How to Earn the Southwest Companion Pass

Note: This offer is expired. I am leaving this blog article at the request of followers who signed up for the 85,000 point offer and want to reference it on their companion pass journey.

Southwest just announced another amazing offer – 85,000 points after spending $3,000 in three months. Here’s why this is an amazing deal if you want to earn companion pass!

First, here are some basics about Southwest Companion Pass.

• allows you to take a spouse, family member, friend, on a flight for free
• lasts for the year you earn it and the following year
• change your companion 3x per year
• you can buy your flight with points or cash and the companion still goes for free (plus taxes)
• requires 135,000 Southwest points, which can be earned from credit card welcome bonuses

Here’s a great example of how we used Southwest Companion Pass.

My flight to Maui is 25,000 points, I pay the 25,000 points and $5.60 in taxes. I add my son as the companion, and I pay his $5.60 fee. So that means for 25,000 points and $11.60, the two of us flew to Maui!

If this sounds like something you’d be interested in, read on. I will detail exactly how to make this work with the new 100k point offer! If you already know this offer is for you, click the link to sign up (if you’re reading this through Instagram, make sure to click the three dots at the top and open in an external browser).

How Can I Earn Companion Pass with This Offer?

I am going to explain multiple options in detail with step by step instructions. Every person is different, so it will depend on which option works best for you and your family. Ask me any questions if you need help selecting the right option.

OPTION ONE :

This is a great offer if one person in your family wants to earn a Companion Pass for 2026 and 2027, BUT timing is everything.

1. Apply for a Southwest credit card now
2. Once you’re approved, you’ll have three months to meet the minimum spend requirement.
3. The key is to delay hitting the minimum spend until January 2026

🔥 IMPORTANT:
Do not hit the minimum spend in 2025! If your bonus points post in 2025, they count toward that year — and you’ll lose the chance to stretch your Companion Pass through 2027. So monitor your spend and ensure your 85,000 points post in 2026.

You can use the card before January — just track your spending carefully and make sure you don’t reach the full minimum spend until after January 1, 2026.

You’ll then have a minimum of 85,000 points (sign up bonus plus whatever spend counted for 2026). Southwest then gives you 10,000 companion pass points for just holding the card (these count toward companion pass but you cannot fly with them), so you have a minimum of 98,000. This means you only need 37,000 more points to earn BOGO flights for nearly two years.

So you have a few ways to earn the remaining 37,000 points:

1. Sign up for a Southwest Business Credit Card and earn another sign up bonus (you are probably eligible for a business credit card, even if you do not think you are – read more about that here). Once you hit the minimum spend, you’ll have more than enough points to earn companion pass.
2. Make two referrals. You can refer a spouse, friend, or family member to a Southwest Credit Card for 20,000 points. If you do that twice, you will have Companion Pass. Timing is key here, you need to make sure the referral points post in 2026.

I’ve seen these points post as soon as two weeks, so I would not refer someone in November and hope that will post in 2026.

This is a great way to earn Companion Pass, but you MUST follow the timing. If hit your spend and the points post early, you will not earn it. There are zero exceptions. With that being said, I help people do this every year, so if you have questions, please reach out.

OPTION TWO:

You’re a family and you want two companion passes for 2026 and 2027 but only want to open three credit card instead of four. Then this is the option that is best for you.

Here’s step-by-step directions:

1. Player One applies for a Southwest credit card
2. At the end of the offer window, refer your spouse (we’ll call them ‘Player 2’)
3. Make sure neither of you hit the minimum spend until January 2026

IMPORTANT: The key is to delay hitting the minimum spend until January 2026 so the points post in the new year.

Once your statement posts in the new year, the point breakdown should look like this:

Player One: 85,000 points sign up bonus + 3,000 points from spend +20,000 points for the referral + 10,000 Companion Pass Qualifying Points = 118,000 points.

Player Two: 85,000 points from the sign up bonus + 3,000 points from spend +10,000 Qualifying Companion Pass Points = 98,000 points.

Since each person needs to hit 135,000 points, here’s what I recommend to you do:

1. Player One, refers Player Two to a Southwest Business Credit Card. They earn 20,000 points, which means they have 138,000 points, which means they earned Companion Pass!
2. Player Two hits the minimum spend on the business credit card, and they have Companion Pass.

Now you have two Companion Passes, and probably close to 300,000 Southwest Points to use for the next two years. This can be SO MANY TRIPS. I am excited for you just thinking about this!

If you think, this is great, but I don’t have a business. Think again, you’re probably eligible without even realizing it. Click here to learn more about business credit cards.

I Want Companion Pass, but which Credit Card Should I Get?

There are several options for the personal credit card – remember this is where you want to start as it has the elevated offer. For most people, I recommend the $99 annual fee credit card, but some may want more perks. Check the different cards below to see which ones work for you. (if you’re reading this through Instagram, make sure to click the three dots at the top and open in an external browser).

What if Southwest Eliminates the Companion Pass?!

Over the summer there was a rumor they were considering changing Companion Pass. Since then, they did announce they saw no major changes to the Southwest Companion pass (you can read more about the press release here).

I do not think they are eliminating or changing the Companion Pass, but I think it’s ok to be a little skeptical with their track record lately. Worst case scenario, you have a minimum of 88,000 Southwest Points to use, which is easily two round trip tickets to multiple destinations.

Is the Southwest Companion Pass Worth It?

YES, YES, AND YES.

This is easily the best deal in travel – hands down. It saves us THOUSANDS of dollars every year (Honestly, I added up our travel in 2025 thus far, and it has saved us over $5,000).

And let’s be real, I wouldn’t have gone to half of these places without it, so not only did I save that money, it opened up opportunities I never thought possible.

Where Can Southwest Companion Pass Take Me?

Anywhere Southwest flies! Just to give you some examples, my family has used the Companion Pass to travel to Maui, Aruba, Kauai, Bahamas, Orlando, Austin, and so many other places.

Have a Question About the Southwest Companion Pass?

You can leave a comment below or you can fill out a credit card consultation form, and I can help you decide if the Southwest Companion Pass is right for you! And don’t forget to follow me on Instagram for real-time tips, travel inspiration, and insights I don’t always share on the blog.

Not sure if the Southwest Companion Pass is right for you? Click the free credit card consult below and I can help you decide!