The Companion Pass is widely considered the best loyalty perk in US domestic aviation: your designated companion flies with you for nothing but taxes and fees, starting at $5.60 one-way, even on award tickets you book with points. Under current 2026 rules, earning 135,000 qualifying points in a calendar year unlocks it for the rest of that year plus the next — and credit card welcome bonuses have long been the fastest way to bridge the gap. That shortcut is about to close.
From 2027, Southwest's revamped Rapid Rewards programme stops welcome bonuses from counting toward Companion Pass qualification entirely, along with anniversary points, referral bonuses and card category points. Unlimited Companion Pass instead becomes a perk of the new top-tier Platinum status. But there's a transition exception: apply and be approved for a Southwest personal card by December 2, 2026, and the initial bonus still counts toward a 2026 qualification — giving you a pass valid through December 31, 2027.
Two Chase-issued cards carry the offers. The Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Card ($229 annual fee) pays 90,000 points after $3,000 of spending in the first three months, plus perks like a free first checked bag for up to nine travellers on one reservation, free preferred seat selection, extra-legroom upgrades when available, and 7,500 anniversary points. The cheaper Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus Card ($99 annual fee) offers 80,000 points after just $1,000 of spending, plus the free checked bag, Group 5 boarding and 3,000 anniversary points. Both also give cardholders a 10,000-point qualifying boost toward the pass.
The maths: with Priority, 90,000 bonus points plus the 10,000 boost plus minimum-spend points leaves roughly 32,000 qualifying points to find. With Plus, it's about 44,000. Flights, bonus categories and partner activity can close the rest. Note the timing trap — only purchase points that post to your account in 2026 count, and the 10,000-point boost can take up to 30 days, so front-load your spending well before your December statement closes. Eligibility matters too: no Southwest personal card currently held, no Southwest personal card bonus in the past 24 months, and Chase's 5/24 rule (fewer than five new card accounts in two years) applies.
This is a story for travellers, not points nerds only. If you fly Southwest even two or three times a year with a partner, spouse or friend, a Companion Pass can be worth well over $1,000 annually in saved fares. The catch is that the old January-application trick — stacking a bonus to cover nearly two calendar years — no longer works under this exception; bonuses earned now max out at the end of 2027. If you're eligible, can comfortably hit the spend, and have a realistic path to the remaining points, the December 2 deadline is the one that counts.
