Guide to the Southwest Companion Pass

Fall is the time to start planning for your companion pass!

If you frequently fly Southwest—or have been looking for a way to stretch your travel budget a little further—the Southwest Companion Pass is a benefit worth knowing about.

The concept is pretty simple: once you earn Companion Pass status, you can designate one person to fly with you on Southwest flights for the duration of your pass. Your companion's seat is essentially covered whether you're paying for your own flight with cash or using Southwest Rapid Rewards points—you'll just pay the applicable taxes and fees.

That means one trip can quickly become two-for-one travel, making the Companion Pass especially useful for couples, families, or anyone who has a favorite travel buddy.

Guide to the Southwest Companion Pass

But there's a strategy behind earning and using the pass. In this guide, we'll break down how the Southwest Companion Pass works, how you can qualify, how to designate your companion, and some of our favorite ways to maximize the benefit once you have it.

We'll also walk through the details you'll want to understand before pursuing the pass so you can decide whether it makes sense for your travel habits and goals.

As always, the goal isn't simply to collect points and perks—it's to know how to use them to make the travel you already want to take cost a whole lot less.

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Welcome offers, annual fees, benefits, earning structures, eligibility requirements, and other card terms can change. Always review the current terms and offer details before applying. We also recommend only pursuing rewards when you can comfortably meet spending requirements without carrying a balance or going into debt.

All information as of 9/21/26.