Hi travel friends! It’s that time of year again!

It’s time to start working to get your Southwest Companion Pass. This is the #1 way I save money on travel each year.  Each year, around October/November (even Dec/Jan), Southwest Airlines partners with my favorite bank to offer credit cards with large welcome bonuses that help you achieve that Companion Pass status. My husband and I have had this Companion Pass every year since 2008.  (I alternate with him to earn the pass every 2 years).  We have saved thousands of dollars on airfare and traveled to places like Hawaii, the Dominican Republic, Jamaica, Puerto Rico, Belize, Turks & Caicos, the Bahamas, Costa Rica, and all over the U.S….. ALL FOR FREE!

New to points & miles? Grab my free Beginner’s Guide HERE before diving in — it’ll make all of this make so much more sense.

Let me break it down for you:

⚠️ Note: This post is currently being updated with new card links and current offers. Check our Best Offers page for the most current recommendations.

So what exactly is the Southwest Companion Pass?

It’s by far the best travel deal out there.  With the Southwest Companion Pass, a friend or family member can travel with you FOR FREE on your paid and point/award tickets for up to 2 years!  For the past 16 years, each time I book a Southwest flight using my points, I add my husband as my companion (or vise versa), and he travels with me for free (well, $5.60 in taxes)! Since I use my points to purchase tickets (instead of dollars), it’s like Buy “NONE” Get One Free!

How Long Does the Companion Pass Last?

Once you earn a Southwest Companion Pass, it will not expire until the end of the next calendar year. For example, if you obtain the Companion Pass in January/February of 2026, your Companion Pass will not expire until December 31, 2027.

Pro Tip: Earn your Companion Pass as early in the calendar year as possible so it stays active for the full two years.

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How do you get the Southwest Companion Pass?

To qualify for the pass, you’ll need to earn 135,000 eligible Southwest points in a calendar year. 

As a general rule, Southwest Airlines will give you reward points when you either use cash to book a flight OR when you use a Southwest credit card to make purchases. Generally, you get 1 to 2 points per dollar spent on the credit card.

To earn 135,000 points organically through spending or flying alone would take an enormous amount of both.  Under that system, I would NEVER qualify for a Companion Pass myself.

BUT THERE IS A SECRET TO EARN THE PASS WITHOUT SPENDING $135,000!

THE SECRET to Getting the Southwest Companion Pass

Step 1: Open a Southwest Rewards Account

You need a Southwest Rapid Rewards member number.   It’s easy, and free – just open an account on Southwest.com 

Step 2: Apply for Two Southwest Credit Cards

Earning 135,000 points in a single calendar year sounds daunting, but here’s how to do it the smart way: apply for two credit cards that offer large sign-up bonuses.

Around mid-to-late October each year, Southwest starts advertising special bonus offers for their Personal Card and a Small Business Credit Card. These offers can run through Jan/Feb.

Right now (Jan 2026), the  Personal Card offers 50,000 Rapid Rewards points after spending $1,000 on purchases in the first 3 months.  And the Business card offers 80,000  points after meeting the minimum spend.

So the trick is to apply for both the personal card AND the business card in your name (and assign your southwest member number). I typically open the business card first since it has the higher minimum spend. Then I open the personal card about 1 month later. You can also do this in December/January as long as the large welcome bonuses are still be offered.  

Don’t Have a Business? Here’s What You Need to Know:

(If you don’t have a Business, with a separate tax id, there are numerous ways you can apply as a sole proprietor. If you make $50 a year selling your kid’s clothes (or anything) on Facebook Marketplace, you are eligible.) Check out this helpful article for all the ways you could be eligible for Business cards.

Once you meet the minimum spend on both cards, you will have enough points to earn the pass.

STEP 3 – Timing your Bonus Points is KEY!

Here’s the order of operations: open your Southwest account → open the business card → open the personal card (about a month later) → spend the required amount on each card to trigger each sign-up bonus.

That gets you well over the 135,000-point threshold.

But WAIT — this is very important:

The January Timing Rule (Don’t Skip This!)

If you apply for cards in Oct/Nov/Dec — you want the final dollar of each minimum spend to post in January, NOT before December 31st.  This way your points will hit in January 2026 (not December 2025). 

Here’s why: once you earn the Companion Pass, it lasts the rest of that calendar year plus the entire next calendar year. If your bonus points post in December 2025, your pass covers what’s left of 2025 plus all of 2026 — essentially just one year. But if those points post in January 2026, you get all of 2026 and all of 2027. That’s nearly two full years!

So if you open your cards in October, hold off on that last dollar of spending on both cards until January. It sounds counterintuitive, but it’s worth it.

If you spend the required threshold (ex: $1000) before year end, then you will only have the Companion Pass for what’s left of 2025 and all of 2026. (so only 1 year, NOT 2). 

A few final things to consider up front:

1. This points world isn’t for everyone! Before you apply for any credit cards, it’s important to make sure you can pay your bill in full and on time every single month. If you’re new to this, start with my Free Beginner’s Guide to Earning Points — it’s a great place to begin.
2. Annual fees are charged upfront. Expect to pay anywhere from $99–$299 to carry both cards. In my opinion, that’s completely worth it compared to what you’ll save on travel in the years ahead.
3. Business card approval isn’t always immediate. A few years ago, my business card application got denied at first. I called the bank’s reconsideration line, explained that I wanted to keep personal and business expenses separate, and they approved me. Don’t give up if you get an initial denial — a quick call can change everything.

Want to Keep Earning the Pass Year After Year?

Have your Player 2 (husband, partner, friend, mom — whoever you love to travel with) apply for both cards the next go-around, when your pass is about to expire. That’s how my husband and I have kept one of us covered for 18+ years running.

And again, THANK YOU SO MUCH for using our links when you sign up for a card! 

If you have any specific questions, send me a message on IG or email me at hello@lazylauren.com. I’m always happy to help!

Happy & Safe Travels! ✈️

Advertiser Disclosure: Lazy Lauren World Tour, LLC has partnered with CardRatings for our coverage of credit card products. Lazy Lauren World Tour and CardRatings may receive a commission from card issuers.

Editorial Disclosure: Opinions, reviews, analyses & recommendations are the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, endorsed, or approved by any of these entities.

You might also like : Hawaii Family Vacation for Nearly Free  or Isla Mujeres, Mexico Family Travel Guide 

About the Author

Lauren is a CPA and former Controller with nearly 20 years of experience in the points & miles world. She built her expertise the nerdy way — by treating travel rewards like the math problem it actually is — and now helps families of all budgets travel to bucket-list destinations for a fraction of the cost. No gimmicks, no debt, just a simple and sustainable system. Start here to learn how she does it, or browse her free guides & resources to get started today.