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Southwest Companion Pass Guide: Your Ticket to Free Flights for Family Travel

ByMari
A Southwest plane wing flying over a blue sky with clouds

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The Southwest Companion Pass is a must-have for anyone who loves to travel with a friend or family member—especially if you’re looking to stretch your budget further. With this pass, a designated companion flies with you for free—you just cover their taxes and fees, which are as little as $5.60 each way on domestic flights. For families, securing a free companion fare can significantly reduce travel costs.

Starting in early 2026, Southwest is moving from open seating to assigned seats. This change impacts the process of a pass holder and their companion sitting together. The information in this guide has been updated to reflect the new policies that take effect in 2026, including new benefits for credit card holders to secure early seat selection.

Fun fact: we used our Southwest Companion passes to get us to and from Hawaii, in addition to many other destinations. Here’s everything you need to know about how to earn it, and why it’s the perfect perk for family getaways.

What is the Southwest Companion Pass?

The Southwest Companion Pass is a game-changing benefit from Southwest Airlines. It allows you to bring one companion on all of your flights for free—paying only taxes and fees (typically around $5.60 on domestic flights). What’s great about this pass is that it can be earned with just two credit card sign-up bonuses and lasts for the rest of the calendar year in which you earned it, plus all of the following calendar year. For families, this means up to two years of free flights for one of your crew!

Keep in mind that I only recommend trying to earn the Southwest Companion Pass if your home airport has multiple Southwest flight options to places you want to travel to. Make sure to check the Southwest route map to confirm the Companion Pass will support your upcoming travel plans before trying to earn it.

How to Earn the Southwest Companion Pass

To earn the Southwest Companion Pass, you need to earn 135,000 Rapid Rewards (Southwest’s loyalty program) points in one calendar year, or complete 100 qualifying one-way flights. For most people, accumulating points is the faster and more strategic path. Thankfully, cardholders of a co-branded Southwest credit card get an annual 10,000-point boost that counts toward the Companion Pass requirement, so you only need to earn the remaining 125,000 points. 

Credit cards are the most effective way to hit that point threshold quickly. However, applying for them requires strategy due to Chase’s application rules. One of the most common strategies involves opening one personal and one business Southwest card from Chase to secure two welcome bonuses. It’s crucial to understand Chase’s unofficial 5/24 rule, which limits approvals for most Chase cards if you have opened five or more new credit cards from any issuer in the past 24 months. You also can’t have received a bonus on a Southwest personal card within the last 24 months. Luckily, Chase business cards typically don’t count toward your 5/24 total, making a personal + business card approach a good option for those managing their card applications. 

Here’s where credit cards come into play: applying for two Southwest cards can help you hit that 135,000-point threshold. For example, by opening the Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Performance Business Credit Card and the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card, you can earn points through the welcome bonuses, everyday spending, and even referrals.

Two young children, wearing headphones, are comfortably seated on a Southwest plane.

Timing Your Points

The timing of your card applications is key! The Companion Pass is valid for the remainder of the calendar year in which you earn it, plus all of the following calendar year. So, if you earn it early in the calendar year, you can enjoy nearly two years of free companion flights. I earned my first Southwest Companion pass in February, meaning I had 11 months of that year with the pass, plus the entire next calendar year. If you earn it late in the year, you’ll still get the remainder of that calendar year, plus the following full year of benefits.

Card Strategies for Earning the Companion Pass

There are several ways to strategize earning the Companion Pass with credit cards. One of the most effective involves opening a business and personal card in late October to early November. You should then carefully time your spending so the points post to your Rapid Rewards account in January, which maximizes your pass’s benefits window for nearly two full years.

**Advanced strategy** If you’re aiming to maximize your points quickly, applying for two Southwest business credit cards can be very efficient. Since Chase business cards generally do not count towards your 5/24 limit, this can be a great way to accumulate a substantial welcome bonus without using up a 5/24 slot for a personal card. 

While it is possible to apply for more than one Chase business card, you should do so with caution. Applying for multiple cards within a short timeframe can sometimes trigger denials. It is generally safer to space out applications. Remember, you must be under the 5/24 rule to be approved for a Chase business card in the first place. 

Important note: Anyone with a US social security number can be eligible for business cards even if you don’t own an official business with an EIN. If you have a legitimate side hustle, freelance work, or other for-profit activity, you can apply as a sole proprietor.

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Referral Bonuses: Double the Fun

If you have a spouse or partner, you can use referral bonuses to earn points toward your passes. Chase’s Refer-a-Friend program allows you to earn bonus points for each successful referral for any Southwest Rapid Rewards credit card. 

As of 2025, you can earn 20,000 bonus points for each friend or business that is approved for a new Southwest card through your unique referral link. This bonus applies to all Southwest personal and business cards. There is a cap of 100,000 referral points you can earn per calendar year. 

Using referral bonuses with a spouse (or “player 2“) is an effective strategy. You can refer each other for cards, combining the sign-up bonuses and referral points to reach the 135,000-point threshold faster. Just remember that it can take several weeks for the referral bonus points to post to your account after the new card is approved.

Which Cards Earn the Most Points?

Southwest offers several credit cards that earn Rapid Rewards points:

These cards offer varying point bonuses for sign-up, so it’s essential to choose the cards with the best current offers to maximize your point earnings.

A Southwest Airlines plane in flight, captured against a clear blue sky, with landing gear deployed. Southwest Companion Pass

Can you earn the Companion Pass with one card?

Yes, it’s possible to earn the Companion Pass with just one card, though it will take more time and effort. You’ll need to earn points through regular spending, flying, and possibly using the Southwest shopping portal or earning referral bonuses. While this method requires more work, it’s an option if you want to keep your credit card applications to a minimum.

Southwest also occasionally offers a Promotional Companion Pass, which will allow you to earn a one-year Companion Pass by opening only one personal card. This promotion was offered in February for the last two years, and once earned, the Promotional Companion Pass was good for one year, from February to the following February.

My Personal Southwest Companion Pass Strategy

When I earned my Southwest Companion Pass, the two cards that made the most sense to earn me the points I needed were the Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Performance Business Credit Card and the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card. Let’s breakdown what each of these cards offers and why their annual fees can be worth every penny.

Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Performance Business Credit Card

  • Points Earning (effective July 2025):
    • 4x points on Southwest purchases.
    • 2x points at gas stations and restaurants.
    • 2x points on local transit, rideshare, and commuting.
    • 2x points on hotel accommodations booked directly with the hotel.
    • 1x points on everything else.
  • Annual Fee: $299
    • At first glance, $299 might seem steep, but check out what you get (beginning January 27, 2026):
      • Complimentary Preferred Seat selection at booking.*
      • Unlimited Extra Legroom upgrades within 48 hours of departure.*
      • Free first checked bag.*
      • Earlier boarding with Group 5.*
      • 9,000 anniversary points every year—valued at roughly $135 toward Southwest flights.
      • 25% back on inflight purchases.
      • 10,000 Companion Pass® Qualifying Points boost each year.
      • 2,500 Tier Qualifying Points (TQPs) for every $5,000 spent.
      • Global Entry or TSA PreCheck® reimbursement (up to $120 every 4 years).

*These new perks apply to the cardholder and up to eight companions on the same reservation, when available.

Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card

  • Points Earning:
    • 2x points on Southwest purchases.
    • 2x points at gas stations and grocery stores on the first $5,000 in combined purchases each anniversary year.
    • 1x points on everything else.
  • Annual Fee: $99
    • The perks here are still valuable (beginning January 27, 2026):
      • 3,000 anniversary points—worth around $45 in Southwest flights.
      • 10% flight discount promo code each year, excluding Basic fares.
      • Free first checked bag.*
      • Earlier boarding with Group 5.*
      • Complimentary standard seat selection within 48 hours of departure, for flights operating in 2026 and beyond.
      • No foreign transaction fees.

*These new perks apply to the cardholder and up to eight companions on the same reservation, when available.

A young child sits in an airport lounge, looking out at a suthwest airplane parked at the gate on a sunny day. Southwest companion pass

What are “Southwest purchases”?

“Southwest purchases” are transactions made directly with Southwest Airlines that earn bonus points on your Rapid Rewards credit card. Since July 2025, this category includes:

  • Flights booked directly with Southwest Airlines (domestic and international) on Southwest.com or via the mobile app.
  • Vacation packages purchased through Southwest Vacations.
  • Inflight purchases, like WiFi, snacks, or drinks.
  • Southwest gift cards purchased directly from Southwest.com.
  • Upgraded boardings purchased at the gate, during check-in, or via the app (note that some credit cards with complimentary upgraded boarding credits will see those credits expire on December 31, 2025). 

Keep in mind that Southwest purchases do not usually include things like gift card purchases or bookings made through third-party travel agencies (e.g., Expedia or Priceline). Always book directly with Southwest to ensure your purchases qualify for those higher point earnings.

Why Annual Fees Are Worth It

I know, I know—no one likes annual fees. But here’s the deal: when you’re working toward a goal like the Companion Pass or stacking up perks, the value of the benefits can easily outweigh the cost of the fee. With these two cards, you’re not just paying for points—you’re getting a lot of perks that can quickly cover what you’ve spent on the fee.

So, if you’re serious about earning the Southwest Companion Pass, these cards deserve a spot in your wallet.

View from a Southwest Airlines plane flying from Oahu to Maui, below a blue ocean, scattered clouds, and the Hawaiian coastline.

Southwest Card Eligibility

Before you apply, it’s crucial to understand the eligibility requirements, which are set by Chase.

Business Card Rule: The 24-month bonus rule works differently for Southwest business cards. You can still apply for another different business card, and you can reapply for the same business card after 24 months from the date you last received the bonus.

The 5/24 Rule: Chase’s unofficial “5/24 rule” is a major factor. If you have opened five or more new credit card accounts (from any issuer) within the last 24 months, your application will almost certainly be denied for a new Southwest card.

Personal Card Bonus Rule: You cannot hold a personal Southwest Rapid Rewards credit card and be approved for a new bonus from another personal Southwest card. If you received a welcome bonus on any personal Southwest card within the last 24 months, you are not eligible for a bonus on any other personal Southwest card, even if you have since canceled the original card.

Personal Card Strategy: If you want to get another personal card, you must first cancel your existing personal Southwest card. Then, you can apply for a different personal card (e.g., from the Plus to the Priority) after waiting at least 30 days, provided you have not earned a bonus on a personal card in the last 24 months.

Final Thoughts

The Southwest Companion Pass is one of the best ways to travel for less with your family. By earning just 135,000 points in a year, you can get nearly two calendar years of free flights for a loved one, effectively getting buy one, get one (nearly) free flights every time you fly. With the right credit card strategy, earning this pass is totally doable. If you love to travel with your family or a friend, this perk should definitely be on your radar!

If you have any questions or need further advice feel free to email me or send me a message on Instagram. I’m always happy to share more tips and insights to help you.

Please note that this article contains affiliate links, and I may earn a referral commission if you choose to apply through my links. As a small business, these earnings help me to continue to bring you content like this at no extra cost to you. Thank you!

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