in and the following year (e.g. remainder of 2024 and 2025)

Sound too good to be true? The only hiccup is that you have to earn the Southwest Companion Pass. We’ll walk you through how to get it below. 

How to get the Southwest Companion Pass

While other airlines may award you a companion pass just by holding the airline’s co-branded credit card or spending a certain amount on the card, the trick with Southwest Airlines is that you must earn the Southwest Companion Pass. 

To earn the Southwest Companion Pass, you need to do one of the following in a calendar year:

• Complete 100 qualifying one-way flights, or
• Earn 135,000 points through Southwest Rapid Rewards® 

I promise you, you don’t need to take 100 flights in a year (unless you want to). 

Southwest credit cards

Earning the 135,000 points may sound intimidating, but Southwest credit cards earn points toward this goal. The points you earn from a card welcome bonus will count toward this 135,000-point goal. 

The following Southwest credit cards can help get you started:

Other ways to help earn the Southwest Companion Pass

A Southwest credit card’s welcome offer will get you a good way towards the required 135,000, but here are some additional you can also earn the points:

• Use the Southwest shopping portal: Southwest Rapid Rewards Shopping is an online portal that allows you to earn extra points on top of your regular purchases. This will help to turbocharge your earning since regular purchases with your Southwest card will otherwise only net you 1x point per dollar. 
• Enroll in Rapid Rewards Dining: Enroll your credit card with the Southwest Rapid Rewards Dining program to earn up to bonus points per dollar when you eat at participating restaurants. While you’re working toward earning the companion pass, it would be worth opting into their marketing emails: You’ll earn 3X points per dollar if you do, but only 2X points per dollar if you don’t.
• Pay for Southwest flights with your Southwest credit card. You’ll earn multiple bonus points per dollar spent on Southwest purchases. The bonus rate you’ll earn depends on which card you have. 
• Book hotels or rental cars through Southwest Travel. Use the Southwest travel portal to book hotels or car rentals to earn more points. 

Why to earn the Southwest Companion Pass early in the year

Because the Southwest Companion Pass is valid for the remainder of the year you earn it and the following year, timing matters a lot. Your best bet is to earn it earlier in a calendar year to maximize the benefit. 

Here’s an example: 

Earn the companion pass in November: You’d have it for one more month of this calendar year, plus all next year. 

• Total time with the Southwest Companion Pass: 13 months total

You earn it by the end of March: You’ll have the companion pass for the remaining nine months of the year, plus all next year. 

• Total time with the companion pass: 21 months

That’s almost an extra year! 

You need to earn all of the qualifying points for the companion pass within the same calendar year, so you’ll need to be aware that any points you earn in December of one year don’t roll over and count for the next year. 

Tip: Time Southwest card applications at the end of year to maximize earning the Companion Pass.

Because you have to earn the points in a calendar year, waiting until November or December to open a Southwest card might be a good strategy.

After getting approved, wait until your December statement closes before you start spending on the card and earning points. Any points before your December statement do not count for the next year's Companion Pass; any points earned after do. 

• November to December: Open a Southwest credit card.
• December: Statement closes with only the annual fee, no Rapid Rewards points earned.
• After December statement posts: Start spending to earn the card's signup bonus offer.
• January to February: Complete earning your signup bonus. (Dates will vary depending on date of account opening.) Points will post after the account statement closes. 
• By January 31: You'll also receive the 10,000-qualifying point boost for Companion Pass each year. 

After this, you'll have the bonus points from the signup bonus + at least 4,000-5,000 points from spending + 10,000 point boost. That gets you about halfway there or more!

How to use the Southwest Companion Pass

The best part of earning the Southwest Companion Pass is using it. After you reach the 135,000 qualifying points, here’s how to use it:

1. Designate your companion.

Login to your Southwest Rapid Rewards account. Once you’ve earned the Southwest Companion Pass, you should see an option to Choose Your Companion. Click Enter Companion and fill out the required info. 

2. Book your flight. 

Before redeeming your Companion Pass on a flight, you must first book your own ticket. Then, you’ll be able to add your companion.  

3. Add a Companion. 

After you book a flight, go to the My Trips section of your Southwest account. You should see an Add Companion option. You’ll have a chance to review the information before proceeding. When you’re ready to move forward, click Purchase and pay the taxes and fees for your companion’s seat.  

4. Change companions. 

You’re allowed to change your companion up to three times in one calendar year. Before you change companions, you’ll need to cancel any future reservations with your current companion. 

The process for changing is a bit cumbersome. You must call 1-800-435-9792 to make a change, and even then, Southwest cautions it may take up two weeks.  

5. Rinse and repeat. 

One of the greatest benefits of the Southwest Companion Pass is that you can use it as many times as you like, as long as it’s valid! You’ll only pay the taxes and fees on your companion’s ticket each time you use it. 

Southwest business cards:

If you’re a business owner, you can also consider these Southwest business cards:

Just be aware that Chase, the bank that issues Southwest cards, limits applicants to one personal and one business Southwest credit card.