How long does Southwest companion last?

Once you earn it and pick your Companion, you can begin enjoying the benefits immediately after designating a Companion. You'll maintain your Companion Pass for the remainder of the calendar year in which you qualified and the entire calendar year immediately following the year you qualified.



The Southwest Companion Pass is valid for the remainder of the calendar year in which you earned it, plus the entire following calendar year. For example, if you reach the 135,000-point threshold or fly 100 qualifying flights in February 2026, your Companion Pass will be active for the rest of 2026 and all of 2027. This makes it one of the most powerful "High-Fidelity" travel perks in the U.S., as earning it early in the year can effectively give you nearly two full years of "Buy One, Get One" travel. To maximize this, many travelers aim to earn the bulk of their qualifying points (often through credit card sign-up bonuses) in January. It is important to remember that your companion only flies for the cost of taxes and fees (starting at $5.60 each way), and you can change your designated companion up to three times per calendar year. If you earn the pass through a limited-time promotional offer (like "Fly one round trip, get a pass"), the duration is usually much shorter, typically lasting only two to three months.

People Also Ask

This pass grants you the privilege of bringing a companion along for free (excluding applicable taxes and fees) on an unlimited number of Southwest Airlines flights throughout the pass. For frequent Southwest flyers, this benefit alone can easily amount to thousands of dollars saved annually.

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First, you don't have two companion passes so don't think you can book two companions. You have one CP and can have one companion. You cannot earn CP multiple times concurrently. If your son also has a companion pass then he can also designate one companion.

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This $5,000 minimum spend is admittedly higher than other welcome bonuses, but it pales in comparison to what you'd need to spend outside of this promotion. To earn the standard 125,000 points you'd normally need for the Companion Pass®, you'd have to pay for up to $125,000 in purchases with your Southwest card.

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  1. The Southwest Companion Pass allows you to fly with a companion for only the cost of taxes and fees.
  2. To earn the Companion Pass, you need to accumulate 135,000 qualifying points in a calendar year.
  3. If you time it right, your companion can fly with you for (nearly) free for almost two years.


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Once ticketed, travel can be completed after the expiration date — within 12 months of the date of issue. You can view your companion fare code's expiration date by logging into your Account profile and viewing the Discount and companion fare codes section.

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Employees have free, unlimited travel privileges for themselves and eligible dependents on Southwest Airlines.

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The Companion Pass is valid from the date earned through the end of the next calendar year. For example, if the Companion Pass is earned in March 2024, it will be valid through December 31, 2025. That means Companion Pass holders get at least a full calendar year of benefiting from a companion ticket on Southwest.

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One major reason consumers love this pass is because you can use it an unlimited number of times during the year you earn it, plus the entire following year. With that in mind, Southwest Companion Pass rules don't set any limits on how much value you can get in return.

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If the member's ticket is canceled, the companion's ticket will also be canceled. And if the pass holder changes his or her ticket, the companion's ticket must also be changed to match. The designated companion will be required to pay for their ticket if the pass holder doesn't travel with them.

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Yes! You won't lose your Southwest points when you earn the Companion Pass. You can still use the 125,000 Southwest points to book flights, and your companion flies for almost free if you have the Companion Pass.

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The Companion Pass is valid for travel only when the Companion is accompanied on his/her flight(s) by the Rapid Rewards Member. When you add a companion to a Southwest reservation, your itineraries will be linked.

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There's no limit to the number of flights you can book with a Companion Pass and you can change companions up to three times per calendar year. The great thing about the Southwest Companion Pass is how attainable it is. The spending and welcome bonus on the Southwest cards counts towards the 135,000-point requirement.

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You must book your flight prior to booking your designated Companion's flight. After booking your flight, visit the My Trips section of your account. Find your flight in the Upcoming section and click on Add Companion link.

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You CAN change who flies as your companion based on the details below: The Companion Pass card is not transferrable. The Member may, however, change his/her designated Companion and request issuance of a new Companion Pass card up to three (3) times each calendar year that the Member maintains Companion Pass status.

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