travel rewards companion pass

Southwest Airlines Rewards Travelers With The Return Of Companion Pass

Southwest’s Companion Pass is an irresistible promotion for Rapid Rewards members. Here is what travelers should know about the deal.

Sarah Rand • Sep 10, 2024

Southwest Airlines recently made several exciting announcements that will benefit travelers. Among the airline’s latest enhancements is the return of one of its most sought-after promotions: the Companion Pass. Travelers are celebrating as the promotion is renewed, allowing them to bring a companion on their next trip. Here’s what we know about the promotion:

Southwest’s Companion Pass

In a press release on September 3, 2024, Southwest announced the return of its limited-time Companion Pass promotion. This highly coveted pass offers Rapid Rewards members an extra perk. The Rapid Rewards program already allows members to earn reward flights with no blackout dates and no expiration for points, giving travelers flexibility in redeeming them. The reintroduction of the Companion Pass takes this perk a step further.

The Companion Pass has become one of the most desirable travel benefits. It allows travelers to bring a companion on Southwest flights at minimal cost. This perk applies to all flights for an entire year without requiring the purchase of a second full-price ticket. However, due to the value of the pass, it is not easy to obtain.

Things To Know

One of the key requirements for Southwest’s Companion Pass is membership in the airline’s loyalty program. Members must either fly 100 qualifying one-way flights in a calendar year or earn 135,000 points in the same period. For the first time, members can use Rapid Rewards points, a combination of points and cash, or other forms of payment to book flights that count toward the promotion.

How To Access The Companion Pass

Rapid Rewards members must first register for the promotion on Southwest’s website. After registering, they must book a qualifying flight between September 3 and September 5, 2024 (the promotion period). The travel for this booking must occur between September 3 and November 20, 2024 (the travel period) to meet the promotion’s terms.

Once eligible, travelers will earn a promotional Companion Pass. They will be notified via email within 10 days of flying. Once the pass is awarded to their account on January 6, 2025, they can designate a companion. Companions can fly for free, excluding taxes and fees starting at $5.60, between January 6 and March 6, 2025. Travelers can change their designated companion up to three times per calendar year. A major benefit of the pass is that if travelers earn the Companion Pass in 2024, it will remain valid through December 2025.

Traveler Tip: If travelers miss this promotion, they can look out for the next opportunity. For more information, visit Southwest’s promotion website.

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Recommended Chase Cards (Personal)

A fantastic travel card with a great welcome offer, good benefits, and perks for a moderate annual fee.

The Chase Sapphire Preferred ® card is one of the best travel rewards cards on the market. Its bonus categories include travel, dining, online grocery purchases, and streaming services, which gives you the opportunity to earn lots of bonus points on these purchases.

Additionally, it offers flexible point redemption options, no foreign transaction fees, and excellent travel insurance coverage including primary car rental insurance . With benefits like these, it’s easy to see why this card is an excellent choice for any traveler.

5x points on all travel booked via the Chase Travel portal
5x points on select Peloton purchases over $150 (through March 31, 2025)
5x points on Lyft purchases (through March 31, 2025)
$95 annual fee
No elite benefits like airport lounge access or hotel elite status
Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $750 when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.
Enjoy beneﬁts such as 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases, $50 Annual Chase Travel Hotel Credit, plus more.
Get 25% more value when you redeem for airfare, hotels, car rentals and cruises through Chase Travel℠. For example, 60,000 points are worth $750 toward travel.
Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Lost Luggage Insurance and more.
Get complimentary access to DashPass which unlocks $0 delivery fees and lower service fees for a minimum of one year when you activate by December 31, 2027.
APR: 21.49%-28.49% Variable

Chase Ultimate Rewards

A top player in the high-end premium travel credit card space that earns 3x points on travel and dining while offering top luxury perks.

If you’re looking for an all-around excellent travel rewards card, the Chase Sapphire Reserve ® is one of the best options out there.

The card combines elite travel benefits and perks like airport lounge access , with excellent point earning and redemption options. Plus it offers top-notch travel insurance protections to keep you covered whether you’re at home or on the road.

Don’t forget the $300 annual travel credit which really helps to reduce the annual fee!

10x total points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase TravelSM immediately after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually
10x points on Lyft purchases through March 31, 2025
10x points on Peloton equipment and accessory purchases over $250 through March 31, 2025
$550 annual fee
Does not offer any sort of hotel elite status
Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $900 toward travel when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.
$300 Annual Travel Credit as reimbursement for travel purchases charged to your card each account anniversary year.
Earn 5x total points on flights and 10x total points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase Travel℠ immediately after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually. Earn 3x points on other travel and dining & 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases
Get 50% more value when you redeem your points for travel through Chase Travel℠. For example, 60,000 points are worth $900 toward travel.
1:1 point transfer to leading airline and hotel loyalty programs
Access to 1,300+ airport lounges worldwide after an easy, one-time enrollment in Priority Pass™ Select and up to $100 application fee credit every four years for Global Entry, NEXUS, or TSA PreCheck ®
APR: 22.49%-29.49% Variable

Business owner? See our list of the best Chase business credit cards .

The travel rewards cards have an annual fee, but the cash-back cards (which can convert into Chase reward program points) do not. All cards typically have a good sign-up bonus.

Search on Southwest.com for the lowest fares using their designated lowest fares search engine. Select the option to show the price in “points” when you search for availability.

The number of Rapid Rewards points needed for a ticket on Southwest Airlines is based on the “ destination, time, travel date, demand, fare class, and other factors.”

Typically, you get:

Business Select fare: ~78 points/$1
Anytime fare: ~78 points/$1
Wanna Get Away plus fare: ~76-78 points/$1
Wanna Get Away fare: ~76-78 points/$1

There’s an estimated fares destination map located here to see specific rates, but fares are still subject to change depending on the parameters mentioned above.

Southwest may not be the largest carrier, but it is probably the most popular carrier due to its commitment to customer service and status as a great low-cost carrier.

By far the best way to redeem points is to have and use the Southwest Companion Pass. You’ll get 2 tickets for the price of 1, regardless of whether you pay for the flight or use Rapid Rewards points!

You must earn 135,000 Rapid Rewards points in a single calendar year to receive the Companion Pass .

These must be eligible points, such as points earned from flying (100 one-way flights in a year), Rapid Rewards credit cards (including sign-up bonuses), the Southwest Dining Program , shopping portal , or partners.

Note that points transferred from other programs or accounts (e.g., Chase Ultimate Rewards ) will not count toward earning a Companion Pass .

Purchased points, flight bonus points, tier bonus points, points earned from surveys, and partner bonus points will not count toward the Companion Pass.

Once you have earned the Companion Pass, it will be valid until December 31 of the year after the year in which you earn it. So, you’ll get the most use out of the Companion Pass when you earn it in January because you can fly with it for nearly 2 years after that (e.g., January 2023 through December 2024).

The Companion Pass can be used every time you fly Southwest.

How To Check Your Companion Pass Progress

Checking your progress towards the Companion Pass is easy and can be done right on the Southwest Airlines website.

After logging on to your Southwest.com account, click on My Account in the upper right hand corner. Then you will see a progress chart in the My Rapid Rewards section in the middle of the page.

Your progress will be tracked in points and in number of flights. But you only need to achieve one of these requirements, not both, to earn the Companion Pass!

How To Check Southwest Companion Pass Progress

Hot Tip: Curious what the best credit card is? Check out this list of the best credit cards for Southwest Airlines flyers.

The companion pass is eligible for use with paid and award travel on both domestic and international Southwest Airlines itineraries. Before you can bring a friend or loved one, you must designate them as your companion.

Your companion can travel with you for only part of your itinerary if they choose, but they cannot travel without you on the Companion Pass . Additionally, you can change your designated companion up to 3 times per year.

If you lose the physical pass Southwest sends you by mail, don’t worry; you don’t actually need it to book a flight.

Following the above strategies, you can feel confident that you have maximized the value of your Southwest Companion Pass. Now, all you have to do is look for great deals on domestic and international flights to take with a friend, relative, or partner!

Before you know it, you’ll be getting tons of value out of your Companion Pass and Rapid Rewards points.

Hot Tip: For more information check out our ultimate guide to the Southwest Airlines Companion Pass.

Using points and miles is where the fun really begins! After all your hard work earning them, it’s nice to get some ideas about where to go so you can start anticipating those trips!

1. Fly Dallas to Portland Round-trip

With the Companion Pass, you can fly yourself and a travel companion on a round-trip ticket from Dallas to Portland in economy class for 15,330 Rapid Rewards points.

Those reward points cover the cost of your ticket, and your travel companion flies for nothing extra except the occasional airport taxes and fees.

Full price without the Companion Pass, this same flight for 2 people would cost about $548 total. That’s a value of 3.6 cents per point, which is an excellent redemption!

2. Fly Baltimore to the Bahamas Round-trip

If you’re looking for a great international vacation, check out the “Wanna Get Away” fares from Baltimore to Nassau, Bahamas. You can book a round-trip ticket in economy class for 10,080 Rapid Rewards points.

Fees tend to be a bit higher on international flights, whereas they are quite low for domestic flights. But the redemption value is still good: this flight for 2 would give you a value of about 2 cents per point.

Hot Tip: If you time your spending right, you could earn the sign-up bonus points for 2 of Chase’s Southwest credit cards early in the calendar year. Then you’ll only have to earn the difference before the Companion Pass is yours!

3. Fly Denver to Los Cabos Round-trip

Southwest has been expanding its international footprint, and that’s good news for Companion Pass holders.

You can fly from Denver to Los Cabo, Mexico for 22,752 Rapid Rewards points round-trip. Purchasing 2 tickets on this route would typically cost you over $900, which means you’re getting over 4 cents per point thanks to the Companion Pass!

Hot Tip: Need some travel inspiration? Check out these lesser known international destinations that Southwest flies to.

4. Fly Atlanta to Punta Cana Round-trip

Another fun international route on Southwest is between Atlanta and Punta Cana. You can fly round-trip for 25,056 Rapid Rewards points with the Companion Pass.

Not a bad deal when you consider the fact that it would cost over $850 for 2 tickets!

Hot Tip: Looking to upgrade your trip? Use The Platinum Card ® from American Express to gain access to Priority Pass lounges .

5. Southwest Ticket Sales

Every so often, Southwest runs a “Low Fare” sale on certain routes. These sales include both domestic and international routes.

Recently, Southwest ran a sale that included one-way flights from Orlando to Aruba for only 8,784 Rapids Rewards points. For flights that would normally cost $384 for 2 people, this was a great deal with the Companion Pass.

You also could have booked a one-way flight from Atlanta to Cancun for 7,992 Rapid Rewards points. With the companion pass, you would get an amazing value of just over 4 cents per point!

There are also some great deals on domestic flights. We just saw one-way flights from Chicago to New Orleans for 9,757 Rapids Rewards points. That’s a redemption value of over 3 cents per point when using the Companion Pass.

These sale prices for award flights beat out most other competitors. Pair any sale ticket with the Companion Pass to maximize the value of your award!

Keep in mind that these points prices may change depending on your dates of travel.

Be sure to check both the Rapid Rewards points cost and cash cost of flights when searching for tickets. This enables you to determine if it’s worth it to use the points, or if you should simply pay for the flight in cash.

Check out all routes on Southwest’s interactive route map .

Hot Tip: Get Ding ! Ding is Southwest’s own alert system that will notify you when flights to your chosen destination from your selected airports go on sale. You can get it for your desktop or in the iTunes store for iOS.

If you’re going to be flying Southwest regularly on domestic or international routes, then the Companion Pass is a no-brainer!

It’s also relatively easy to get considering the many ways to earn Southwest Rapid Rewards points , many of which can be earned without even flying !

You can pair the Companion Pass with any of the above award tickets on domestic and international flights to maximize the value you get out of your trip. Don’t hesitate, take advantage of this amazing deal!

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For rates and fees of The Platinum Card ® from American Express, click here .

UP's Bonus Valuation

This bonus value is an estimated valuation calculated by UP after analyzing redemption options, transfer partners, award availability and how much UP would pay to buy these points.

What is the Southwest Companion Pass?

How to Earn the Companion Pass
Southwest Personal Cards
Southwest Business Cards
How to Use the Companion Pass
What Is the Southwest Companion Pass Worth?

Southwest Companion Pass: Free Travel for Your Bestie on Every Flight Through 2025 With A Single Card Sign-Up

Affiliate links for the products on this page are from partners that compensate us and terms apply to offers listed (see our advertiser disclosure with our list of partners for more details). However, our opinions are our own. See how we rate credit cards to write unbiased product reviews .

The information for the following product(s) has been collected independently by Business Insider: Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card. The details for these products have not been reviewed or provided by the issuer.

The Southwest Companion Pass allows you to bring your bestie on every flight for as little as $5.60.
Passholders can book a travel companion ticket on any flight they take, and just pay taxes and fees.
Earn the pass by signing up for a single credit card by September 16, and earning the welcome bonus.
Read Business Insider's guide to the best travel credit cards to learn more creative ways to travel.

Introduction to the Southwest Companion Pass

Traveling can be a great adventure, but it's even better with a friend or loved one. Southwest offers an incredible perk called the Companion Pass, arguably one of the most valuable benefits in the travel industry. This benefit allows you to fly a buddy with you on any flight you take — with a few caveats and exceptions, of course.

Here's everything you need to know about getting and using the Southwest Companion Pass, including the best strategies to keep it for as long as possible.

The Southwest Companion Pass allows you to choose one person to fly with you on both paid and award tickets for just the cost of taxes and fees, for up to two years (provided your timing is right). To earn the Southwest Companion Pass, you must accrue 135,000 qualifying points or fly 100 eligible (paid) one-way flights in a calendar year.

But here's a nice little trick: Points earned from Southwest credit card welcome bonuses and spending count toward the Companion Pass, so opening a new card and earning the welcome offer is an easy way to achieve a big part of the requirement.

The Southwest Companion Pass allows you to book a designated friend or family member on the same flight you take without needing to pay any cash or points, as long as there's an available seat on the plane. You will be responsible for paying airfare taxes and fees, which typically come to $5.60 on a one-way domestic flight.

Qualification criteria for the Southwest Companion Pass

To qualify for the Companion Pass, you need to earn 135,000 Companion Pass qualifying points or fly 100 one-way flights per calendar year on Southwest Airlines, which must be earned and posted to your Rapid Rewards account.

However, if you hold a Southwest credit card, you'll receive a "boost" of 10,000 Companion Pass qualifying points each year. You won't actually receive 10,000 redeemable points — this benefit effectively reduces the number of points you must collect to 125,000. You'll only receive one boost yearly, even if you have multiple Southwest cards.

You can earn qualifying points by:

Booking flights
Earning points issued on Southwest Rapid Rewards credit cards
Earning points from Rapid Rewards partners

You won't earn qualifying points for the following:

Purchased points
Points transferred between Rapid Rewards members
Points transferred from Chase Ultimate Rewards ®
Points converted from hotel and car loyalty programs
Points converted from e-Rewards, e-Miles, Valued Opinions, and Diners Club
Points earned from Rapid Rewards program enrollment
Tier bonus points
Flight bonus points
Partner bonus points

Maximizing the value of the Southwest Companion Pass

If you want to maximize the time you hold the Companion Pass, you need to plan out the timing just right. If you're going through the work of getting a pass, then you should maximize the amount of time you have to use it.

As soon as you earn the pass, it will be valid through the rest of that calendar year and the following year. For example, if you earn the Companion Pass in 2024, it will expire at the end of December 2025. That means:

If you earn the required number of points in November 2024, you will only be able to use the Companion Pass through December 2025 — just a little over a year.
But if you earn the Companion Pass in June 2024, you can use it through December 2025 — nearly two years of nearly-free travel.

The year in which your qualifying Southwest Companion Pass points are posted to your account is the year for which they will count toward the Companion Pass.

With this in mind, the best time to start planning to get the Companion Pass is toward the end of a calendar year, or very early in the new year.

Earn the Southwest Companion Pass with Credit Cards

Earning the Companion Pass by flying thousands of miles is doing it the hard way. You can earn the required number of points more easily by opening and spending on Southwest credit cards, since their welcome bonus offers and points earned from spending count toward the qualifying points you need.

Southwest consumer credit cards

Chase Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card

Earn 3X points on Southwest® purchases. Earn 2X points on Rapid Rewards hotel and car rental partner purchases. Earn 2X points on local transit and commuting, including rideshare. Earn 2X points on internet, cable, and phone services, and select streaming. Earn 1 point for every $1 spent on all other purchases.

21.49% - 28.49% Variable

Earn 50,000 bonus points

Good to Excellent

Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Generous annual benefits, including a Southwest travel credit and 7,500 anniversary points, plus upgraded boardings and in-flight discounts
Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. If you fly Southwest several times a year, the benefits easily outweigh the annual fee
Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Annual fee is low compared to other premium airline credit cards
con icon Two crossed lines that form an 'X'. Highest annual fee among Southwest consumer cards

If you can make use of the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card's many benefits and perks, it's well worth the annual fee. Otherwise, have a look at other Southwest cards like the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card and Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card, which have lower annual fees but the same elevated welcome bonus offer.

Earn 50,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
7,500 anniversary points each year.
Earn 3X points on Southwest® purchases.
Earn 2X points on local transit and commuting, including rideshare.
Earn 2X points on internet, cable, and phone services; select streaming.
$75 Southwest® travel credit each year.
No foreign transaction fees.
Member FDIC

All three of the personal Southwest credit cards offer generous welcome bonuses of 50,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening

Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card

Southwest rapid rewards® priority credit card, southwest rapid rewards® premier credit card, southwest business credit cards.

You can easily earn the Companion Pass by earning a bonus from one of these personal cards and one from a Southwest business credit card, plus the points you'll earn from spending enough to meet both bonuses.

Here's what the two Southwest business cards currently offer:

Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Performance Business Credit Card — 80,000 points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening and an additional 40,000 points when you spend $15,000 in nine months
Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Premier Business Credit Card — 60,000 points after you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening and an additional 60,000 points when you spend $15,000 in nine months

How to earn the remaining points you need for the Companion Pass

If you only open one Southwest card, you'll usually be short on the number of points you need for earning a Companion Pass. To earn the remaining points, there are a few strategies:

Use the Southwest card for your everyday spending and all other bills and expenses — and boost your earnings even more by making online purchases through the Southwest shopping portal
Fly Southwest, where you'll earn between 6 and 12 points per dollar, depending on the fare type
Book hotels through Southwest Hotels (in partnership with Booking.com)
Rent a car through Southwest Book a Car
Sign-up for Rapid Rewards Dining and eat out at participating restaurants

Compare Southwest personal credit cards

Each credit card comes with different perks and annual fees. Here's what you should know about each personal card.

The Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card is the lowest-tier card in this Southwest family, with an annual fee of $69.

Infrequent Southwest flyers get great benefits on this entry-level card:

2x on Southwest purchases
2x on Rapid Rewards hotel and car rental partner purchases
2x on local transit and commuting, including rideshare
2x on internet, cable, phone services, and select streaming
1x on everything else

You'll also get 3,000 points on your card anniversary, two EarlyBird Check-Ins each year, 25% back on inflight drinks and Wi-Fi purchases, and a boost of 10,000 Companion Pass qualifying points per calendar year.

Learn more about this card in our Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus credit card review .

The Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card is the middle child of the credit card family, with a good range of benefits to offset the $99 annual fee.

Premier cardholders earn rewards at the following rates:

3x on Southwest purchases
2x on local transit and commuting, including rideshares
2x on Internet, cable, phone services, and select streaming services

You earn 6,000 Rapid Rewards points each year when you renew the card, and get two complimentary EarlyBird check-in credits each year. You'll also earn 1,500 Tier Qualifying Points toward A-List status for every $5,000 you spend with no limits, as well as 25% back on inflight purchases. Finally, you'll also receive a boost of 10,000 Companion Pass qualifying points every year, which gives you a head start on earning your next Companion Pass.

Learn more about this card in our Chase Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier credit card review .

The Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card is Southwest's top-tier consumer credit card, and a great option for frequent Southwest travelers to keep in their wallet.

The earning rates on the Priority card mirror those of the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card. Priority cardholders earn:

1 point per dollar on everything else

You'll also receive 7,500 Rapid Rewards points on your card anniversary, earn tier-qualifying points toward A-List elite status when you spend money on this card, and receive a $75 annual Southwest travel credit as well as four upgraded boardings per year when available.

The Priority card also gives you 25% back on inflight drinks and WiFi, and a boost of 10,000 Companion Pass qualifying points each calendar year.

Learn more about this card in our Southwest Priority Card review .

Both of Southwest's business credit cards offer great value for a reasonable annual fee.

Chase Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Performance Business Credit Card

Earn 4X points on Southwest® purchases. Earn 3X points on Rapid Rewards® hotel and car rental partners. Earn 2X points on rideshare. Earn 2X points on social media and search engine advertising, internet, cable, and phone services and 1X points on all other purchases.

Earn up to 120,000 bonus points

Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. 4x bonus points on Southwest purchases
Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Valuable Southwest perks including four upgraded boardings per year, in-flight Wi-Fi credits, and 9,000 points each year on your anniversary
con icon Two crossed lines that form an 'X'. $199 annual fee is on the high side

The Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Performance Business Credit Card is a great fit for small business owners who frequently fly Southwest, especially if you often purchase inflight WiFi.

Earn 80,000 points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening and an additional 40,000 points when you spend $15,000 in 9 months.
9,000 bonus points after your Cardmember anniversary.
Earn 4X pts on Southwest® purchases.
Earn 3X points on Rapid Rewards® hotel and car rental partners.
Earn 2X points on rideshare.
Earn 2X points on social media and search engine advertising, internet, cable, and phone services and 1X points on all other purchases.
4 Upgraded Boardings per year when available.

Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Performance Business Credit Card

The Southwest Performance Business card is a heavy hitter for frequent Southwest travelers, especially if you often purchase WiFi during your flights. This card currently offers a welcome bonus of 80,000 points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening and an additional 40,000 points when you spend $15,000 in nine months, worth $1,680 based on Business Insider's valuations.

This card has the highest annual fee out of all Southwest credit cards, at $199. In exchange, you get a slew of benefits that are worth significantly more than what you pay, assuming you can utilize most of them.

You'll earn Rapid Rewards points at the following rates:

4x on Southwest purchases
3x on Rapid Rewards hotel and car partners
2x on rideshare
2x on social media and search engine advertising
2x on internet, cable, and phone services
1 point per dollar on everything else

You get 365 inflight WiFi credits with the Southwest Performance card. This is one of the most unique (and generous) perks for inflight WiFi across all airlines and credit cards. You'll still earn rewards for each $8 WiFi purchase, but receive it back in the form of a statement credit on your next bill. And the high number of annual WiFi credits available means that you can connect your cellphone, iPad, and laptop on every flight (if you so desire) without ever running out of credits.

You'll also earn 9,000 Rapid Rewards points each year on your card renewal anniversary; 1,500 tier-qualifying points toward A-List elite status for every $5,000 spent on the card; $100 Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee credit; four complimentary upgraded boardings per year when available; and a boost of 10,000 Companion Pass qualifying points each calendar year.

Read more about this card in our Southwest Performance Business card review .

Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Premier Business Credit Card

The Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Premier Business Credit Card is a strong choice for business travelers who occasionally fly on this airline, especially if you can make use of the welcome bonus: 50,000 points after you spend $1,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.

For a $99, you'll get many of the same benefits as the Performance card with slightly lower earning rates:

2x on Rapid Rewards hotel and car partners
2x on rideshares
1 per dollar on everything else

Cardholders get two EarlyBird Check-Ins per year, 25% back on inflight purchases, 1,500 tier-qualifying points toward A-List elite status for every $5,000 spent on the card, and a boost of 10,000 Companion Pass qualifying points each calendar year. They also receive 6,000 Rapid Rewards points each year on their card renewal anniversary.

Read more in our Southwest Premier Business card review .

Booking flights with the Southwest Companion Pass

As a Companion Pass holder, you can book your flight to your desired destination using cash or points. Once your flight is confirmed, you can add your companion for the same flight online, through the Southwest mobile app, or by calling Southwest customer service.

There's no limit to how often you can use the Companion Pass — as long as you're flying and there's at least one spare seat on the plane, you can book it for your travel buddy.

How to designate your Southwest companion

Once you earn the Companion Pass, you can designate your travel companion in the Southwest system. The good news is that you can change to a different companion up to three times per calendar year for a total of four separate companions if you so choose. This means that you can bring along different friends for different trips if you plan your strategy correctly.

Before you start scouring the Southwest site for your next bestie adventure, you must first register your designated companion on your Southwest Rapid Rewards account.

To do so, log into your Rapid Rewards account at Southwest and click Choose Your Companion under the Snapshot tab. Enter all of the requested information about your companion until the process is complete. A Companion Pass member kit and membership card will arrive within 10 business days.

You don't need to wait for your Companion Pass member kit to arrive in the mail before you start booking tickets. In fact, you don't really need the pass itself at all; you can add a companion to any flight you've already booked for yourself directly through the app or the website, and they will receive a confirmation number and boarding pass just like any other passenger.

Add your companion to a reservation

Once your own flight is booked, visit the My Trips section of your account. Find your flight in the section titled "Upcoming" and click on the "Add Companion" link. Here, click "Continue" to proceed to the next step where you can purchase your companion fare and review the information. Once you hit the "Purchase" button to complete your booking reservation, you're all set.

You can also book via phone and notify the customer service representative that you will be using a Companion Pass.

How to change your designated companion

You cannot switch your companion online yourself; instead, you need to speak with Southwest directly at 800-435-9792. The process is straightforward: A customer representative will take the information about your new designated companion and make the switch.

You cannot book new travel with your next companion until all travel with your current companion is complete. For example, if you're traveling to New York with your sister in August, but want to fly to Los Angeles with your spouse in September, you cannot add your spouse as your companion until your trip in August is completed.

If you use points and need to cancel for any reason, all of your points will be restored to your account.

What is the Southwest Companion Pass worth?

Southwest is largely a domestic and Caribbean airline, but it also serves many popular destinations such as Mexico, Aruba, the Bahamas, Hawaii, and Costa Rica. The value you'll get from the Southwest Companion Pass depends entirely on how often you and your travel companion fly Southwest. You could easily save tens of thousands of dollars with this perk.

Southwest points are worth 1.4 cents each toward flights, on average, based on Business Insider's current points and miles valuations . But the Companion Pass can effectively double the value of your points.

Once you've successfully earned the 125,000 additional points necessary to qualify for the Companion Pass (again, the qualification is 135,000 points, but Southwest cardholders get a 10,000-mile boost), you'll have enough points for at least $1,750 in Southwest flights: 125,000 points x 1.4 cents each.

The Companion Pass allows you to bring along another person for just the cost of taxes and fees, meaning you could potentially get $3,500 in flights ($1,750 x 2) just from the points you earned to qualify for the pass.

Southwest Companion Pass frequently asked questions

To earn the Southwest Companion Pass, you must earn 135,000 qualifying points or fly 100 qualifying flights within a calendar year.

Yes, you can change your designated companion up to three times each year for a total of four distinct companions.

You'll still need to pay mandatory taxes and fees on Companion Pass flights, which typically cost just $5.60 on one-way direct flights within the U.S.

Yes, the Companion Pass can be used for both domestic and international flights offered by Southwest Airlines.

Plan your travel well in advance, consider weekend getaways and vacations, and keep an eye on Southwest sales and promotions to stretch the value of your pass even further.

The Southwest Companion Pass is one of the best travel benefits in the industry. If you hold a Southwest Companion Pass, you can bring one designated travel companion on any Southwest flight you take for just the cost of taxes and fees, as long as there's at least one extra seat on the plane. The Companion Pass works on both paid flights and award travel.

Southwest companion fares are almost free — you'll only pay for any associated taxes and fees, which are often as low as $5.60 on most domestic one-way direct flights. Taxes and fees must be paid in cash.

After you earn the Southwest Companion Pass, you'll see a banner in the center of your account page prompting you to designate a travel companion. Once you do so, you'll see your Companion Pass badge and companion name on the right side of your account page.

You can earn the Southwest Companion Pass through the year following the one in which you earn the required 135,000 points or complete your 100th flight. Thus, you'll earn the Companion Pass for nearly two full years if you can complete the requirements in January each year.

The Southwest Companion Pass is unlimited. You can bring your designated companion on any flight that you take yourself, as long as there's an extra seat on the plane. You can even use the Companion Pass on Southwest award flights booked with Rapid Rewards points.

The Companion Pass can be used for both domestic and international travel on Southwest Airlines.

Your companion cannot fly on a companion fare unless you are on the same flights, but they can still book their own travel through Southwest as a regular passenger. If you want to travel one leg with a companion but go your separate ways later on, book two one-way tickets instead of a round-trip ticket.

Why You Should Trust Us: How We Evaluated the Southwest Companion Pass

Our travel experts at Business Insider have been Southwest Companion Passholders since the early 2010s, utilizing their own passes to bring friends and family across the nation on leisure, business, and other personal travel. We've compiled our best tips and tricks into this guide to help you do the same.

Editorial Note: Any opinions, analyses, reviews, or recommendations expressed in this article are the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any card issuer. Read our editorial standards .

Please note: While the offers mentioned above are accurate at the time of publication, they're subject to change at any time and may have changed, or may no longer be available.

**Enrollment required.

Watch: Thousands of bags pile up at US airports after flight cancellations

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How to Earn the Southwest Companion Pass [2024]

Travis Cormier, Chief Operating Officer at 10xTravel

Updated: June 3, 2024

10xTravel is part of an affiliate sales network and receives compensation for sending traffic to partner sites, such as CreditCards.com. This compensation may impact how and where links appear on this site. This site does not include all financial companies or all available financial offers. Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Enrollment may be required for select American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more.

Note: Some of the offers mentioned below may have changed or may no longer be available. The content on this page is accurate as of the posting date; however, some of our partner offers may have expired. You can view current offers here .

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The leaves are changing colors, football is back, and companies are putting pumpkin spice in every product imaginable. This can only mean one thing: rise and shine earlybird, because Southwest Companion Pass season is here!

Pay attention to the strategy below. There’s some important information, details, and dates that you need to follow in order to secure your coveted Southwest Companion Pass.

What is the Southwest Companion Pass?

The Southwest Companion Pass (often abbreviated as “CP” or “SWCP”) is one of the most valuable companion tickets available. The SWCP is offered by none other than Southwest Airlines, allowing you to bring a companion on any Southwest flight you fly–just cover the taxes and fees.

The Companion Pass is good for the year you earn it and the following year; if you earn it in December 2023, it will expire at the end of 2024. Early birds who earn it in February 2024, will have until the end of 2025.

Think of it like a plus-one invite for any of your Southwest flights. If you’re physically on the plane, you can bring your companion with you. You can use it in virtually any scenario:

Tickets booked with points or cash
No blackout dates
No limits on the number of times you can use it

There are only a few restrictions: you cannot use it if you are flying as someone else’s companion, and you can only have one person designated as your companion.

You can change your companion up to three times per calendar year, but you’ll have to cancel any future companion bookings you already have in order to do so (Southwest’s services won’t do it automatically).

How to Earn the Southwest Companion Pass

If you’re wondering how to get the Southwest Companion Pass, there are two ways:

Fly on 100 Southwest flights in a calendar year
Earn 135,000 qualifying Rapid Rewards Points in a calendar year

The calendar year is an important stipulation. The clock resets on Jan. 1, meaning any progress made in 2023 won’t count towards 2024.

The easiest way to earn the Companion Pass is through earning 135,000 qualifying Southwest Rapid Rewards Points.

Unless you plan on flying Southwest 2x per week for a year, their credit cards are your only chance at earning a Companion Pass

You don’t have to redeem your points to get the Companion Pass. Once you earn 135,000 points it is simply given to you automatically. You still have those points to redeem for flights. You may also spend the points before earning your pass, you just have to earn 135,000 in one calendar year. You don’t have to have a balance of 135,000 points at one time.

Listen to the Takeoff Podcast

Want to hear the team discuss the Southwest Companion Pass and how to maximize its benefits? Check out Episode 10: Unlocking the Power of the Southwest Companion Pass , where the team will help you understand the ins and outs of the Companion Pass.

How to Use Southwest Credit Cards to Speed up the Process

The easiest way to speed up earning the Southwest Companion Pass is with Southwest Credit Cards. There are five different credit cards all issued by Chase.

Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card

Bonus Points

after spending $1,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.

Annual Fee: $99

Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card

Annual Fee: $69

Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card

Annual Fee: $149

Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Premier Business Credit Card

bonus points

after you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening and an additional 60,000 points when you spend $15,000 in 9 months.

Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Performance Business Credit Card

after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening and an additional 40,000 points when you spend $15,000 in 9 months.

Annual Fee: $199

The information for the Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier Credit Card has been collected independently by 10XTravel.com. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

Follow these steps exactly to earn 135,000 Companion Pass qualifying points. Be sure you read and fully understand them before doing anything.

Step 1: Open a Southwest Business Credit Card and a Southwest Personal Credit Card

These cards typically offer a bonus of 40,000 to 80,000 points after you meet the minimum spending requirement. You can earn 80,000 to 120,000 points on the bonuses of two cards alone.

You must follow some rules to be eligible for the offers.

To earn a bonus on a personal Southwest credit card all of the following statements must be true:

You have not earned a bonus on any Southwest personal card in the past 24 months
You do not currently have a Southwest personal credit card

These restrictions don’t apply to business cards, leaving two options: open one personal and one business card, or open two business cards.

The Chase 5/24 rule applies to Southwest cards. Approvals are impossible if you’ve opened five or more personal credit cards in the previous 24 months.

All Southwest Cards have annual fees that aren’t waived the first year. But let’s keep some perspective here: the fees are a small fraction of the value you gain from the Companion Pass.

Be sure to add your existing Southwest loyalty account number when applying. Otherwise, you will get a loyalty account made for you and the account numbers may not match.

The strategy is to open the Southwest Business card and one of the three Southwest personal cards.

Step 2: Earn the remaining qualification points needed

You might need to earn a few extra points to get all of the 135,000 points needed.

This can be done using a combination of the following options:

Spend on your Southwest Credit Card
Refer others to open a Southwest Card
Fly on a paid Southwest flight
Take advantage of Partner Offers and Promotions

Spending on your Southwest Credit Card

Just like the bonus from your Southwest cards count, any points you earn from regular spending on your Southwest Credit card count towards Companion Pass. Remember that only points earned in the same calendar year count, so any spending in late 2023 won’t count unless it posts to your account in January 2024.

Don’t let this distract you though. You’ll want that bonus in 2024. That’s where the bulk of your points come from.

Refer Others

You can refer others to a Southwest Card. Referral points count towards Companion Passes. Check to see that the referral offer matches the offer that is publicly available, as they aren’t always the same.

Fly on a Paid Southwest Flight

If you pay cash for a ticket on Southwest you’ll earn Rapid Rewards points that count towards a Companion Pass.

Partner Offers and Promotions

You can earn points that count towards the Southwest Companion Pass with a number of partner offers and services:

Shopping and Dining Partners
Home & Lifestyle Partners
Southwest Hotel Partners
Rental Car Partners

Be sure to pay attention to when the points count towards Companion Pass earning. Some count based on the purchase date, and some count when the points post to your account.

Keep in mind that if you choose to earn points from hotel or rental car partners, you won’t earn points with those partner programs.

What Doesn’t Earn You Points

It’s important to understand that certain activities do NOT earn Companion Pass qualifying points. The following activity does not count toward Companion Pass:

Purchased points
Transferred/gifted points
Points earned from program enrollment
Tier bonus points
Promotion bonus points (with the exception of credit cards and Refer-a-Company promotion)
Flight bonus loyalty points
Partner bonus points (with the exception of the Rapid Rewards Credit Cards)
Points transferred from Chase Ultimate Rewards
Partner program transfers
Purchased promotional tier qualifying points

In simplest terms, points purchased or transferred to the Rapid Rewards program are not Companion Pass qualifying points.

Why You Should Time Your Southwest Companion Pass

Timing your Southwest Companion Pass impacts the length you have your Companion Pass.

As a reminder, you have to earn 135,000 qualifying Rapid Rewards points in a calendar year. This is not a rolling 12-month period, but instead runs from Jan. 1 through Dec. 31. Any points that post in 2023 don’t count toward earning your Companion Pass in 2024.

You must be diligent in not going over your minimum spends until Jan. 1, 2024.

Every year we see people meeting their minimum spends early by accident. Here are some ways to avoid common mistakes:

Don’t add your cards to mobile wallets.
Don’t add your cards as a saved payment method anywhere (including Amazon, Walmart, etc.).
Don’t open an authorized user card and give it to someone–too often a P2 is “being helpful” and causes people to go over their minimum spend early.

We recommend getting within $500 of the minimum spend and then stashing the card away until Jan. 1, 2024.

Introducing Companion Pass Mode in My10x

You can now enable our new Companion Pass Mode in your free My10x account. You’ll be guided through the process of earning the Companion Pass and receive automated notifications and reminders that guide you step-by-step through the process. Sign up or log in to your My10x account here .

How to Check Your Point Balance

You should regularly check in on your Companion Pass progress by accessing your Rapid Rewards account. You want to be sure your bonus points don’t post early, so check often to be safe.

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How to Use a Southwest Companion Pass

You may be wondering, how does the Southwest Companion Pass work? Using the Companion Pass is rather easy. Simply designate your companion, book a flight for yourself, then add your companion to the booking.

You and your companion can also board together, except in the following circumstances:

Purchased a Business Select® fare
Purchased Upgraded Boarding
Added the companion after they had been assigned a boarding position
Changed a flight on their day of travel
Was impacted by a flight delay or cancellation

How to Designate a Companion

After earning your Companion Pass, you designate your companion online. Navigate to your account page where you’ll find the option to designate your companion.

How to Change Your Southwest Companion

You can change your companion up to three times per year. To make changes, call 1-800-435-9792.

You cannot change your companion if you have your companion on existing bookings. If you have upcoming flights with one person, but have later flights where you want another companion you’ll need to wait until the earlier flights are finished before changing your companion.

How to Book Flights Using the Pass

Booking a companion ticket is easy. Here are step-by-step instructions to guide you through the process. You’ll still have to pay taxes and fees for your companion’s ticket as well, starting at $5.60.

Making the Most of Your Companion Pass

There are many ways to make the most of your Companion Pass. Southwest frequently offers sales, saving you cash and points on your ticket.

Don’t forget to make use of Southwest’s change policy. Southwest doesn’t charge fees to change flights, and you can get a refund if you change to a flight with a lower fare. If your flight becomes cheaper later, you can still change to the lower fare to save more. To do this you’ll have to first cancel your companion’s ticket, then change your flight, then re-add your companion.

Another way to make the most is to take international trips with Southwest . Southwest flies to a number of international destinations including some Caribbean islands, Mexico, and Central America. You can see Southwest’s destinations on their route map .

Finally, keep an eye out for discounts on new routes. Southwest often has promotional fares when launching new routes.

Want to hear the team discuss the Southwest Companion Pass and how to get the most out of it? Check out Episode 10: Unlocking the Power of the Southwest Companion Pass , where the team will help you understand the ins and outs of the Companion Pass.

Is the Southwest Companion Pass Worth it?

Many people find the Southwest Companion Pass to be worth it. It virtually doubles the value of your Southwest points, and opens up easy travel across the U.S. and nearby destinations.

Nevertheless, some people don’t find value in the Companion Pass (and that’s OK!). Solo travelers obviously won’t get as much value as those who consistently travel with others.

Southwest has limited route services. Many travelers find Southwest to be an inconvenient option compared to other airlines.

Maybe you just can’t stand the Southwest boarding process.

Whatever the reason, you may not find the Companion Pass worth it to you. For many travelers, it provides great value.

Set Your Travel Plans in Motion Today

You can earn the Southwest Companion Pass by flying 100 Southwest flights or earning 135,000 Southwest Rapid Rewards points from qualifying activities in a calendar year. The easiest way to do this is with credit card welcome offers. By timing them right, you can get the Companion Pass for nearly two years.

Let’s boil everything down into five simple steps:

Open one of the Southwest Airlines Business Credit Cards and one of the three Southwest personal credit cards sometime in October, November or December. Business card first, then one of the personal cards 30+ days afterwards.
Cross the minimum spending requirements on both of your cards sometime after Jan. 1, 2024. Doing so before Jan. 1 could cause you to miss out on the CP entirely, so be careful.
Earn the remaining points until you reach the required 135,000 qualifying points for Companion Pass.
Once earned, choose who your Companion will be and start using the pass! Simply add it to any existing reservation in your name by clicking “Add Companion” in your Southwest account.
Your pass will be valid for the rest of the year and the entire following year. So get out there and use it!

While we would recommend waiting just a little bit longer to get started, in order to buy yourself a little bit of a buffer, if you start now just be aware of your narrower window to finish the spend in January!

New to the world of points and miles? The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is the best card to start with.

With a bonus of 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months of account opening. , 5x points on travel booked through the Chase Travel Portal and 3x points on restaurants, streaming services, and online groceries (excluding Target, Walmart, and wholesale clubs), this card truly cannot be beat for getting started!

Editors Note: Opinions expressed here are 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 within the post.

Chase Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card

bonus cash back

after you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening

Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

once you spend $4,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening

Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months of account opening.

American Express® Gold Card

Membership Rewards® Points

after you spend $6,000 on eligible purchases with your new Card within the first 6 months. Plus, receive 20% back in statement credits on eligible purchases made at restaurants worldwide within the first 6 months of Card Membership, up to $100 back. Limited time offer. Offer ends 11/6/24.

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How to qualify for the Southwest Companion Pass with one credit card sign-up bonus

Editor's Note

The Southwest Companion Pass allows you to bring a designated travel companion on all your Southwest flights, including paid and award tickets. The only out-of-pocket costs are any taxes and fees (which start at just $5.60 each way).

For frequent Southwest flyers, this can easily be worth thousands of dollars in annual value.

And now, with best-ever sign-up bonuses on both the Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Premier Business Credit Card and the Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Performance Business Credit Card , you can earn a Companion Pass through the end of 2025 by meeting the spending requirements on one of these cards.

Earn a Companion Pass with one card bonus

There are two ways to qualify for the Companion Pass: earning 135,000 qualifying points or taking 100 qualifying, one-way flights. You must meet either of these requirements in a calendar year.

Thankfully, Southwest's cobranded credit card welcome bonuses count toward the Companion Pass qualification requirement.

For a limited time, both these cards are offering up to 120,000 points to new applicants:

Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier Business Credit Card : Earn 60,000 points after you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening and an additional 60,000 points when you spend $15,000 in nine months.
Southwest Rapid Rewards Performance Business Credit Card : Earn 80,000 points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening and an additional 40,000 points when you spend $15,000 in nine months.

These are the best offers we've seen on these cards , and each one is worth a whopping $1,560 per TPG's June 2024 valuations . That's fantastic value for cards with reasonable annual fees ($99 for the Premier and $199 for the Performance). While the spending requirement is high, the payoff can be incredible.

If you get one of these cards now and meet the $15,000 spending requirement by the end of the year, you'll enjoy a Companion Pass through the rest of 2024 (after qualification) and all of 2025.

That's because you'll receive a total of 120,000 points from the tiered sign-up bonus. Plus, by spending $15,000, you'll also earn at least 15,000 points through the regular earning rate (or more points if your spend category earns more than 1 point per dollar).

Note that all Southwest credit cardholders also receive a boost of 10,000 Companion Pass qualifying points every year.

In other words, you'll finish with at least 135,000 redeemable Rapid Rewards points plus at least 145,000 qualifying points — thereby granting you a Companion Pass for the remainder of this year and all of 2025.

However, the timing of this is critical. Since the Companion Pass qualifying point restarts resets on Jan. 1, you'll want to ensure you reach the spending requirement — and have all your points posted — before the new year. That means you must hit the $15,000 spending threshold before your December statement closes, though to be safe, you should aim to do so by October or November.

Related: How to quickly earn the Southwest Companion Pass

Other notable card perks

As a Southwest Premier Business cardholder, you'll also receive these benefits:

Two EarlyBird check-in passes per year
1,500 tier qualifying points toward A-List status for every $5,000 you spend on the card
Up to a $500 fee credit per year for transferring your points to another Rapid Rewards member's account
25% back on inflight purchases
No foreign transaction fees
6,000 bonus points every year on your cardmember anniversary

Meanwhile, the Southwest Performance Card offers the following perks:

Four Upgraded Boardings per year (subject to availability)
Up to 365 inflight Wi-Fi credits per year
Up to $100 free credit for Global Entry, TSA PreCheck or Nexus every four years
9,000 bonus points every year on your cardmember anniversary

Here's a comparison of the earning rates on the two cards:

As you can see, the Performance card has some slightly higher (and an expanded list of) earning rates plus some notable added benefits. However, deciding if those are worth the additional $100 in annual fees is up to you.

Who qualifies for Southwest business card sign-up bonuses?

Knowing if you qualify for a bonus is important before applying for either card. For starters, these cards are subject to Chase's 5/24 rule. You'll likely be denied immediately if you've been approved for five (or more) new credit cards across all issuers over the last 24 months.

In addition, both cards have the same language for these offers:

"This new cardmember bonus offer is not available to either (i) current cardmembers of this business credit card, or (ii) previous cardmembers of this business credit card who received a new cardmember bonus for this business credit card within the last 24 months."

However, the Premier and Performance cards are treated as different products — which means you could get approved for one if you have the other.

Finally, you may not need a formal business to get approved for one of the cards. If you have a side gig or are just getting started as a sole proprietor, you may qualify for a business card with just your Social Security number — though be sure to read our guide on how to complete a Chase business card application for more details.

Related: 9 reasons to get a business credit card

Get extra points to use with Southwest

You can transfer Chase Ultimate Rewards points from cards like the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card or Chase Sapphire Reserve® to Southwest Rapid Rewards at a 1:1 ratio. However, unlike the points earned from the Southwest cobranded credit cards, these points do not count toward earning the Companion Pass.

That said, you can transfer those points to Southwest and have even more Rapid Rewards points at the ready to "pay" for your tickets, and then your designated companion can come for just the taxes and fees.

Related: Your complete guide to maximizing Southwest Rapid Rewards

Bottom line

With the current welcome bonuses on the Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier Business Credit Card and the Southwest Rapid Rewards Performance Business Credit Card , you can qualify for the Companion Pass with no flight requirements if you apply (and are approved) for one of the cards and complete the spending requirement by the end of the year.

As a reminder, you can change your companion up to three times in a calendar year, but not until you've completed all travel with your current companion.

To learn more about the cards, read our full reviews of the Premier Business and Performance Business .

Apply here: Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier Business Credit Card and Southwest Rapid Rewards Performance Business Credit Card

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Alaska Airlines Visa Signature® credit card

British airways visa signature® card, delta skymiles® platinum american express card, delta skymiles® reserve american express card, aadvantage® aviator® red world elite mastercard®, miles & more® world elite mastercard®, other cards that might help you.

There’s nothing wrong with traveling solo. But sometimes, adventures are more fun with a co-pilot.

Of course, that usually means double the airfare — unless you have an airline credit card that can help cover the cost for your family member, buddy or significant other.

It’s not an easy benefit to find, but here are some cards that can help you score a companion ticket.

Our pick for: Overall value

Bank of America Alaska Airlines Visa® Credit Card

The benefit: Companion Fare

How you get it: By spending more than $6,000 on eligible purchases in the previous cardmember anniversary year. (You can also earn the benefit before your first anniversary if you meet the sign-up bonus criteria. See below.). The card’s annual fee is $95 .

Details: The Alaska Airlines Visa Signature® credit card is a Nerdy favorite, and for good reason. For starters, it offers a generous sign-up bonus: Buy one ticket, get one for just the taxes and fees ($0 fare plus taxes and fees from $23) and get 50,000 bonus miles with this offer. To qualify, make $3,000 or more in purchases within the first 90 days of opening your account.

But in addition to that upfront bonus, you'll also qualify for a Companion Fare on your cardmember anniversary date when you make $6,000 in eligible purchases during the prior cardmember year. You must book the flight through alaskaair.com, and you’ll have to redeem within 12 months from the date the Companion Fare is issued. (If you've held the card since before January 2023, the $6,000 spending requirement might not apply. See here for more .)

MORE: Full review of the Alaska Airlines Visa Signature® credit card

Our pick for: Big spenders

The benefit: Travel Together Ticket

How you get it: By spending more than $30,000 in purchases in a calendar year. The card’s annual fee is $95 .

Details: You’ll have to be a big spender to snag the British Airways Visa Signature® Card ’s Travel Together Ticket. But with it, you’ll get a seat for a companion on your British Airways flight — regardless of what cabin you’re in — when you book an award flight that originates from and returns to the U.S.

The Travel Together Ticket is valid for two years. But be aware that you’ll owe taxes and fees on it, and that British Airways has notoriously high carrier surcharges .

The British Airways Visa Signature® Card offers a sign-up bonus, phrased this way: Earn 85,000 Avios after you spend $5,000 on purchases within the first three months of account opening.

» MORE: Full review of the British Airways Visa Signature® Card

Our pick for: Delta devotees

Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card

The benefit: Companion certificate

How you get it: Annually, once you renew your card. Terms apply. The card's annual fee is $350 .

Details: With this card, you’ll score a companion certificate for main cabin domestic, Caribbean or Central American round-trip flights to select destinations each year (less taxes and fees of no more than $80 for domestic flights, and $250 for international flights). Terms apply ( see rates and fees ).

You’ll have to book and complete travel by the date that’s listed on the front of the certificate.

» MORE: Full review of the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card

Our pick for: Flying in luxury

How you get it: Annually, once you renew your card. Terms apply. The card's annual fee is $650 .

Details: Unlike some other companion certificates, the one that comes with the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card is not limited to coach tickets. It's good for one round-trip domestic, Caribbean or Central American flight (to select destinations) in first class, Delta Comfort+ or main cabin for your travel companion (minus taxes and fees of no more than $80 for round-trip domestic flights, or $250 for international flights). However, you and the person using the certificate must be flying in the same fare class. Terms apply ( see rates and fees ).

» MORE: Full review of the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card

Our pick for: Avid American Airlines flyers

AAdvantage® Aviator® Red World Elite Mastercard®

The benefit: Companion Certificate

How you get it: Every anniversary year you hold the card, but only after you spend $20,000 on purchases in that year. (You can also earn the benefit before your first anniversary if you meet the introductory bonus criteria. See below.) The card's annual fee is $99 .

Details: This Companion Certificate is good for one round-trip qualifying domestic economy fare ticket for a guest at a cost of $99 plus taxes and fees, which range between $21.60 and $43.20, per the card's terms and conditions.

This card occasionally offers its pass both as an introductory perk, as well as one that you can earn each year after that. The introductory version, when available, is easier to attain because it requires only that you make your first purchase (any amount) in the first 90 days and also pay the $99 annual fee. But the anniversary certificate, in successive years, requires that you put $20,000 in eligible purchases on the card during the card membership year.

The certificate is good for one year from when it's issued. Other restrictions apply.

» MORE: Review of the AAdvantage® Aviator® Red World Elite Mastercard®

Aer Lingus Visa Signature® Card

Our pick for: traveling to ireland.

The benefit: Companion ticket

How you get it: Each calendar year that you make purchases of $30,000 on your card. The card's annual fee is $95 .

Details: When you reach the required spending threshold with the Aer Lingus Visa Signature® Card , you'll receive an economy companion ticket good for 12 months. The ticket is valid for Aer Lingus-operated flights only, but unlike many other companion tickets, you will not pay any taxes or fees on it.

» MORE: Full review of the Aer Lingus Visa Signature® Card

Our pick for: Lufthansa loyalists

Barclaycard Miles & More® World Elite Mastercard®

How you get it: After your first use of the card for a purchase, and then on your cardmember anniversary each year thereafter. The card's annual fee is $89 .

Details: With the Miles & More® World Elite Mastercard® , you'll be eligible for an economy-class companion ticket upon your first use of the card and every year following, as long as the account stays open and in good standing. Be aware that you must book by phone, and also that the companion ticket is subject to restrictions, plus taxes and fees . In addition, you may also face a weekend surcharge of around $60 round trip.

» MORE: Full review of the Miles & More® World Elite Mastercard®

Our pick for: Fans of Southwest Airlines

Chase Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card

The Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card , along with the airline's other co-branded cards, can give you a head start on earning a coveted Southwest Companion Pass thanks to their sign-up bonuses. Periodically, those bonuses will include access to a Companion Pass. The current offer: Earn 50,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.

All three co-branded Southwest consumer cards offer the same sign-up bonus, but the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card has the lowest annual fee among them, at $69 . Unless it's part of your sign-up bonus, you’ll need 135,000 points total in a calendar year to secure a Companion Pass, which lets you choose one traveler to fly for free with you (minus taxes and fees) each time you purchase or redeem points for a Southwest flight. A Companion Pass is good from the date it’s earned through the next full calendar year.

» MORE: Which Southwest Airlines credit card should I get?

Our pick for: Spirit superfans

The Free Spirit® Travel More World Elite Mastercard® doesn't offer an outright companion pass or ticket, but it does feature a way to snag a discount for your flight buddy, thanks to its Companion Flight Voucher, worth $100. Currently, you can score the voucher as part of the card's introductory sign-up bonus: Earn 50,000 Bonus Points + $100 Flight Voucher after making at least $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening. But you can also earn a $100 Companion Flight Voucher every anniversary of your card ownership after you make at least $5,000 in purchases on the card within the previous year. The guest must be traveling on the same itinerary, and your flights need to be booked at the same time via Spirit.com, using the Free Spirit® Travel More World Elite Mastercard® . You have 12 months to use the voucher from the date it's issued.

» MORE: Full review of the Free Spirit® Travel More World Elite Mastercard®

Our pick for: Traveling to Spain

The Iberia Visa Signature® Card does not offer a companion pass or companion ticket per se. But for each year you make purchases of $30,000 on your card, you will earn a potentially valuable discount voucher of $1,000 to use toward two tickets on the same flight. There are several restrictions — most notably, you must be purchasing two tickets for the same flight in the same class of travel. But assuming you can meet the terms, that's a sizable discount on a vacation to Spain. The card's annual fee is $95 .

» MORE: Full review of the Iberia Visa Signature® Card

Our pick for: Traveling to Hawaii

You won't get a companion ticket outright with the Hawaiian Airlines® World Elite Mastercard® . But what you will get is a one-time 50% discount off round-trip coach airfare between Hawaii and North America for a companion in the first 13 months that you have the card. And once you hit your first anniversary as a cardholder, you'll also snag a $100 discount on a companion ticket annually, also good for round-trip travel between Hawaii and North America. The card charges a $0 introductory annual fee the first year, then $99 after that.

» MORE: Review of the Hawaiian Airlines® World Elite Mastercard®

Our pick for: Maximum flexibility

The Chase Sapphire Reserve® card doesn’t come with a companion pass, but it does come with a $300 annual travel credit and a broad range of categories toward which that credit can be used, including airfare. That can go a long way toward offsetting the cost of a travel companion’s ticket when you book it with your card. Of course, the Chase Sapphire Reserve® also comes with a hefty annual fee of $550 , so keep that mind when considering whether the card is right for you.

» MORE: Full review of the Chase Sapphire Reserve®

To view rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card , see this page . To view rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card , see this page .

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COMMENTS

Companion Pass
Companion Pass is the benefit that allows you to choose one person to fly with you, free of airline charges (does not include taxes and fees from $5.60 one-way) unlimited times whenever you purchase or redeem points for a flight. To qualify, simply fly 100 qualifying one-way flights or earn 135,000 qualifying points 1,3 in a calendar year.
Complete Guide to the Southwest Companion Pass
A Rapid Rewards member needs to fly 100 qualifying one-way flights or earn 135,000 Companion Pass-qualifying points in a calendar year to earn the Companion Pass.
The Ultimate Guide to the Southwest Companion Pass [2024]
The Southwest Companion Pass allows you to add a companion to any Southwest ticket. All you need to do is pay the taxes and fees for the companion which are $5.60 for a one-way flight within the U.S. ($11.20 round-trip). Taxes and fees are higher on international flights, averaging ~$75 each way.
Companion Pass
Travel by 11/20/24. Companion flies free with you 1/6-3/6/2025. Now you can pay with cash, points, and Cash + Points.** ... No Rapid Rewards points nor tier or Companion Pass qualifying points will be awarded for flights taken by the Companion when flying on a promotional Companion Pass or Companion Pass reservation. You may change your ...
Southwest Airlines Rewards Travelers With The Return Of Companion Pass
The travel for this booking must occur between September 3 and November 20, 2024 (the travel period) to meet the promotion's terms. Once eligible, travelers will earn a promotional Companion Pass. They will be notified via email within 10 days of flying. Once the pass is awarded to their account on January 6, 2025, they can designate a companion.
Southwest Companion Pass Tips
Companion Pass. Log in to your Rapid Rewards account at Southwest.com. On your Snapshot tab, locate Choose Your Companion, click Enter Companion Info, and follow the posted instructions. Or if you'd prefer, give us a call at 1-800-435-9792. Once you complete the designation process, a Companion Pass Member kit and membership card will arrive ...
Managing Your Companion Pass
To designate your Companion online, log in to your Rapid Rewards ® account on Southwest.com and click on My Account at the top of your screen. When you're eligible to designate your Companion online, you'll find a Choose Your Companion section. Click Enter Companion info link and follow the instructions. Change your Companion:
Earning & Using the Southwest Companion Pass
Get 10,000 bonus points toward earning the Companion Pass: After raising the requirements to earn the Pass this fall, Southwest will deposit 10,000 Companion Pass-qualifying points in your account at the start of each calendar year starting in 2023. Earn 4x Rapid Rewards Points: Per dollar spent on Southwest purchases.
How To Earn & Use The Southwest Companion Pass
With Southwest Companion Pass, qualifying Rapid Rewards members can take a travel companion with them on Southwest flights an unlimited number of times over the course of a membership year, by paying just the taxes and fees (which start at $5.60 one-way) for that person. ... The process of booking travel with the Companion Pass is about as easy ...
5 Best Ways to Redeem the Southwest Companion Pass [2024]
Recently, Southwest ran a sale that included one-way flights from Orlando to Aruba for only 8,784 Rapids Rewards points. For flights that would normally cost $384 for 2 people, this was a great deal with the Companion Pass. You also could have booked a one-way flight from Atlanta to Cancun for 7,992 Rapid Rewards points.
How to earn and use the Southwest Companion Pass
THE POINTS GUY. To earn the Southwest Companion Pass, you have two options: Earn 135,000 qualifying points or complete 100 qualifying one-way flights within a calendar year. You can earn qualifying points through various means, such as by flying with Southwest or engaging with its partners.
Southwest Companion Pass: Earn Free Travel Through 2025 With One Card
If you choose a companion when you earn the pass in 2024, you can rotate through four separate companions before the end of the year, then another four in 2025 if you so choose. You cannot switch ...
How to Add a Companion Pass on Southwest
If you can't find the email or didn't get one, you can also designate your companion by logging into your Southwest Rapid Rewards account and heading to your account dashboard. There should be a ...
Southwest Airlines Launches Limited-Time Companion Pass Offer
08-28-2023 02:12 PM. Today, Southwest Airlines launches a special promotional Companion Pass ® offer for Rapid Rewards ® Members ready to take flight with a family member, friend, or loved one. Qualifying Customers can designate their Companion and travel with their Companion Pass, valid for unlimited usage from January 8 through March 8 ...
The Pros and Cons of Southwest's Companion Pass
The pros of the Southwest Companion Pass. You don't need us to tell you that getting a two-for-one deal (plus taxes and fees, which start at just $5.60) on flights for at least a year is a sweet ...
Tiers & More Companion Pass
To qualify, simply fly 100 qualifying one-way flights or earn 135,000 qualifying points* in a calendar year, and you'll earn Companion Pass for the following full calendar year, plus the remainder of the year in which you earned it. Learn more about how to earn tier status or Companion Pass for 2023.
15 lessons from 15 years of having the Southwest Companion Pass
Earn the pass in November 2024, and it will still expire on Dec. 31, 2025, giving you only 15 months to use it. If you earn the pass this year, for example, in December 2023, it will expire on Dec. 31, 2024. That's just 13 months at most with the pass. So, now is the perfect time to start working on earning the pass.
Southwest Airlines Brings Back its Limited-Time Companion Pass Promotion!
Back for a limited time is Southwest Airlines' highly coveted Companion Pass ® promotion. Our Companion Pass allows Rapid Rewards ®1 Members to designate one person to fly with them for free 2 every time the Member purchases or redeems points for a flight.. We love offering this Companion Pass promotion because it allows our Members to experience one of the many benefits of our award ...
Southwest brings back buy-one, get-one-free Companion Pass promotion
To qualify for the pass, the rewards member must book one qualifying round-trip or two one-way tickets by 11:59 p.m. CT on September 5, 2024, for travel from now through November 20, 2024.
How to Earn the Southwest Companion Pass
The easiest way to earn the Companion Pass is through earning 135,000 qualifying Southwest Rapid Rewards Points. Unless you plan on flying Southwest 2x per week for a year, their credit cards are your only chance at earning a Companion Pass. You don't have to redeem your points to get the Companion Pass.
How to qualify for the Southwest Companion Pass with one credit card
The Southwest Companion Pass allows you to bring a designated travel companion on all your Southwest flights, including paid and award tickets. The only out-of-pocket costs are any taxes and fees (which start at just $5.60 each way). For frequent Southwest flyers, this can easily be worth thousands of dollars in annual value.
Southwest Companion Pass: Why You Want It and How to Get It
As of Jan. 1, 2023, you'll need to earn 135,000 qualifying points in a calendar year in order to get your hands on a Companion Pass (previously 125,000). But all Rapid Rewards credit card ...
Top Airline Credit Cards With Companion Tickets
The Free Spirit® Travel More World Elite Mastercard® doesn't offer an outright companion pass or ticket, but it does feature a way to snag a discount for your flight buddy, thanks to its ...