I’m a Southwest Airlines loyalist, and proudly obsessed. I fly with them every single time I can, and it’s not just about the flights. It’s the way they do business: their point system is super simple to understand and even easier to use, booking is a breeze, and their perks are unbeatable with no change fees.
If you want to jumpstart your journey, here’s my referral link to apply for the Southwest card of your choice to grab all these same deals I do!
Disclosure: This post contains referral links. If you choose to apply using my link, I may receive a bonus at no additional cost to you. All opinions are my own.
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But the real kicker? It’s Companion Pass.
It’s like a golden ticket in the world of travel. After years of casually using my personal Southwest credit card, I realized I was missing out big time. Once I cracked the code on how to earn the Companion Pass, I was suddenly flying for free and bringing my best friend or one of my kiddos with me, also for free (aside from a few bucks in taxes). This post is all about how I did it, how you can too, and how to hack the system the smartest (and totally legit) way for not just ONE, but TWO years of flying free with a friend!
Ready to become a Southwest superfan too? Use my referral link to get signed up today!
So you’re asking, what Is the Southwest Companion Pass Jana?
The Southwest Companion Pass is a benefit that enables you to choose one person to fly with you, free of airline charges (excluding taxes and fees from $5.60 one-way), an unlimited number of times whenever you purchase or redeem points for a flight.
How to Earn the Companion Pass
To qualify for the Companion Pass, you must either:
- Fly 100 qualifying one-way flights in a calendar year (which is unrealistic for most non-frequent business travelers), or
- Earn 135,000 qualifying points in a calendar year (easier to do with my hacks below).
Qualifying points can be earned through:
- Revenue flights booked through Southwest (if you’re already flying and want to pay for flights with cash. You actually get more points for dollars spend on flights so you can book a few on trips already planned for the year to get lots of points quick).
- Points earned on Southwest Rapid Rewards® Credit Cards, including sign-up bonuses (This is HUGE.. Sign up when they have elevated sign-up bonuses (which change throughout the year).
- Base points earned from Rapid Rewards partners (you can download a browser extension to get discounts on places like Vista Print or other partners of theirs for your normal shopping needs too. Why not get extra bonuses on the places you’re already spending at?)
Leveraging Credit Cards to Achieve the Companion Pass
One of the most efficient ways to accumulate the necessary points is by utilizing Southwest Rapid Rewards® Credit Cards. For instance, the Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Premier Business Credit Card offers:
- An annual boost of 10,000 Companion Pass qualifying points.
- All points earned with the card count toward the Companion Pass.
By strategically applying for such cards and meeting the spending requirements, you can significantly accelerate your journey toward earning the Companion Pass.
Timing Is Everything: How I FINALLY Unlocked the Companion Pass
For the first five years of having my Southwest credit card, I could never quite reach the Companion Pass status. I would be just out of reach at the end of the year (and it starts over on Jan 1 each year). I’d earn points, book flights, and stay loyal to Southwest, but that dream of flying with someone for free always seemed just out of reach.
A friend of mine, who only signed up for the card because I told her about it, earned her Companion Pass within months. I was thrilled for her, but I was quite frustrated how it worked so quick for her and not me. What was I doing wrong?
I called Southwest customer service to ask them for all their tips and tricks.
At the time, I only had the personal Southwest credit card. The rep explained that if I really wanted to hit Companion Pass status fast, I should consider getting a business Southwest card too. Not only did it offer a huge sign-up bonus, but if I timed it right, I could double the impact.
Here’s the strategy she gave me (and it worked like a charm):
➡️ Wait until January 1 (or as close to it to utilize it to the max) of the next calendar year to apply for the business card.
➡️ Meet the minimum spend quickly, something I could easily do since I charge all my regular monthly expenses to my cards.
➡️ By doing this, all those bonus points would post in early January, counting toward the new year’s Companion Pass qualification.
That timing trick meant I earned Companion Pass status for the rest of that year AND the entire following year, almost two full years of bringing someone with me on every Southwest flight for free (well, just paying $5–$30 in taxes).
Because I put nearly all my daily and business expenses on my Southwest personal and business cards, I racked up points fast. That meant not only was I flying for free using points, but my companion was too, every, single, trip.
Earning the Companion Pass early in the calendar year maximizes its value. If you earn it in January, you’ll enjoy the benefit for the remainder of that year and the entire following year. This strategy provides nearly two years of free companion travel.
And here’s another hack most people don’t realize:
You can change your Companion three times per year. I used that to my advantage by planning trips in “phases”, first flying with my youngest child for a few adventures, then switching to my best friend for a couple girls’ getaways. Strategic and so worth it.
This has been, hands down, one of the greatest travel blessings of my adult life. My family and I made unforgettable memories, without draining our bank account. Or using any of my bank account, at ALL.
And the best part? I’m just getting started.
Stick around because I’ll be sharing how I even hack those $5–$30 taxes soon too (yes, it’s possible)!
Here’s my referral link to apply for the Southwest card of your choice! I’d so love the referral bonuses too 😉
Managing Your Companion
Once you have the Companion Pass, you can designate one person to fly with you. You can change your designated companion up to three times per calendar year, allowing flexibility to share the benefit with different individuals.
Maximizing the Value
To get the most out of your Companion Pass:
- Plan trips strategically to utilize the pass during peak travel times.
- Combine the pass with fare sales and promotions for additional savings.
- Monitor your Rapid Rewards account to track your progress toward earning or maintaining the pass.
Ready to Start Your Journey?
If you’re interested in applying for a Southwest Rapid Rewards® Credit Card to begin working toward the Companion Pass, you can use the following referral link:
🔔 Don’t miss future hacks. Subscribe to my email list here (most importantly for updates) and my social platforms (@janamariephotos / @janamarie.co) to follow and stay in the know.
Want To Know My Fav Southwest Hack That Saves You Money Every Time You Fly: Gift Cards!
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