The Southwest Companion Pass enables you to bring a companion with you for free ($5.60 taxes/fees) an unlimited number of times when purchasing or redeeming points for a flight.
Why the Companion Pass is so great
This is an amazing benefit because it allows you to 2x the value of your money and points. Southwest points are valued at about 1.5 cents per point, but using them with a Companion Pass doubles their value to 3 cents per point which can greatly enhance the value of sign up bonuses.
How to get the Companion Pass
There are two primary ways to earn the Companion Pass
- Fly 100 qualifying one-way flights in a calendar year
- This is by far the most difficult way to earn the pass and not recommended
- Earn 135,000 qualifying points in a calendar year
- Qualifying points are points from flying with Southwest or partner airlines and from Southwest credit card sign up bonuses
- Southwest Credit Cards also provide an additional 10,000 qualifying points per year. If you’re interested in a card and want to support the blog is is my referral link
The above approaches will grant you a Companion Pass in the calendar year you earned the pass as well as the following calendar year. This means that earning the pass in January will give you almost 2 years of the Companion Pass.
Easiest Way to Earn the Companion Pass
By far the easiest way to earn the Companion Pass is through a limited time Companion Pass offer. The last few years around February Chase has had a limited time offer on Southwest Personal cards that grant the Southwest Companion pass for a single year. This is shorter duration than the above Companion Passes, but is far easier to earn.
