Southwest Companion Pass FAQ: 36 clear answers

It lets the person you choose join you on eligible Southwest flights without paying the airfare. You still pay their taxes and fees, and you have to take the same flights. You can use it on multiple trips until the pass expires. Read the full explanation.

You need 135,000 qualifying points in one calendar year, or 100 qualifying one-way flights. Eligible annual card boosts count toward that points total. Read the full explanation.

135,000. If you receive the eligible annual 10,000-point credit-card boost, you have 125,000 left to earn. The boost helps you reach the target; it doesn’t lower the target itself. Read the full explanation.

For the rest of the year you earn it and all of the next year. A promotional pass may be much shorter, so check that offer’s dates. Read the full explanation.

January usually gives you the longest time to use it. But if you’re close to qualifying and have trips coming up, earning it now may save you more than waiting. Read the full explanation.

Yes, under the rules reviewed October 4, 2026: it would expire December 31, 2028. Recheck the rules before starting a 2027 plan. Read the full explanation.

Yes, eligible Southwest card welcome bonuses count. For card rewards, the year they reach your Rapid Rewards account is the year that counts. Read the full explanation.

No. You can spend transferred Ultimate Rewards points on Southwest flights, but they won’t move your Companion Pass tracker. Read the full explanation.

No. Purchased points don’t count toward Companion Pass, even if you only need a few more to qualify. Read the full explanation.

No. Each person needs to reach the target in their own Rapid Rewards account. You can’t combine your points with a partner’s to earn one pass. Read the full explanation.

No. Southwest doesn’t deduct points when you qualify. You can spend your redeemable points on flights while keeping your progress toward the pass. Read the full explanation.

No. You get one eligible 10,000-point credit-card boost per Rapid Rewards member each calendar year, regardless of how many Southwest cards you hold. Read the full explanation.

It can. Eligible purchase rewards and its annual 7,500-point Companion Pass bonus count. Check the fees and posting dates before relying on it to finish your year. Read the full explanation.

Base points from eligible Rapid Rewards hotel partners can count. Points transferred from a hotel loyalty program don’t. Read the booking terms to see what you’re earning. Read the full explanation.

For card rewards, use the date the points post to Rapid Rewards. If a December purchase earns points that post in January, those points generally count for the new year. Read the full explanation.

Yes, if the bonus, eligible boost, purchases and other qualifying points add up to 135,000 in the same year. Check the numbers before assuming one bonus will cover it. Read the full explanation.

Don’t rely on the old two-personal-card approach. Chase’s restrictions can cover the whole Southwest personal-card family. Business cards have separate eligibility rules. Read the full explanation.

Yes. Book your own eligible flight with points, then add your companion and pay their taxes and fees. Read the full explanation.

No. You both have to take the same flights on the same dates. If you cancel your ticket, the companion ticket is canceled too. Read the full explanation.

No. Taxes and fees start at $5.60 one-way, and international charges can be higher. Bags, seats or other extras may also cost more. Read the full explanation.

Yes, on eligible Southwest flights. Check the taxes and required travel documents. Flights involving a partner airline aren’t automatically covered. Read the full explanation.

There are no blackout dates for standard Companion Pass travel, but you still need an available seat. You can’t add a companion to a sold-out flight. Read the full explanation.

Up to three changes per calendar year after your first companion choice. Switching back to a previous companion uses another change. Read the full explanation.

Yes. Your child still needs to meet Southwest’s age, identification and other travel requirements, and must travel with you. Read the full explanation.

Yes. You can add your companion once the pass arrives, as long as the dates qualify and there’s still a seat. Your booking doesn’t hold a seat for them. Read the full explanation.

Not by itself. Bag allowances depend on your fare, status and eligible card benefits. Southwest says the holder’s eligible one- or two-free-bag allowance also covers the companion. Read the full explanation.

Not automatically. Seat choices depend on your fare, status, eligible card benefits and availability. Check the assigned seats on both reservations. Read the full explanation.

No. You need to reach the qualifying target within one calendar year. Last year’s qualifying earnings can’t be added to this year’s. Read the full explanation.

No. Southwest’s terms exclude Getaways by Southwest package bookings from Companion Pass use. Read the full explanation.

No. It expires on the date in that promotion’s terms, which may be only a few months after it starts. Read the full explanation.

It may. Chase says sole proprietors and freelancers with a real profit-making activity can be eligible. You don’t necessarily need an LLC, but you do need accurate business details. Read the full explanation.

It’s possible. In our example, one adult earns a business-card bonus and two referral bonuses. The other earns personal- and business-card bonuses. Both referrals must qualify and arrive in the right year for the numbers to work. Read the full explanation.

136,000. The remaining 10,000 are the annual qualification boost, which helps earn the pass but can’t be spent on flights. Read the full explanation.

Some tax payments can count, but processors charge fees and limit payment frequency. Business cards may have higher fees than consumer cards. Check the IRS payment options and your card’s purchase rules first. Read the full explanation.

No. It depends on which card you have and which one you want. Closing a card won’t erase a recent welcome bonus or its waiting period. Read the full explanation.

It can end card-linked bag and seat benefits. An already-earned standard Companion Pass is separate. Check upcoming trips and pending points before closing the account. Read the full explanation.