Southwest Airlines Companion Pass & How to Get the Maximum Benefit

The Southwest Airlines Companion Pass is one of the most coveted rewards in the airline industry, offering unbeatable value for frequent flyers. Whether you’re a seasoned traveler or new to Southwest, understanding how the Companion Pass works, how to earn points through credit cards and purchases, and how to maximize its benefits can significantly enhance your travel experience. By joining your Rapid Rewards account and leveraging bonus offers, you can accelerate your earning of qualifying points and enjoy more free flights throughout the year.

This comprehensive guide will help you learn how to earn the Southwest Airlines Companion Pass, answer common questions about the companion program, provide examples of point-earning strategies, and cover everything you need to know to maximize your rewards and travel benefits with Southwest Airlines.

What is the Southwest Airlines Companion Pass?

With the Southwest Companion Pass, you can nominate a companion to fly with you for free (minus taxes and fees, starting at $5.60 one way) every time you book a flight using your Rapid Rewards account. This applies to all tickets, including those earned through points or purchased with a credit card, making the Companion Pass a highly valuable benefit for travelers looking to earn more rewards and save on annual fees.

The Southwest Companion Pass remains a premier travel reward, valid for the rest of the year it’s obtained and the entire subsequent year. Additionally, you are allowed to change your designated companion up to three times within the calendar year, providing flexibility in selecting who flies with you and maximizing your rewards.

How to Earn the Southwest Companion Pass

There are several ways to earn the Southwest Companion Pass:

• Flying: You must fly 100 qualifying one-way flights in a calendar year to earn enough points for the Companion Pass.
• Earning Points: You can earn 135,000 qualifying points in a calendar year through various methods, including flying with Southwest Airlines, making purchases on Southwest Rapid Rewards credit cards, and leveraging Rapid Rewards partners.

Southwest Companion Pass Credit Card

Using a Southwest credit card is one of the fastest ways to earn the Companion Pass. With welcome bonuses typically ranging from 40,000 to 80,000 points, you can significantly boost your progress toward earning the pass. Remember that the Companion Pass qualifying points are derived from revenue flights, purchases on Rapid Rewards Credit Cards, and base points from partners. Some points, such as those from program enrollment or tier bonuses, don’t qualify.

Participating in promotional offers like Southwest Rapid Rewards Business Credit Cards: New Limited-Time Offers will speed up your path to earning the Companion Pass, with some welcome bonuses reaching up to 120,000 points.

One of the latest promotions allows you to get a Companion Pass along with a welcome 30,000 bonus points when you apply for a personal credit card by March 31, 2025 and spend $4,000 within 3 months after applying.

There are both personal and business versions of the cards, each with its own set of benefits and earning rates – Comparative Analysis: Business vs. Personal Southwest Cards.

How to Get Southwest Companion Pass in 2025 – 2026

1. Apply for the credit card in September/October 2024 to take advantage of the synchronization of spending and points accumulation.
2. Meet the spending requirement (usually within 3 calendar months, depending on the type of card).
3. Welcome bonuses will be credited after the financial statements are closed (if you meet the requirements by December 2024, this will most likely happen in January 2025).
4. If points are awarded in January 2025, they will be credited to the 2025 qualifying year.
5. Next, earn the required 135,000 points in 2025 to get the Companion Pass, as welcome bonuses alone are usually not enough.
6. If you meet the eligibility criteria, you will receive a Companion Pass for the remainder of the qualifying year 2025 and the following calendar year 2026.
7. In the future, you will need to re-qualify every year to maintain your Companion Pass status.

How to Book with the Southwest Companion Pass

Booking with the Companion Pass is straightforward:

• Book Your Flight: Purchase or redeem points for your flight through Southwest’s Rapid Rewards website.
• Add Your Companion: Once your flight is booked, you can add your designated companion through your Rapid Rewards account.

For any bookings, remember to reserve your companion’s spot after your ticket is confirmed to ensure both reservations are processed smoothly. If needed, speak with a Customer Representative for booking assistance.

Designating a Companion

• Log into Your Account: Access your Southwest Rapid Rewards account online.
• Add Companion: Navigate to the “My Account” section and select “Companion Pass” to add your companion’s details.

Changing Your Companion

You can change your designated companion up to three times in a calendar year. This flexibility allows you to share the benefits of the Companion Pass with different people throughout the year, enhancing your travel experiences.

In addition to enjoying unlimited flights with your companion on qualifying bookings, consider pairing your Companion Pass strategy with other Southwest credit card rewards, such as shopping bonuses or dining deals, to maximize your points earning and enhance your overall travel experiences. Pass with different people throughout the year.

Conclusion

The Southwest Companion Pass is a powerful tool for frequent travelers, offering substantial savings and flexibility. Learn the rules, take advantage of the bonus offers, and plan how best to spend to maximize this fantastic travel benefit. Utilize various ways to earn points and rewards through your credit card and partners to fully benefit from the Companion Pass: traveling more with family, reducing the cost of business travel, or visiting new destinations.