Your Southwest Companion Pass Tracker
The Southwest Companion Pass is one of the best deals in travel rewards, 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.
Here’s the thing: Southwest is changing the rules on January 1, 2027, so this is your last chance to earn the pass the easy way. If you earn it by December 31, 2026, you can use it through December 31, 2027. And you don’t have to fly a lot to get it. Most people can earn it with credit card welcome bonuses alone, but only for the next few weeks, because those bonuses stop counting in 2027.
This guide helps you pick the plan that fits you and keep track of every step along the way, so you can get it done before the deadline.
Southwest is changing the Companion Pass on January 1, 2027, so this is your last chance to earn it under the current rules.
- Earn it under the current rules and you get unlimited trips through .
- You need Companion Pass qualifying points or qualifying one-way flights this year. Points generally have to post by December 31, 2026, except welcome bonuses on cards opened by December 2.
- Credit card welcome bonuses count this year. Starting in 2027, they will not.
- Open your card by December 2, 2026? You have until early 2027 to meet the minimum spend. Southwest has not defined "early 2027," so we are hoping it simply means three months from opening. Cards opened after December 2 need their bonus to post by December 31, 2026.
- After that, the pass comes with the new Platinum tier, which takes 140,000 tier qualifying points or 100 flights in a year.
There are three main ways to earn the pass this year. Two use a Southwest business card, and one uses a single personal card plus referrals. Answer three quick questions to see which one fits you and whether the Chase card rules may get in the way. You can switch plans at any time.
Want two passes? If you and your partner both meet the requirements above (under 5/24, and under 3/24 if you are a sole proprietor), each of you can follow one of these plans on your own account and name each other as your companion.
Business cards do not need a registered business. Sole proprietors can apply with their Social Security number, and side income like photography, tutoring, rideshare or selling online counts. Always apply using your real business structure.
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Enter the points you have earned or expect to earn this calendar year. Only points that count toward the pass are included here. The count is for the 2026 calendar year. Points generally have to post by December 31, 2026, except welcome bonuses on cards opened by December 2.
What counts: points from paid Southwest flights, Southwest credit card spending and welcome bonuses (when they post in the same calendar year), card referral bonuses, and base points from the Rapid Rewards shopping, dining and partner programs. What does not: purchased, gifted or transferred points (including Chase Ultimate Rewards transfers), tier bonus points, and most promotional bonus points.
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What is changing with the Companion Pass in 2027?
- Starting January 1, 2027, Companion Pass qualifying points go away. The pass will be a perk of the new top tier, Platinum, which takes 140,000 tier qualifying points or 100 qualifying flights in a year.
- Credit card welcome bonuses will no longer count toward the pass.
- A new milestone gives three Companion Pass trips at 95,000 tier qualifying points or 75 flights.
- Every Southwest credit card will earn 1 tier qualifying point per $1 spent. Cardmembers who reach 130,000 points in 2027 get a one-time 10,000 point boost.
- If you earn the pass under the current rules, you keep unlimited trips through December 31, 2027.
Southwest announced these changes on October 15, 2026, so double check the details on Southwest's website.
How does Plan 3, one personal card plus referrals, work?
You open one Southwest personal card for its welcome bonus, then earn Southwest card referral bonuses when people you refer are approved for a Southwest card through your link. Each approved referral earns 20,000 points, up to 100,000 points a year. With the Southwest Premier card (85,000 points after $2,000), the 10,000 cardmember boost and two referrals, you reach exactly 135,000 points. The Priority card (90,000 after $3,000) gives you a 5,000 point cushion, and the Plus card (80,000 after $1,000) leaves you about 5,000 short, which a third referral, everyday spending or a paid flight can cover. The referral points need to post by December 31, 2026, and they can post slowly, so start early.
Do referral points count toward the Companion Pass?
Yes, for this year. Card referral bonuses count toward the 135,000 points you need in 2026. Referral points will no longer count starting in 2027. Southwest has not confirmed whether referral points that post in early 2027 will still count for 2026, so plan for them to post by December 31, 2026.
What is the December 2 card opening cutoff?
If you open a Southwest card by December 2, 2026, Southwest says the welcome bonus can still count even if you finish the minimum spend in early 2027. Southwest has not defined "early 2027," so we are hoping it simply means three months from opening. Cards opened after December 2 need their bonus to post by December 31, 2026. Check Southwest's page for the latest wording.
What if I miss the deadlines?
Points that post after the cutoffs count toward 2027, where the new rules apply. Welcome bonuses will not count, so reaching the pass takes a lot more spending or flying. You would work toward Platinum instead, which takes 140,000 tier qualifying points or 100 qualifying flights in a year.
I already have a Companion Pass. What happens to it?
Existing pass holders keep their current benefits until their pass expires.
What is the Chase 3/24 rule for sole proprietors?
Chase has not officially confirmed it, but it has been verified by many data points, including our reader survey of nearly 200 responses. Assume it is true when you plan for the Companion Pass. Chase representatives have been telling sole proprietors that having 3 or more cards opened in the past 24 months means a denial for a Chase business card, including the Southwest Premier Business and Performance Business cards. In our survey, people at 2/24 or lower were approved, and most sole proprietors at 3/24 or 4/24 were denied. LLCs, S Corps and other registered businesses appear to still face the regular 5/24 rule.
How it affects the plans: Plans 1 and 2 use a Chase business card, so a sole proprietor at 3/24 or higher may be blocked from them. Plan 3 uses a personal card, so it is not affected. If you are a sole proprietor at 2/24 or lower, apply for your business card before you open any personal cards. At 3/24 or 4/24, wait for your number to drop. Do not set up an LLC just to get around a card rule. Read the full post.
Who can get a Southwest business card?
You do not need a registered business. Sole proprietors can apply with their Social Security number, and side income like photography, Marketplace sales, tutoring or rideshare counts. Read why business cards might be easier than you think.
Can I earn a card bonus again, or if I already have a Southwest card?
- Personal card: if you already have one, cancel it at least 30 days before you apply for a new one.
- Business card: you can open the other Southwest business card and hold both.
- 24-month rule: you can earn a card's bonus again if it has been at least 24 months since you last earned it and you no longer have that card open.
- Spacing: about 90 days between applications is a good general guideline, but it is not a hard rule. Applying for multiple cards close together is fine, but space out later applications more.
Can my spouse and I both get a pass?
Yes, if you both meet the requirements. Each of you can follow one of the plans on your own account and name the other as your companion. If you have multiple kids, one person always flies free, so the savings add up quickly.
Does it work on award flights?
Yes. Your companion flies free on both cash and award flights, and only pays taxes and fees.
How does my companion get added to a flight?
Book your own flight first. Then open the reservation under My Trips and choose Add Companion. Your companion gets their own confirmation number, so you check in separately. If you change or cancel your flight, your companion's flight changes or cancels too.
How many times can I change my companion?
You can have one companion at a time and change them up to times per calendar year. You cannot change your companion while they are on an existing booking, so cancel or complete those trips first.
What does the pass NOT work on?
- Getaways by Southwest vacation bookings
- Any flight where you are the companion on someone else's pass
Do international flights cost more?
Yes. Your companion pays taxes and fees on every flight. Domestic flights start at $5.60 each way, and international flights are higher, so check the total before you book.
Do I lose the points I earn?
No. You do not spend the points to earn the pass. You keep them and can use them for flights.
Seating and boarding changed in 2026. What does that mean?
Depending on your card benefits and fare choice, you will either get to choose a seat at booking, choose one 48 hours before your flight, or be assigned one at check in. Boarding groups for Companion Pass holders and their companions are based on the better of their seat location or any credit card or tier benefit.
Where do I find the official rules?
Always double check the details on Southwest's Companion Pass page before you apply or book. Rules, fees and card offers can change. To designate or change a companion by phone, call .
This guide is for general information. All information has been collected independently. Card offers and terms can change often, so confirm the current details with them before you apply.
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