If you travel frequently on Southwest Airlines, the Companion Pass is one of the most valuable tools in your travel rewards arsenal. This coveted benefit allows you to bring a companion on any Southwest flight—domestic or international—for just the cost of taxes and fees. It’s not hard to see why it’s so popular: the savings can easily add up to thousands of dollars annually.
It’s been nearly a decade since I last earned a Southwest Companion Pass. Back in 2015, I leveraged the sign-up bonuses from two Southwest credit cards to rack up the points needed to qualify. Unfortunately, that strategy is no longer available since Chase and Southwest now restrict individuals to holding only one personal co-branded card at a time. Still, I’m seriously considering a push to earn a Companion Pass for 2025. Here’s why I think it might be worth it—and the two approaches I’m weighing to get there.
Why Now?
The last time I had the Companion Pass, I didn’t find it worth the effort to renew. At the time, Southwest didn’t serve many destinations from Orlando, making most itineraries inconvenient with required connections. Saving money on just two or three flights a year didn’t justify the hassle.
However, things have changed. In 2024, Southwest was the airline my wife and I flew most often, taking four flights together. Looking at our 2025 travel plans, we’ll likely have at least as many trips on Southwest—and probably more if we have the pass. Plus, the flexibility to use the Companion Pass on cash and award tickets makes it even more appealing. For example, I could book one ticket using the $75 annual travel credit from my Southwest Priority Card and pay just taxes and fees for the second ticket.
In 2024, I redeemed 47,000 Southwest points and spent $160 on a cash flight for a second passenger. With a Companion Pass, those savings would translate to over $700 in value. So it might make sense to get the pass again. But here’s where the calculating gets tricky.
How to Get the Pass
Earning the Companion Pass isn’t easy, but it’s not impossible. You qualify by completing 100 Southwest flights or earning 135,000 qualifying points within a calendar year. Here’s where I stand and the strategies I’m considering:
Strategy 1: Earn 135,000 Points
I’ve already made some progress toward the 135,000 points:
- 10,000 points: Automatically credited from holding the Southwest Priority Card.
- 25,000 points: Earned from a referral bonus (shout out to everyone who uses our referral links to help keep YMMV running!).
That puts me at 35,000 points, leaving 100,000 to go. Here’s how I could bridge the gap:
- Sign-up bonus: The Southwest Rapid Rewards® Performance Business Card is currently offering 80,000 points after spending $5,000 in the first three months. This would bring me to 115,000 points.
- Additional referral bonus: Another referral could earn me 20,000 points, pushing me over the finish line.
With this strategy, I’d secure the Companion Pass for the rest of 2025 and all of 2026. While tempting, there’s another approach I’m considering.
Strategy 2: Wait for a Promotional Offer
In recent years, Southwest and Chase have periodically offered a limited-time Companion Pass as a sign-up bonus. For example, in February 2024, new cardholders could earn a Companion Pass valid through February 2025, plus 30,000 points. Similar promotions were available in 2019, 2021, 2022, and 2023, so it’s reasonable to expect another offer in 2025.
The main downside of these promotional passes is their shorter validity—they typically expire at the end of February of the following year. However, this aligns well with my travel plans for 2025 and offers a lower-commitment way to test whether Southwest’s evolving offerings still work for us.
Why I’m Hesitant to Commit
Earning a full Companion Pass for two years would require significant effort, and I’m not sure it’s worth locking myself into Southwest for that long. A few years ago, they were our go-to airline for trips to Texas. Then, almost overnight, their prices increased, and schedule changes made all nonstop flights from Orlando either early-morning or late-evening—a logistical nightmare.
Additionally, 2025 marks a significant shift for Southwest as they plan to introduce assigned seating. While this could improve the flying experience, it’s a significant departure from their current boarding process, and its success remains uncertain. Given these unknowns, a one-year promotional Companion Pass might be the safer bet.
The Bottom Line
The Southwest Companion Pass is an undeniably powerful travel tool, but earning it requires careful planning and a realistic assessment of its value for your travel patterns. For now, I’m keeping my options open—but 2025 might be the year we reunite with this incredible benefit. Whether I go all-in for the full pass or opt for a shorter promotional version, one thing is sure: I’ll be watching Southwest closely as they roll out changes in the year ahead.
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