Southwest Companion Pass Rules 2025: Complete Guide
The Southwest Companion Pass remains one of the most valuable perks in airline travel, letting a designated companion fly with you nearly free for up to two years. Here’s everything you need to know about qualifying for and using the Companion Pass in 2025.
Qualification Requirements for 2025
To earn the Southwest Companion Pass in 2025, you’ll need to meet one of these requirements within a single calendar year:
| Key Feature | Amex Platinum | Chase Sapphire |
|---|---|---|
| Annual Fee | $695 | $550 |
| Annual Credits | $200 Airline / $200 Hotel | $300 Travel Credit |
| Best For | Lounge Access & Luxury | Flexible Redemption |
- Earn 135,000 qualifying points
- Fly 100 qualifying one-way flights
Once earned, your Companion Pass will be valid for the remainder of the calendar year in which you earned it, plus the entire following calendar year.
Ways to Earn Qualifying Points
Credit Card Sign-up Bonuses: Points earned from Southwest credit card welcome offers count toward the Companion Pass qualification.
- Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card
- Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card
- Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card
- Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Premier Business Credit Card
- Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Performance Business Credit Card
Qualifying Point Sources
The following activities earn points that count toward Companion Pass qualification:
- Paid Southwest flights
- Credit card purchases on Southwest cards
- Southwest Rapid Rewards shopping portal purchases
- Southwest dining program earnings
- Rapid Rewards partner hotel and car rental bookings
Non-Qualifying Point Sources
These points do NOT count toward Companion Pass qualification:
- Purchased points
- Points transferred from Chase Ultimate Rewards
- Points transferred from hotel partners
- Points earned from promotions
- Bonus points from tier status
Using Your Companion Pass
Key Rules for Companion Travel:
- Valid on both paid and points bookings
- Companion pays only taxes and fees (starting from $5.60 one-way)
- Available on all Southwest flights with seats available
- No blackout dates
- Can be used unlimited times during validity period
Companion Designation Rules
Important guidelines for managing your companion designation:
- You can change your designated companion up to 3 times per calendar year
- Changes take effect after all existing companion bookings are completed
- Must call Southwest to change companions
- New companion can’t be booked until the change is processed
Booking and Flight Rules
Understanding these rules is crucial for smooth companion travel:
- Primary member must be booked before adding companion
- Companion must fly on exact same flights as primary member
- If primary member cancels, companion reservation automatically cancels
- Companions can’t fly alone
- Business Select and upgraded boarding available for primary member only
International Travel Guidelines
The Companion Pass works for international destinations, but remember:
- Valid for all Southwest international routes
- Higher taxes and fees apply for international flights
- Passport and visa requirements must be met
- Documentation needed for both primary member and companion
Maintaining Your Companion Pass
To maximize your Companion Pass benefits:
- Track your qualifying points progress in your Rapid Rewards account
- Plan credit card applications strategically
- Consider timing qualification early in calendar year
- Keep documentation of qualifying points earned
2025 Special Considerations
Important updates for 2025:
- 135,000-point requirement remains unchanged from 2024
- Credit card welcome bonuses still count toward qualification
- Business credit card points continue to qualify
- Flight segment requirement stays at 100 one-way flights
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Don’t fall into these common Companion Pass pitfalls:
- Missing qualification deadline by a few points
- Counting non-qualifying points toward your total
- Booking companion flights before earning the pass
- Not maximizing the pass’s validity period
- Forgetting to requalify if needed
What Happens If You Lose Qualification
Understanding the end of your Companion Pass period:
- Pass expires at end of qualification period
- Existing companion bookings remain valid
- No new companion bookings after expiration
- Must requalify to reinstate benefits
The Southwest Companion Pass continues to offer exceptional value for frequent travelers in 2025. By understanding and following these rules, you can maximize this benefit and potentially save thousands on air travel.
