🚨 Bad news. Southwest just announced that credit card welcome bonuses will no longer count toward the Companion Pass.

The Southwest Companion Pass changes went live today (October 15th), and starting January 1st, 2027, the pass becomes ONLY a perk of Southwest’s brand new top status tier.

I’m not going to sugarcoat it…the changes are not good, and they’re a HUGE blow for families.

Butttt there IS one last window. Earn 135,000 Companion Pass qualifying points by December 31st, 2026, and your pass is good through December 31st, 2027.

>>> If that makes sense for your family, go for it. This is your LAST chance. The easiest way to get there: apply for the Premier Business card TODAY, then a personal Southwest card about 30 days later (if you need the additional points to cross the 135K threshold), and meet your minimum spends ASAP.

🚨 Deadline: you need to be approved for any new card by December 2nd, 2026 at the latest.

What is the Southwest Companion Pass?

Probably one of the greatest travel saving opportunities that has ever existed… 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)

Here is what you need to know:

• 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.

Step 1: See Which Southwest Cards You’re Eligible For

Not everyone can get every Southwest card, so check before you apply. Use our Southwest Companion Pass tool HERE to see if you’re eligible.

Step 2: Apply for the Premier Business Card TODAY

🚨 If you’re eligible, the Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Premier Business Credit Card is the one I’d apply for ASAP!! Have a side hustle? You may be eligible for the business cards…think Etsy shop.

And I mean TODAY (or this week at the latest). That welcome bonus gets you a big chunk of the way to 135,000…but not all the way. That’s where Step 3 comes in.

Step 3: Apply for a Personal Southwest Card 30 Days Later

For most people, the Premier Business welcome bonus alone won’t get you to 135,000, so a second welcome bonus is what bridges the gap (if you need the additional points to cross the 135K threshold).

🚨 Set a reminder for about 30 days after your Premier Business approval, then apply for a personal Southwest card. See which personal cards you can get with our Companion Pass tool HERE.

Timing is tight on this one. You need to be approved for this second card by December 2nd, 2026 at the latest, so apply right at the 30-day mark. That also gives you time to meet the second minimum spend before your December statement closes.

What Should I Do Once I’m Approved?

• Meet your minimum spends ASAP. Your welcome bonuses need to post by December 31st to count.
• Put your normal spending on them. Groceries, gas, the bills you’re already paying, all paid in full every month (the responsible way).
• Check where you are. In the Southwest app, tap the profile icon in the top right corner to see how close you are to 135,000. Then plug your numbers into our Companion Pass calculator HERE to map out how to close the gap by December 31st.
• Watch your December statement closing date. More on why below.

Can I Still Earn the Companion Pass With a Welcome Bonus in 2026?

YES!! For the rest of 2026, the current rules still apply, and welcome bonuses still count.

🚨 Hit 135,000 qualifying points by December 31st, 2026, and you’ll have a Companion Pass through December 31st, 2027. That’s a full year of your person flying with you on every Southwest flight for just taxes and fees. (Even if you book your own flight on points!)

(SIDENOTE) the points have to POST to your Southwest account by December 31st, not just be earned. Card points post when your statement closes, so anything you charge after your December statement closes counts toward 2027 instead.

And one more date to know about…you need to be approved for any new Southwest card by December 2nd, 2026 at the latest. Don’t wait until the last minute on this one!

What No Longer Counts Toward the Southwest Companion Pass?

Starting January 1st, 2027, these stop counting:

• ❌ Credit card welcome bonuses (the BIG one!!)
• ❌ Referral bonuses
• ❌ Card anniversary points
• ❌ Extra points from card bonus categories (a purchase earning 2 points per dollar only counts as 1)
• ❌ Partner points, like hotel stays and car rentals

What still counts: your everyday spending on a Southwest card, at 1 qualifying point per $1, plus the Southwest flights you take.

What Changes for the Companion Pass in 2027?

For the number-lovers, here’s the rest of what’s coming January 1st, 2027:

• The Companion Pass moves to the new Platinum tier. That takes 140,000 tier qualifying points or 100 qualifying one-way flights in a calendar year.
• A new milestone at 95,000 points or 75 flights gets you three one-time Companion Pass trips.
• Every Southwest card earns 1 tier qualifying point per $1, with no cap (including the Plus card, which earns none today).
• Southwest cardholders get a one-time 10,000-point boost after reaching 130,000.
• A-List becomes Silver (35,000 points or 25 flights), and A-List Preferred becomes Gold (65,000 points or 50 flights).
• The Companion Pass can’t be used on Southwest’s new international partner award flights.
• Already have a Companion Pass? It’s still good until it expires!

TLDR for you

• Welcome bonuses and referrals stop counting toward the Companion Pass after December 31st, 2026.
• Earn 135,000 qualifying points by December 31st and your pass lasts through the end of 2027.
• The points have to POST by then, so watch your December statement closing date.
• Be approved for any new card by December 2nd, 2026 at the latest.
• Your game plan: Premier Business card TODAY, a personal Southwest card 30 days later (if you need the additional points to cross the 135K threshold), then meet your minimum spends ASAP.

If the Companion Pass has ever been on your list, this is the year to go for it!!

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Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included with the post.