Southwest Companion Pass: How to Earn It Fast

The Southwest Companion Pass is widely considered the most valuable perk in domestic travel. It allows you to choose one person to fly with you for free (plus taxes and fees) every time you purchase or redeem points for a flight. If you time your strategy correctly, you can secure this benefit for nearly two full years. This guide breaks down exactly how to fast-track your way to the pass using specific credit card strategies and timing hacks.

Understanding the Requirements

To earn the Companion Pass, you must accumulate 135,000 qualifying points or fly 100 qualifying one-way flights within a single calendar year (January 1 to December 31). Since flying 100 times is difficult for most casual travelers, the point accumulation strategy is the most efficient path.

Once you earn the pass, it is valid for the remainder of the year in which you earned it, plus the entire following calendar year.

Example of ideal timing: If you earn the pass in January 2025, it is valid for the rest of 2025 and all of 2026. This gives you practically two years of buy-one-get-one-free travel.

The Credit Card Strategy: The Fastest Route

The quickest way to reach the 135,000-point threshold is through welcome bonuses on Southwest Rapid Rewards credit cards issued by Chase. Since points earned from credit card welcome bonuses count toward the Companion Pass, you can do most of the heavy lifting without stepping on a plane.

1. The Personal and Business Combo

This is the most popular strategy for solo travelers or small business owners. Chase allows you to hold one personal Southwest card and one business Southwest card simultaneously.

  • Step A: Apply for a business card first. The Southwest Rapid Rewards Performance Business Credit Card often features a high welcome offer, historically ranging between 80,000 and 120,000 points after meeting a spend requirement (typically $5,000 in 3 months).
  • Step B: Apply for a personal card. Options include the Priority, Premier, or Plus cards. These usually offer between 50,000 and 75,000 points after spending roughly $3,000 in the first 3 months.

The Math: If you secure an 80,000-point bonus on the business card and a 50,000-point bonus on the personal card, you have 130,000 points. The remaining 5,000 points will naturally be earned through the spending required to unlock those bonuses.

2. The Business Card Double Dip

If you have a business entity (or a sole proprietorship), you might be eligible for two business cards. Chase generally restricts you from having two personal Southwest cards at once, but you can hold both the Performance Business and the Premier Business cards.

This strategy keeps your personal credit report cleaner (as business cards often don’t show on personal reports unless delinquent) and often yields a higher total point count. However, the spending requirements on business cards are generally higher, sometimes requiring up to $5,000 or $10,000 in spend per card.

Strategic Timing for Application and Spend

Timing is critical. Points count toward the year in which they post to your Southwest account, not necessarily when you spent the money.

  • Do not complete your spending in December. If you finish your minimum spend requirement on December 20th, the statement might close in January, but there is a risk points could post early or late.
  • The “Early Year” Target: Open your cards in October or November. Complete 90% of the spending requirement immediately. Wait until January 1st to spend the final amount needed to trigger the bonus.
  • Result: The massive welcome bonus points hit your account in January or February. You instantly qualify for the Companion Pass for the rest of that year and the entirety of the next.

Other Ways to Earn Qualifying Points

If you fall short of the 135,000 mark after credit card bonuses, or if you prefer not to open new lines of credit, you can bridge the gap using these methods.

Rapid Rewards Shopping Portal

This is an online shopping portal that rewards you for purchases at major retailers like Home Depot, Macy’s, or Nike.

  • Log in to the Southwest Rapid Rewards Shopping portal.
  • Click through to the retailer’s website.
  • Earn 1 to 10 points per dollar spent.
  • Base points earned here count toward the Companion Pass. (Note: “Bonus” points awarded during special promotions sometimes do not count, so read the fine print).

Southwest Hotels and Rental Cars

Booking travel partners through Southwest can yield significant points.

  • Southwest Hotels: You can sometimes find hotel bookings that offer 5,000 to 10,000 points per stay. These are base points and count toward the pass.
  • Rental Cars: Booking cars through the Southwest portal usually earns 600 points per rental, which counts toward the total.

Referral Bonuses

If you already have a Chase Southwest card, you can refer friends. Chase often awards 10,000 to 20,000 points per approved referral, up to a cap (usually 50,000 to 100,000 points per year). These referral points count toward the Companion Pass 135,000-point requirement.

What Does NOT Count?

Avoiding mistakes is just as important as earning points. The following do not count toward the 135,000-point requirement:

  1. Chase Ultimate Rewards Transfers: You cannot transfer points from a Chase Sapphire Preferred or Sapphire Reserve to Southwest and have them count toward the Companion Pass. They are usable for flights but do not help you earn status.
  2. Purchased Points: Buying points directly from Southwest does not count toward the pass.
  3. Gifted or Transferred Points: Points sent to you by another member do not count.

Utilizing the Pass: Costs and Logistics

Once you earn the status, you must designate your companion online.

  • Booking: Book your flight first (using cash or points). Then, visit the “My Trips” section of your account. You will see a button to “Add Companion.”
  • Cost: You must pay taxes and fees for the companion’s ticket. For domestic US flights, this is typically $5.60 one-way. For international flights, taxes can range from $30 to over $100 depending on the destination.
  • Flexibility: You can change your designated companion up to three times per calendar year. This is excellent if you usually travel with a spouse but want to take a specific trip with a friend or child.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does the Companion Pass cover international flights? Yes. You can use the pass on any flight Southwest operates, including destinations like Mexico, Costa Rica, Jamaica, and the Caribbean. You only pay the government taxes and fees.

Can I use the pass if I book my own ticket with points? Yes. Whether you paid for your ticket with cash, points, or travel funds, your companion still flies for just taxes and fees.

Does my credit card spend count toward the 135,000 points? Yes. Every dollar you spend on your Southwest credit card earns 1 point that counts toward the pass. However, relying solely on spending ($135,000 worth) is difficult, which is why the welcome bonuses are the preferred strategy.

What happens if I cancel my credit card after earning the pass? Southwest will not revoke the pass if you close the card after earning it. However, Chase may blacklist you if you open and close cards too aggressively without holding them for at least 12 months. It is generally best to keep the card open for at least one full year.