The Southwest Companion Pass is one of the most valuable perks in any U.S. airline loyalty program. It lets a designated companion fly with you on virtually every Southwest flight for free (just paying taxes and fees from $5.60 each way) for the remainder of the calendar year in which you earn it, plus the entire following calendar year. You earn it by accumulating 135,000 qualifying points or flying 100 qualifying one-way flights in a single calendar year through flights, credit card spending, shopping, and other eligible activities.
TL;DR / Key Takeaways
- The Southwest Companion Pass lets a designated companion fly with you for free (plus taxes and fees) on virtually all Southwest flights.
- You need 135,000 qualifying Rapid Rewards points or fly 100 qualifying one-way flights in a single calendar year to earn it.
- Best use case: Earn the pass as early in the calendar year as possible — the sooner you hit the qualifying threshold, the longer your companion benefit lasts.
- Southwest Rapid Rewards credit cards can fast-track earning with sign-up bonuses that count toward the threshold.
- The pass applies to both revenue and award flights, making it one of the few airline perks that works even when you’re redeeming points.
How does the Southwest Companion Pass work?
Once earned, the Companion Pass is valid for the remainder of the calendar year plus the full following year. You designate one person as your companion, and that person can book a seat on nearly any Southwest flight you take — you only pay government-mandated taxes and fees, typically $5.60 each way for domestic flights. There’s no limit to the number of times your companion can fly with you during the pass period.
You can change your designated companion up to three times per calendar year. This makes the pass flexible if your travel patterns shift. One important rule: your companion must be added to your reservation, and the pass cannot be used for flights you’re not also on.
How to earn the Southwest Companion Pass
Reaching 135,000 qualifying points or 100 qualifying one-way flights in one calendar year sounds daunting, but credit card welcome bonuses make it far more achievable. Here’s how the points stack up across earning channels:
| Earning Method | Qualifying Points | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Southwest credit card spend | Varies by category | 1x–3x per dollar spent |
| Welcome bonus | Offers starting at 50,000+ points | Counts toward threshold |
| Southwest flights | "Basic" fares earn 2 points per $1 spent | Plus tier bonuses |
| Rapid Rewards partners | Varies | Hotels, cars, shopping portal |
| Southwest Hotels, Dining | Varies | Counts toward pass |
Pairing a Southwest consumer card with a Southwest business card is one of the most effective ways to fast-track the companion pass — their combined welcome bonuses can put you within striking distance of the 135,000-point threshold before you’ve even flown. Points from both consumer and business cobranded Southwest cards count toward the pass. See our picks for the best Southwest credit cards to find the right combination for your situation.
Is the Southwest Companion Pass worth it?
For the right traveler, the Southwest Companion Pass is among the best deals in domestic travel. The math is straightforward: if your companion would otherwise pay $200 per round trip and you fly together six times in a year, you’ve extracted $1,200 in value — just in one year.
The pass is most valuable when you:
- Fly Southwest frequently, especially on routes with higher fares
- Have a consistent travel companion (spouse, partner, frequent collaborator)
- Earn it early in the calendar year to maximize the validity window
- Use it on award flights to double the value of your Rapid Rewards points
The pass is less compelling if you mainly fly routes where Southwest doesn’t operate, or if your travel companion varies trip to trip. Because your companion must be a single designated person (changeable only three times per year), frequent solo travelers or those with no consistent travel partner won’t get full mileage from it.
