Southwest Companion Pass: How to get and use this perk

The Southwest Companion Pass is a benefit that allows you to bring one companion to fly with you on flights booked through Southwest Airlines. With the Southwest Companion Pass, your companion will only pay taxes and fees throughout the Companion Pass term.

And the cool part? This applies to both paid-for and points-purchased tickets.

For some, the Southwest Companion Pass is the crème de la crème of airline companion passes. And it’s easy to see why: Once you’ve earned it, you’re free to use it as many times as you want on eligible flights for the remainder of the pass — with some exceptions.

How to earn the Southwest Companion Pass

Once you earn the Southwest Companion Pass, you’ll use it for the remainder of that year, plus the following full calendar year.

Do any Southwest cards offer Companion Pass?

Yes. As of February 2022, all three personal Southwest cards offer a Companion Pass as part of their welcome offer until March 14, 2022: the Priority, Premier and Plus. As you might expect given what companion passes do, Companion Pass welcome offers are rare and incredibly valuable, often worth hundreds if not thousands of dollars.

Even when these offers aren’t available, Southwest credit cards still help you earn a Companion Pass in two ways:

• The card’s standard signup bonus. The Rapid Rewards points you earn from a Southwest credit card signup bonus counts as qualifying points toward the 125,000 points you need for the Companion Pass. This gives you a great boost toward nabbing the pass and is especially useful if you open your account and earn the bonus early in the year.
• The card’s earning categories. Any points you earn through everyday spending will also count as Companion Pass qualifying points.

What is the best way to earn a Southwest Companion Pass?

Aside from nabbing a limited-time welcome offer, a combination of Southwest flights and using a Southwest credit card is the best method for earning a companion pass. This method relies on a big point boost thanks to a Southwest card’s signup bonus followed by accelerated points through smart spending. Also,

use the Southwest shopping portal to earn additional points.

How to use a Southwest Companion Pass

Using the Southwest Companion Pass is relatively simple once you’ve earned it.

1. Select your companion. Do this by logging into your account and clicking Enter companion information under your profile settings.
2. Book your flight. Book your primary flight in cash or points through Southwest Airlines.
3. Book your companion’s flight. After booking your primary flight, you can book for your companion by choosing the Rapid Rewards Companion Pass booking option on the Southwest website or by calling the toll-free reservations number at 800-248-4377. The option for adding a companion is usually listed below your flight information.
4. Be sure you’ve scheduled correctly. Both the primary and companion flight must be booked on the same flights and dates.

How to get the most out of your Southwest Companion Pass offer

With how much work it takes to earn a Southwest Companion Pass, it pays to squeeze as much value out of it as possible. Here are some quick tips for doing so:

• Earn the ticket early in the year. If possible, try to earn your intro bonus early in the year. The Companion Pass is good for the entirety of the year you earned it and the following calendar year. If you earn the pass early, you could enjoy nearly two years of this benefit.
• Bring a friend on rewards flights. The Southwest Companion Pass is applicable to rewards flights in addition to purchased flights. This means your Rapid Rewards points are practically worth double when you redeem them on flights and bring your companion.
• Change your designated companion. Change your companion three times each year. Considering the first year you get to choose one companion and then change it three times, technically you can switch your companion seven times while your Southwest Companion Pass lasts.
• Redeem your pass on expensive flights. Unlike some airlines, Southwest offers international flight opportunities with their Companion Pass. This means big value if you bring your companion along for the ride.
• Fly often. The most valuable part of the pass is you’re not limited to only one flight. Take the opportunity to make as many travel plans as possible that also include your companion.

Companion Pass Rules: What else should I know?

Whether you’re chasing down qualifying points or ready to use your Companion Pass, there are a few rules to keep in mind:

• Transferred and purchased points don’t count toward the pass. Points transferred to your Southwest account from another credit card, such as the Chase Sapphire Reserve®, don’t count as qualifying points. Similarly, points transferred from another Southwest account or purchased to your account directly won’t count either.
• Taxes and fees apply. You’re responsible for taxes and fees associated with a Companion Pass flight, which start at $5.60 for one-way flight.
• You’re allowed only one companion. You must designate a specific individual as your companion member. You can only change this individual three times each calendar year.
• You’re unlikely to qualify for two Southwest cards. Chase generally enforces a “one card” rule when it comes to Southwest. If you have a Southwest card already, Chase is unlikely to approve you for another.
• Companion Passes are good for the following year. Use an earned Companion Pass the year you earn it, as well as the following calendar year. If you time it right, this means you can potentially use your pass for up to two years.
• Companions don’t earn qualifying points. If you’re aiming for your next Companion Pass after earning your first, don’t factor your companion flights into your points equation. Companion flights don’t earn qualifying points toward your next Companion Pass.
• Your companion flight mirrors your own. If you cancel or change a flight, your companion’s flight will be canceled. If rebooking, you may need to manually add your companion to your new flight.

Southwest credit cards with welcome offers

While there are no Southwest cards that offer a companion offer as a bonus, all can help you earn qualifying points. Use our comparison table below to compare them side-by-side:

Sort by:

Name	Product	Welcome Offer	Rewards	Annual fee	Filter values
Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card		75,000 bonus points after spending $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months	3x points on Southwest® purchases, 2x points on local transit and commuting, including rideshare, 2x points on internet, cable, phone services, and select streaming	$149		Limited-time offer: Earn 75,000 bonus points after spending $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months.	See offer View details	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card		75,000 bonus points after spending $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months	2x points on Southwest® purchases, 2x points on local transit and commuting, including rideshare, 2x points on internet, cable, phone services, and select streaming, 1x points on all other purchases	$69		Limited-time offer: Earn 75,000 bonus points after spending $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months.	See offer View details	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card		75,000 bonus points after spending $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months	3x points on Southwest® purchases, 2x points on local transit and commuting, including rideshare, 2x points on internet, cable, phone services, and select streaming	$99		Limited-time offer: Earn 75,000 bonus points after spending $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months.	See offer View details	Compare	loading Fetching your data...

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Bottom line

Meeting the eligibility requirements for Southwest’s Companion Pass is challenging, but if you can take advantage of the introductory bonus — or a rare Companion Pass welcome offer when they happen — you’ll find unmatched value in Southwest’s offering.

If you don’t fly Southwest or you’re looking for a program that’s a little easier to obtain, compare your airline card options to find a companion fare that suits your needs.

Frequently asked questions

How do I book two Companion Pass flights at once?
A Companion Pass flight is not a purchased flight and can’t be used in conjunction with another Companion Pass.

Can Southwest Companion Pass be used on international flights?
Yes. You can use your Companion Pass on international flights, so long as it’s a Southwest Airlines itinerary.

Do points earned through the Southwest tiers apply as qualifying points?
No. Tier bonus points don’t apply to your Companion Pass qualifying points.