In the last couple of years, Southwest has revamped much of what made it different from other major airlines. It added assigned seating and baggage fees, and now changes are coming for the beloved Southwest Companion Pass.
The Companion Pass has long been one of the best travel deals, and what made it so special was that the points you earn from a Southwest credit card welcome bonus would help you qualify.
That’s changing after Dec. 2, 2026. After that date, Southwest credit card bonuses you earn from a new account will no longer count toward earning a Companion Pass. This shift is coming amid changes to Companion Pass qualification requirements in general, as well as Southwest elite status.
Let’s look at what’s changing and whether it makes sense to apply for a Southwest credit card — including popular options like the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card (see rates and fees) — while the bonus still helps you earn a Companion Pass.
The Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card is a perfect fit for serious Southwest fans who can easily maximize its benefits like upgraded boardings and an annual travel credit.
- Valuable welcome bonus
- 7,500 bonus points every card member anniversary
- $75 annual Southwest travel credit
- Limited value when you’re not traveling with Southwest
- High annual fee
Highlights
Highlights shown here are provided by the issuer and have not been reviewed by CNBC Select’s editorial staff.
- Earn 60,000 bonus points after spending $2,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
- 7,500 anniversary points each year.
- Earn 4 points per $1 spent on Southwest Airlines®purchases, including flights, inflight, and Southwest gift cards.
- Earn 2 points for every $1 you spend at gas stations and restaurants
- First checked bag free for Cardmembers and up to 8 additional passengers in the same reservation.
- Select a Preferred seat at booking, at no additional charge, when available.
- Cardmembers and up to 8 passengers in the same reservation will board with Group 5 giving them earlier access to overhead bins.
- No foreign transaction fees.
- Member FDIC
Balance transfer fee
Either $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater
Do you have a credit card or travel rewards question?
Senior reporterJason Stauffercan answer your questions about how to make the most of your credit cards in his weekly Points Pro column. Submit yours here.
Southwest Companion Pass changes
Until the end of 2026, you need to complete 100 qualifying flight segments or earn 135,000 qualifying points (which are different than the points you redeem for flights) in a calendar year to earn a Companion Pass.
This is a steep requirement, but with the current version of the Companion Pass, you can bring a companion along on an unlimited number of Southwest flights, and you only need to pay the applicable taxes.
Historically, owning a Southwest credit card has made the Companion Pass easily accessible. Eligible Southwest cardholders receive 10,000 bonus Companion Pass qualifying points every year, and the bonus points you earn also count as qualifying points; this includes welcome bonus and card anniversary bonus points.
Starting in 2027, how you qualify for a Companion Pass and how it works is changing. Southwest is revamping elite status, and status benefits will include Companion Pass privileges.
You’ll be able to earn Companion Pass perks in the following ways:
- Second milestone reward: Three one-way or round-trip Companion Pass flights, which you receive after earning 95,000 Tier Qualifying Points, or TQPs or completing 75 qualifying one-way flights
- Platinum status: Unlimited Companion Pass flights with Platinum status, which you receive after earning 140,000 TQPs or completing 100 qualifying one-way flights
How to earn Southwest Tier Qualifying Points in 2027
TQPs will be harder to earn in 2027 compared to the current system. Southwest credit card welcome bonuses and anniversary bonuses won’t earn TQPs. You’ll earn 1 TQP per dollar on Southwest credit card purchases, but you won’t earn extra TQPs for bonus categories. For example, the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card (see rates and fees) earns 2X points at gas stations and restaurants, but you’ll only earn 1 TQP on those purchases.
The Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card is a perfect fit for serious Southwest fans who can easily maximize its benefits like upgraded boardings and an annual travel credit.
- Valuable welcome bonus
- 7,500 bonus points every card member anniversary
- $75 annual Southwest travel credit
- Limited value when you’re not traveling with Southwest
- High annual fee
Highlights
Highlights shown here are provided by the issuer and have not been reviewed by CNBC Select’s editorial staff.
- Earn 60,000 bonus points after spending $2,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
- 7,500 anniversary points each year.
- Earn 4 points per $1 spent on Southwest Airlines®purchases, including flights, inflight, and Southwest gift cards.
- Earn 2 points for every $1 you spend at gas stations and restaurants
- First checked bag free for Cardmembers and up to 8 additional passengers in the same reservation.
- Select a Preferred seat at booking, at no additional charge, when available.
- Cardmembers and up to 8 passengers in the same reservation will board with Group 5 giving them earlier access to overhead bins.
- No foreign transaction fees.
- Member FDIC
Balance transfer fee
Either $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater
In addition to credit card purchases, you can earn TQPs in the following ways:
In 2027, Southwest credit card holders will receive a boost of 10,000 TQPs once they earn 130,000 TQPs. This effectively reduces the Platinum status requirement to 130,000 TQPs and makes earning unlimited Companion Pass trips a bit easier.
Should you apply for a Southwest card by Dec. 2nd?
If you’re disappointed about how much harder it will be to earn a Companion Pass, you have one last chance to get the original version. For Southwest credit cards approved by Dec. 2, 2026, the welcome bonus will count toward earning a 2026 Companion Pass, which will be valid for unlimited flights through the end of 2027.
Even if you meet the minimum spending requirement and earn the welcome bonus points in 2027, those points will help you qualify for a 2026 Companion Pass. You just need to be approved for a new Southwest card before the deadline.
With the current Southwest credit card offers, you won’t be able to qualify for a Companion Pass with a single intro bonus. Since you can only have one Southwest consumer card at a time, applying before Dec. 2 makes the most sense for anyone close to earning a Companion Pass who can close the gap with earning a bonus.
Consumer Southwest cards currently offer between 50,000 and 60,000 bonus points after you meet the minimum spending requirement. Don’t forget, you’ll also earn 10,000 bonus qualifying points as a cardholder.
The Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card (see rates and fees) is the most affordable option with a $99 annual fee, featuring a welcome offer of 50,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.
The Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card is an affordable card that makes sense for the occasional Southwest traveler.
- Valuable welcome bonus
- 3,000 bonus points every card member anniversary
- Not especially rewarding for common expenses such as groceries or dining
Highlights
Highlights shown here are provided by the issuer and have not been reviewed by CNBC Select’s editorial staff.
- Earn 50,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
- 3,000 anniversary points each year.
- Earn 2 points per $1 spent on Southwest Airlines®purchases
- Earn 2 points for every $1 you spend at gas stations and grocery stores on the first $5,000 in combined purchases per anniversary year
- Cardmembers and up to 8 additional passengers in the same reservation can check their first bag at no additional cost.
- Select a Standard seat within 48 hours prior to departure, when available.
- Earn 1 point for every $1 spent on all other purchases.
- No foreign transaction fees.
- Member FDIC
Balance transfer fee
Either $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater
The Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Premier Business Credit Card can help your business save on Southwest travel but offers less value for other travel.
- Valuable welcome bonus helps you qualify for a Companion Pass
- 6,000 bonus points every card member anniversary
- Up to $500 in credits for point transfer fees every year (Benefit expires December 31, 2025)
- Limited value when you’re not traveling with Southwest
- No bonus spending categories for common business purchases like office supplies, shipping or advertising
Highlights
Highlights shown here are provided by the issuer and have not been reviewed by CNBC Select’s editorial staff.
- Earn 80,000 points after you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open.
- 6,000 bonus points after your Cardmember anniversary.
- Earn 3X points on Southwest Airlines® purchases.
- Earn 2 points for every $1 you spend at gas stations and restaurants on the first $8,000 in combined purchases per year
- First checked bag free for Cardmembers and up to 8 additional passengers in the same reservation.
- Select a Standard or Preferred seat within 48 hours prior to departure, when available.
- Cardmembers and up to 8 passengers in the same reservation will board with Group 5 giving them earlier access to overhead bins.
- No foreign transaction fees.
- Member FDIC
Balance transfer fee
Either $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater.
- Welcome bonus counts toward earning a Southwest Companion Pass
- Up to 365 in-flight Wi-Fi credits every year
- Four Upgraded Boardings per year (when available)
- Global Entry, NEXUS or TSA PreCheck® credit every four years
- High annual fee
- Limited value when you’re not traveling with Southwest
Highlights
Highlights shown here are provided by the issuer and have not been reviewed by CNBC Select’s editorial staff.
- Earn 80,000 points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
- 9,000 bonus points after your Cardmember anniversary.
- Earn 4X pts on Southwest® purchases.
- Earn 2 points for every $1 you spend at gas stations and restaurants
- Earn 2X points on hotel accommodations booked directly with the hotel
- Earn 2X points on local transit and commuting, including rideshare.
- First checked bag free for Cardmembers and up to 8 additional passengers in the same reservation.
- Cardmembers and up to 8 passengers in the same reservation will board with Group 5 giving them earlier access to overhead bins
- Member FDIC
Balance transfer fee
Either$5or5%of the amount of each transaction, whichever is greater.
The extra cost comes with additional perks. You’ll receive Extra Legroom upgrades, up to $120 in Global Entry, TSA PreCheck or NEXUS application fee credit and better earning rates compared to the Southwest Premier Business card.
Subscribe to the CNBC Select newsletter!
The CNBC Select Recommends newsletter delivers practical money tips each week along with expert-picked financial product recommendations. Sign up here.
Why trust CNBC Select?
At CNBC Select, our mission is to provide our readers with high-quality service journalism and comprehensive consumer advice so they can make informed decisions with their money. Every personal finance article is based on rigorous reporting by our team of expert writers and editors with extensive knowledge of financial products.While CNBC Select earns a commission from affiliate partners on many offers and links, we create all our content without input from our commercial team or any outside third parties, and we pride ourselves on our journalistic standards and ethics.
Catch up on CNBC Select’s in-depth coverage ofcredit cards,bankingandmoney, and follow us onTikTok,Facebook,InstagramandXto stay up to date.
Editorial Note: Opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed in this article are those of the Select editorial staff’s alone, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any third party.
About The Author
