• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

The Globetrotting Teacher

Experience the World Point by Point

  • Destinations
  • Miles and Points
    • Miles & Points Guides
    • Travel Hacking Basics
    • Student Course Log-In
  • Credit Cards
    • Travel Rewards Credit Cards
    • Airline Credit Cards
    • Hotel Credit Cards
    • Business Credit Cards
  • New York City
  • Travel Tips
    • Travel Resources
    • Travel Gear
  • About
    • Work With Us
    • Blogging Tools I Use

Updated on January 9, 2020 By Jackie Sills-Dellegrazie 12 Comments
This post contains affiliate links which earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Please read my Disclosure and Privacy pages for more info. Additionally, The Globetrotting Teacher has partnered with CardRatings for our coverage of credit card products. The Globetrotting Teacher and CardRatings may receive a commission from card issuers.

southwest Airlines companion pass

The Southwest Companion Pass: What Is It and How to Earn It

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links that earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. The Globetrotting Teacher has also partnered with CardRatings for our coverage of credit card products. The Globetrotting Teacher and CardRatings may receive a commission from card issuers. Please read my Disclosure to learn more.

Updated on January 9, 2020

Southwest Airlines sets has positioned itself as a friendly, low-cost carrier where bags fly free. Add to that the Southwest Companion Pass and the airline truly sets itself apart from the pack with one of the best travel rewards out there.

In this guide, learn what the Southwest Airlines Companion Pass is and how you can earn this valuable travel rewards perk.

The Southwest Companion Pass:
Why You Should Love It and How to Earn It

Southwest is a budget, mainly domestic airline, that has branched out to Hawaii, the Caribbean and Central America, adding destinations like Costa Rica, Mexico, and  Turks & Caicos. 

Southwest’s low-cost “Wanna Get Away” fares and the ability to book award flights on any open seat have made the airline exceedingly popular with both budget travelers and miles and points enthusiasts.

What is the Southwest Companion Pass?

Southwest Companion Pass Rules

Quite simply, the Southwest Companion Pass lets pass holders bring a companion for FREE when flying Southwest except for paying the taxes on the ticket.

But here’s truly the best part. The Southwest Companion Pass allows you to fly a lucky companion along with you on your travels for an unlimited number of flights for up to 2 years!

There are no blackout dates or restrictions. If seats are available, you can add a companion. 🙂

How long is the Southwest Companion Pass valid!?

Once you earn the Southwest Companion Pass, it’s valid for the remainder of the year you earn it in AND the entire following calendar year.

If you earn the companion pass at the beginning of a new year, say January or February, you can use it for the rest of the year and the entire following year for almost 2 years of free companion flights.

Better yet, you can use the companion pass as many times as you want, anywhere Southwest flies!

There is no limit to the number of times you can add a companion to your travel itineraries. The Southwest Companion Pass rules even let you change your designated companion up to 3 times a year while your pass is valid.

How do you earn the Southwest Companion Pass?

As a Southwest Rapid Rewards member, you need to earn 125k Southwest Rapid Rewards Points in a calendar year to earn the Companion Pass.

Obviously, that’s an insane number of Rapid Rewards Points if you were earning them only by flying. Unless you’re a hardcore business traveler who always flies Southwest Airlines, it’s basically impossible to get to 125k Rapid Reward Points through travel alone in a single calendar year.

Dog with a skeptical face
See, I knew there was a catch.

So, how do you earn 125k Rapid Rewards Points?

All hope is not lost! There are a few other ways to earn Southwest Rapid Rewards Points, even 125k Rapid Rewards points in the same calendar year.

The easiest way to earn 125k is by applying for and meeting the minimum spend requirement on the Chase Southwest credit cards to earn the welcome bonus.

In the past, it was possible to get 2 Southwest personal cards. However, Chase has tightened the rules and now only allows 1 personal card in the Southwest family of cards at a time.

You also aren’t eligible for a personal Southwest credit card if you’ve earned a bonus on one of the cards in the last 24 months.

The good news is it’s still possible to be approved for 1 Southwest personal credit card and 1 Southwest Business card or both Southwest Business credit cards.

Chase offers 5 different co-branded Southwest credit cards.

Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus Credit Card

Current Welcome Bonus: Earn the Southwest Companion Pass until 2/28/22 plus 30k Southwest points when you spend $5,000 in the first 3 months of being a cardholder. The Southwest Companion Pass lets you bring a companion every time you fly, paying just the tax on the ticket!

Favorite Card Features:

  • 2x on Southwest purchases, Rapid Rewards hotels, and car rental partner bookings; 1x on all other purchases
  • Earn 3k Rapid Rewards Points each year on your card anniversary

Annual Fee: $69

Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier Credit Card

Current Welcome Bonus: Earn the Southwest Companion Pass until 2/28/22 plus 30k Southwest points when you spend $5,000 in the first 3 months of being a cardholder. The Southwest Companion Pass lets you bring a companion every time you fly, paying just the tax on the ticket!

Favorite Card Features:

  • 2x on Southwest purchases, Rapid Rewards hotels, and car rental partner bookings; 1x on all other purchases
  • No foreign exchange fees
  • Earn 6k Rapid Rewards Points each year on your card anniversary

Annual Fee: $99

Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card

Current Welcome Bonus: Earn the Southwest Companion Pass until 2/28/22 plus 30k Southwest points when you spend $5,000 in the first 3 months of being a cardholder. The Southwest Companion Pass lets you bring a companion every time you fly, paying just the tax on the ticket!

Favorite Card Features:

  • 2x on Southwest purchases, Rapid Rewards hotels, and car rental partner bookings; 1x on all other purchases
  • No foreign transaction fees
  • $75 Southwest travel credit
  • Up to 4 upgraded boarding positions every year
  • Earn 7.5k Rapid Rewards Points each year on your card anniversary

Annual Fee: $149

Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier Business Credit Card

Current Welcome Bonus: 60,000 Southwest Rapid Rewards points after spending $3,000 in the first 3 months from your account opening.

Favorite Card Features:

  • 2x on Southwest purchases, as well as on rental cars and hotels booked through Southwest's partners
  • No foreign exchange fees
  • Each year on your card anniversary, earn 6,000 Rapid Rewards points.
  • Use Rapid Rewards points to fly anywhere Southwest flys including Hawaii, Costa Rica, the Caribbean, and Mexico.

Annual Fee: $99

Southwest Rapid Rewards Performance Business Credit Card

Current Welcome Bonus: Earn up to 100,000 Southwest Rapid Rewards Points; 70,000 Southwest Rapid Rewards points after spending $5,000 in the first 3 months from your account opening and another 30,000 Southwest points when you spend $25k during the first 6 months of card membership.

Favorite Card Features:

  • 3x on Southwest purchases
  • 2x on internet, cable, and cell phone costs, as well as advertising purchases for social media and search engines
  • Perks include a Global Entry fee credit and 4 upgraded boarding positions
  • Get 9k Rapid Rewards points each year you renew your card

Annual Fee: $199

The welcome offers for the Southwest cards change throughout the year. Depending on the offer you qualify for, you’ll have earned or will be close to earning the Southwest Companion if the points are earned within the same calendar year.

Remember, you’ll also earn points on the purchases that go towards meeting the minimum spend.

Lastly, Southwest Rapid Rewards points can also be earned by:

  • Using your credit card for everyday spending.
  • Shopping through the Southwest Shopping Portal.
  • Taking advantage of Southwest’s home and lifestyle partners.
  • Referring a friend for a Southwest Credit Card.

Do all Southwest Rapid Rewards Points count?

southwest Airlines companion pass

No. 

Chase Ultimate Rewards points transfer directly to Southwest, but these points will not count toward earning the Companion Pass. Southwest also no longer allows hotel points to be transferred and used to earn the Companion Pass.

In addition, points that are purchased, gifted, or transferred from another Rapid Rewards account don’t count toward the 125k points either.

This also means you can’t get 1 of the Southwest credit cards while your spouse gets another. The Southwest Points transferred from one account to another won’t go toward the Companion Pass.

Lastly, beware of Rapid Rewards point bonuses offered in the Southwest shopping portal or by a lifestyle partner.

For example, if the Southwest shopping portal is offering a seasonal bonus for spending a specific amount of money during a promotional period, the points earned from shopping regularly will count but the bonus points won’t. Similarly, Rapid Rewards points regularly earned from a lifestyle partner will count but any promotional bonus points won’t.

Are the Southwest Cards subject to Chase’s 5/24?

rules

Yes.

If you are over 5/24, you won’t be approved for the Southwest credit cards. Southwest business cards don’t add to your overall 5/24 count but are still subject to the rule. If you’re a points and miles beginner, this is why it’s important to understand the first 5 travel rewards credit cards to get.

If you’re at 4/24 and would like to earn the Southwest Companion Pass, apply for a business card first. If and when you’re approved, the card won’t be added to your card new card count in the last 24 months, leaving you a slot for a Southwest personal card.

What’s the biggest Companion Pass mistake to avoid?

calendar-stock

It’s all about the timing.

Ideally, you want to earn the Southwest Companion Pass at the start of a new year to maximize the amount of time you have the pass. In order to do this, all 125k Southwest Rapid Rewards points you earn must post to your account in the same calendar year.

For example, if you’re trying to earn the Companion Pass for 2020-2021, you need the Rapid Rewards points to post to your account in 2020 and preferably at the start of the year.

By doing so, you’ll have the Companion Pass from the date you earn it in 2020 through the end of 2021! That’s nearly 2 full years of free travel for a companion.

If you apply for the Southwest Credit Cards at the end of the year, make sure you don’t meet all the minimum spend until after the new year.

If you do, it could mean earning the Companion Pass for significantly less time or not at all if the bonuses end up posting in 2 different calendar years.

What happens to the 125k Rapid Rewards Points after you earn the Southwest Companion Pass?

Playa del Carmen Mexico

The 125k Rapid Rewards Points are not exchanged for the companion pass. You aren’t trading the points in for the companion pass!

You can redeem those points for award flights for yourself while your companion flies free with the pass!

Simply use your Rapid Rewards points to book a flight for yourself (or pay cash if you want). Then, look for the “Add Companion” option on your itinerary.

You can add a companion right up until flight time as long as there’s a seat available on the plane. If booking over the phone, just tell the agent you’d like to add a companion to your itinerary.

ProTip: You can book Southwest flights through the Chase Travel Portal paying with Ultimate Rewards points or cash. Either way, the booking will look like a cash booking and will earn Southwest points. After completing the reservation, log in to your Southwest account to register your itinerary and then add your companion.

Where does Southwest fly?

Southwest Route Map
Credit: Southwest

Southwest is primarily a domestic airline but has also expanded to places like Belize, Cabo San Lucas, Costa Rica, and Grand Cayman. They even fly to Hawaii and between Hawaiian islands.

With the Companion Pass, Southwest’s route map is your oyster. You’re not limited to only domestic destinations. Whether you want to visit the Utah National Parks or explore the jungles of Costa Rica, Southwest can get you and your companion there!

ProTip: Southwest flights are also great positioning flights. If you’re looking to use your miles and points to fly to Tokyo and the only award availability you’re seeing is from Los Angeles, a flight from your home airport with your companion on Southwest could be a very inexpensive way to position yourself at the airport you need.

So, in the words of Southwest, “Wanna get away?” Pack your bags with your essential travel gear and your favorite travel shoes, grab your companion, and get away!

Are you trying to earn the Southwest Companion Pass?

Like this post? Please share it on social media using the buttons below!

WHY YOU SHOULD KNOW AND HEART THE SOUTHWEST COMPANION PASS (1)

Other Posts You're Sure to Love

  • How to Use Virgin Atlantic Miles to Europe for Terrific ValueHow to Use Virgin Atlantic Miles to Europe for Terrific Value
  • The Wonders of Shopping PortalsThe Wonders of Shopping Portals
  • Which Travel Rewards Credit Cards to Look at Right Now (February 2021)Which Travel Rewards Credit Cards to Look at Right Now (February 2021)
  • How (and Why) to Book Domestic Award Flights Using Partner MilesHow (and Why) to Book Domestic Award Flights Using Partner Miles
  • 891shares
  • Facebook180
  • Twitter1
  • Pinterest710
  • LinkedIn0
  • Reddit0
  • Flipboard

Filed Under: Miles and Points Tagged With: airline, miles, points, southwest

Affiliate Disclosure

The Globetrotting Teacher is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Additionally, The Globetrotting Teacher has partnered with CardRatings for our coverage of credit card products. The Globetrotting Teacher and CardRatings may receive a commission from card issuers.

Comments & responses below are not provided or commissioned by the bank advertiser. Responses have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by the bank advertiser. It is not the bank advertiser’s responsibility to ensure all posts and/or questions are answered.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Hannah says

    February 6, 2016 at 5:58 pm

    I am Canadian, so sadly this doesn’t work for me but it sounds amazing! Canadian airlines could really take a hint from American (and European and Asian) flight companies. I’d love so see some deals and credit promotions for us where you only need to worry about paying the tax!

    Reply
    • Jackie Sills-Dellegrazie says

      February 6, 2016 at 7:40 pm

      I know, Hannah! Such a tease for non-U.S. residents! Definitely, check out some of the Canadian travel hacking websites. The offers might not be as lucrative, but there are some good deals to take advantage of! 🙂

  2. Erin Klema | The Epicurean Traveler says

    February 6, 2016 at 7:09 pm

    I love flying Southwest for domestic flights within the United States. The airline’s two bags fly free policy is super helpful when I need to bring a lot with me. Read: I’m not a light packer! Lol. Great info here on how to earn the companion pass!

    Reply
    • Jackie Sills-Dellegrazie says

      February 6, 2016 at 7:35 pm

      So funny, Erin! Good thing for Southwest’s bag policy, then! The companion pass is the gem of all travel hacking gems!

  3. Mary says

    February 6, 2016 at 9:03 pm

    Thank you for sharing! I’ve flown with Southwest and it is always a pleasant experience. Like Hannah, I’m a Canadian so I’m probably not eligible, but it’s always nice to dream (and hoard information to share with my American travel-loving friends)!

    Reply
    • Jackie Sills-Dellegrazie says

      February 7, 2016 at 4:36 pm

      Thanks for commenting, Mary! I’ve had good luck with Southwest, too. Unfortunately, you’re not eligible but do share with your friends from the U.S. 🙂 They’ll love you forever!

  4. Vedante | The Lavish Nomad says

    February 7, 2016 at 11:15 am

    I am not in the US but I use my miles frequently for upgrades or cheap tickets 🙂

    Reply
    • Jackie Sills-Dellegrazie says

      February 7, 2016 at 4:45 pm

      Awesome, Vedante! It’s so great to take advantage of your miles that way.:)

  5. Anne says

    July 28, 2016 at 1:52 am

    I am so jealous of this deal. Please please can a British airline do something similiar?

    Reply
    • Jackie Sills-Dellegrazie says

      July 29, 2016 at 10:55 pm

      It is so good. I can’t deny it, Anne! I’ll wish for you he Brits import this!

  6. Guy says

    January 5, 2019 at 10:44 am

    My CP expired Dec 2018. My Chase SW cards are about 2 years old. Should I cancel and reapply again later this year around October or November; then want until Jan 2020 for the spend to register for the CP?

    Reply
    • Jackie Sills-Dellegrazie says

      January 5, 2019 at 4:43 pm

      Thanks for reading, Guy. Yes, I would cancel and then look to get the cards again in November or December of 2019. Make sure all spend registers in early 2020 and you’ll be good. 🙂

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Primary Sidebar

About Me

Hi, I'm Jackie, the Globetrotting Teacher. Travel has been life-changing for me whether I'm traveling solo or with my favorite travel partner, Peter my husband! Learn more about my travels and how I use miles and points to travel around the globe. About Me

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • RSS
  • Twitter

Planning a Road Trip in 2021?

planning-a-road-trip

Search the Site

Get Started with Points and Miles!

12-must-have-gifts-sidebar

American Express Gold Card

Earn 60k Membership Rewards points after spending $4,000 in 6 months!
Earn 4x at U.S. Supermarkets  (up to $25k each year)
Earn 4x at Restaurants Globally
Earn 3x on Flights (booked directly or through Amex Travel)
1 $10 statement credit each month on Food Delivery services like Seamless & GrubHub

This is an excellent offer(!)
for anyone wanting to earn travel rewards points from their everyday spending!

Learn more about the
Gold Card!

Footer

Disclosure

As an Amazon Associate, The Globetrotting Teacher earns from qualifying purchases.

The Globetrotting Teacher has partnered with CardRatings for our coverage of credit card products. The Globetrotting Teacher and CardRatings may receive a commission from card issuers.

[Disclosure]

[Privacy Policy]

Copyright

All photos & content are copyrighted & belong to Jackie Sills-Dellegrazie at The Globetrotting Teacher unless otherwise cited and may not be reproduced or used elsewhere without permission. DMCA.com Protection Status
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • Pinterest

Like every website with social media buttons, commenting, affiliates, and analytics embedded, The Globetrotting Teacher uses cookies. Please click ok to accept and/or visit my Privacy Policy to learn more. OK Privacy Policy
Privacy & Cookies Policy

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled

Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.

Non-necessary

Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.

SAVE & ACCEPT