My last post covered what Southwest Companion Pass is, how you can earn it through credit card sign up bonuses, how long it's good for AND the criticality of timing when your points hit, and traditional methods of earning. If you missed the basics, you can read them here.
However, with the current elevated Southwest personal cards having a sign up bonus of 100,000 points with a $4,000 spend in a 5-month time period; I've received SO many questions about how to use this offer to earn companion pass that I'm doing another post - focused on strategy with this offer.
Keep in mind, this 100,000 point offer will end 9/17/25!
If you already have a SW personal card and it's been at least 24 months since you opened the card and received a sign up bonus, you are eligible for this offer. First close your current SW personal card and wait a week. Then apply for this offer.
Companion Pass Basics
- What: Buy one, get one free flights for a designated companion. Pay only taxes and fees for the companion. Flights for primary flier can be purchased with cash or with points.;
- How: To earn a companion pass, you need to earn 135,000 points in a calendar year, Jan-Dec (CP earning points reset to zero every year, 1/1)
- Timing: Once you hit 135,000 points, you earn companion pass after that statement close. The companion pass is good for the remainder of that calendar year and the ENTIRE calendar year following.
How to use the 100,000 Personal Card Offer towards Companion Pass
Critical questions to think about before opening this card:
1. When do you want the Companion Pass to be valid for?
A: Remainder of 2025 and all of 2026
B: Most of 2026 and all of 2027
I will come back to this, but your answer to this question will determine your timeline for hitting your minimum spend. (Keep in mind, the strategies I'm sharing are based on current companion pass requirements, which may change in time).
2. Do you already have Companion Pass earning points?
If you're flown Southwest at all in 2025, then you may already have earned some points towards a companion pass! If you have at least 20,000 points here, then you simply only need to open the 100,000 point SW Personal Credit Card and don't need to worry about Question 3.
To check your status:
- Log into your Southwest Rapid Rewards account
- Click "My Account"
- Locate "My Rapid Rewards"
 |
| As shown here, this person already have 43,905 of the 135,000 points needed to qualify for Companion Pass this year |
3. Do you have someone you can refer to a Southwest card?
The easier way to get a big chunk of points, in addition to a sign up bonus, is to refer someone to a Southwest card. Standard Southwest referrals are worth 20,000 points with a limit of 5 referrals per card per year.
Here's Your Plan and Timeline
If you want 2025/2026 Companion Pass
If your response is to Question 1 was "A - Remainder of 2025 and all of 2026", then you are going to open the 100K Southwest Personal card offer before 9/17 and spend spend spend (within your means).
Again, open this card ASAP!
Ideally, you would also refer someone else to the 100K point offer before 9/17 so that they can take advantage as well. However, any referral before December should have referral points hit in 2025 to count towards your goal of 135,000 points in 2025.
With this, once you hit the $4K minimum spend and refer someone, within the next statement close, you should receive your sign up bonus (100,000 points) + points for you minimum spend (a minimum of 4,000 points at 1 point per $1 spent, but more points if you are spending directly with Southwest, or 2 points per $1 spent if you are using for groceries and/or dining out) + 10,000 point boost* for holding a Southwest card + 20,000 points (for someone using your referral link. They do not have to hit the minimum spend in order for you to get your referral bonus).
*Southwest gives each Rapid Rewards member who holds any credit card a 10,000 point boost towards Companion Pass annually. Note this is per account and not per Southwest credit card held. So if you hold a SW Business and a SW Personal card, you will only receive 10,000 point boost; not 20,000.
All of the numbers above add up to 134,000 points (100,000 + 4,000 + 10,000 + 20,0000); hitting in 2025. Hopefully of that $4,000 minimum spend, $1,000 of it was spent at groceries/restaurant and then you would earn an additional 1,000 points; which puts you at the 135,000 threshold!
If you want 2026/2027 Companion Pass
If your response is to Question 1 was "B - Most of 2026 and all of 2027", then you are going to open the 100K Southwest Personal card offer before 9/17 and slooooooooow roll.
Again, open this card ASAP!
Ideally, you want to wait until mid-December to start spending on this card. That way, any spend you put on the card, will be included in your January 2026 statement and therefore, have the points awarded in 2026. Remember, each January 1st, companion qualifying points will reset to zero.
So, for you, my friend - open the card before 9/17 and put it in a sock drawer.
December 15th start spending. Spend up to $3,500 on the card before January 1st and then STOP! Put the card away again and don't pull it out until January 1s.... just to be safe!
After January 1st, spend the remaining amount of the $4,000 minimum spend on the card (note: the longer you can wait to spend on this card until 1/1, the better/more conservative; but I know it's hard with the holidays! But this helps guarantee your points earned per dollar spent hit in 2026)
Also, come January 1st, refer someone else to any Southwest credit card.
With this, once you hit the $4K minimum spend and refer someone, within the next statement close, you should receive your sign up bonus (100,000 points) + points for you minimum spend (a minimum of 4,000 points at 1 point per $1 spent, but more points if you are spending directly with Southwest, or 2 points per $1 spent if you are using for groceries and/or dining out) + 10,000 point boost for holding a Southwest card + 20,000 points (for someone using your referral link. They do not have to hit the minimum spend in order for you to get your referral bonus).
All of the numbers above add up to 134,000 points (100,000 + 4,000 + 10,000 + 20,0000), hitting in 2026. Hopefully of that $4,000 minimum spend, $1,000 of it was spent at groceries/restaurant and then you would earn an additional 1,000 points; which puts you at the 135,000 threshold!
What if We Need Two Companion Passes?
If you're similar to me, and a family of 4, wanting two companion passes for most of 2026 and all of 2027, it's likely going to take you 3 cards between the two of you to get there. Here's how:
Player 1 opens Southwest Personal card 100,000 offer before 9/17. Again, open this card ASAP!
9/17 - 12/15: do not use the card
12/15: Similar to above, December 15th start spending. Spend up to $3,500 on the card before January 1st and then STOP! Put the card away again and don't pull it out until January 1s.... just to be safe!
After January 1st: spend the remaining amount of the $4,000 minimum spend on the card (note: the longer you can wait to spend on this card until 1/1, the better/more conservative; but I know it's hard with the holidays!)
Also, after January 1st, Player 1 refers Player 2 to any Southwest Business Card (it's recommend to open between cards before Personal cards to ensure that you can get approved and the strategy will work)
After 30 days OR after hitting Player 2's minimum spend (whichever is longer, you need a minimum of 30 days between credit card applications for the same bank): Player 1 refers Player 2 to Player 2's second Southwest card. This card can be another Southwest Business card or a Southwest Personal Card.
Player 2 should have accumulated enough points with two sign up bonuses, minimum spends, and 10,000 point boost to hit the 135,000 point threshold to earn their companion pass!
In Summary
There are many ways to strategically utilize Southwest credit card sign up bonuses and referrals to earn companion passes without flying Southwest 100 fights a year or spend $135,000 on the same Southwest card you've had forever!
Utilizing my referral links help me keep my content free for you! If you're going to open a Southwest Credit card, I appreciate you using my referral link here!
I hope this helps, but as always if you have any questions, feel free to reach out! justcallmehaha@gmail.com
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