We’ve flown our kids all over the place for just $5.60 in taxes and fees, and having TWO Southwest Companion Passes has been a game changer for our family! Here’s how you may still be able to earn yours before the rules change.
One of our absolute favorite travel perks has been the Southwest Companion Pass. Having two in our family has meant more trips, more memories, and so many opportunities to travel together without paying full price for every seat.
Imagine booking a flight for yourself and bringing your companion along for just the taxes and fees. That’s how we’ve been able to take our kids on so many adventures without spending a fortune on airfare!
And the exciting part? You may still have time to earn a Companion Pass that’s valid through December 31, 2027.
But the clock is ticking, and if you’ve been thinking about earning one, now is the time to look at your options.
✈️ First, check how close you are!
Under the current rules, you need 135,000 qualifying points in a calendar year to earn the traditional Southwest Companion Pass.
Take a minute to log in to your Southwest Rapid Rewards account and check your progress. Go to the app and click “my account” then scroll till you see this:
How many points do you have left to go?
If you’re starting from zero, don’t panic! With the elevated Southwest business and personal credit card offers, you could potentially earn more than enough points to reach the 135,000-point requirement.
💳 Step 1: Open the Southwest business card FIRST
My biggest recommendation? Apply for the business card first.
Chase has been more finicky about business card applications lately, so I’d start there before applying for a personal card. Approval is never guaranteed, but I prefer to tackle the business application first rather than assume both applications will be approved.
APPLY FOR THE SOUTHWEST BUSINESS CARD HERE
If you’ve never opened a business credit card before, don’t let that intimidate you!
I put together a guide to walk you through the process, explain what counts as a business, and help you understand how to approach the application.
GRAB MY GUIDE: HOW TO OPEN A BUSINESS CREDIT CARD
Read through the guide first so you feel confident before applying.
💳 Step 2: Apply for the elevated Southwest personal card
Once you’ve handled the business card application, the next step is to look at the elevated Southwest personal card offer.
APPLY FOR THE ELEVATED SOUTHWEST PERSONAL CARD HERE
Here’s why I love this strategy: when you combine the elevated business card bonus with the elevated personal card bonus, you can potentially earn more than the 135,000 qualifying points needed for the Companion Pass!
For example, if you receive an 80,000-point business card offer and a 90,000-point personal card offer, that’s:
- 80,000 points from the business card
- 90,000 points from the personal card
- 170,000 points combined!
That’s 35,000 points over the 135,000-point requirement, giving you some breathing room.
Of course, you’ll need to meet each card’s spending requirements, qualify for both bonuses, and make sure the points post in time under the applicable rules. Check the exact offers and eligibility restrictions before applying.
❤️ What if your spouse wants a Companion Pass, too?
This is where things can get even more exciting for families!
If your spouse also wants to earn a Companion Pass, they can explore the same business-and-personal-card strategy, provided they qualify for the offers.
You may also be able to refer your spouse for an eligible card and earn referral points, subject to the referral program’s terms.
Just remember that each person needs to qualify independently for their card offers, and referral points have their own rules. Make sure you understand which points count toward each person’s Companion Pass.
⏰ Why you shouldn’t wait
Southwest is changing its Companion Pass program beginning in 2027, and the current opportunity to use eligible credit card welcome bonuses toward the traditional Companion Pass is coming to an end.
The key date to know is December 2, 2026, the approval deadline for the final eligible credit card welcome-bonus opportunity under the transition rules. Qualifying bonuses may post later, subject to the applicable terms.
The traditional pass can be valid through December 31, 2027, which could give you plenty of time to take advantage of those buy-one-get-one flights.
That’s still a fantastic amount of time to travel with your family!
🎉 Why we think the Companion Pass is worth it
Having two Companion Passes has made such a difference for our family. We’ve been able to fly our kids all over the place for just $5.60 in one-way taxes and fees on qualifying domestic itineraries, and those savings have made family travel so much more accessible.
It’s not just about saving money on flights. It’s about saying yes to more adventures, visiting loved ones, exploring new places, and making memories together.
If you’ve been waiting for the right time to earn a Companion Pass, this may be your last chance to take advantage of the traditional credit-card-bonus strategy before the rules change.
Here’s your game plan:
- Check your current Companion Pass points balance.
- Read my guide on how to open a business credit card.
- Apply for the elevated Southwest business card first.
- Explore the elevated Southwest personal card offer.
- If your spouse wants a pass, have them review their own eligibility and offers, too.
Don’t forget to check the current offers and deadlines before applying. With the right combination of eligible bonuses, you could have more than enough points to earn the Companion Pass and enjoy buy-one-get-one flights through the end of 2027!
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