Updated for 2026 · Stop 01 · Departure

Bring a friend.
Every flight. Free.

The Guide to the Southwest Companion Pass (2026–2027 Strategy)

I've held the Southwest Companion Pass since 2014. In that time I've taken hundreds of flights and saved thousands of dollars bringing friends and family along for free. Most guides on this topic are needlessly long. This page is the streamlined version, in my own words.

If you want to fly and bring a friend for free every time, this is how I do it.

Earning Strategies What is Companion Pass? How to Qualify Card Reviews

Begin the journey →

Affiliate disclosure: this site uses referral links. If you apply through one, I may earn a referral bonus — at no cost to you. Always verify terms with Southwest and Chase. I am not affiliated with or endorsed by either.

Stop 02 · Pre-flight check

What is Companion Pass?

The most valuable tool
in domestic travel.

The Southwest Companion Pass is, arguably, the most valuable tool in domestic travel. Unlike a standard "buy one, get one" coupon with blackout dates, this pass allows a designated companion to fly with you for free (plus taxes and fees, usually just $5.60) an unlimited number of times.

How it works

Designate one person by name to fly free plus tax on any paid or award flight
Good for the remainder of the calendar year it's earned plus the entire next year
The 135,000 bonus points are worth about $1,750 in award flights
Apply the pass to free awards and bring your companion free, too
You can change your companion up to 3 times per year
Companion can be added to any ticket as long as a seat is available

How to get it

Earn by flying 100 flights or earning 135,000 points in a calendar year
The trick: credit card sign-up bonuses count. Not a single flight needs to be taken
Activates the moment you reach the 135,000-point tier
Timing is critical — points only count per calendar year, so don't split your 135,000 across years

135,000

Companion Pass qualifying points
in a calendar year

— or —

100

One-way qualifying flights
in a calendar year

Many changes have recently come to Southwest

Boarding policy, fees, and earning structures have shifted in the last year. The strategies below are updated for the 2026 rules.

Click image to enlarge

Stop 03 · Flight plan

2026 Companion Pass Strategies

Three paths
to 135,000 points.

There are multiple ways to earn the Companion Pass. The fastest path is credit card sign-up bonuses, but each strategy below can work depending on your situation. Over the years I've used multiple strategies to renew my pass.

Because welcome bonuses count toward the 135,000-point requirement, this is the fastest, cheapest way to do it. Not sure where to start? Strategy 1 is the most straightforward.

Important: most people CAN qualify for a business card (even side gigs). Don't think that's you? See the business card section below — you'd be surprised.

Click any strategy below to see the full play, the math, and the infographic

Strategy 01 · The "Southwest Two-Step"

Personal + Business combo

This is my go-to strategy for anyone looking to start with BOGO flying. Chase limits you to one personal Southwest card at a time. To get around this and stack two bonuses, I recommend the Personal + Business strategy:

Open a Personal Card — typical bonus: 50,000+ points
Open a Business Card — typical bonus: 80,000+ points
Total: 130,000+ points (plus points from spend) clears the threshold immediately
Start flying BOGO

The Play

Open one personal card (like the Priority) and one business card (like the Performance Business).

The Math

A personal bonus (usually 50k+) plus a business bonus (usually 80k+) equals ~130,000 points. Add in the minimum spend you did to unlock those bonuses, and you've smashed the 135,000 requirement.

Why It Works

Business cards generally don't add to your "5/24" count with Chase, keeping your credit report cleaner. Plus, you're collecting two massive welcome bonuses at once.

Note: You don't need a massive corporation to get a business card. If you sell on eBay, tutor, rent a property, or do freelance work, you can apply as a sole proprietor using your Social Security Number.

Strategy 1 infographic — Personal + Business

Strategy 1 — One-stop infographic. Click image to enlarge.

Strategy 02 · Pro Mode (Double Business)

Two business cards

Best for: people under 5/24 (see FAQ if you don't know what 5/24 is) who want to keep their personal credit card options open.

If you want to keep your personal 5/24 slots open for other Chase cards, this is the advanced move I recommend. Unlike personal cards — where you're restricted to holding just one — Chase allows you to hold both Southwest business cards at the same time.

The Play

Open the Performance Business AND the Premier Business cards.

The Math

These two bonuses combined (often 80k + 60k) will usually clear the 135,000-point hurdle instantly, without needing a personal card at all.

The Catch

The minimum spend requirements on business cards are higher (usually $3k–$5k each). Make sure you have a solid plan for meeting the minimum spends comfortably within 3 months.

Strategy 2 — Two-business infographic. Click image to enlarge.

Strategy 03 · The "Partners" Protocol

One personal card plus partners

Best for: people who can only open one card but are willing to hustle.

If you can only open one card (due to 5/24 status or personal preference), you'll have a ~50,000 to ~80,000 point gap to close. You don't have to fly to fill this gap — you just have to be smart about where you spend money you were going to spend anyway.

The Play

Open one premium personal card. Then, aggressively use Southwest partners to bridge the gap.

The Accelerators

Rapid Rewards Shopping Portal: never buy anything online directly. Go through the Southwest portal, click through to Nike, Home Depot, or Sephora, and earn 2–10 points per dollar. I've earned thousands of points just buying things I needed for the house.
Southwest Hotels: if you have a trip coming up, book your hotel through Southwest Hotels. Earn rates can be insane — sometimes 5,000+ points for a single weekend stay. Note: you usually won't earn hotel loyalty points (like Marriott Bonvoy) on these bookings.
Refer-a-Friend: if you have a partner (Player 2), refer them to a card. That 20,000-point referral bonus counts toward your Companion Pass total.
Household Spend: shift all household expenses (groceries, gas, bills) to your card to close the remaining gap.

Strategy 3 infographic — One Personal + Partners

Strategy 3 — One personal + partners. Click image to enlarge.

Pay attention to timing

Welcome bonus points only count in the calendar year they post. Apply Nov–Dec, but do not meet the minimum spend until January 1 — otherwise your bonus posts in the wrong year and you cut the value of your pass roughly in half. This is the one mistake that ruins everything.

Stop 04 · Aircraft fleet

Southwest Credit Cards Overview (2026)

Boarding passes.

Below are the highlights for each Southwest card. If you apply using the buttons below, I may receive a referral bonus — it costs you nothing and appreciatively helps keep this site running. While I try my hardest to link to the best offers currently available, please double-check that you're getting the best deal for you.

Personal Cards

Southwest · Personal SW · PRIORITY

Rapid Rewards Priority

Complimentary Preferred seat at booking
First checked bag free
Cardmembers + up to 8 additional passengers on the same reservation board no later than Group 5
4 points per $1 on Southwest purchases
2 points per $1 at gas stations and dining
7,500 anniversary bonus points
2,500 tier qualifying points per $5,000 spend

My thoughtsThis card is the best overall value in my opinion and is the personal card I usually recommend. The new seating policy has brought a lot of changes, and if you fly Southwest more than once or twice, this card pays for itself and then some.

Apply for Priority →

This is a personal referral link. I may receive a bonus if you're approved. I am not affiliated with or endorsed by Chase.

Welcome Bonus

50,000

AF · $229 / yr

Southwest · Personal SW · PREMIER

Rapid Rewards Premier

Complimentary Preferred seat at booking
First checked bag free
3 points per $1 on Southwest purchases
2 points per $1 on the first $8,000 each anniversary year in grocery and dining
6,000 anniversary bonus points
1,500 tier qualifying points per $5,000 spend
15% promo code each anniversary year (excludes Basic fare)

My thoughtsThis card is typically the second favorite for overall value. If the Priority's annual fee is just too much, even with the added benefits, then go with this card. The EarlyBirds are fine, but not as useful or valuable as the Priority's Upgraded Boarding.

Apply for Premier →

This is a personal referral link. I may receive a bonus if you're approved. I am not affiliated with or endorsed by Chase.

Welcome Bonus

50,000

AF · $149 / yr

Southwest · Personal SW · PLUS

Rapid Rewards Plus

Complimentary Standard seat
First checked bag free
2 points per $1 on Southwest purchases
2 points per $1 on the first $5,000 each anniversary year in gas and grocery
3,000 anniversary bonus points

My thoughtsThe Plus card does not offer as much value as the other cards. If you fly Southwest at all, you're probably better off with one of the higher tier cards.

Apply for Plus →

This is a personal referral link. I may receive a bonus if you're approved. I am not affiliated with or endorsed by Chase.

Welcome Bonus

50,000

AF · $99 / yr

Business Cards

Southwest · Business SW · PERFORMANCE BIZ

Performance Business

Complimentary Preferred seat at booking
First checked bag free
Extra Legroom Seat 48 hours before check-in
Up to $120 Global Entry, TSA PreCheck® or NEXUS fee credit
4 points per $1 on Southwest purchases
2 points per $1 on gas, dining, and hotels booked direct
2 points per $1 on transit and commuting
9,000 anniversary bonus points
2,500 tier qualifying points per $5,000 spend

My thoughtsThis card used to be the best overall value of any Southwest card, despite the mid-premium annual fee. With the new policy changes, the rewards are less enticing but still valuable. Grab this if you value the Extra Legroom seat credit; otherwise, consider the Premier Business below.

Apply for Performance Biz →

This is a personal referral link. I may receive a bonus if you're approved. I am not affiliated with or endorsed by Chase.

Welcome Bonus

80,000

AF · $299 / yr

Southwest · Business SW · PREMIER BIZ

Premier Business

Complimentary Preferred seat at booking
First checked bag free
3 points per $1 on Southwest purchases
2 points per $1 on the first $8,000 each anniversary year in gas and dining
6,000 anniversary bonus points
2,000 tier qualifying points per $5,000 spend
15% promo code each anniversary year (excludes Basic fare)

My thoughtsThis card has good overall value, especially with the new policy and increased fees. If the Performance Business card's annual fee is too much, even with the added benefits, then go with this card.

Apply for Premier Biz →

This is a personal referral link. I may receive a bonus if you're approved. I am not affiliated with or endorsed by Chase.

Welcome Bonus

60,000

AF · $149 / yr

Stop 05 · Navigation rules

How to Qualify: The Math (2026)

What counts —
and what doesn't.

To earn the pass, you need to hit one of two targets in a calendar year (Jan 1 – Dec 31). As of 2026:

Path · Flights

Fly 100 qualifying one-way flights — not recommended unless you fly constantly

Path · Points

Earn 135,000 Companion Pass Qualifying Points — the strategy I use

Important: not all points count. Here's what does and does not qualify (source: Southwest Rapid Rewards end-of-year qualifying activity page).

Counts ✓

Revenue flights booked through Southwest
Points earned from Southwest Rapid Rewards credit card purchases
Base points earned from Rapid Rewards partners
Partner hotel stays and partner car rentals (posted in the calendar year)
Partner activity like Rapid Rewards Shopping and Rocketmiles (posted in the calendar year)

Does not count ✗

Purchased points
Transferred or gifted points
Points earned from program enrollment
Tier bonus points
Reward travel
Promotion bonus points (except eligible credit card promos)
Flight bonus points
Getaways by Southwest vacation bookings
Partner bonus points (except eligible credit card promos)
Points transferred from Chase Ultimate Rewards
Partner program transfers
Purchased promotional tier qualifying points

Timing matters. Points count in the year they post to your Rapid Rewards account, not when you spend. Southwest notes that points posted in 2025 (including credit card bonus points) count toward a 2026 Companion Pass. Use this timing rule when planning applications.

Stop 06 · Fine print

Additional Details and Information

The rules that
actually matter.

These are the rules and timing details that matter most. Skim the panels below and you'll avoid 90% of common mistakes.

Companion Pass Timing

Again, it is CRITICAL that you pay attention to timing. Don't get caught with your big sign-up bonuses arriving in a different calendar year before January.

Earn 135,000 points within a calendar year to obtain the pass; tracking resets on January 1st each year
Holding a Southwest credit card adds 10,000 qualifying points to your tracker by January 31
Optimize Companion Pass benefits by timing qualification early in the calendar year, as the pass is valid for the rest of the earning year and the entire following year
Apply for Southwest credit cards in November or December but delay meeting the minimum spending requirement until January to ensure welcome points post in January, extending Companion Pass benefits for almost two years
If opening multiple Southwest credit cards to earn the pass, time the spending so both bonuses post in the same calendar year, and avoid meeting spending thresholds early to ensure bonuses post in January

Chase Credit Card Rules

Chase has several well-published rules regarding opening cards with their bank. Remember:

5/24 Rule: you will not be approved for any new Chase card if you have opened 5 or more cards with any bank within the past 24 months. Note that many business cards don't count toward your 5/24 total.
24 Month Rule: you may be approved, but will not be eligible for, a new card sign-up bonus if you've previously received a sign-up welcome bonus in the past 24 months.
2 Applications Rule: Chase typically only allows 2 card applications per month.

Chase has additional rules on family products, including the Southwest line of credit cards:

Personal Card — not eligible for sign-up bonus on a personal card if you currently have any Southwest personal card OR have earned a bonus on any Southwest personal card in the previous 24 months.
Business Card — not eligible for sign-up bonus on a business card if you currently have the specific business card you intend to apply for OR have earned a bonus on that specific card in the previous 24 months.

Applying for Business Cards

Qualifying for a business credit card is more straightforward than many think. Even small-scale activities like selling a single item on eBay or driving for Uber can qualify you for a business credit card. You don't need to explicitly have an established business to apply for a business credit card.

If you're planning to start a business, or already engage in profit-seeking activities, you're eligible. You can apply as a sole proprietor using your personal name and Social Security number.

Resources like Frequent Miler and The Points Guy have great guides on applying for business credit cards.

Stop 07 · In-flight Q&A

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions.

What is the Southwest Companion Pass?

The Southwest Companion Pass allows a Rapid Rewards member to add a companion to their booked flight with Southwest, given another seat is available, with only taxes and fees charged for the companion's ticket.

How do you earn the Southwest Companion Pass?

To earn a Southwest Companion Pass, you must either complete 100 qualifying one-way flights or accumulate 135,000 qualifying Rapid Rewards points within a single calendar year.

What does 5/24 mean?

"5/24" is an unwritten but strict rule from Chase (the bank that issues Southwest cards). It stands for 5 cards in 24 months.

The Rule: if you have opened 5 or more new personal credit cards from any bank (not just Chase — this includes Amex, Citi, Capital One, etc.) in the last 24 months, Chase will automatically deny you.

Why it matters: you cannot outsmart this rule with a high credit score. If you are at 5/24 or higher, you must wait until enough time passes for your older cards to fall off your 24-month history.

Pro Tip: most business cards (including Southwest business cards) do not add to your 5/24 count. This is why I often recommend opening business cards first — they let you earn points without filling up your 5/24 slots.

What is the duration of validity?

The pass remains valid for the rest of the year it was earned and the entire following calendar year.

What points count and don't count toward the Companion Pass?

Examples of points that do count: credit card bonuses, credit card normal spending, points from flying, points from partner hotel stays, points from partner car rentals.

Examples of points that do not count: points purchased, points transferred from Chase Ultimate Rewards, points transferred from hotel programs, points transferred from another person.

These are just a few examples. The full list is on the Southwest Rapid Rewards qualifying activity page (linked in sources below).

How do I meet the minimum spend?

There are many ways to meet the minimum spend requirement. The best and easiest way is to move regular spend to the card. Other common examples:

Spending shift to new card — transition regular expenditures
Store gift card purchases at stores you regularly use
Visa gift card purchases during fee promos, used where debit is accepted
Insurance payments — time sign-up with upcoming premium payments
Income tax payments — pay via card if fee math still makes sense
Property tax payments — same principle if card payments are allowed
Kiva micro loans — fund loans and get repaid over time
Charitable donations — consolidate giving on your card
Prepay monthly expenses where possible
Car down payment — some dealers allow partial card payment
Amazon gift card loads — preload future spend
Authorized users — add a trusted user and get reimbursed
Splitting bills — front group expenses and collect payback
Business expense reimbursements (where approved)
Tuition payments if school/payment processor supports it
Partner earnings via Southwest hotels, rentals, etc.
Referral bonuses when offers are available
Online shopping portal — Southwest's Rapid Rewards Shopping

Point earnings on Companion Pass flights

Only the member who purchases the original ticket earns points for the flight. The companion does not earn flight points.

Changing flights on a Companion Pass booking

Flight changes are allowed, but both the member and companion must move to the same new flight.

Usage limit of Companion Pass

Usage is effectively unlimited during the validity period, as long as seats are available.

Can I fly to places like Hawaii, Mexico, or international?

Yes. The Southwest Companion Pass can be used for any flight Southwest operates, including Hawaii and international routes, subject to seat availability.

Stop 08 · Landing

You've got the strategy.

Now go earn the pass.

The simplest move right now: open the Performance Business card for the 80k bonus, then a personal Priority card. Wait for spend until January. Two flights later you'll be earning back the fees and bringing someone for free.

Apply for Performance Biz Apply for Priority

Bring a friend.
Every flight. Free.