How to fly a friend (nearly) free, unlimited times

It's like a buy-one-get-one-free deal on flights. The Companion Pass is a highly sought-after airline perk because it's among the most valuable benefits of its kind. It allows you to pick one person to fly with you without paying any airline charges for your travel companion, aside from mandatory taxes and fees, which start at $5.60 one-way. Earning it is a challenge, but Southwest credit cards can help.
The Southwest Companion Pass is good for the rest of the year in which you earn it, plus the entire next calendar year! That means if you time it right, you can get close to two full years of (nearly) free flights for your companion!

🤓 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

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

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 💳

Southwest Airlines offers an array of credit cards, just like other major U.S. airlines. But Southwest operates differently from other carriers, so its cards are different, too. Most notably, the airline doesn't charge for checked bags and doesn't operate a network of airport lounges, so it doesn't have cards that offer free bags or lounge access. Southwest also doesn't offer a no-annual-fee card.

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.
Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card
Apply Now

on Chase's website

Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card

4.2

NerdWallet rating 
Apply Now

on Chase's website

Annual fee

$149

Rewards rate

1x-3x

Points

Intro offer

50,000

Points

Recommended Credit Score

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
Annual fee

$149

Rewards rate

1x-3x

Points

Intro offer

50,000

Points

Recommended Credit Score

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
Chase Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card
Apply Now

on Chase's website

Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card

4.2

NerdWallet rating 
Apply Now

on Chase's website

Annual fee

$69

Rewards rate

1x-2x

Points

Intro offer

50,000

Points

Recommended Credit Score

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
Annual fee

$69

Rewards rate

1x-2x

Points

Intro offer

50,000

Points

Recommended Credit Score

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.

New! Southwest Rapid Rewards® Performance Business Credit Card
Apply Now

on Chase's website

Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Performance Business Credit Card

4.8

NerdWallet rating 
Apply Now

on Chase's website

Annual fee

$199

Rewards rate

1x-4x

Points

Intro offer

80,000

Points

Recommended Credit Score

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
Annual fee

$199

Rewards rate

1x-4x

Points

Intro offer

80,000

Points

Recommended Credit Score

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
Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Business Credit Card"
Apply Now

on Chase's website

Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Premier Business Credit Card

3.7

NerdWallet rating 
Apply Now

on Chase's website

Annual fee

$99

Rewards rate

1x-3x

Points

Intro offer

60,000

Points

Recommended Credit Score

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
Annual fee

$99

Rewards rate

1x-3x

Points

Intro offer

60,000

Points

Recommended Credit Score

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're interested in the Southwest Rapid Rewards program, you may wonder how many points you will earn on a Southwest credit card? For the most part, each card has similar earning opportunities based on spending. For example, the cards earn 2x Rapid Rewards points in the following categories: Hotel and car rental partners. Local transit and ride-hailing services. Internet, cable, mobile phone and select streaming services. All three cards also earn 1 point per dollar for other purchases. The difference lies in Southwest purchases — while the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card earns 2x points on Southwest purchases, the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card earns 3x points.

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?

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?