Limited-Time Promo for a Southwest Companion Pass 2025: Bring a Buddy on Every Flight You Take This Year

• Southwest Companion Pass holders can bring a buddy on every flight they take for as little as $5.60.
• To get the Pass, you usually must fly 100 flights or earn 135,000 Southwest points in a single year.
• But from now through March, you can earn the Companion Pass with a single credit card welcome bonus.

One of the best perks in the travel industry is the legendary Southwest Companion Pass. Lucky pass holders can bring a buddy on any flight they take for as long as the pass is valid. Several airlines offer companion travel benefits, but Southwest's program is the best by far.

There are some caveats and exceptions, of course, but they're not as complicated as you might imagine.

Right now, Southwest is offering a promotion: 30,000 bonus points and a Companion Pass® good through 2/28/26 after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening. You typically need welcome bonuses from at least two Southwest cards to earn enough points for a Companion Pass from credit cards alone. But through March 2025, you can qualify for a Companion Pass by signing up for a single credit card and meeting the bonus requirement.

Here's everything you need to know about getting and using the Southwest Companion Pass, including the best strategies to keep it for as long as possible.

What is the Southwest Companion Pass?

The Southwest Companion Pass lets you bring one designated friend or family member on any flight you take as long as there is an available seat on the plane.

You won't need to pay either cash or points for your companion's ticket; you'll only pay airfare taxes and fees, which start at $5.60 on a one-way domestic flight.

The duration of your Companion Pass varies based on how and when you earn it.

How long does the Companion Pass last?

If you earn the promotional version of the Southwest Companion Pass through the current welcome offer, you'll have it from the time you qualify through February 28, 2026. If you earn the Companion Pass the traditional way, you can use it from the time you qualify through the following calendar year.

How to get the Southwest Companion Pass

You can get the Southwest Companion Pass either by earning 135,000 qualifying Southwest Rapid Rewards points or flying 100 eligible (paid) one-way flights in a calendar year.

Points earned from Southwest credit card welcome bonuses and spending count toward the Companion Pass, so opening a new card and earning the welcome offer is an easy way to achieve a big part of the requirement.

How to earn qualifying Southwest points

You can earn qualifying Southwest points in several ways:

• Booking paid flights on Southwest
• Earning points from Southwest Rapid Rewards credit cards
• Earning points from Rapid Rewards partners

Southwest credit cardholders receive an annual boost of 10,000 Companion Pass-qualifying points. You won't actually receive 10,000 points; instead, you'll only need to earn an additional 125,000 points in a calendar year to get your Companion Pass. You'll only receive one boost yearly, even if you have multiple Southwest cards.

Southwest points that don't qualify for Companion Pass

You can acquire Rapid Rewards points in many different ways, but some do not qualify toward your Companion Pass earning requirement.

The following types of Southwest points do not qualify:

• Purchased points
• Points transferred between Rapid Rewards members
• Points transferred from Chase Ultimate Rewards®
• Points converted from hotel and car loyalty programs
• Points converted from e-Rewards, e-Miles, Valued Opinions, and Diners Club
• Points earned from Rapid Rewards program enrollment
• Tier bonus points
• Flight bonus points
• Partner bonus points

How to make the most of your Southwest Companion Pass

The best way to maximize your Companion Pass is by earning it early in the calendar year. In this section, we'll show you how to maximize the current promotional Companion Pass, as well as how to get the pass the traditional way if you don't qualify for the promo offer.

How to earn the promotional Companion Pass

The current Southwest Companion Pass promotion has different qualifications and validity periods, expiring on February 28, 2026.

With the current welcome offer, you'll automatically receive the Companion Pass as soon as you are approved for a new credit card and meet all of the requirements for earning the promotional bonus. If you apply and earn the bonus before the end of February 2025, you can take advantage of a full year's worth of two-for-one flights.

If you can get a new Southwest personal credit card and reach the required spending, this is the best way to enjoy Companion Pass status as soon as possible.

If you can't get a new card or the promotional offer isn't an option for you, you can still earn the Companion Pass the usual way, which we'll explain below.

The standard way to earn the Southwest Companion Pass

Your Companion Pass is typically valid through the rest of the calendar year in which you earn it, as well as the following year. For example, if you earn the Companion Pass in 2025, it will expire after December 31, 2026.

That means:

• If you earn the required number of points in November 2025, you will only be able to use the Companion Pass for just a little over a year.
• But if you earn the Companion Pass in March 2025, you can use it for nearly two years of travel.

The year in which you earn the qualifying Southwest Companion Pass points is the year for which they will count toward the Companion Pass. For example, if you signed up for a credit card in late 2024 but didn't earn your welcome bonus until early 2025, the points from your welcome offer will count toward your 2025 qualification.

With this in mind, the best time to start planning to get the Companion Pass is toward the end of a calendar year, or very early in the new year. 

Earn the Companion Pass with Southwest Credit Cards

Earning the Companion Pass by flying thousands of miles is doing it the hard way.

You can earn the required number of points more easily by opening and spending on Southwest credit cards, since their welcome bonus offers and points earned from spending count toward the qualifying points you need.

Get one personal credit card and one business credit card

You can easily earn the Companion Pass in a matter of months by earning two welcome bonuses — one apiece from a personal credit card and a business credit card — plus the points you'll earn from spending enough to meet both bonuses.

You can only hold one Southwest personal card at a time. However, you can have one personal card and either (or both) Southwest small business credit cards at the same time.

You don't have to be a full-fledged CEO to get a business credit card. You may qualify for a small business credit card even if you freelance, work a side gig, or occasionally sell secondhand items on eBay.

Here's what you should know about the five Southwest credit cards available, each of which can help you earn your way to the Companion Pass.

Southwest consumer credit cards

All three of the personal Southwest credit cards offer generous welcome bonuses.

Right now, you can earn a promotional version of the Companion Pass by signing up for any one of these cards and meeting the new cardholder requirements:

• Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card — earn 30,000 bonus points and a Companion Pass® good through 2/28/26 after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening
• Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card — earn 30,000 bonus points and a Companion Pass® good through 2/28/26 after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening
• Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card — earn 30,000 bonus points and a Companion Pass® good through 2/28/26 after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening

Southwest business credit cards

Here's what the two Southwest business cards currently offer for new cardholders:

• Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Performance Business Credit Card — 80,000 points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening
• Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Premier Business Credit Card — 60,000 points after you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening

How to earn the remaining points you need for the Companion Pass

If you only open one Southwest card, you'll usually be short on the number of points you need to earn a Companion Pass.

There are many ways to earn the remaining points:

• Use the Southwest card for your everyday spending and all other bills and expenses — and boost your earnings even more by making online purchases through the Southwest shopping portal
• Fly Southwest, where you'll earn between 6 and 12 points per dollar, depending on the fare type
• Book hotels through Southwest Hotels (in partnership with Booking.com)
• Rent a car through Southwest Book a Car
• Sign up for Rapid Rewards Dining and eat out at participating restaurants

Which Southwest credit card should you get?

Each credit card comes with different perks and annual fees. Here are the respective merits for both business and personal cards.

Southwest personal credit cards

Southwest offers three credit cards for consumers.

Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card

The Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card is the lowest-tier card in this Southwest family, with an annual fee of $69.

Infrequent Southwest flyers get great benefits on this entry-level card: 

• 2 points per dollar on Southwest purchases
• 2 points on Rapid Rewards hotel and car rental partner purchases
• 2 points on local transit and commuting, including rideshare
• 2 points on internet, cable, phone services, and select streaming
• 1 point per dollar on everything else

You'll also get 3,000 points on your card anniversary, two EarlyBird Check-Ins each year, 25% back on inflight drinks and WiFi purchases, and a boost of 10,000 Companion Pass qualifying points per calendar year. (Remember, these don't double up even if you have multiple Southwest credit cards.)

Learn more about this card in our Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus credit card review. 

Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card

The Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card is the middle child of the credit card family, with a good range of benefits to offset the $99 annual fee.

Premier cardholders earn rewards at the following rates:

• 3 points per dollar on Southwest purchases
• 2 points on Rapid Rewards hotel and car rental partner purchases
• 2 points on local transit and commuting, including rideshares
• 2 points on internet, cable, phone services, and select streaming services
• 1 point per dollar on everything else

You also earn 6,000 Rapid Rewards points each year when the card renews, and you get two complimentary EarlyBird check-in credits each year. You'll also earn 1,500 Tier Qualifying Points toward A-List status for every $5,000 you spend with no limits, as well as 25% back on inflight purchases. Finally, you'll also receive a boost of 10,000 Companion Pass qualifying points every year, which gives you a head start on earning your next Companion Pass.  

Learn more about this card in our Chase Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier credit card review. 

Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card

The Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card is Southwest's top-tier consumer credit card, and a great option for frequent Southwest travelers to keep in their wallet.

The earning rates on the Priority card mirror those of the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card.

Priority cardholders earn: 

• 3 points per dollar on Southwest purchases
• 2 points on Rapid Rewards hotel and car rental partner purchases
• 2 points on local transit and commuting, including rideshare
• 2 points on internet, cable, phone services, and select streaming
• 1 point per dollar on everything else

The card stands out in other ways that offset the card's higher annual fee. All of these enhanced benefits help offset the higher annual fee of $149:

• 7,500 Rapid Rewards points on your card anniversary
• Earn tier-qualifying points toward A-List elite status when you spend money on this card
• $75 annual Southwest travel credit
• Four upgraded boardings per year when available
• 25% back on inflight drinks and WiFi
• A boost of 10,000 Companion Pass qualifying points each calendar year

Learn more about this card in our Southwest Priority Card review. 

Southwest business credit cards

Southwest offers business credit cards, and both offer great value for a reasonable annual fee.

Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Performance Business Credit Card

The Southwest Performance Business card is a heavy hitter for frequent Southwest travelers, especially if you often purchase WiFi during your flights.

This card currently offers a welcome bonus of 80,000 points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening, worth $1,120 based on Business Insider's valuations.

This card has the highest annual fee out of all Southwest credit cards, at $199. In exchange, you get a slew of benefits that are worth significantly more than what you pay, assuming you can use most of them. 

You'll earn Rapid Rewards points at the following rates: 

• 4 points per dollar on Southwest purchases
• 3 points on Rapid Rewards hotel and car partners
• 2 points on rideshare
• 2 points on social media and search engine advertising
• 2 points on internet, cable, and phone services
• 1 point per dollar on everything else 

You get 365 inflight WiFi credits with the Southwest Performance card. This is one of the most unique (and generous) perks for inflight WiFi across all airlines and credit cards.

You'll still earn rewards for each $8 WiFi purchase, but you'll receive them back as a statement credit on your next bill. The high number of annual WiFi credits available means that you can connect your cellphone, iPad, and laptop on every flight (if you so desire) without ever running out of credits. 

You'll also earn 9,000 Rapid Rewards points each year on your card renewal anniversary; 1,500 tier-qualifying points toward A-List elite status for every $5,000 spent on the card; up to $120 Global Entry or TSA PreCheck® application fee credit once every four years; four complimentary upgraded boardings per year when available; and a boost of 10,000 Companion Pass qualifying points each calendar year. 

Read more about this card in our Southwest Performance Business card review.

Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Premier Business Credit Card

The Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Premier Business Credit Card is a strong choice for business travelers who occasionally fly on this airline, especially if you can make use of the welcome bonus: 60,000 points after you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening

For a $99 annual fee, you'll get many of the same benefits as the Performance card with slightly lower earning rates: 

• 3 points per dollar on Southwest purchases
• 2 points on Rapid Rewards hotel and car partners
• 2 points on rideshares
• 1 per dollar on everything else

Cardholders also get two EarlyBird Check-Ins per year, 25% back on inflight purchases, 1,500 tier-qualifying points toward A-List elite status for every $5,000 spent on the card, and a boost of 10,000 Companion Pass qualifying points each calendar year. They also receive 6,000 Rapid Rewards points each year on their card renewal anniversary. 

Read more in our Southwest Premier Business card review.

How to use the Southwest Companion Pass

As a Companion Pass holder, you can book your flight to your desired destination using cash or points. Once your flight is confirmed, you can add your companion for the same flight online, through the Southwest mobile app, or by calling Southwest customer service.

There's no limit to how often you can use the Companion Pass — as long as you're flying and there's at least one spare seat on the plane, you can book it for your travel buddy.

How to register your Southwest companion

Once you earn the Companion Pass, you can designate your travel companion with Southwest.

You'll get the most out of your pass if you choose someone you frequently travel with, such as a spouse, child, best friend, or family member. You can change your designated companion up to three times per calendar year for a total of four separate companions if you so choose. This means that you can bring along different friends for different trips if you plan your strategy correctly. (You can also change back to a previous companion, although this will count as one of your changes for the year.)

Register your designated companion by logging into your Rapid Rewards account at Southwest, then click "Choose Your Companion" under the Snapshot tab. Enter all of the requested information about your companion until the process is complete. A Companion Pass member kit and membership card will arrive within 10 business days.

Add your companion to your reservation

You don't need to wait for your Companion Pass member kit to arrive in the mail before you start booking tickets. In fact, you don't really need the pass itself at all. You can add a companion to any flight you've already booked for yourself directly through the app or the website, and they will receive a confirmation number and boarding pass just like any other passenger.

Once your own flight is booked, visit the My Trips section of your account. Find your flight in the section titled "Upcoming" and click on the "Add Companion" link. Here, click "Continue" to proceed to the next step where you can purchase your companion fare and review the information. Once you hit the "Purchase" button to complete your booking reservation, you're all set.

You can also book your companion via phone — just notify the customer service representative that you will be using a Companion Pass.

How to change your designated companion

You can change your companion up to three times each calendar year. If you choose a companion when you earn the pass in 2025, you can rotate through four separate companions before the end of the year, then another four in 2026 if you so choose.

You cannot switch your companion online yourself; instead, you need to speak with Southwest directly at (800) 435-9792. The process is straightforward: A customer representative will take the information about your new designated companion and make the switch.

You cannot book new travel with your next companion until all travel with your current companion is complete. For example, if you're traveling to New York with your sister in August, but want to fly to Los Angeles with your spouse in September, you cannot add your spouse as your companion until your trip in August is completed. You can, however, book a September flight to Los Angeles in your sister's name in order to save a seat on the flight — then cancel that flight and rebook for your spouse when you change your companion.

If you use points and need to cancel for any reason, all of your points will be restored to your account.

What is the Southwest Companion Pass worth?

Southwest is largely a domestic and Caribbean airline, but it also serves many popular destinations such as Mexico, Aruba, the Bahamas, Hawaii, and Costa Rica. The value you'll get from the Southwest Companion Pass depends entirely on how often you and your travel companion fly Southwest. You could easily save tens of thousands of dollars with this perk.

Southwest points are worth an average of 1.4 cents each toward flights, based on Business Insider's current points and miles valuations. The Companion Pass can effectively double the value of your points, since two people can travel for the price of one.

Once you've successfully earned the 125,000 additional points necessary to qualify for the Companion Pass (again, the qualification is 135,000 points, but Southwest cardholders get a 10,000-mile boost), you'll have enough points for at least $1,750 in Southwest flights: 125,000 points x 1.4 cents each.

The Companion Pass allows you to bring along another person for just the cost of taxes and fees, meaning you could potentially get $3,500 in flights ($1,750 x 2) just from the points you earned to qualify for the pass.

Southwest Companion Pass frequently asked questions

Why You Should Trust Us: How We Evaluated the Southwest Companion Pass

Our travel experts at Business Insider have been Southwest Companion pass holders since the early 2010s, using our own passes to bring friends and family across the nation on leisure, business, and other personal travel. We've compiled our best tips into this guide to help you do the same. 

Katherine Fan

Correspondent, Credit Cards

Katherine Fan is a personal finance expert, journalist, and public speaker with almost 10 years of industry experience. She began her career in tech before transitioning to journalism in 2015. Katherine currently serves as Personal Finance Insider's correspondent for credit card coverage. Before joining Business Insider as Senior Editor of Credit Cards, Katherine covered aviation, award travel, loyalty programs, and credit cards as a senior reporter for The Points Guy, and small business finances as a lead writer for Nerdwallet. Katherine has also freelanced for major media publications such as Bankrate, CreditCards.com, the Dallas Morning News, LendingTree, Upgraded Points, and Slickdeals Money. Her work has been syndicated by Nasdaq, MSN, and Yahoo. ExperienceKatherine has published more than 1,800 articles, guides, and reviews covering credit card benefits and rewards, small business finances, points and miles travel, loyalty programs, and real estate investing. Katherine has been a speaker at TravelCon and a guest on multiple podcasts including NPR Life Kit, Expedia's Out Travel the System, and The Points Guy's Miles Away. In her spare time, Katherine moonlights as a photojournalist covering Formula 1, Austin City Limits, and SXSW for the Austin American-Statesman and other media outlets. When she's not jetsetting around the world, you'll likely find her in Austin cooking up a batch of spicy Chinese food.ExpertiseKatherine's expertise encompasses:

• Small business finances
• Credit cards
• Points and miles travel
• Travel insurance
• Real estate investing

Katherine's interest in personal finance extends to her own interests. Despite a salary of just $28,000 a year from her first full-time job, Katherine built an excellent credit score of 805 from scratch through hard work [and privilege], which allowed her to purchase her first home six years after graduating from college. She's since added five more doors to her real estate portfolio, although she plans to retire on her index fund investments.Thanks to credit card travel rewards, Katherine has flown well over one million miles visiting 44 countries across all seven continents. She's sailed with orcas in Antarctica, flown home in first class from Japan, photographed a wedding at Hobbiton in New Zealand, and gone on safari in South Africa. But her most meaningful trips always bring her home to loved ones in Taiwan. EducationKatherine holds dual degrees in photojournalism and Asian American studies from the University of Texas at Austin, and a certificate in business Chinese proficiency from National Taiwan University. She began her professional career in tech as a software sales executive for seven years before returning to her media roots. 

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