Southwest Companion Pass Trick: How to Earn It in Record Time
The Southwest Companion Pass is often called the holy grail of budget travel hacking, and for good reason. It allows you to bring a travel companion with you for free (minus taxes and fees) on Southwest flights for up to two years. What sets Southwest apart is how many ways there are to earn this coveted pass, making it far more accessible than similar rewards from other airlines. Mastering the Southwest Companion Pass trick can unlock significant savings and transform your travel game.
This guide will teach you the three easiest and fastest ways to earn the Southwest Companion Pass. You’ll discover everything from leveraging Southwest credit cards to maximizing bonus points through travel partners like hotels and car rentals. We’ll also dive into creative strategies, such as combining points from multiple sources, to help you reach the 135,000-point threshold quickly.
Additionally, we’ll cover how to strategically time your efforts to maximize the pass’s validity, ensuring you get the most value out of your hard work. Whether you’re new to travel hacking or looking for a refresher, this post has all the details to simplify the process. By following these tips, you’ll be well on your way to enjoying unlimited buy-one-get-one flights with your favorite travel companion.
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What is the Southwest Companion Pass?
The Southwest Companion Pass is one of the most valuable travel rewards, giving the account holder unlimited buy-one-get-one Southwest flights for the year it’s earned and the entire following year. With no blackout dates, you can use the pass on flights booked with cash or points, as long as there’s an open seat. Taxes and fees still apply, starting at $5.60 per flight segment, but the savings far outweigh this small cost.
You can designate one companion to fly with you and change that companion up to three times per calendar year, offering flexibility to share the benefit. Earning the pass is easier than many think, especially with strategic planning. Whether for leisure or business, the Companion Pass is the ultimate BOGO deal in flying, making it a game-changer for budget-savvy travelers looking to maximize their savings.
How to get a Companion Pass on Southwest
To earn the Southwest Companion Pass, you’ll need 135,000 Rapid Rewards points in your account. This may sound like a lot, but don’t worry—there are plenty of ways to rack up points quickly. You can earn points through sign-up bonuses from Southwest’s credit cards, partner earnings, and strategic spending.
If you’re aiming for the fastest route, applying for both the Southwest Rapid Rewards Performance Business Card and a personal Southwest credit card is a great starting point. Just make sure to target higher sign-up bonuses, like 75,000–100,000 points during seasonal promotions. Once you’ve hit the 135,000-point mark, you’ll have the Companion Pass in your hands, allowing you to add a companion for free on nearly all Southwest flights for the rest of the year and the following year. Time your sign-up for maximum rewards, and you’ll have that pass before you know it.
Southwest Companion Pass timing
When it comes to earning the Southwest Companion Pass, timing is key. The earlier you reach 135,000 Rapid Rewards points in a calendar year, the longer you’ll get to enjoy the pass. Points earned in one year count toward that year’s pass, but you get to use it for the rest of that year and all of the next.
Just make sure all points show up in your account within the same calendar year to qualify. For example, if you hit the 135,000-point mark in early January, your Companion Pass will be valid for the rest of that year and all of the following year—giving you up to 24 months of free flights with a companion!
What you need to know before earning the pass
Use Southwest Credit Cards for Quickest Results
The fastest way to earn the Southwest Companion Pass is by leveraging the sign-up bonuses from Southwest’s rewards credit cards. These cards are issued by Chase, so you’ll need to meet Chase’s 5/24 rule, which limits you to no more than five new credit applications in the past two years. If you exceed this limit, your application will be denied—no exceptions.
Companion Rules and Flexibility
You can only designate one companion at a time, but you’re allowed to change your companion up to three times per year. For example, if your spouse is your companion but you want to take a trip with your mom, you can switch companions and then switch back later, using two of your three allowed changes.
Timing Matters
You have from January 1 to December 31 each year to earn the required 135,000 points for the pass. Points reset every January, so timing your efforts is crucial. Ideally, you want your sign-up bonuses and points to hit early in the year. This allows you to maximize the Companion Pass for the remainder of the year you earn it and all of the following year, giving you up to two full years of savings.
By understanding these rules, you can efficiently earn and maximize the value of the Southwest Companion Pass.
How to get the Southwest Companion Pass in 2025
There are several ways to earn the Southwest Companion Pass, and no single method is universally “right.” However, some strategies are faster than others. The key is to combine methods effectively to reach the required 135,000 Southwest points in your Rapid Rewards account.
Holding a Southwest credit card automatically gives you 10,000 Companion Pass qualifying points. This means you’ll only need to earn an additional 125,000 points through other methods. Whether through credit card bonuses, travel spending, or other rewards, focus on the combination that works best for your travel habits and timeline.
1. The Business and Personal Card
The “double-dip” method is a popular choice for quickly earning the Southwest Companion Pass. By timing your sign-up bonuses with Southwest card promotions, you can earn the pass with minimal spending requirements, relying primarily on the bonuses from two cards.
Start by applying for the Southwest Rapid Rewards Performance Business credit card. This card typically requires $5,000 in spending within the first three months to unlock a large sign-up bonus—often at least 75,000 points. This bonus will give you a significant head start toward the Companion Pass.
Next, apply for one of the Southwest personal credit cards. The specific card you choose depends on the current sign-up bonus. Generally, the Plus credit card or Priority credit card offer better overall value than the Premier card due to their benefits.
Think you don’t qualify for business credit cards? Think again. Activities like selling on Facebook Marketplace or freelancing can qualify you as a small business owner.
By earning the bonuses on both a business and personal card, you’ll typically surpass the 135,000 points needed for the Companion Pass. This approach is one of the fastest and most efficient ways to unlock unlimited BOGO flights.
2. The One Card and Spend Strategy
If applying for two credit cards or qualifying for a business card isn’t an option, you can still earn the Southwest Companion Pass with just one card and strategic spending. Most people in this situation opt for a personal credit card.
When using this strategy, timing is crucial. To maximize your points, sign up for the card during a high-bonus promotion. Avoid applying when the standard sign-up bonus is only 50,000 points. Instead, wait for Southwest’s promotional periods, typically in the late fall, when bonuses often increase to 75,000–100,000 points. These higher bonuses can significantly reduce the points you need to earn through spending.
For added convenience, consider downloading the Travel Freely app, which alerts you to increased sign-up bonuses on Southwest cards, ensuring you never miss a deal.
After earning your sign-up bonus, you’ll need to focus on spending strategically to reach the remaining 125,000 points required for the Companion Pass (remember, having the card automatically earns you 10,000 points). For ideas on maximizing spending to reach your goal, check out the tips below.
3. The Hotel Bookings (earning the pass without a credit card)
Southwest offers several ways to earn points toward the Companion Pass through their travel partners. One of the best hacks is using SouthwestHotels.com, a hotel booking platform powered by Booking.com.
What makes Southwest Hotels a valuable tool for earning the Companion Pass is that all “bonus” points from bookings count toward your goal. Some hotels offer as many as 10,000 points per night, and you can even purchase additional points to boost your total. This method allows you to rack up points without using a credit card, helping you reach the 135,000 points needed for the Companion Pass more quickly.
Bonus: Your referral points count towards the Companion Pass
If you already have a Southwest card, any referral points you earn count toward your Companion Pass. You can earn up to 100,000 points in referral bonuses per year. This means if you refer five people, you’ll reach the maximum referral points. By combining these points with just a couple of hotel bookings or a Rocketmiles purchase, you can quickly accumulate enough points to earn the Southwest Companion Pass.
Strategic Spending to Earn the Pass
The Southwest card earnings are not great, and you shouldn’t rely on earning points at the standard 1x rate toward the pass. Instead, prioritize high-earning spending methods, such as booking through Southwest’s travel partners or using bonus point offers. All to say, this is an easy Southwest Companion Pass trick to earning your pass.
Focus on categories like dining, groceries, or travel expenses, where you can earn extra points with the right card. By strategically aligning your spending, you can reach the 135,000-point goal faster without relying solely on your card’s base earnings.
Flying Business Select
One of the most effective strategies for earning points is flying Business Select. This fare gives you 12x points on your flight price, which is a significant boost compared to the standard 1x points earned on most purchases with your Southwest card. This can greatly reduce the amount you need to spend to earn your Companion Pass.
Using the Southwest Shopping Portal
The Southwest Rapid Rewards Shopping portal is an excellent way to earn extra Rapid Rewards points on everyday purchases. You can earn points by shopping online, and even select curbside pickup for items you need quickly, making it a convenient option to boost your points balance.
Do Southwest hotel points count towards the Companion Pass? YES!
Southwest Hotels is one of the most underrated tools for earning the Companion Pass. You can earn thousands of points quickly with relatively little spending. Experiment with dates to find the best rates, and consider paying a little extra—often $40 more—for 5,000 bonus points.
Remember, booking through Southwest Hotels counts as using a third-party site, so avoid booking hotels if you’re aiming to earn loyalty status. Also, ensure the name on the room, card, and account match to earn points.
Selecting RocketMiles
RocketMiles is another great tool for earning Southwest points quickly. You can rack up tens of thousands of points during a weeklong stay. If you’re flexible with your hotel choices, RocketMiles can also help you earn additional points for other airlines. Just be sure to compare prices before booking.
Learn more about how to earn a lot more points for traveling for nearly free!
Southwest Companion Pass Trick FAQs
If you plan on traveling to Southwest destinations then the Southwest Airlines Companion Pass can certainly be worth it. Southwest’s Companion Pass gives you BOGO airfare on all flights, making any airfare you take half off for up to two years.
The biggest thing you need to consider is if you are planning to fly Southwest during the time you have the pass. The more you fly, the better the value after all.
No, transfer points from other credit cards do not count towards the Companion Pass.
The Southwest Companion Pass can be worth hundreds or even thousands of dollars, depending on how frequently you travel. Since it allows you to book a second passenger for free (excluding taxes and fees) on every flight, it can significantly reduce the cost of your trips, especially if you travel often with a companion.
