The Southwest Companion Pass is the single most valuable perk in domestic travel. Earn it and a designated companion flies free on every Southwest flight you take — paying only the $5.60 government fee per segment — for the remainder of the calendar year plus the entire following year.
For a couple who flies Southwest even 4-5 times per year, the Companion Pass easily saves $2,000-4,000 in airfare annually. Here is how to earn it in 2026.
How the Companion Pass Works
Once you accumulate 135,000 qualifying points in a single calendar year, you earn the Companion Pass. It activates immediately and lasts through the end of the following calendar year. You designate one companion who flies free on every Southwest flight you book — revenue or award.
Your companion can be changed up to 3 times per calendar year. The companion books through your Southwest account and only pays the government security fee ($5.60 each way).
Key change for 2026: Southwest implemented assigned seating on January 27, 2026, ending the airline's iconic open-seating policy. Companion Pass holders still fly free, but you will now receive assigned seats rather than boarding positions. The pass remains just as valuable — you simply get two assigned seats instead of choosing your own.
How to Earn 135,000 Qualifying Points
There are three main paths to the Companion Pass:
Path 1: Two Southwest Credit Card Sign-Up Bonuses (Fastest)
Southwest credit cards (Chase) periodically offer elevated bonuses of 60,000-75,000 points. With two cards earning 60,000+ each, you can reach 135,000 from sign-up bonuses alone after meeting minimum spend requirements (typically $3,000-5,000 per card in 3 months).
The cards: Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus ($69 AF), Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier ($99 AF), Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority ($149 AF), and Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier Business ($99 AF). The business card does not count toward 5/24 but you must be under 5/24 to be approved.
Path 2: One Card Bonus + Spend
Earn one 60,000+ point bonus and earn the remaining 75,000 through spending. The Priority card earns 2x on Southwest purchases and 1x on everything else. You would need $75,000 in non-bonus spending to close the gap — realistic only if you can funnel business expenses through the card.
Path 3: Credit Card Bonus + Chase Transfer
Points transferred from Chase Ultimate Rewards to Southwest Rapid Rewards count toward the Companion Pass. Earn one Southwest card bonus (60,000+), then transfer 75,000 Chase UR points to reach 135,000. This path costs UR points but gets you to the pass quickly.
Timing Strategy: When to Earn
The Companion Pass lasts through the end of the calendar year after you earn it. To maximize duration:
- Best timing: Earn the pass in January or February of a new year. You get nearly 2 full years (remainder of year 1 + all of year 2).
- Worst timing: Earning in November or December gives you only 13-14 months of value.
The play: Apply for Southwest cards in late October or November. Meet minimum spend in January. Sign-up bonus posts in early January or February. Companion Pass activates for that year plus the next — nearly 24 months of free companion travel.
What Counts as Qualifying Points
Qualifying points include: points earned from Southwest credit card spending, credit card sign-up bonuses, points transferred from Chase Ultimate Rewards or Bilt Rewards, and points earned from flying Southwest. Points purchased directly, gifted points, and points from Southwest shopping portal do NOT count.
Best Routes for Companion Pass Value
The Companion Pass delivers the most value on routes where Southwest has competitive pricing:
- Hawaii routes: Southwest flies to Honolulu, Maui, Kona, and Lihue from several West Coast cities. Round-trip cash fares of $300-600 mean $300-600 saved per companion trip.
- Cross-country flights: BWI to LAX, MDW to PHX, and similar routes where Southwest competes on price.
- Caribbean: Southwest serves Aruba, Jamaica, Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic, and others.
Award redemptions with Companion Pass are exceptionally efficient. A Hawaii one-way for as low as 8,500 points gets both you and your companion there — effectively 4,250 points per person.
2026 Program Changes
The threshold remains 135,000 qualifying points. The major change is the assigned seating implementation on January 27, 2026. Southwest also continues to offer Wanna Get Away, Wanna Get Away Plus, Anytime, and Business Select fare classes. Points redemption values vary by fare class, with Wanna Get Away fares delivering roughly 1.4-1.5 cents per point.
Points never expire as long as you have earning activity every 24 months. Transfer from Chase (1:1) and Bilt (1:1) to keep your balance active.