Time is running out on one of the easier routes to the Southwest Companion Pass. From 1 January 2027, welcome bonuses on Southwest credit cards will no longer count toward qualifying for the pass — the perk that lets a companion fly with you for a full year (or more) paying only taxes and fees. That makes the Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier Business Card, with its $149 annual fee, suddenly more interesting than its modest specs suggest.
The current welcome offer is 60,000 Rapid Rewards points after spending $3,000 in the first three months. At a rough valuation of 1.2 cents per point, that's about $720 in value, and — per the current offer terms — those points count toward Companion Pass qualification through 2026 and into 2027. Historically, earning 135,000 points in a calendar year got you the pass, and card bonuses, anniversary points and referral points all helped. From 2027, only flights and qualifying activity will count; the top new Platinum tier comes with unlimited Companion Pass travel but demands a stiff 140,000 Tier Qualifying Points or 100 qualifying flights.
So what does the card itself actually deliver? It earns 3x points on Southwest purchases, 2x at gas stations and restaurants (capped at $8,000 combined per year), and 1x elsewhere, with no foreign transaction fees. Onboard perks lean toward what you'd normally need status for: a free first checked bag for the cardholder and up to eight people on the same reservation (worth $45 each way for non-elites), complimentary Preferred seat selection within 48 hours of departure, boarding no later than Group 5, 25% back on inflight purchases, and a 15% flight discount each anniversary year. The 6,000 anniversary points (about $72 by the same valuation) chip away at the fee, and adding employee cards is free. Through 2026, every $5,000 spent also earns 2,000 Tier Qualifying Points toward A-List status.
The honest caveats: this isn't a top-tier rewards card for everyday spending, and if you already hold the higher-end Performance Business Card you can still get this one's bonus, though not vice versa. Chase's 5/24 rule applies, with the usual wrinkle that business cards often don't count toward it. And bonuses are off the table if you've had this specific card in the past 24 months.
For travellers, the takeaway is simple. If you fly Southwest a few times a year, can qualify for a business card, and have ever fancied the Companion Pass without grinding through 100 flights, late 2026 is the window. Bonus points earned now still count toward the pass for the rest of 2026 and through 2027, after which the door closes. Worth noting for redemptions too: Southwest points stretch furthest on international routes like Costa Rica and Aruba, award bookings carry no change or cancellation fees, and with a Companion Pass in hand, every point you redeem effectively covers two seats.
