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Southwest just rolled out its latest way to help travelers fast-track to earn the coveted Southwest Companion Pass. As part of a new-for-2025 initiative, Rapid Rewards credit cardholders can earn double Companion Pass-qualifying points on rotating categories each quarter.
During Q4 2025, Southwest cardholders can earn 2X points at wholesale clubs and department stores — a timely perk if you're doing your holiday shopping. Here are the details of how this promotion works.
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Earn 2X Companion Pass-Qualifying Points on Select Purchases This Quarter
Starting in 2025, Southwest is offering quarterly bonus categories for Rapid Rewards cardholders to earn double Companion Pass-qualifying points. If you have a Rapid Rewards credit card, check your email or Southwest account to see if you’ve been targeted for this offer.
Q4 2025: Wholesale clubs and department stores
The quarterly card spending category for Q4 is at wholesale clubs and department stores. Between October 1 and December 31, 2025, all purchases at wholesale clubs and department stores on a Rapid Rewards card will earn double Companion Pass-qualifying points. Eligible purchases include most anything from wholesale clubs and department stores, but exclude specialty purchases like gas or purchases from discount stores.
You must register for this promotion using your email or account dashboard. Once registered, earn 2X Companion Pass-qualifying points per dollar on eligible purchases. Cardholders can earn up to 10,000 bonus points per quarter. That would require $10,000 of spending in the eligible category, resulting in 20,000 total qualifying points.
The bonus points you earn through this offer just count for the Companion Pass. They will not double as redeemable Rapid Rewards points. However, what you earn from spending on the card will count as both redeemable points and toward the Companion Pass — just like your normal purchases do.
Eligible Southwest cards
The following cards are eligible for this promotion:
- Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card
- Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card
- Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card
- Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Performance Business Credit Card
- Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Premier Business Credit Card
Key terms
- Rapid Rewards cardholders must register for this promotion from their email or account dashboard by December 31, 2025.
- Earn double Companion Pass-qualifying points on purchases at wholesale clubs and department stores with a Rapid Rewards credit card between October 1 and December 31, 2025.
- Merchants in the wholesale category operate warehouse-style retail stores, sell in bulk, and concentrate on price appeal. These merchants offer a comprehensive range of household goods, merchandise, groceries, furniture, electronics, appliances, and auto supplies. Gas, fuel, and wholesale specialty service purchases are excluded.
- Merchants in the department store category have multiple departments that sell apparel, home furnishings, furniture, electronics, cosmetics, housewares, and major household appliances. Supercenters, discount stores, specialty stores, and online marketplace websites are excluded.
- Balance transfers, cash advances, traveler's checks, foreign currency, money orders, wire transfers, lottery tickets, casino gaming chips, and racetrack wagers purchased through these merchants are also excluded.
- This promotion is capped at 10,000 bonus qualifying points per quarter.
- Bonus points are in addition to base points, so $10,000 in spending would net 20,000 qualifying points in one quarter.
- Receive the bonus points within 6-8 weeks after the quarter ends.
- Southwest Companion Pass-qualifying points do not count as Rapid Rewards points.
Not a Southwest Cardholder Yet?
If you've got eyes on earning the Companion Pass and large purchases at wholesale clubs and department stores in the works, now might be an excellent time to get a Southwest credit card. Not only will you earn double Companion Pass qualifying points on purchases at wholesale clubs and department stores, but those purchases can help you earn the welcome bonus on the card!
Here are the current Southwest card bonuses on offer:
- 2X points per $1 spent on Southwest® purchases
- 2 points for every $1 you spend at gas stations and grocery stores on the first $5,000 in combined purchases per anniversary year
- 1X point per $1 spent on all other purchases
- 4X points per $1 spent on all Southwest® purchases
- 2X points per $1 spent at gas stations and restaurants
- 1X point per $1 spent on all other purchases
- 4X points per $1 spent on Southwest® purchases
- 2X points per $1 spent at gas stations and restaurants
- 2X points per $1 on hotel accommodations booked directly with the hotel
- 2X points per $1 spent on rideshare
- 1X point per $1 spent on all other purchases
Our Take
Earning a Southwest Companion Pass with flight activity alone can be out of reach for many travelers. 135,000 qualifying points or 100 flights is a tall task for most travelers. That’s why these quarterly bonus categories are such a welcome addition, especially if your spending aligns with the selected category.
If you’ve got a Rapid Rewards credit card and plan to spend at wholesale clubs or department stores this fall and winter, make sure to register by December 31 to lock in those bonus qualifying points and get one step closer to flying for nearly free with a companion.
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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