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What is the Southwest Companion Pass?

Probably one of the greatest travel saving opportunities out there…especially for families.

➡️ The Southwest Companion Pass allows you to bring someone with you on every Southwest flight for FREE (*only paying the taxes/fees on that flight) for up to 2 years….IF you get the timing right.

Here is what you need to know:

• You must earn 135,000 points in ONE calendar year (January 1st- December 31st) or fly 100 qualifying one-way flights within a calendar year to receive the Companion Pass
• The Companion Pass allows you the name a companion to travel with you ANY time you travel for just the price of the taxes on that flight
• There are NO blackout dates and your pass is valid on both cash AND award flights
• UNLIMITED USES!
• You can change your designated Companion up to 3 times in one calendar year

Our Companion Pass has saved our family thousands and THOUSANDS over the years- from bucket list trips to Hawaii and Mexico, to flights to go visit family- it is a HUGEEEE money saver.

Who is eligible?

Any Southwest Rapid Rewards member who earns 135,000 points in one calendar year OR completes 100 one way flights.

For the plans I lay out below you will need:

• Good or excellent credit
• NOT be over “5/24″ (Chase’s approval rule- see below)

Also know that:

• You can only hold ONE personal Southwest card at a time
• You can hold BOTH Southwest business cards at the same time
• You can earn the welcome bonus on all the Southwest cards every 24 months

So how do you earn a Companion Pass?

We’re going to ignore the whole 100 one way flights thing…

And jump straight to the EASY, no brainer way to get your family BOGO flights for almost 2 years

➡️ When you earn 135,000 points in ONE calendar year and you earn the Pass for THAT calendar year and the FOLLOWING calendar year.

No we are NOTTT going to spend $135,000 to earn those 135,000 points…we are going to strategically open new credit card(s) to earn BIG welcome bonuses that will count towards that 135k Companion Pass counter.

Option 1 (2 Card Strategy)

❶ Apply for the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card!

💳 Learn how to apply for the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card

❷ Watch your spend closely – do not COMPLETE the minimum spend until after January 1st, 2026

❸ 30-60 days later apply for the Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Premier Business Credit Card

❹ Complete both minimum spends AFTER January 1st – BOOM BOGO flights for almost 2 years!

**This is the LYNCHPIN because it allows both of those big welcome bonuses to hit in 2026 (NOT 2025!) – thus earning you the Companion Pass for nearly 2 years instead of just ONE!)

Which personal card should I go for?

Between the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card and Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card there really is not a right or wrong, it just comes down to personal preference.

• Do you want the lowest out of pocket cost possible?
• Is Preferred Seating a top priority?
• Do you value early bird check in versus upgraded boardings?

**Both cards can be used for the 2 card Companion Pass Strategy!

If you are torn- I recommend going with the lower annual fee Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card!

**IF YOU WENT FOR THE 120K BUSINESS CARD OFFER

❶ You applied for the Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Performance Business Credit Card.

❷ From now until the end of 2025 you will spend $5,000 of that $10,000 minimum spend

❸ From January 1st-your minimum spend deadline you will spend the remaining $5,000

❹ BOOM Companion Pass headed your way!

• 120k welcome bonus will hit in January 2026
• The 5k of points from the $5k January spend will hit January 2026
• Your 10k “Boost Points” just for being a Southwest cardholder will hit January 2026

Nearly 2 year BOGO flights are YOURS!

**IF YOU WENT FOR THE 100K PERSONAL CARD OFFER!

❶ You applied for the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card when it was elevated at 100,000 points in August/September!

❷ You are watching your spend closely and will not COMPLETE the minimum spend until the first week of January (I recommend leaving a minimum of $500)

❸ January 1st hits and you now complete your minimum spend! (104,000 points headed your way!)

❹ Now you just need to earn the remaining 21,000 points to reach that 135k Companion Pass Threshold! ONLY complete these activities from January 1st and on (or once your statement closes in December)

The sooner you earn the 21,000 points, the sooner you get your BOGO Flight Pass in hand!

• Put $21k worth of additional spend on your card
• Book a hotel through the Southwest Travel Portal to earn extra points
• Run all purchases through the Southwest Portal to earn extra points
• Make ONE referral! (20k points!)

Why do you always say the timing is key?

When you earn those 135,000 points you earn the Companion Pass for the rest of THAT year and the following year.

So if you meet a big welcome bonus early or earn 135k points total in say November of 2025, you will only have the pass for 14 months…

➡️ BUT if you earn 135k+ points in January 2026 you will have that pass for ALL of 2026 andddd ALL of 2027- so timing is EVERYTHING to get MAX value.

Some nitty gritty details

➡️ CHASE’S 5/24 RULE: Chase says you cannot be approved for a new card with them if you have opened more than 5 credit cards (with any bank) in the last 24 months. Chase is the bank for all Southwest cards and won’t approve you for any of the cards in this CP plan if you are over 5/24.

• You can only hold ONE Southwest personal card at a time (So if you want to go for Option 1, you would need to cancel your personal SW card, wait 14-30 days, and THEN reapply)

➡️ CHANGING YOUR COMPANION: You can change your designated SW companion up to 3 times per calendar year. Which means, you can have 4 different companions in the first calendar year, then 3 in the second year (up to 7 total!)

• Even if you switch back to a previous companion, it still counts as one of your 3 changes

FINAL THINGS OF NOTE!

• Example if you want to earn a 2026/2027 Companion Pass, any other random Southwest points earned in 2025 would NOT go towards your 135k count. They are valuable Southwest points for booking (almost) free flights, but have no value towards earning you that full 2 year of BOGO flights.

• You will only be responsible for the taxes on your companion’s flight! ($5.60 one way or $11.20 Round Trip for domestic flights + varied cost for international tickets.)

• Points transferred from Chase do NOT count towards the 135k requirement

• YES, when you follow this plan you get to keep the Southwest points AND the Companion Pass!

• This plan works when ONE person (ONE Rapid Rewards number) is earning the points. Example: if you opened a limited time offer and your husband opens another card, NEITHER of you would earn a Companion Pass…you’re filling up two different buckets and NEITHER will reach the 135k top.

****Again, if you complete the minimum spend too early and earn a welcome offer in 2025 – you WILL NOT RECEIVE THE FULL 2 YEAR COMPANION PASS. The CP calculator starts over at 0 at the start of every single new year. I cannot stress enough to watch your spending SO carefully!!

💳 Learn how to apply for the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card HERE!

💳 Learn how to apply for the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit

Cheers to cheap travel with your favorite people!