How to acquire and utilize the Southwest Companion Pass

Among the most valuable offerings in the travel sector is the Southwest Companion Pass. This pass allows you to fly with a companion for free (excluding applicable taxes and fees) on unlimited Southwest Airlines flights until it expires. For those who frequently travel with Southwest, this benefit can save you thousands of dollars each year.

The key question is: How can one earn this sought-after pass? To qualify, you must accumulate 135,000 qualifying points (or complete 100 one-way flights) within a single calendar year. Achieving this will provide you with the pass for the remainder of that year and all of the next. Although reaching such a point total may seem challenging, you can accelerate your progress by utilizing the welcome bonus from a Southwest cobranded credit card.

Let’s delve into the process of securing the pass and discover how to make the most of this amazing benefit once you have it.

How to obtain the Southwest Companion Pass

To secure the Southwest Companion Pass, you have two pathways: either accumulate 135,000 qualifying points or complete 100 qualifying one-way flights in a single calendar year.

You can earn qualifying points through various avenues, including flying with Southwest and engaging with its partners. This includes shopping via the Southwest portal, booking hotels with partner hotels, and using a Southwest credit card for daily purchases.

Choosing a Southwest cobranded credit card is often the easiest method to earn the Companion Pass, as it allows for effortless point accumulation, and the welcome bonuses contribute to the requirement. Plus, cardholders receive 10,000 qualifying points each year, effectively lowering the total requirement to 125,000 qualifying points annually.

Southwest provides a range of credit card promotions that help in earning the Companion Pass.

The following cobranded consumer credit cards are currently offering the same welcome bonuses: Earn 50,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 on purchases within the first three months of account opening.

• Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card
• Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card

In addition, Southwest also offers the following business credit cards:

• Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Premier Business Credit Card: Earn 60,000 bonus points after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first three months of account opening.
• Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Performance Business Credit Card: Earn 80,000 bonus points after spending $5,000 on purchases in the first three months of account opening.

If you're looking to secure the Companion Pass—which you can enjoy for the remainder of 2024 and throughout 2025—ensure you meet the spending requirement before the year ends, as the qualifying point totals reset on January 1.

How to utilize the Southwest Companion Pass

After earning your Companion Pass, Southwest simplifies the process of using it.

Step 1: Activate your Companion Pass

Once you've earned the Companion Pass, Southwest will send you a congratulatory email within a few days to recognize your achievement. To monitor your progress in real time, log into your Southwest Rapid Rewards account at Southwest.com.

After receiving the email, click the links provided to establish your initial companion choice. You’ll need to enter your companion's full name (as per their ID), date of birth, email address, and Rapid Rewards account number.

Alternatively, you can designate your companion by calling Southwest. However, since the online process is quite simple, there's no need to reach out by phone for this step.

Step 2: Verify flight availability for your entire travel group

Now that you've selected a companion, it's time for the fun part: booking a flight where your companion can travel for free (excluding taxes and fees). However, before making a reservation, ensure there are enough available seats on the desired flight for your entire travel group. Adding a Companion Pass fare is only feasible if a seat is up for purchase.

For example, if you're a family of four planning to travel with one person using the Companion Pass, search for four seats on the Southwest website. Remember, all four seats do not have to be in the same fare category. If only three seats are available at Wanna Get Away fares but there are also Anytime and Business Select fares available, you can still proceed with your booking.

Step 3: Reserve flights for everyone except your companion

To utilize your Companion Pass, the next step is to book flights for everyone in your travel group, excluding the companion. For instance, if you're a family of four, with one adult holding the Companion Pass and the other adult as the companion, you should first secure tickets for the Companion Pass holder and the two children. Do not book the companion's tickets at this stage.

For most travelers, booking flights online at Southwest.com is the easiest option. However, if preferred, you can also arrange flights by contacting Southwest phone agents. Payment can be made with either cash or Rapid Rewards points, both of which work with the Companion Pass.

When purchasing tickets with cash, be sure to include the Rapid Rewards numbers for all passengers in your reservation. There's no reason to miss out on earning points, as even children can accrue frequent flyer points with Southwest.

Step 4: Secure your companion's flight reservation

After booking flights for all members of your group except your companion, it’s time to secure their ticket. To avoid losing the availability confirmed in Step 1, make sure to book your companion's flight as soon as you can. This is especially important for flights that fill up quickly, like during busy Christmas travel times to popular destinations.

To continue, the Companion Pass holder (the first adult in this scenario) should revisit the Southwest website and log in to their Rapid Rewards account. Navigate to the "My Account" section at the top of the homepage.

On the left side of your screen, you’ll find a section labeled "My upcoming trips." Here, you should see your recent flight reservation along with any other scheduled trips with Southwest. If you have multiple flights booked, click the "See all trips" link to view all your reservations.

Below your flight information, you will see a button labeled "Add Companion." Just click on it to proceed.

The "Trip & Price Details" section will already be filled in with your flight details, including the applicable taxes and fees. For a domestic one-way flight, your companion's fare is just $5.60.

Click "Continue" to proceed to the next page, which contains the "Passenger & Payment Info." Here, your companion's name and relevant details will already be filled in. With this information pre-entered, the likelihood of making a booking error is minimal.

Next, you will need to pay the necessary taxes and fees to finalize your companion's flight reservation. If you have a credit card saved in your account profile, you can use it to speed up this step.

I've discovered that booking additional flights with a Companion Pass only takes a minute or two once you understand the process the first time. It’s really that straightforward.

More tips and tricks for using the Southwest Companion Pass

While utilizing the Southwest Companion Pass is generally straightforward, there are a few nuances to keep in mind.

You will receive separate confirmation numbers

When booking flights for a group or family, everyone shares the same confirmation number. However, with the Companion Pass, your companion will always get a different Southwest confirmation number than the rest of your group. This distinction is minor, but it can impact your strategy regarding Southwest's unique check-in procedures.

When check-in time arrives, having two reservation numbers might hinder your speed in the competitive race for a prime boarding position, which opens 24 hours before your flight. I suggest preparing two devices to check in you and your companion at the same time. If you check in one traveler first and then the other, you might miss out on optimal boarding positions.

You need to call to change companions

Although you can switch companions up to three times per calendar year, Southwest Companion Pass holders should be aware that this requires a phone call.

According to the fine print on Southwest's website, processing may take up to 21 business days. However, in our experience, the companion change is often completed almost immediately. A new Companion Pass card for your new companion will take some time to arrive by mail, but the change is usually effective for online bookings within seconds.

Be cautious with reservations for different companions that are close together

Even though you can switch companions three times a year, you must finish all travel with your current companion before making a change. If you have two trips scheduled closely together with different companions, it can become somewhat complicated.

For instance, if you’re traveling with your child on June 1 and then with your spouse on June 15, you can’t add your spouse as a companion for the June 15 trip until after your trip on June 1. There's a chance that the June 15 flight could sell out before June 1, leaving your spouse without a seat for that trip.

While this scenario isn’t common, it’s crucial to keep in mind, especially if you plan to travel during peak seasons or on popular routes. If a flight does sell out, you might need to book a new, more expensive flight for yourself to find a spot for your companion.

In summary

Using the Southwest Companion Pass is straightforward, and the bonuses from Southwest credit cards make it easy to earn. Just make sure you complete your qualifying flights or accumulate enough points before January 1.

Ultimately, the Southwest Companion Pass is an excellent way to travel more frequently without overspending.