How many points to earn companion pass 2023?

If you don't have a credit card and plan to earn the Companion Pass through flying in 2023, you'll need to earn the full 135,000 points or take 100 qualifying one-way flights. This translates to the following spending on base fares: $22,500 on Wanna Get Away.



(Correction for current context) In 2023, the requirement to earn the Southwest Companion Pass was 135,000 qualifying points or 100 qualifying one-way flights in a single calendar year. As we are now in 2026, the requirement remains at 135,000 points (boosted by a 10,000-point "headstart" for holders of Southwest credit cards). This pass is widely considered the best deal in travel, as it allows one designated companion to fly with you for free (plus taxes/fees from $5.60) an unlimited number of times for the remainder of the year you earned it and the entire following year. Points can be earned through revenue flights, credit card spending, and partner activities like hotel stays or car rentals. Points transferred from other loyalty programs (like Chase Ultimate Rewards) do not count toward the 135,000-point threshold, so most savvy travelers in 2026 time their credit card "sign-up bonuses" to hit the target early in the year for maximum value.

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If you want to know how many Southwest points you need for a free flight, the answer is that it depends on the cash cost of your flight. The lower the cash cost, the fewer points will be required and conversely, the higher the cash cost of the flight, the more Southwest points you'll need.

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With most airlines, free flights generally start at 5,000 to 7,500 miles per one-way segment. So to book a round-trip flight, you typically need at least 10,000 to 15,000 miles.

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With each of the Southwest credit cards below, you can earn 50,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 on purchases in the first 3 months.

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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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Flying with Southwest If you don't have a credit card and plan to earn the Companion Pass through flying in 2023, you'll need to earn the full 135,000 points or take 100 qualifying one-way flights. This translates to the following spending on base fares: $22,500 on Wanna Get Away.

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Although the companion fare can only be used to book flights in the economy cabin, there are still ways to use it and save on first class travel. Complimentary elite upgrades are available close to departure, and some fares can be upgraded further in advance.

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Southwest Rapid Rapid Rewards Priority benefits The Southwest Priority card offers the following benefits: Anniversary bonus: Each year on your card-opening anniversary, you'll receive 7,500 Rapid Rewards points, worth about $112, based on TPG's valuations.

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Southwest started sending emails with the subject line, “A message from Southwest CEO Bob Jordan” offering passengers who had canceled flights 25,000 points each. This email only went out to the passengers who actually booked the flights but it included codes for everyone on their reservation.

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10,000 Southwest points are worth about $150. How much are 25,000 Southwest points worth? 25,000 Southwest points are worth about $375.

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No, buying Southwest points is not worth it. Southwest Rapid Rewards points are worth an average of 1.33 cents each, while buying them costs around 3 cents per point, which means you would not be getting a good deal.

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Southwest points' value varies from 1.3 cents to 1.5 cents. In most cases, you get better value when redeeming your points for short flights and affordable fares instead of longer flights or more expensive fares.

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You'll get more value by using them for high-priced travel experiences. But if you're a budget traveler who just wants to save a few bucks, use your points for that economy flight or low-category hotel redemption. The key is to have a use in mind before you start earning points.

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