Written by Jason Foley
Updated on Fri, 30 Jan 2026

If you fly within the U.S. and Caribbean with other people, the Southwest Companion Pass is the highest-value companion pass in travel. It allows you to bring a companion for free on any flight, whether you buy your ticket with cash or use points. As an added convenience, you can change that companion up to three times per year.

The Companion Pass is also relatively simple to use and book. If you transfer Chase Ultimate Rewards points to Southwest, you and a travel partner can fly free for a year or even two.

How Long the Companion Pass Lasts

The Companion Pass is valid for the remainder of the calendar year in which you earn it, plus all of the following calendar year. If you time it correctly, you can hold the Companion Pass for nearly two full years.

This makes timing critical. You want to earn the pass as early in the calendar year as possible, but you must be careful when meeting minimum spend requirements for signup bonuses. If you accidentally earn the Companion Pass in December, you will only have it for the rest of that year plus the following calendar year, which works out to roughly 13 months instead of closer to two years.

The Rules That Shape Your Strategy

One rule has a major impact on how you plan your Companion Pass strategy. Southwest, through Chase, will not approve you for a second Southwest personal card if you have earned a new cardmember bonus on a Southwest personal card in the past 24 months.

Unless you plan to spend $50K on a single personal card, this means you will need a Southwest business card to earn enough points to qualify for the Companion Pass.

To earn the traditional Companion Pass, you must earn 135,000 qualifying points in a single calendar year. Points transferred from other programs do not count. The timing of when points are earned matters most. Bonus points are considered earned on the statement closing date after you meet the minimum spend requirement, not on the day you complete the spend.

This distinction is critical if you are trying to earn the Companion Pass early in the calendar year to maximize how long you can use it.

Find out more about how nearly anyone can apply for and be approved for a business card.

An Ideal Companion Pass Strategy

Here is an ideal scenario for earning the Southwest Companion Pass.

• Check your 5/24 status. If you are at 3 or fewer new cards in the past 24 months, start with the personal card. If you are at 4, start with the business card. If you are at 5 or over, you will not qualify for Southwest cards.
• Open your first card in early November. You can spend on the card, but DO NOT meet the minimum spend.
• Once your December statement closes, finish meeting the minimum spend. The bonus will not post until after that statement closes in January.
• Apply for your second Southwest card a week or two before meeting the minimum spend on the first card.
• If you apply for the personal card first and the business card second, note that many people use this approach each year to earn the Companion Pass.
• If you are declined, call the reconsideration line. If asked why you need a business card after opening a personal card, explain that your CPA requires separate accounts with separate spending records.
• Finish the minimum spend on the second card immediately.

If you time everything correctly, you will earn the Companion Pass in February or March, and your companion can fly free with you for the next 22 months.

Planning Ahead

Going after the Southwest Companion Pass can significantly affect your overall strategy and timing when applying for new cards. Fortunately, the Points Navigator is designed to help you build a personalized plan and avoid costly timing mistakes.

Get personalized recommendations here.