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Some hard news in the points and miles world today… the Southwest Companion Pass as we knew it is officially coming to an end. 

The Southwest Companion Pass is (was?!) one of the best travel rewards deals, especially for families. It lets you bring one person with you on every Southwest flight you take, and they only pay taxes and fees. With a big family, that can mean hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars saved each year.

As of October 15, 2026, Southwest announced major changes to Rapid Rewards that take effect on January 1, 2027. Previously, welcome offers helped earn the points needed for the Companion Pass, but with the new changes, those points no longer count. So unless you’re looking to spend $140,000 on your Southwest credit card (yikes), or take 100 flights, this is your last chance to earn the pass the easy way, with credit card welcome bonuses. The timing is very tight, so if you want to make it work, you need to start immediately.Let’s dive into what’s changed and your last chance to earn the pass the old way! 

The good news: you can still earn it the old way this year

Until December 31, 2026, the current rules still apply. You need 135,000 Companion Pass qualifying points or 100 qualifying one-way flights, and credit card welcome bonuses and referrals count toward that total.

If you earn the pass this year, you keep it through December 31, 2027. 

According to this FAQ on the Southwest website, they also confirmed that as long as you OPEN your new Southwest credit card by December 2, 2026, those points will still count toward earning the Companion Pass, even if you meet the qualifying spending in early 2027.

It’s still unclear whether there is an end date for spending to count toward 2026, since it just says “early 2027”. Hopefully this means you still have the full three months to meet the spending requirement, so if you open it by Dec 2, you have until March 2 to meet it. But Southwest hasn’t clarified this yet.

Read all the FAQs from Southwest HERE.

How to earn the Companion Pass before December 31

First up, check that you are eligible for both cards!

BEFORE applying, make sure you run through this checklist:

• Chase 5/24 rule. Chase usually denies you if you have opened five or more personal credit cards from any bank in the last 24 months. Most business cards do not count toward your 5/24 count. If you want to open Southwest cards, you need to be under 5/24.
• Chase’s new 3/24 rule: Starting September 2026, Chase started enforcing a new 3/24 rule for sole proprietors applying for business cards. If applying as a sole proprietor for a Southwest business card, you will need to be under 3/24, meaning you have opened less than three personal cards from any bank in the last 24 months.
• Bonus eligibility: You cannot currently have a Southwest personal card open when applying for a new one, AND it must have been at least 24 months since you last earned the welcome bonus on that card. For business cards, you also cannot currently have the card open that you want to apply for, but you CAN have both business cards and earn the welcome offer on both. 
• Do you qualify for a business card? You do not need an LLC or a big company. Many sole proprietors and side hustlers qualify. Not sure? Click here to learn more about qualifying for business cards.
• Can you meet $4,000-6,000 in spending over the next three months? If you open one business card and the lowest personal card, you will need to spend $4,000 total within three months of opening the cards to earn the welcome bonuses. The other personal cards have higher spending requirements. If this is outside your regular budget, it may not be for you.

Strategy 1: One business card, one personal card

I recommend for most people if you meet the qualifications above

• Apply for a Southwest business card first
• Begin working on minimum spend right away on the business card
• After 30 days, apply for a Southwest personal card
• Complete the minimum spend on both cards and ensure your points post in time. Because Southwest hasn’t clarified spending timing, aim for no later than January 31 (or three months from your open date, whichever comes first) to be safe. I also recommend meeting the minimum spending at least a week before your statement closes to ensure your pending transactions are processed.

I recommend starting with the business card in this strategy so it doesn’t add to your 3/24 or 5/24 count. 

Strategy 2: Two business cards

I only recommend this if you meet the qualifications above AND don’t currently have any Chase business cards open*.

• Apply for either Southwest business card 
• Begin working on minimum spend right away on the business card
• After 30 days, apply for the other Southwest business card
• Complete the minimum spend on both cards and ensure your points post in time. Because Southwest hasn’t clarified spending timing, aim for no later than January 31 (or three months from your open date, whichever comes first) to be safe. I also recommend meeting the minimum spending at least a week before your statement closes to ensure your pending transactions are processed.

*Having an LLC has recently been shown to improve the chances of business card approval, but it is not a guarantee, and there is a chance of being denied for your second card (or at any point in the process), which could potentially make it impossible to earn the Companion Pass. 

What if you miss the deadline?

This is the bad news. While you still technically have a path to the Companion Pass in 2027 and beyond, it requires a ton of spending — $140,000 to be exact. This spending amount gives you the required 140,000 Tier Qualifying Points (TQPs) to earn Platinum Status, which secures a Companion Pass through the end of the year that it’s earned.

If you can make it work, earning the pass in 2026 is by far the better deal. Starting in 2027, the Companion Pass as we currently know it is dead. Sad.

FAQs and things to remember

When should I apply for my first card for this strategy? 

We recommend applying ASAP to give yourself enough time to meet both minimum spends and still allow about 30 days in between applications. 

What if my credit card statement closes after December 31st? 

You can call or secure message the bank and ask to have your statement closing day moved up, and this way your points would post sooner when your statement closes. 

What if my points do not post by December 31?

Then you would not earn the pass under this year’s rules. Be sure to keep a very close eye on your pending points, and make sure your statement will close before the end of the year. 

Can these cards be expedited to start spending quickly?

Most business cards can be expedited by calling Chase. Just tell them you have spending coming up and would like to get your card ASAP. Personal cards cannot usually be expedited, however, it’s worth calling to ask.

How long will I have the Companion Pass if I earn it this year?

You keep it through December 31, 2027.

What Now?

The deadline to earn the traditional Companion Pass is close, and the timing is tight. However, it’s doable if you start now. Use our interactive Companion Pass guide to build your checklist and track your points before all of the changes take effect in 2027.