How to fly a friend (nearly) free, unlimited times
🤓 Nerdy Tip
You’ll need to earn 135,000 qualifying points in a calendar year in order to get your hands on a Companion Pass. But all Rapid Rewards credit card members will automatically receive a boost of 10,000 Companion Pass-qualifying points every year.
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Southwest Companion Pass: Why You Want It and How to Get It
To qualify for a traditional Companion Pass, you'll need to do one of the following...
Everything You Need to Know About the Southwest Rapid Rewards Loyalty Program
Southwest offers many opportunities to earn and redeem Rapid Rewards points. Plus, your points don't expire.
👇 Southwest Cards That Earn Companion Pass-Eligible Points 💳
Better yet, the points earned from Southwest credit cards – including the welcome bonus – count toward earning the Pass. Opening a Southwest card and earning the bonus can give you a big headstart on earning the coveted Companion Pass.
on Chase's website
on Chase's website
$149
1x-3x
Points
50,000
Points
Pros
- Anniversary perk
- No reward caps
Cons
- High annual fee
- Rewards have limited flexibility
Pros
- Anniversary perk
- No reward caps
Cons
- High annual fee
- Rewards have limited flexibility
- Earn 50,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
- 7,500 anniversary points each year.
- Earn 3X points on Southwest® purchases.
- Earn 2X points on local transit and commuting, including rideshare.
- Earn 2X points on internet, cable, and phone services; select streaming.
- $75 Southwest® travel credit each year.
- No foreign transaction fees.
- Member FDIC
$149
1x-3x
Points
50,000
Points
Pros
- Anniversary perk
- No reward caps
Cons
- High annual fee
- Rewards have limited flexibility
Pros
- Anniversary perk
- No reward caps
Cons
- High annual fee
- Rewards have limited flexibility
- Earn 50,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
- 7,500 anniversary points each year.
- Earn 3X points on Southwest® purchases.
- Earn 2X points on local transit and commuting, including rideshare.
- Earn 2X points on internet, cable, and phone services; select streaming.
- $75 Southwest® travel credit each year.
- No foreign transaction fees.
- Member FDIC
$149
1x-3x
Points
50,000
Points
Pros
- Anniversary perk
- No reward caps
Cons
- High annual fee
- Rewards have limited flexibility
Pros
- Anniversary perk
- No reward caps
Cons
- High annual fee
- Rewards have limited flexibility
- Earn 50,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
- 7,500 anniversary points each year.
- Earn 3X points on Southwest® purchases.
- Earn 2X points on local transit and commuting, including rideshare.
- Earn 2X points on internet, cable, and phone services; select streaming.
- $75 Southwest® travel credit each year.
- No foreign transaction fees.
- Member FDIC
on Chase's website
on Chase's website
$69
1x-2x
Points
50,000
Points
Pros
- Anniversary perk
- No reward caps
Cons
- Has annual fee
- Rewards have limited flexibility
Pros
- Anniversary perk
- No reward caps
Cons
- Has annual fee
- Rewards have limited flexibility
- Earn 50,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
- 3,000 anniversary points each year.
- Earn 2X points on Southwest® purchases.
- Earn 2X points on local transit and commuting, including rideshare.
- Earn 2X points on internet, cable, and phone services; select streaming.
- 2 EarlyBird Check-In® each year.
- Earn 1 point for every $1 spent on all other purchases.
- Member FDIC
$69
1x-2x
Points
50,000
Points
Pros
- Anniversary perk
- No reward caps
Cons
- Has annual fee
- Rewards have limited flexibility
Pros
- Anniversary perk
- No reward caps
Cons
- Has annual fee
- Rewards have limited flexibility
- Earn 50,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
- 3,000 anniversary points each year.
- Earn 2X points on Southwest® purchases.
- Earn 2X points on local transit and commuting, including rideshare.
- Earn 2X points on internet, cable, and phone services; select streaming.
- 2 EarlyBird Check-In® each year.
- Earn 1 point for every $1 spent on all other purchases.
- Member FDIC
$69
1x-2x
Points
50,000
Points
Pros
- Anniversary perk
- No reward caps
Cons
- Has annual fee
- Rewards have limited flexibility
Pros
- Anniversary perk
- No reward caps
Cons
- Has annual fee
- Rewards have limited flexibility
- Earn 50,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
- 3,000 anniversary points each year.
- Earn 2X points on Southwest® purchases.
- Earn 2X points on local transit and commuting, including rideshare.
- Earn 2X points on internet, cable, and phone services; select streaming.
- 2 EarlyBird Check-In® each year.
- Earn 1 point for every $1 spent on all other purchases.
- Member FDIC
🤓 Nerdy Tip
Did you know that you don’t need a formal business — or any business income — to get a business credit card? A side hustle or hobby that generates extra cash is entrepreneurial enough to qualify for most of the best business credit cards.
đź’ˇ If you really want to earn a Southwest Companion Pass quickly, try opening a Southwest business card and a Southwest personal credit card. Here's why...
Though Southwest issues multiple personal credit cards, issuing rules prohibit opening and earning welcome bonuses on more than 1 personal card in a 24-month period. But, the rules do allow you to open and earn the welcome bonus on a Southwest personal card AND a Southwest business card. The points earned from meeting the terms on both welcome bonuses should score you a Companion Pass.
on Chase's website
on Chase's website
$199
1x-4x
Points
80,000
Points
Pros
- High rewards rate
- Anniversary perk
- No reward caps
Cons
- High annual fee
- Rewards have limited flexibility
Pros
- High rewards rate
- Anniversary perk
- No reward caps
Cons
- High annual fee
- Rewards have limited flexibility
- Earn 80,000 points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
- 9,000 bonus points after your Cardmember anniversary.
- Earn 4X pts on Southwest® purchases.
- Earn 3X points on Rapid Rewards® hotel and car rental partners.
- Earn 2X points on rideshare.
- Earn 2X points on social media and search engine advertising, internet, cable, and phone services and 1X points on all other purchases.
- 4 Upgraded Boardings per year when available.
- Member FDIC
$199
1x-4x
Points
80,000
Points
Pros
- High rewards rate
- Anniversary perk
- No reward caps
Cons
- High annual fee
- Rewards have limited flexibility
Pros
- High rewards rate
- Anniversary perk
- No reward caps
Cons
- High annual fee
- Rewards have limited flexibility
- Earn 80,000 points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
- 9,000 bonus points after your Cardmember anniversary.
- Earn 4X pts on Southwest® purchases.
- Earn 3X points on Rapid Rewards® hotel and car rental partners.
- Earn 2X points on rideshare.
- Earn 2X points on social media and search engine advertising, internet, cable, and phone services and 1X points on all other purchases.
- 4 Upgraded Boardings per year when available.
- Member FDIC
$199
1x-4x
Points
80,000
Points
Pros
- High rewards rate
- Anniversary perk
- No reward caps
Cons
- High annual fee
- Rewards have limited flexibility
Pros
- High rewards rate
- Anniversary perk
- No reward caps
Cons
- High annual fee
- Rewards have limited flexibility
- Earn 80,000 points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
- 9,000 bonus points after your Cardmember anniversary.
- Earn 4X pts on Southwest® purchases.
- Earn 3X points on Rapid Rewards® hotel and car rental partners.
- Earn 2X points on rideshare.
- Earn 2X points on social media and search engine advertising, internet, cable, and phone services and 1X points on all other purchases.
- 4 Upgraded Boardings per year when available.
- Member FDIC
on Chase's website
on Chase's website
$99
1x-3x
Points
60,000
Points
Pros
- Anniversary perk
- No reward caps
Cons
- Has annual fee
- Rewards have limited flexibility
Pros
- Anniversary perk
- No reward caps
Cons
- Has annual fee
- Rewards have limited flexibility
- Earn 60,000 points after you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open.
- 6,000 bonus points after your Cardmember anniversary.
- Earn 3X points on Southwest Airlines® purchases.
- Earn 2X points on Rapid Rewards® hotel and car rental partners.
- Earn 2X points on rideshare.
- 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases.
- 2 EarlyBird Check-In® each year.
- Member FDIC
$99
1x-3x
Points
60,000
Points
Pros
- Anniversary perk
- No reward caps
Cons
- Has annual fee
- Rewards have limited flexibility
Pros
- Anniversary perk
- No reward caps
Cons
- Has annual fee
- Rewards have limited flexibility
- Earn 60,000 points after you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open.
- 6,000 bonus points after your Cardmember anniversary.
- Earn 3X points on Southwest Airlines® purchases.
- Earn 2X points on Rapid Rewards® hotel and car rental partners.
- Earn 2X points on rideshare.
- 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases.
- 2 EarlyBird Check-In® each year.
- Member FDIC
$99
1x-3x
Points
60,000
Points
Pros
- Anniversary perk
- No reward caps
Cons
- Has annual fee
- Rewards have limited flexibility
Pros
- Anniversary perk
- No reward caps
Cons
- Has annual fee
- Rewards have limited flexibility
- Earn 60,000 points after you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open.
- 6,000 bonus points after your Cardmember anniversary.
- Earn 3X points on Southwest Airlines® purchases.
- Earn 2X points on Rapid Rewards® hotel and car rental partners.
- Earn 2X points on rideshare.
- 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases.
- 2 EarlyBird Check-In® each year.
- Member FDIC
Southwest Credit Card or General Travel Credit Card?
If you don't travel Southwest often, a general travel rewards credit card may be a better fit. The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card, for example, isn't a Southwest-branded card, but the points you earn are super-flexible. Among your options: transferring points directly to Southwest — meaning that if you use this card right, you could actually earn 5 Southwest points per dollar spent on other airlines.
But while you can transfer Chase points to Southwest, those points will not count toward the Companion Pass.
» SEE: Best credit cards for Southwest
What Is the Value of Southwest Rapid Rewards Points?
Making the most of travel rewards requires some understanding of how much each reward currency is worth. Earning 100,000 points sounds great, but what does that mean in terms of dollars?