What the Southwest Companion Pass is
The Southwest Companion Pass is a benefit that lets you bring one other person on Southwest flights for free (they pay taxes and fees only, usually $5.60 per flight segment). You earn it by spending a set amount on a Southwest credit card in a calendar year — typically $10,000 in purchases. Once you hit that threshold, Southwest mails you the pass, and it's valid through the end of the following calendar year.
The pass is not automatic. You have to reach the spending requirement within a single calendar year. If you spend $5,000 in January and $5,000 in December of the same year, you've earned it. If you spend $5,000 in December of one year and $5,000 in January of the next, you have not — each year's spending is separate.
The companion can be the same person every time, or different people on different flights. Southwest doesn't require you to name them in advance. When you book, you book your own ticket first, then add the companion on the same flight at no base fare cost.
Key Takeaways
- You earn the Companion Pass by spending $10,000 on purchases with a Southwest credit card in a single calendar year.
- Once earned, the pass is valid for the remainder of that year plus all of the next calendar year — potentially 20 months of travel.
- The pass covers the base fare only; your companion pays taxes, fees, and any seat upgrades, just as you do.
- The annual fee on Southwest credit cards ranges from $69 to $99, so the true cost of earning the pass includes that fee plus the spending required.
- The pass has real value only if you fly Southwest regularly and can use it within its expiration window.
How much you actually spend to earn it
The headline number is $10,000 in purchases, but that's not the full cost. Southwest credit cards charge an annual fee — either $69 or $99 depending on which card you choose. So your first-year cost is $10,000 in spending plus the annual fee.
The second year is where the math changes. If you earned the pass in year one, it remains valid through the end of year two. But if you want to earn a new pass in year two (to extend your benefit into year three), you'll pay the annual fee again plus another $10,000 in spending. Many people who use the pass heavily do this deliberately — they spend enough in year two to earn a second pass, which gives them continuous companion benefits.
If you don't spend $10,000 in year two, you still have the pass from year one through the end of year two, but you won't have earned a new one. After that, the benefit expires.
Which Southwest card to choose
Southwest offers several credit cards through Chase. The two main consumer cards are the Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier Card ($69 annual fee) and the Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus Card ($99 annual fee). The difference is not the Companion Pass earning requirement — both require $10,000 — but the other rewards and perks attached to each card.
The Premier Card earns 1 point per dollar on all purchases and 2 points per dollar on Southwest purchases and at restaurants. The Plus Card earns the same rates but adds a $75 Southwest statement credit each year, which effectively reduces the net annual fee to $24. However, the Plus Card is harder to get approved for and is typically offered to people with higher credit scores and income.
There is also a Southwest Business card, which works the same way but is designed for business spending. The earning requirement and annual fee structure are the same.
When the pass is worth the cost
The Companion Pass saves money only if you would otherwise buy two tickets. If a round-trip Southwest flight costs $300 per person, the pass saves you $300 on the companion's ticket. To break even on a $69 annual fee, you need to take just one round-trip flight with a companion. To break even on a $99 fee, you need roughly one round-trip flight where the companion's ticket would have cost at least $99.
The real value emerges if you fly multiple times per year. Someone who takes four round-trip flights with a companion in the pass validity period could save $1,200 or more, far exceeding the annual fee and spending requirement.
The pass has little value if you rarely fly, fly alone, or fly airlines other than Southwest. It also has no value if you earn it but don't use it before it expires. The pass expires at the end of the calendar year following the year you earned it — if you earn it in 2024, it's good through December 31, 2025, and not a day longer.
How the pass works when you book
You book your own ticket on Southwest's website or app as usual. Once your ticket is confirmed, you add the companion on the same flight. Southwest shows you the base fare for that flight and charges $0 for the companion's base fare. The companion pays taxes and fees (usually $5.60 per segment) and any optional charges like seat upgrades or Early Bird Check-In.
The companion must be on the same flight as you — you cannot use the pass to book them on a different flight. You also cannot use it for standby travel or to upgrade an existing ticket; it only works for new bookings.
If you cancel your ticket, the companion ticket is cancelled too. If you want to change your flight, you can change both tickets together, and the companion still pays only taxes and fees.
Restrictions and limits
Southwest does not let you use the Companion Pass on award tickets (tickets booked with points rather than cash). You also cannot use it on flights booked through third-party sites or travel agents — only on Southwest.com or the Southwest app.
The pass is non-transferable. You cannot give it to someone else or sell it. Only the cardholder can use it to book a companion.
Southwest occasionally runs promotions that lower the spending requirement to $8,000 or offer bonus points for meeting the requirement. These are temporary and vary by offer. If you're considering the card, it's worth checking whether a promotion is active, though the core structure remains the same.
Earning points while you spend toward the pass
Every dollar you spend toward the $10,000 requirement also earns Rapid Rewards points. On the Premier Card, that's 1 point per dollar on most purchases and 2 points per dollar on Southwest and restaurant purchases. Those points can be redeemed for flights, seat upgrades, or other Southwest products.
This means you're not just earning the Companion Pass — you're also building a points balance that can pay for additional flights or upgrades. If you spend $10,000 to earn the pass, you'll have at least 10,000 points (and likely more if some of that spending is on bonus-earning categories). Depending on Southwest's pricing, 10,000 points might cover a domestic flight or two.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use the Companion Pass on flights I've already booked?
No. The pass only works when you book a new flight. If you've already bought a ticket, you cannot retroactively add a companion using the pass. You have to cancel and rebook, which may result in a fare difference or change fee depending on Southwest's current policy.
What happens if I don't spend $10,000 in a year?
You don't earn the Companion Pass for that year. If you earned it in a previous year, it remains valid through the end of the following year, but you won't have a new pass after that expires. You can earn it again in a future year if you meet the spending requirement then.
Can I use the pass if I'm flying standby?
No. The Companion Pass only works for revenue bookings (regular paid or points-based tickets). Standby travel is not may be able to access.
Does the companion have to be a family member?
No. The companion can be anyone — a friend, colleague, or family member. Southwest doesn't require you to prove a relationship or name the companion in advance. You straightforward add them when you book.
What if Southwest changes the spending requirement or annual fee?
Southwest and Chase can change card terms at any time, including the annual fee and the spending requirement for the Companion Pass. Changes typically explore to new cardholders or at the next annual renewal. If you already have the card, your current terms usually stay the same until your next renewal date.