The Southwest Airlines Companion Pass is the best deal in travel. You can bring a companion with you on your Southwest Airlines travels after earning 125,000 points.

Southwest Airlines Companion Pass is valid through February 28, 2023 and is part of the initial bonus offer on all three Southwest personal cards. They are also offering points. New cardmembers can receive a companion pass and 30,000 points after spending $5,000 on their card within 3 months of account opening. The offer should end before the end of the day on the 14th, according to the application pages.

I think anyone living in a Southwest city who has gotten fewer than 5 new cards in the last 24 months does not currently have a Southwest credit card.

The companion flies with you for the cost of taxes, even if you are buying a ticket or redeeming points. You can double the value of your points by transferring your Chase Ultimate rewards from a Chase card to a Southwest card.

This Has Been Offered Before And It’s Been Amazing

This was the best deal I could find at the time. We saw it in 2019. It was only offered on a limited basis before that.

The Southwest card offered a companion pass for California residents in order to combat the new strength of Alaska Airlines-Virgin America. This was the best initial card bonus we have ever seen, but it required a California address to be eligible.

Southwest's use of the companion pass as a strategic tool was exciting to me as a non-California resident.

Southwest has no points redeposit fees and you can use your points to make a speculative booking. Even if you book mostly international award tickets, Southwest points are always great. You might need a domestic flight to get to the city. If award availability opens up to include a domestic flight on your other ticket, there will be no change fees. Southwest points are great for insurance. They don't charge for the first two bags.

Which Southwest Card Should You Get?

I think the Southwest Rapid Rewards credit card is the best overall value for someone who flies Southwest and has a Companion Pass.

The Southwest annual fee card gives you a $75 travel credit each year, 25% back on in-flight drinks, and 4 upgraded boardings per year.

The Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus Credit Card has the lowest annual fee of the three cards at $69.

What You Can Do With Your Companion Pass

Southwest Airlines is the largest carrier of domestic airline passengers in the United States. You may not know that their route network is more extensive than you think. Mexico and the Caribbean as well as Hawaii are some of the great vacation destinations that they fly to internationally. Florida and the United States are both great places to travel on the airline.

I wrote an FAQ about using your companion pass. It should be able to answer any questions you have.

Can You Get the Card, and How to Keep the Companion Pass

A quick path to a companion pass usually includes a personal and small business Southwest card from Chase. Chase will only approve customers who have had less than 5 new cards in the last 24 months, because all of the Southwest cards are subject to this.

If you have gotten a bonus within the last 24 months, you aren't eligible for the bonus if you have a personal Southwest card.

How This Compares To Other Southwest Offers

Big point bonuses are better for people who spend a lot of money on credit cards. I timed my application so that the bonus and spending would post in January, earning me the Companion Pass for the rest of this year and next year. I have points to spend. It took about $25,000 to put on the card.

The best way to get a Southwest Airlines companion pass is to use these offers, which will last for about a year.

Southwest Rapid Rewards, Priority Credit Card, and Plus Credit Card are recommended.