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The Southwest Companion Pass is one of the most valuable perks in U.S. travel because it lets your designated companion fly with you on Southwest for just the taxes and fees when you book an eligible ticket for yourself (paid with cash or points). In this guide, you’ll learn how to earn the Southwest Companion Pass in 2026, what activity counts toward qualification, what does not, and how to actually book and add your companion once you have it.
Quick note: Southwest rules can be very specific about when points post and which points qualify, so it’s important to plan your strategy around statement closing dates and posting timelines, not just when you spend.
The Southwest Companion Pass allows you to choose one companion who can fly with you on Southwest for the cost of mandatory taxes and fees, as long as there’s an open seat. You can use it on flights you book with cash, points, or eligible credits, and you can generally use it as often as you want during the validity window.
In the U.S., taxes and fees are often very low on domestic one-way flights. On international itineraries, taxes can be higher, but it can still be a strong value compared to buying a second ticket.
For 2026, you can qualify for the Companion Pass in one of two ways during the same calendar year:
Most people qualify through points because 100 one-way flights is a lot of flying. The key is understanding what counts as Companion Pass qualifying points and what doesn’t.
Companion Pass qualifying points come from a limited set of activities. In general, these do count:
Many types of points do not help you earn Companion Pass. Common examples include:
In many years, Companion Pass is valid for the rest of the year you earn it and the entire following year. That means earning it early in the year usually gives you the longest time to use it.
If you are using credit cards and partner activity to earn qualifying points, the most important planning detail is the difference between:
For Companion Pass qualification, points are generally based on when they post to your Rapid Rewards account, not when you spent the money. This matters a lot around December and January if you are trying to keep all qualifying points within the same calendar year.
Using the pass is usually straightforward once your companion is designated:
Once added, your companion’s itinerary is tied to your booking. If you later need to change your flight, you may need to remove the companion first, make the change, and then re-add them (depending on the situation and Southwest’s current tools).
If your goal keyword is “how to book a companion pass on Southwest,” here is the practical workflow:
Most Companion Pass frustration comes from timing or misunderstandings about qualifying points. These are the most common pitfalls:
If you’re building a Southwest strategy, make sure you also review our foundational resources:
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