How to earn Southwest Companion Pass in 2026

What you get

Once you have the pass, the person you choose can join you on eligible Southwest flights without paying the airfare. You can use it again on your next trip, and the next, until it expires. You’ll book your ticket first and add theirs afterward.

You still pay their taxes and fees, starting at $5.60 one-way, plus any extras you choose. International taxes can be higher. You both have to take the same flights, and there needs to be a seat available when you add them.

Choose a qualification route

For many people, the points route is more practical than 100 flights. A promotion may be simpler if its travel dates fit your plans, but it may give only a short travel window. Read the standard-versus-promotional comparison before treating them as interchangeable.

Build your plan in five steps

1. Pick the person earning the pass. The points must go into that person’s Rapid Rewards account. A couple’s balances don’t combine for qualification.
2. Pick a qualification year. If you need travel now, finishing in 2026 may be useful. If your trips are later, compare earning early in 2027 under the rules then in effect.
3. List the points you expect to earn. Start with the Companion Pass progress counter, not your spendable-points balance. List expected card bonuses, qualifying spend and partner earnings separately.
4. Calculate the gap. Count each reward once, include only an eligible annual boost, and subtract refunds or returned purchases. Our points calculator does the arithmetic.
5. Verify posting and activation. Don’t assume an application approval, purchase or pending bonus has earned the pass. Check Southwest’s qualification tracker and your awarded expiration date.

How two bonuses can get you there

Take a 50,000-point personal-card bonus and an 80,000-point business-card bonus. Add 6,000 points from the required purchases and one 10,000-point annual cardholder boost. That gives you 146,000 qualifying points, or 11,000 more than the 135,000 target.

For this example to work, you’d need to qualify for both bonuses and have all those points post to your account in the same year. It assumes the purchases earn one point per dollar and you don’t return them. You’d also pay both annual fees. The offers shown when you apply may differ from this example.

Once the pass shows up in your account

Choose your companion using the name and details they use for travel. Book your own flight, then select “Add Companion” and pay their taxes and fees. Check both confirmation emails, especially the flight numbers and dates.

You still have the points you earned along the way. Southwest doesn’t deduct 135,000 points for the pass, so you can use your redeemable points for your own ticket and add your companion to that booking.