Guide · Miles & loyalty
Southwest Companion Pass: the best travel deal in domestic flying
By the TSA Wait Times team · Updated · Published June 2026
The Southwest Companion Pass lets you designate one companion who flies with you for free — paying only the taxes, typically $5.60 each way — on every Southwest flight you take. It is earned by accumulating 135,000 qualifying Rapid Rewards points in a single calendar year, and it lasts through the rest of that year plus the entire following year.
How the Companion Pass works
What you get
Your designated companion flies with you on every qualifying Southwest flight for free. They pay only the 9/11 security fee ($5.60 each way on domestic flights). There are no blackout dates, no fare-class restrictions, and it works on both paid and award tickets.
How long it lasts
The Companion Pass is valid from the date you earn it through December 31 of the following calendar year.
- Earn in January 2026 → valid through December 31, 2027 (up to 2 full years).
- Earn in November 2026→ valid only through December 31, 2027 (14 months).
Best time to earn
January or February — earning early in the year gives you the maximum time on the pass, approaching two full years of use.
Changing your companion
You can change your designated companion up to 3 times per calendar year. This gives you flexibility if travel plans or relationships change.
Who can be your companion
Any adult or child — a partner, spouse, friend, family member, or anyone you choose. They must be designated before the flight departs, but there is no requirement that they be related to you.
How to earn 135,000 qualifying points
Not all Southwest Rapid Rewards points count toward the Companion Pass threshold. Only qualifying points move you toward the 135,000 goal.
Points that qualify:
- Points earned from flying on Southwest flights
- Points from Southwest co-branded credit cards, including sign-up bonuses
- Points from Southwest hotel and car rental partners
- Points from the Southwest Rapid Rewards shopping portal
Important — points that do NOT qualify: Points transferred into your Rapid Rewards account from Chase Ultimate Rewards or any other program do not count toward the Companion Pass threshold. This is the single most common misconception about the pass.
The credit card strategy (fastest path to Companion Pass)
The quickest way to reach 135,000 qualifying points is through Southwest co-branded credit card sign-up bonuses. These bonuses count in full as qualifying points.
Southwest Rapid Rewards cards (2026 offers)
| Card | Annual fee | Welcome bonus |
|---|---|---|
| Rapid Rewards Priority | $149/yr | 50,000 pts after $1,000 spend in 3 months |
| Rapid Rewards Plus | $69/yr | 40,000–50,000 pts |
| Rapid Rewards Premier | $99/yr | 40,000–50,000 pts |
| Performance Business | $199/yr | 80,000 pts |
| Premier Business | $99/yr | 60,000 pts |
Optimal two-card strategy: one personal + one business
Chase allows you to hold one personal Southwest card and one business Southwest card simultaneously. Opening both in the same calendar year and earning both welcome bonuses is the most reliable path to the Companion Pass.
| Card | Qualifying points |
|---|---|
| Priority personal: 50,000 bonus + 6,000 from $3,000 spend | 56,000 pts |
| Performance Business: 80,000 bonus + 6,000 from $3,000 spend | 86,000 pts |
| Total | 142,000 pts → Companion Pass |
Chase rules to know before you apply
- Chase 5/24 rule: Chase will not approve you for a new card if you have opened 5 or more cards from any bank in the past 24 months. Plan your applications around this limit.
- Welcome bonus restrictions: You cannot earn a welcome bonus if you currently hold the same card or received a bonus from that card in the past 24 months.
- One personal, one business: Chase allows holding one personal Southwest card and one business Southwest card simultaneously, giving you access to both welcome bonuses.
Earning the Companion Pass through flying
If you fly Southwest frequently, you can earn the Companion Pass through flights alone — but it requires significant annual spending. Southwest awards 6–12 points per dollar spent on flights, depending on fare type (Wanna Get Away earns 6 pts/$, Business Select earns 12 pts/$).
To earn 135,000 points from flying alone: approximately $11,000–22,500 in Southwest flight spending in a calendar year — a high bar for most travelers.
Hybrid approach: Combine 2–3 months of Southwest flights with a credit card welcome bonus. For example: $5,000 in flights (~40,000–60,000 points) plus an 80,000-point card bonus plus ongoing spend can push you over 135,000 qualifying points in a single year.
How to use the Companion Pass
Booking your companion
When booking a Southwest flight, select “Book with Companion Pass” at checkout, or add your companion after booking in the “My Trips” section of Southwest.com or the Southwest app.
What your companion pays
Only the 9/11 security fee — $5.60 each way for domestic travel. No fare, no fuel surcharge. On a round trip, your companion pays $11.20 in total.
Works on award tickets too
The Companion Pass applies to award redemptions. If you book a Rapid Rewards award ticket, your companion still pays only $5.60 each way. This makes Southwest award travel exceptionally valuable for pairs.
Same-day changes
If you change your flight, your companion's ticket automatically moves with you — you do not need to rebook separately.
The one limit to know
The Companion Pass only applies when you (the pass holder) are on the same flight as your companion. Your companion cannot use the pass to fly independently.
Companion Pass value calculation
To illustrate the savings, assume you and your companion take 10 round trips per year averaging $200 per ticket each way ($400 round trip).
| Scenario | Total cost |
|---|---|
| Without Companion Pass (20 tickets × $200) | $4,000 |
| With Companion Pass (10 full tickets + 10 × $11.20 companion fees) | $2,112 |
| Annual savings | ~$1,888 |
The Companion Pass is among the highest-value single benefits in US travel loyalty programs. At roughly 2 years of validity when earned early in January, the cumulative savings potential for frequent Southwest travelers can exceed $3,000–$4,000.
Related guides
- Best travel credit cards — compare Chase, Amex, Capital One, and Citi travel cards for earning points across airlines and hotels.
- How to book award flights with miles — finding saver space, transfer partners, and the best programs for international business class in 2026.
- How to change or cancel a flight — airline policies, fees, and step-by-step instructions for every major US carrier.
How many Southwest points do you need for the Companion Pass?
135,000 qualifying Rapid Rewards points in a single calendar year. The fastest way to earn them is via Southwest co-branded credit card welcome bonuses.
Can Chase Ultimate Rewards points count toward the Companion Pass?
No — points transferred from Chase Ultimate Rewards or any other program do not count as qualifying points toward the Companion Pass threshold.
Can my companion fly alone with the Companion Pass?
No — the Companion Pass only works when you (the Companion Pass holder) are on the same flight as your designated companion.
When is the best time to earn the Companion Pass?
January or February — this gives you the maximum validity period (through December 31 of the following year, nearly 2 years of use).
Know when to leave for your Southwest flight
You earned the Companion Pass — do not miss the flight. Your Leave-By Timecounts back from departure using today's live TSA security wait, your drive, and the terminal walk, so the buffer is always right.
Get your Leave-By Time