How to Earn the Southwest Companion Pass
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In 2024, we took over 15 FREE flights thanks to our Southwest Companion Pass. All we had to cover was the taxes for $5.60 per flight-- talk about BOGO!
The content listed on this page is accurate as of its posting date; however some offers mentioned may have expired.
So, you’ve heard about the Southwest Companion Pass, huh?
That magical, unicorn-like pass that lets you fly a buddy for free (just pay taxes) every time you buy a ticket. It sounds too good to be true, but we’re here to let you in on a little secret—it’s very real, and with the right credit card strategy, you can snag it for yourself! 😍💳✈️
Last year, we scored our Companion Pass using this exact method, and it has completely changed the way we travel. We're not talking a couple of flights—we’ve booked over 15 Companion Pass flights to places like Florida, Mexico, Colorado, and California, and guess what? All of 2024 and 2025 are BOGO flying years for us!
So, trust us, this is 100% doable.
Here’s how you can earn it too, even if you’re slightly concerned about opening credit cards.
What Exactly Is the Southwest Companion Pass?
Before we dive into how to get it, let’s break it down. ⤵️
The Southwest Companion Pass allows you to pick one lucky person to fly with you for free—on every flight you book, including both paid and award tickets. Once you earn it, it’s good for the rest of the calendar year and the entire next year. That means if you time this right… you’ll get almost two years of BOGO flying.
🔑 The key to unlocking this golden ticket 🔓 is flying 100 qualifying one-way flights or racking up 135,000 Southwest points, but don’t panic—we're definitely not flying that many times nor are we talking about loads of spending. You can do it pretty fast with the right credit card strategy: credit card welcome offers. 🔥
Typically, the Southwest personal cards come in with a solid welcome bonus of around 50,000 points, while the business cards offer an even juicier 60,000 to 80,000 points.
But here’s the fun part—every now and then, those welcome offers get a boost, making it even easier to score the Companion Pass!
Now, opening just one card won’t get you there, so what’s the trick? You need to open two cards.
Since Chase doesn’t let you hold more than one personal Southwest card at a time, you’ll need to go with a combo of either: one personal and one business card, or if you’re feeling bold, two business cards.
First Things First: Are You Eligible for a Southwest Personal Credit Card?
Before we get too excited about all those free flights and Companion Pass perks, let’s make sure you’re actually eligible to apply for a Southwest personal credit card. No one likes rejection, especially from a credit card. 💔 So, here’s a quick checklist to see if you’re good to go:
Are you under the Chase 5/24 rule?
If you’ve opened 5 or more personal credit cards (from any bank) in the last 24 months, Chase will sadly say “no thanks” to your application. This rule is a big deal, so check your count before you apply.Have you received a sign-up bonus for a Southwest personal card in the last 24 months?
If you’ve snagged a sign-up bonus for a Southwest personal card in the last two years, you’ll have to sit this one out. Chase only lets you earn that sweet bonus once every 24 months. (P.S. Business cards don’t affect this—so don’t worry if you’ve gotten a bonus on one of those!) That being said, this is a fantastic time to bring in your Player Two if you have one! We take turns every two years getting our pass!Do you already have a Southwest personal card?
If you’re currently holding one of the Southwest personal cards, Chase won’t let you open another. But wait—if you earned the sign-up bonus over 2 years ago, you can cancel your card, wait 30 days, and then reopen it again to earn the bonus!Do you have a good credit score?
Before opening your Southwest card, be sure your credit score is looking good! If not, it might be worth working on that score before hitting the “apply” button.
If you passed this quick check, you’re in the clear! ✅ Time to apply and start planning those free flights with your soon-to-be Companion Pass.
Optimal Timeline: How to Time Opening Your Southwest Cards
⏱️ Timing is everything when it comes to earning the Southwest Companion Pass. You want to make sure the points from each card’s welcome bonus hit in the same calendar year to earn your BOGO flights.
Meaning: If you start this process in October & November of 2024, you want to hit the minimum spend on both cards in January of 2025 so all your welcome bonus points are earned in the same calendar year.
Here's the best tried-and-true strategy:
🍁 Late September – Early October: Start Planning
Do your research: Compare the different Southwest credit cards and decide which personal card (there are 3 to choose from) and which business card you’re interested in applying for.
Check your finances: Double-check that you can meet the minimum spend requirement comfortably (typically $3,000 per card within 3 months). 💡 REMEMBER: You want to meet the minimum spend on each card after January 1st to get your points counted toward the new year.
🎃 Mid October – Early November: Get for Your First Southwest Card
Timing the application: We suggest you apply for your first card (either personal or business) on or around October 15th. You want to get approved and start putting spend on the card before the year ends, but do not finish the minimum spend requirement until after January 1st.
Pro Tip: When you’re within ~$500 of meeting the minimum spend, put the card away! Hide it in a sock drawer (seriously) and set a reminder for yourself to start spending again in the new year!
⏰ 30 Days Later: Apply for Your Second Southwest Card
Get the second card: Apply for the second card in 30 days after you applied for your first card. Just like with the first card, make sure you don’t hit the minimum spend before the end of the year. Your goal is to get approved, start putting spend on the card, but wait to meet the minimum spend after January 1st.
❄️ January – February: Hit the Minimum Spend on Both Cards
Hit the minimum spend: Once the new year hits (hello, January! 👋), begin finishing the minimum spend on both cards. If you’re worried about keeping track of the minimum spend deadline, we use Travel Freely to keep track our deadlines for us, plus send automatic reminders to keep us on track!
Pro Tip: Southwest gives every account hold an additional 10,000 points toward Companion Pass every January. Keep an eye out— those points should hit by January 31st. Keep in mind, these are not points you can actually spend on award flights, but rather just an additional “boost” 🚀 to get you closer to the pass!
🥳 February(ish): You’ve Earned a Southwest Companion Pass!
Watch your points roll in: Once you meet the minimum spend on both cards, the sign-up bonuses will hit your Southwest account. You should now have enough points (135,000!) to earn the Companion Pass.
Celebrate!!: At this point, you’re officially flying two-for-one for the rest of the year and all of next year. Time to start planning those trips!
By following this timeline, you'll maximize your flying time with the Southwest Companion Pass, giving you nearly two full years of free flights for your travel buddy.
Not starting in October? Not a problem. Let’s say it’s April and you’re dead-set on starting this travel trick; you can use this same timeline, but adjust your dates accordingly, being sure to wait 30 days between your first and second card application!
Photo Cred: The New York Times
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Missing the timing: We literally cannot emphasize this enough: You must hit the minimum spend on both cards in the new year. The most frequent mistake is hitting the welcome bonus on one card in December and then hitting the second bonus in January— keep your eyes on your spending just like the Swifties watching Taylor and Travis right now. 👀👀👀👀
Not meeting the minimum spend: As much as you don’t want to hit the minimum spend in two different calendar years, don’t let that scare you into not putting spend on the cards at all! This is another reason we love Travel Freely for sending us those automated email reminders of our deadlines!
Spending on stuff you don’t need: Yes, it’s tempting to splurge, but make sure your spend is on things you actually need! It’s the golden rule of points and miles travel: only spend within your budget!
Forgetting what counts as points toward Companion Pass: That referral link you sent to your co-worker? Those points count toward Companion Pass. Or what about when you used the Southwest Shopping Portal for your new pair of Nikes? Also counts. Check out the list below for the deets! ⤵️
What Counts as Points Toward the Southwest Companion Pass?
Alright, let’s break it down! Not all points are created equal when it comes to earning that unreal Southwest Companion Pass.
✅ Here’s the scoop on what Southwest does count:
Credit Card Sign-Up Bonuses: As discussed, these are your golden ticket! 🎟️ The sign-up bonuses from Southwest’s personal and business cards count 100% toward the Companion Pass—so make sure to hit that minimum spend!
Everyday Spending on Your Southwest Cards: All those coffee runs, grocery hauls, and random impulsive Amazon purchases you put on your Southwest card? Yep, those points count, too. So keep swiping, but spend wisely!
Points Earned from Flying Southwest: Flying somewhere before you’ve earned the pass? Any Rapid Rewards points earned from booking Southwest flights (paid in cash) go toward your Companion Pass, so your regular travel can help you get there faster.
Southwest Shopping Portal: Did you know you can rack up extra points just by shopping online? Check out the Southwest Rapid Rewards Shopping Portal for your everyday online buys (think Target, Nike, Sephora)—you’ll earn bonus points that count toward your Companion Pass.
Rapid Rewards Dining: It’s just the like the Shopping Portal, but for dining! If you’re signed up for Rapid Rewards Dining and earn points at a qualifying restaurant, those points count too!
🚫 Now, here’s what does not count:
Transferred Points: Sorry, transferring points from another Southwest member (or even from your Chase Ultimate Rewards stash) won’t count toward the Companion Pass.
Purchased Points: You can't just buy your way to the Companion Pass by purchasing Rapid Rewards points outright. If only it were that easy, right? ::sigh::
Points from Flights Booked with Points: Unfortunately, any points you earn from flights booked using points (award flights) don’t count either.
Other FAQs: Got Questions? We’ve Got Answers
What if I don’t have a business for the business card?
No sweat! If you have a side gig (like selling stuff on Facebook Marketplace, freelancing, or even dog-walking), you could qualify for a business card. It’s more common than you think!
👉 Click here for our video tutorial of exactly how to fill out this application line-by-line.
Does my Companion have to be the same person every time?
Nope! You can change your designated Companion up to three times a year, so feel free to mix it up. Bring your significant other, your brother, or your co-worker you’re always stoked to be on the same shift with.
What if I already have a Southwest personal card?
You’ll have to wait 24 months from when you last earned a bonus on a Southwest card before you can get another one. But if it’s been over 24 months, you can cancel your card, wait 30 days, and then reopen it again to earn the bonus!
The Rules of the Southwest Companion Pass: Know Before You Go!
Congrats! 🥳 You’ve scored the coveted Southwest Companion Pass. But before you start daydreaming about all those two-for-one vacations, there are a few rules to know. Don’t worry—they’re pretty straightforward, but superrrr important to make sure you get the most out of your pass!
Who’s Your +1?
The best part of the Companion Pass is that you can pick a travel buddy—aka your “companion”—to fly with you for FREE (well, almost—just pay taxes and fees). You can choose anyone: a partner, bestie, sibling, or even that cousin of yours who’s always down for a spontaneous trip.
You Can Change Your Companion—But Not Too Often!
Okay, so maybe you don’t want to lock down just one travel buddy for two years straight. We get it. Southwest lets you change your companion up to three times per calendar year. 📆 So, you could bring your bae to Mexico in February, your best friend to Miami in June, and then your sister for that fall trip to Denver. (P.S. If you earn your pass mid-year, you get three changes for the rest of that year, and three more changes in the following year!)
How Do You Add Your Companion?
Once you’ve earned your Companion Pass, adding your companion is easy-peasy. Just book your own flight first (using points, cash, or however you roll), then you’ll see the option to add your companion. They’ll just need to pay taxes and fees, usually around $5.60 for domestic flights. Yep, it’s that simple.
Your Companion Can’t Fly Solo
As much as your travel buddy might love flying free, they can’t go without you! The Companion Pass only works when you’re flying, too. So, if you cancel your flight, your companion’s ticket gets canceled, too. You’re a package deal! #youcompleteme
What Happens If You Change or Cancel Your Flight?
Flexibility is key with Southwest, and good news: your Companion Pass works the same way! If you need to change your flight, no worries—your companion’s reservation can change along with yours, no extra hassle. If you cancel, both your tickets (yours and your companion’s) will be refunded or turned into travel credit, depending on how you booked.
The Pass Works on Both Paid and Award Flights
You can use your Companion Pass whether you book your flight with cash or points, which means even more opportunities for free travel! Use your points to cover your flight and your companion just pays the taxes—double win!
Your Pass Is for Unlimited Flights 🤩
Yep, you read that right. You and your companion can fly together as many times as you want, anywhere Southwest flies, for the entire time your pass is valid. No blackout dates, no restrictions. The sky's literally the limit.
✈️ Bottom Line
If you’ve ever dreamed of traveling for cheap (or practically free), this is your sign to go for it.
Earning the Southwest Companion Pass with credit card bonuses might sound intimidating, but with a little planning and strategic spending, you can unlock nearly two years of BOGO flights! Once you have it, it’s game on—whether you're heading to the beach in Florida or exploring a volcano in Hawaii, those free flights are going to have your friends start jealously asking— “Oh, where are you headed now?” 👀
So what are you waiting for? Start racking up those points. Trust us, you won’t regret it!
Editorial Disclosure: 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 within the post.