Earn the Southwest Companion Pass with ONE Credit Card
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EDITORIAL DISCLOSURE:
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I'm about to tell you about the most exciting Southwest credit card offer we’ve seen in a long time. And yes, this involves some strategic timing, but nothing crazy—we're talking "mark your calendar" level strategy, not "create a color-coded spreadsheet with 47 tabs" level planning.
Quick Refresher: What's the Southwest Companion Pass?
The Southwest Companion Pass is basically the holy grail of points and miles benefits. Once you earn it, you can choose one person (your "companion") to fly with you for FREE (minus taxes and fees starting at $5.60 one-way) on every Southwest flight you take for the rest of that year, plus the entire following year.
Let me paint you a picture: You book a flight to Hawaii? Your companion flies basically free. Weekend trip to Denver? They're coming too, practically free. That spontaneous visit to see your childhood best friend across the country? You get it—FREE (well, almost).
For a couple, this essentially cuts your flight costs in half. For someone traveling with kids, a friend, or rotating companions, this is a game-changer.
Typically, you need 135,000 Companion Pass qualifying points in a calendar year to earn this status. We've written a whole detailed guide on the traditional method if you want to deep dive, but today we're talking about a shortcut that just became available.
The Traditional Method vs. THIS Method
The traditional strategy involves opening two Southwest personal credit cards and strategically meeting both welcome offers at the start of the new year. It works like a charm, but it requires more planning, coordination, and frankly, more credit applications.
But right now? There's an elevated offer on the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Performance Business Credit Card that makes earning the Companion Pass significantly simpler.
The ONE Card That Changes Everything
Here's the deal: The Southwest Rapid Rewards® Performance Business Credit Card is currently offering an absolutely bonkers 120,000 bonus points after you spend $10,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
Let me break down the math for you because this is where it gets good:
120,000 points from the welcome bonus
10,000 points earned from spending $10,000 to hit the bonus (assuming regular 1x earning)
10,000 Companion Pass qualifying points boost that all Southwest cardholders receive each calendar year
That's 140,000 points (!!) from one card. Remember, you only need 135,000 to earn the Companion Pass.
Cue the confetti cannon. 🎉
The Strategic Timing Piece (This is Important!)
This is where the calendar becomes your best friend. To maximize this offer, you want to open the card now but strategically time meeting that $10,000 minimum spend AFTER January 1, 2026.
Why? Because Companion Pass qualifying points only count within a single calendar year, and you want that Pass to last as long as possible.
Here's the optimal timeline:
Apply for the card ASAP (like, right now, because this elevated 120k offer won't stick around forever)
Hold off on completing the $10,000 spend until after January 1, 2026: We advise only putting $9000-$9500 of spend on the card prior to January 1. There have been some rare occasions where the welcome bonus “triggers” within the ~$200-$300 range, and I don’t care how rare those occasions are, we are just not risking that around here! 🙅♀️🙅♂️
Finish your spending in early January so the points post to your account in time
Boom! 💥 You have the Companion Pass for all of 2026 AND all of 2027
⚠️ WARNING: If you meet your Southwest credit card’s minimum spend in December 2025, those points will likely post that same month: meaning your Companion Pass would be valid for only the rest of 2025 and all of 2026. That’s basically wasting a full year of free companion flights. 🥺
But if you hold off until January, your points will post in the new year, unlocking nearly two full years of Companion Pass benefits for all of 2026 and 2027. That’s the difference between 13 months and 24 months of value!
Here’s why timing matters: Points from purchases on your Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Credit Card only count toward Companion Pass qualification after they post to your Rapid Rewards account, which happens a few days after your billing statement closes.
So, if you’re chasing the Companion Pass strategically, wait until after your December statement closes before completing your minimum spend to ensure your points post in January.
(Source: Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards® Terms and Conditions)
What Else Do You Get with This Card?
The $299 annual fee might make you pause, but hear me out. This card is absolutely loaded with benefits that quickly offset that cost for the right traveler:
Premium Travel Perks
First checked bag free for you and up to 8 passengers on the same reservation (that's up to $280 in savings roundtrip for a family of 4!)
Preferred seat selection at booking when available, for up to 9 people
Extra Legroom seat upgrade within 48 hours before departure when available
4 Upgraded Boardings per year (hello, A1-A15 boarding positions!)
Annual 9,000 bonus points just for keeping the card
$120 TSA PreCheck or Global Entry credit every 4 years
365 inflight WiFi credits ($8 each) per year—basically free WiFi on every Southwest flight
$500 credit for point transfer fees each year
25% back on inflight drink purchases
Earning Power
4x points on Southwest purchases
3x points on Rapid Rewards hotel and car partners (through Dec 31, 2025)
2x points on gas stations, restaurants, hotels (when booked directly), rideshare, and more
2,500 tier qualifying points for every $5,000 spent, helping you reach A-List status faster
When you factor in the WiFi credits alone (which are literally $8 per flight), if you take just 5 Southwest flights this year, you've already earned $40 back. Add in the free checked bags, the bonus points, and everything else? The annual fee pays for itself.
(Source: Chase Business Credit Card Rewards & Benefits)
But Wait, I Don't Have a Business...
If you're hesitating because you think you need an official LLC or a fancy business setup, I need you to stop right there. ✋ You probably qualify for a business card and don't even realize it.
Sell things on Facebook Marketplace? That's a business. Have a side hustle on Etsy? Business. Freelance on the weekends? You guessed it: business. Even if you're just thinking about starting a side gig, that counts as a business in the credit card world (because most businesses apply for a credit card as means to start)!
We have a full step-by-step tutorial on how to fill out a Chase business card application that walks you through the entire process with screenshots. 📸 It's way less intimidating than you think, and you can use your Social Security Number. No EIN required.
Business cards are honestly a cornerstone of a solid points and miles strategy, so even if this Southwest offer wasn't amazing (which it absolutely is), it's worth getting comfortable with business card applications.
Why You Need to Act NOW
I want to be very clear about something: this 120,000-point offer is elevated. 🔥
Credit card offers fluctuate, and we have no idea how long this particular bonus will stick around. It could be weeks, it could be days.
If you've been thinking about earning the Companion Pass, there may not be a better time than right now. The math is on your side, the timing works out perfectly for maximizing your Pass duration, and the benefits on this card are genuinely solid.
Plus!! We're heading into the holidays, which means you might have some upcoming expenses you can strategically put on this card to help you hit that $10,000 minimum spend. Holiday shopping, travel bookings for 2026, pre-paying some bills… just make sure to time it all so it posts in the new year. 📆
The Game Plan
Here's your step-by-step action plan:
Apply for the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Performance Business Credit Card right now before this offer goes away
Once approved, set a reminder on your phone for January 1, 2026
Spend no more than $9500 between opening the card and December 31, 2025
Complete your $10,000 minimum spend AFTER your reminder goes off on January 1, 2026
Wait for your billing statement to close and the points to post to your Southwest account
Choose your companion and start booking flights! 🎉
Send us a postcard from wherever because you'll be traveling for nearly free for the next two years!!
Bottom Line
Look, I know $10,000 in spending sounds like a lot. It is a lot. But we're talking about earning nearly two years of Companion Pass status with one card application and one welcome bonus. That's unprecedented.
If you can comfortably meet that spend requirement without going into debt or buying things you don't need, this is one of the best opportunities to earn the Companion Pass.
The beauty of points and miles travel is finding these strategic opportunities where everything lines up perfectly. Right now, with this elevated offer and the timing of the new year, we're in one of those perfect storm moments.
So if the Southwest Companion Pass has been on your goals list (and honestly, it should be), this is your sign. Apply for the card, mark your calendar, and get ready to bring a friend on all your Southwest adventures for basically free. (And don’t forget about sending us that postcard… 😜)
Editorial Disclosure: Opinions expressed here are the author's alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post.