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The Southwest Companion Pass is easily one of the most valuable perks available in travel. Southwest Companion Pass holders can bring another traveler on any Southwest flight by simply paying the taxes and fees. On domestic Southwest flights, you only need to pay $5.60 in taxes and fees to add your companion.
Recently, my wife and I have rotated earning the Companion Pass every two years. Katie earned the Companion Pass in early 2021 to get us practically buy-one-get-one-free travel throughout 2021 and 2022. Then, I earned the Companion Pass in early 2023, giving us almost two more years of BOGO travel.
With my Companion Pass having just expired on December 31, 2024, I wanted to take a look back at just how much value we got from using it. Read on to learn how we've saved an impressive 175,417 Southwest points and $888.52 over the past two years — plus how you can earn a Companion Pass of your own.
How We've Used the Southwest Companion Pass
Across 2023-2024, we flew 31 Southwest flights across 26 bookings. These flights took us all around the United States, down to Cancun and back, a flight back from the Bahamas, and even an intra-Hawaii route. Almost all of these routes was unique — with our only repeat being from Atlanta (ATL) to Dallas Love Field (DAL). We always book one-way Southwest flights, meaning we booked connecting Southwest itineraries just five times across the two years.
We redeemed Southwest Rapid Rewards points for 19 of these bookings, using 175,417 points and paying $216.68 in taxes and fees to book my seat on these flights. Then, we added Katie to these flights by only paying another $216.68 in taxes and fees. Without the Southwest Companion Pass, we would've needed to redeem 175,417 more Southwest points to join me on these flights.
We paid cash or used Southwest travel credits for the seven other bookings. I paid a total of $1,042.33 for these bookings, and then we needed to pay another $153.81 in taxes and fees to add Katie to my flights. If we didn't have the Southwest Companion Pass, we would've needed to pay $888.52 more for Katie to join me on these flights.
Of course, the Southwest Companion Pass factored into our decision to book Southwest for these flights. We may have flown a different airline for some of these trips if we had not had the Companion Pass. But since almost all of our bookings were for nonstop Southwest flights on routes we needed to fly anyways, we likely would have flown Southwest even without the Companion Pass.
Finally, it's worth mentioning that we frequently check our bookings for price drops. Thanks to these checks, we snagged lower rates on 12 of our 26 Southwest bookings over the last two years, saving a total of 15,892 points plus $268.79.
Related: Lots to Love: 6 Reasons Why Southwest Rapid Rewards Is the Easiest Airline Loyalty Program
How to Earn a Southwest Companion Pass Valid through 2026
My wife and I usually take turns earning the Southwest Companion Pass at the start of every two years. After all, you can use the Southwest Companion Pass during the year you earn it and the entire next calendar year. So, if you earn a Southwest Companion Pass now, you can use it through the end of 2026.
Earning the Southwest Companion Pass through flying requires taking 100 qualifying one-way flights — a tall task for all but the busiest road warrior. The much more practical way for most travelers to earn the Companion Pass is to earn 135,000 Companion Pass qualifying points in a calendar year.
These requirements might sound difficult to reach, but the good news is that Southwest credit cards can help you earn a Companion Pass. Specifically, the points you earn from Southwest credit card sign-up bonuses count as qualifying points for the Companion Pass.
- 2X points per $1 spent on Southwest® purchases and Rapid Rewards® Hotel and Car Rental Partner purchases
- 2X points per $1 spent on local transit and commuting, including rideshare
- 2X points per $1 spent on internet, cable, phone services, and select streaming services
- 1X point per $1 spent on all other purchases
- 3X points per $1 spent on all Southwest® purchases
- 2X points per $1 spent on all Rapid Rewards® Hotel and Car Rental Partner purchases
- 2X points per $1 spent on local transit and commuting, including rideshare
- 2X points per $1 spent on internet, cable, phone services, and select streaming services
- 1X point per $1 spent on all other purchases
- 4X points per $1 spent on Southwest® purchases
- 3X points per $1 spent on Rapid Rewards® hotel and car partners
- 2X points per $1 spent on social media and search engine advertising, Internet, cable and phone services
- 2X points per $1 spent on rideshare
- 1X point per $1 spent on all other purchases
My wife and I have earned the Southwest Companion Pass solely through credit card bonuses. Although card offers vary, you can typically earn more than 135k Companion Pass eligible points by opening one personal and one business Southwest credit card and meeting the minimum spending requirements to earn the welcome offers. Add in the 10k Companion Pass point boost that cardholders get and this is almost always enough to earn Companion Pass solely via credit cards.
Related: How Much Are Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards Points Worth?
Our Take
The Southwest Companion Pass can save you lots of points and cash. However, you must want to fly on Southwest flights with a companion to get value from this perk.
Southwest occasionally lets flyers earn a limited-validity promotional Companion Pass by taking a few flights. But to maximize the standard Companion Pass, you'll want to earn 135,000 qualifying points near the beginning of a calendar year so that you can benefit from your Companion Pass through the end of the following calendar year. As such, the first few months of 2025 are a great time to earn a Companion Pass valid through the end of 2026.
For rates and fees of the cards mentioned in this post, please visit the following links: Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card (Rates & Fees), Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card (Rates & Fees), and Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Performance Business Credit Card (Rates & Fees)
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I’m in a bit of a quandary. I’m probably overthinking this, but I don’t want to screw up.
I want to make sure all the bonus points accrue towards companion pass in 2025.
I signed up for a business southwest card. At $5000 spend I get 80000 points. at $15K spend I get an additional 40000 points.
My 3 months deadline to make the initial spend is January 8. I have 9 months to get to the total spend.
Last payment due date was December 4. Next payment due date January 4.
Statement closing date was 11/7/24. No statement issued since as I put no charges on the card, but I assume closing date will be January 7.
I think I’m OK to do the spend now that we’re in January. But, I’m wondering if I should be waiting until after January 4.
Again, overthinking this…
If you know for sure, please let me know.
Thanks!
Smart to be deliberate about this! Now that your next statement closes in January, it’s safe to finish off the minimum spending requirement.
If you want confirmation from the source, here’s what Southwest says about which year points from spending count toward:
“Points earned through spending using the Rapid Rewards Credit Card will count toward Companion Pass qualification based on when they are posted to your Rapid Rewards account and NOT based on spending date. The points post to your Rapid Rewards account after your statement closing date. Credit card points posted to your Rapid Rewards account in 2025, including bonus points, will count toward qualifying for a 2026 Companion Pass.”
https://www.southwest.com/html/rapidrewards/eoy-tier-communication-2025.html