Southwest Companion Pass for a Year!
Southwest just announced another amazing offer – with one credit card, you can earn Companion Pass until February of 2027. This means that a child, spouse, bestie, or even your grandma can fly free with you for an entire year (you just have to pay the taxes).
First, here are some basics about this Promotional Southwest Companion Pass.
- allows you to take a spouse, family member, friend, on a flight for free
- lasts through February 2027
- you can buy your flight with points or cash and the companion still goes for free (plus taxes)
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. This is the EASIEST way to earn Companion Pass and ONLY REQUIRES ONE CREDIT CARD!
SOUTHWEST PERSONAL CARDS
There are three personal Southwest cards. Each one will earn the Promotional Companion Pass until February 2027, but they all have different spend requirements, annual fees, and even bonus points.
SOUTHWEST PLUS
- 20,000 points after spending $3,000 in the first 3 months
- $99 annual fee
- Earning categories:
- 2x points on Southwest purchases
- 2x points on gas and grocery stores on the first $5,000 in combined purchases per calendar year
- 1x points on everyday purchases
- FREE checked bag for everyone on the reservation (up to 8 guests – this is a huge savings and pays for the annual fee in one round-trip flight)
- 10,000 points towards Companion Pass (these are not miles you can spend, but help you earn Southwest Companion Pass)
- 3,000 anniversary points every year
- Complimentary Standard Seat within 48 hours of departure when available
- Boarding Group 5 for card holder and up to 8 people on the reservation (which allows access to overhead bin space)
- 10% promo code each anniversary year
SOUTHWEST PREMIER
- 30,000 points after spending $4,000 in the first 3 months
- $149 annual fee
- Earning categories:
- 3x points on Southwest flights
- 2x on gas and grocery stores up to $8,000 in combined purchases per year
- 1x on other purchases
- One FREE checked bag for everyone on the reservation – up to 8 people
- 10,000 points towards Companion Pass (these are not miles you can spend, but help you earn Southwest Companion Pass)
- Complimentary Preferred Seat 48 hours prior to departure (if available)
- 6,000 points each anniversary year
- 15% off promo each anniversary year
SOUTHWEST PRIORITY
- 40,000 points after $5,000 spend in 3 months
- $229 annual fee
- Earning categories:
- 4x on Southwest purchases
- 2x points on gas and groceries
- 1x on everything else
- One FREE checked bag for everyone on the reservation – up to 8 people (this is a huge perk and is worth the annual fee)
- 7,500 points each anniversary year
- Complimentary Preferred Seat 48 hours prior to departure (if available)
How Can I Earn Companion Pass with This Offer?
There are three personal credit cards that can earn you the Companion Pass, and each card has different spend requirements, detailed below. Just click the arrow to expand the details on each credit card.
Which one would I choose?
I don’t think you can go wrong with any of these offers, and I think this is a GREAT idea for someone who has a trip in mind for the summer, but is overwhelmed by flight prices (who doesn’t love a good BOGO deal?!)
It will really come down to how much of an annual fee are you willing to pay? I would value Southwest points at about 1.4 cents per point, so if I am going to spend more in the annual fee, I want to make sure I am getting a good bang for my buck. They all come with Companion Pass, so it really comes down to “are the extra points worth the extra fee?”
Southwest Plus
The Southwest Plus has the least expensive annual fee of $99. It comes with 20,000 points after $3,000 of spend. This is a fine option, but I would at least consider the Premier.
Southwest Premier
The Premier comes with 30,000 points after $4,000 of spend, but it has a $149 annual fee. So for $50 more dollars, you would get 10,000 more points. So basically if you get the Southwest Premier, you pay $50 more but get a $140 more in value.
Southwest Priority
This one is a little more difficult to justify in my eyes. It comes with 40,000 points after $5,000 of spend in three months, and a $229 annual fee. So this is $150 dollars more than the Plus option, and a lot more spend.
WHICH ONE IS THE BEST?
When you run the numbers, the bonus math works in most cases. Higher annual fees usually come with more points that are worth more than the fee increase. The real question is how much do you want to pay? And can you hit the minimum spend?
Important Factors to Consider Before Applying
- You are not eligible for this card if you earned a Southwest Credit Card Bonus in the last 24 months
- Only apply for the card if it is within your normal budget, I never recommend overspending to get a bonus
- This pass only lasts a year, and you may want to pursue the traditional Companion Pass, which has the potential to last for almost two years AND comes with more points (but often requires a personal and business credit card, you can learn more about that here).
Where Can Southwest Companion Pass Take Me?
Anywhere Southwest flies! 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?
If you fill out the 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, Tik Tok, and Facebook for real-time tips, travel inspiration, and insights I don’t always share on the blog.
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Not sure if the Southwest Companion Pass is right for you? Click the free credit card consult below and I can help you decide!
Hello! Your article is very helpful. I’m thinking of trying option 3. My question is with the referral. If I refer my P2 to a card for the 20,000 points will it count for the companion pass in 2026/27 if the referral is in 2025?
Thanks!
The referral has to post in 2026. So depending on your statement closing date, you could do it in November or December. It USUALLY takes a few weeks for the referral to go to pending. If you want to ensure it shows up in 2026, make sure you do it after your last statement of the year closes.
Thanks! So then P2 can’t get the 100K sign up bonus if I need to wait until 2026? Just trying to figure out how we can both get enough points.
So if you want to wait until 2026 and earn two companion passes, then you should refer him as soon as you get your card. You both wait to complete the spend until 2026 (make sure you follow these deadlines and the final spend posts before your closing date in 2026). You’ll both still need 25,000 more points, so one will need to refer the other to a business credit card – then you both will meet it and have companion passes for nearly two years!