The Southwest Companion Pass is among the best travel perks in the airline world. It lets you bring a companion on any Southwest flight. Taxes and fees are all you pay. Frequent travelers call it their secret treasure. It stretches your miles further than expected. Knowing how to earn the Southwest Companion Pass means using points with precision.

After earning it, travelers open a powerful perk. It offers two years of free companion travel.

Follow these trusted ways to earn the Southwest Companion Pass successfully.

 

1. Open a Southwest Credit Card

First, applying for a Southwest Rapid Rewards Credit Card remains the quickest path to earning the pass. Overall, the process is simple yet strategic.

Additionally, Southwest partners with Chase to offer personal and business cards that reward travelers generously.

At present, bonuses range from 50,000 to 80,000 points. They change by card type and spending. Every earned point narrows the gap to 135,000. Soon, the Southwest Companion Pass follows.

Each purchase becomes part of a larger rhythm where travel, spending, and reward merge into purpose. For frequent travelers, it feels less like a transaction and more like building freedom one flight at a time.

“I opened my Southwest card before a trip from Chicago to San Diego,” said Maria Thompson, a business consultant. “By spring, I had earned the pass and started flying with my husband for nearly free.”

Related – How Many Southwest Rapid Rewards Points for a Free Flight?

 

2. Combine Personal and Business Cards

Combining a Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card with a Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Performance Business Credit Card creates momentum. Together, each card serves a purpose. Individually, one builds rewards from personal spending.

The other powers business expenses. Together, the pairing speeds your path to 135,000 points. Consequently, each bonus adds steady momentum toward opening the Southwest Companion Pass.

Moreover, the pairing brings balance. In practice, the personal card handles daily spending, while the business card covers company costs. As a result, this dual approach keeps points flowing from two directions at once.

Additionally, both cards add value beyond earning. Moreover, they offer free in-flight Wi-Fi credits, purchase protection, and travel insurance, features that ease every journey.

 

3. Time Your Applications Carefully

The length of your Companion Pass depends on timing. Even so, a single month can shift your entire travel plan. For example, points earned in early January open almost two full years of travel. Likewise, February 2025 approval keeps your pass valid through 2026.

Therefore, apply early because waiting too long reduces your reward period. When you start sooner, your effort stretches further, and every January point adds value. The calculation proves the value. Earn 135,000 points, turning into nearly $1,890 saved yearly. With a companion, it grows to 3,800 dollars.

For this reason, smart travelers plan before the year begins. They align card applications, bonuses, and spending early. That early rhythm becomes the key to understanding how to earn the Southwest Companion Pass smoothly.

 

4. Earn Points Through Everyday Spending

Once the sign-up bonus is achieved, the real journey begins. Then, every purchase now builds quiet progress. Moreover, Southwest credit cards reward daily spending on groceries, dining, travel, and business payments with up to 3 points per dollar.

In addition, setting automatic payments for bills or subscriptions turns routine expenses into rewards. For instance, a monthly spend of $2,500 can generate almost 40,000 points annually.

This quiet rhythm of earning clearly highlights how to earn the Southwest Companion Pass without extra effort. Gradually, step by step, small expenses lead to faraway places.

 

5. Fly Frequently With Southwest Airlines

Each flight booked on Southwest.com earns Rapid Rewards points. The rate varies. It depends on your fare type and ticket price. For example, Business Select earns about 12 points per dollar. In contrast, Wanna Get Away earns around six. Step by step, every mile builds your balance and brings you closer to the 135,000-point goal.

A Southwest round-trip costs roughly $280 in 2025. With each trip, every journey adds points, 1,600 to 3,300 each time. Over time, two flights monthly bring you near 40,000 in a year. Slowly, you see the gain.

Gradually, routine turns into strategy. Eventually, choosing Southwest for work or rest builds quiet momentum. In the end, each journey brings purpose. Ultimately, every mile tells a story of patience, consistency, and reward.

 

6. Use Rapid Rewards Shopping and Dining Portals

Southwest’s Rapid Rewards Shopping portal connects you with over 850 stores. Then, each purchase earns points. Sometimes, some brands offer up to 10 points per dollar. Gradually, simple actions can move you closer to the Companion Pass.

The Rapid Rewards Dining program adds even more value. In fact, it includes nearly 11,000 restaurants across the U.S. Simply, link your Southwest credit card and dine out a few times a month. As a result, each meal brings more points, often with bonus offers.

Small steps count. For instance, a ₹40,000 ($480) monthly dining spend earns steady rewards. It can total around 5,000 points in a year. Moreover, with shopping bonuses, the numbers rise even faster.

Gradually, everyday life becomes the path to free travel. With each moment, every meal, every order, every swipe adds up. Ultimately, consistency turns habits into rewards that reach the sky.

 

7. Book Southwest Hotels and Rental Cars

Every hotel stay or car rental with Southwest partners earns points. Each trip moves you closer to the Companion Pass. Meanwhile, a few nights at Marriott, Hyatt, or Best Western can bring in 2,000 to 10,000 points.

Additionally, renting with Hertz, Avis, or Budget adds even more. Typically, each rental earns 600 to 2,400 points. Over time, renting twice a month can mean over 25,000 points a year.

Furthermore, Southwest’s hotel portal also features bonus offers with double or triple points. Thus, smart timing makes every trip more valuable. In the end, each booking builds toward the reward. Ultimately, small steps create lasting travel gains.

Surprisingly, “I never realized how quickly points grow just by booking through the portal,” said Emily Carter, a frequent traveler from Austin who discovered how to earn the Southwest Companion Pass through consistent bookings.

Also read – Top 9 Hotel Booking Apps and Websites That Work Best Anytime

 

8. Refer Friends to Southwest Credit Cards

Referral bonuses are a quiet advantage. In fact, they turn friendships into progress. Through them, you can earn up to 20,000 points per friend. Gradually, you get closer to the Companion Pass goal.

Furthermore, each referral adds real value. With time, five approved referrals can earn nearly 100,000 points, enough to open most of your travel freedom. Ultimately, these points often cover round-trip flights.

Inviting friends is simple. Log in to your Chase Refer-A-Friend page and share your unique link. When your friend is approved, your bonus usually appears within a few weeks. There is no extra cost, yet it can save hundreds of dollars in airfare each year.

Gradually, small actions build quickly. Each time an invitation is shared, you are closer to flying free with your favorite travel partner and knowing how to earn the Southwest Companion Pass with ease.

 

9. Transfer Points From Hotel Partners Strategically

When you near the finish line, every point begins to carry weight. At times, hotel partners like Hyatt open limited transfer offers. These small windows matter.

Recently, Hyatt opened a special transfer offer. Through it, travelers could turn 5,000 points into 2,400 Rapid Rewards. At first, it seemed small. However, for many, that quiet exchange was enough to cross the 135,000-point mark.

If you stand close to your goal, a single transfer may decide the outcome. Therefore, act with intention. Waiting often costs more than moving early.

Moreover, some hotel partners give bonus points. Marriott, Best Western, and IHG often lead. Each stay earns up to 10,000 points. These deals fade fast. When those offers appear, they pass quickly, like trains that never return.

In the end, strategy lies in awareness. Keep watching the Rapid Rewards partner page.

With patience and timing, a few transfers can turn effort into reward and miles into memory, showing exactly how to earn the Southwest Companion Pass with quiet precision and strategy.

“Every transfer felt like a small gamble,” said David Harper, a frequent flyer from Austin. “But one good Hyatt conversion pushed me over the edge. That single move made every mile afterward feel free.”

Recommended read – Southwest Rapid Rewards Access Event with Colbie Caillat in Las Vegas 2025

 

10. Track Your Progress Regularly

Every journey needs a watchful eye. In the same way, earning the Companion Pass demands quiet attention. The Rapid Rewards dashboard becomes your compass.

Through it, you see when bonus points appear and where gaps remain. A missed posting can mean weeks of delay. Therefore, check your balance often.

According to Southwest, travelers must earn 135,000 qualifying points or 100 flights in a year to secure the pass (Southwest.com). Missing even one credit card statement can break momentum.

Furthermore, organization builds efficiency. Keep receipts, note promotions, and track which purchases post points faster. In time, this rhythm turns effort into progress.

Ultimately, the Companion Pass rewards discipline. By staying consistent, you turn scattered flights and small purchases into steady progress. Through careful tracking, you learn exactly how to earn the Southwest Companion Pass and enjoy nearly two years of shared travel.

 

Bottom Line

Knowing how to earn the Southwest Companion Pass takes planning. It needs patience and timing. Smart card use makes a big difference. Regular travel and daily spending complete the goal. You can bring a partner for almost two years at little cost. With steady effort and timing, every Southwest trip becomes twice as rewarding. The pass turns loyalty into real savings for frequent flyers.

For many travelers, it becomes the most valuable reward in the sky.

 

Build Real Travel Value Through Smarter Earning

Relo.AI helps travelers know how to earn the Southwest Companion Pass with ease. We analyze your travel patterns, spending habits, and reward opportunities to guide you toward faster qualification.

If your travel leads to relocation, we also help convert your earned miles and savings into valuable moving benefits.

Schedule a FREE consultation for personalized guidance on travel rewards and relocation planning.