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

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 typically only $5.60 each way on Southwest. As you can see, getting BOGO (buy one, get one) tickets on every flight for the duration of your companion pass can drastically reduce the cost of family vacations.

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). 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. Thankfully, you don’t have to do this all through flying—just open a few co-branded Southwest credit cards, and you can rack up those points quickly. Plus, Southwest cardholders get an automatic 10,000-point boost each year, so technically, you only need 125,000 points.

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.

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 strategies involves opening a business and personal card in late October to early November, then waiting to meet the minimum spending requirement until January to maximize your pass’s benefits window.

**Advanced strategy** If you’re aiming to maximize your points for the Southwest Companion Pass quickly, consider applying for two Southwest business credit cards. Each business card typically offers a substantial welcome bonus, and by strategically meeting the spending requirements, you can earn points toward the Companion Pass faster. Business cards often come with higher bonus point offers compared to personal cards, making them an efficient way to hit the 135,000-point target. This approach allows you to accumulate enough points in a shorter timeframe, accelerating your path to earning the pass.

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.

Referral Bonuses: Double the Fun

If you’ve landed here, you’re likely a family, which means you might have more than one companion who could benefit from BOGO fares. Luckily, you can double your fun with a spouse or partner (player 2). You can use referral bonuses to earn more points toward your pass. If you refer someone else to apply for a Southwest business card, you can earn 20,000 points per successful referral. Combine that with your own sign-up bonuses, and you’ll be on your way to earning the Companion Pass—and a second one, too.

Which Cards Earn the Most Points?

Southwest offers several credit cards that earn Rapid Rewards points:

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

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.

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:
  • 4x points on Southwest purchases.
  • 3x points on Rapid Rewards® hotel and car rental partners.
  • 2x points on social media and search engine advertising, internet, cable, and phone services.
  • 1x points on everything else.
• Annual Fee: $199
  • At first glance, $199 might seem steep, but check out what you get:
    • 9,000 anniversary points every year—valued at roughly $135 toward Southwest flights.
    • Up to 4 upgraded boardings per year (if available)—great for snagging those A1–A15 spots.
    • Inflight WiFi credits (365 $8 credits per year, essentially covering your in-flight WiFi).
    • Global Entry or TSA PreCheck® reimbursement (up to $100 every 4 years).

Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card

• Points Earning:
  • 2x points on Southwest purchases.
  • 2x points on Rapid Rewards® hotel and car rental partners.
  • 1x points on everything else.
• Annual Fee: $69
  • The perks here are a bit simpler but still valuable:
    • 3,000 anniversary points—worth around $45 in Southwest flights.
    • All the travel protections Southwest is known for, including lost luggage reimbursement and baggage delay insurance.

What are “Southwest purchases”?

Southwest purchases typically include:

• Flights booked directly with Southwest Airlines (both domestic and international).
• Vacation packages purchased through Southwest Vacations.
• Upgraded boardings purchased at the gate or during check-in.
• Inflight purchases, like WiFi, snacks, or drinks charged to your card.

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 anniversary bonuses, upgraded boarding, WiFi credits, and more 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.

Southwest Card Eligibility

Before you apply, it’s important to know the eligibility requirements. If you already have a Southwest personal card, you must cancel it at least 30 days before applying for a new one. If you have a business card, you can still apply for another one. Also, you can reapply for the same card after 24 months, so don’t be afraid to use this perk multiple times.

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!}