2021 Southwest Companion Pass Megathread

We are approaching the time of year when people start to ask a lot of questions about the Southwest Companion Pass, so let’s consolidate the questions in this new version of the Southwest Companion Pass Megathread. The previous version from 2 years ago has been archived. I have edited, updated, and condensed the header a bit, but I have tried to cover the same ground as before.

Reminder: Posting of referrals in this thread can result in a ban. Please use the posts in r/churningreferrals for referral postings.

1.) What is the Southwest Airlines Companion Pass? Why all the commotion?

Companion Pass (CP) holders get buy one, get one free (not including taxes and fees) on all Southwest Airlines ticket purchases for the year in which you earn the pass and the following calendar year. This pass can be used on purchased tickets and award seats (virtually doubling your airline miles). You can only select one companion; however, you can change that person three times per calendar year.

2.) How do I earn the Companion Pass?

You have to earn 125,000 qualifying Rapid Rewards (RR) points in a calendar year. Then, you will have the CP for the remainder of the calendar year in which you earned it and the entire following calendar year.

3.) Why all the conversation now? This seems like an all-year thing.

It is. However, the earlier in the year you earn it, the more benefit you can get. For example, if 125,000 RR points post to your RR account in January 2022, you could use the CP through December 2023, for about 23 months of potential benefits.

4.) Which types of RR points count toward the CP, and which types don't?*

Examples of points that *do* count:
    Credit card bonuses
    Credit card normal spending
    Points from flying
    Points from partner hotel stays
    Points from partner car rentals

Examples of points that *do not* count:
    Points purchased
    Points transferred from Chase UR
    Points transferred from hotel programs to your RR account
    Points transferred from another person

*These are just a few examples. The full list is here.

5.) How do I earn 125,000 RR points? What does this have to do with churning?

Perhaps the fastest way to earn the CP is through Southwest credit card bonuses and spending. Chase offers three Southwest personal credit cards and two Southwest business credit cards. The personal cards are the Plus, the Premier, and the Priority. The business cards are the Premier Business and the Performance Business.

The most common ways to earn the CP through credit card bonuses and spending are:

• Two personal cards. This would require the MDD application process, since the rules officially do not allow you to apply for a personal card when you already hold one. (Please research MDD elsewhere and don't clog this thread with MDD questions!) Typically, it would also require elevated bonuses for the personal cards to get to 125k RR points. Currently the bonus offer on personal cards is 40k RR points. The bonuses change somewhat often.

• Two business cards. Keep the 1/30 guideline for business card applications in mind. Currently the bonuses on the Performance Business and Priority Business cards are 80k and 60k RR points, respectively.

• One business card and one personal card. Again, consider the 1/30 guideline for the business card application.

5A.) I have had a SW card, can I get the bonus again?

To be eligible to apply for a personal card, it has to be 24 months since your last SW personal card bonus (from any SW personal card). For a given business card, the same 24 month rule applies, but only for that same card.

5B.) Do I have to cancel my existing SW card before I apply for more SW cards to get the CP?

CP Method	Do I Have to Cancel My Existing SW Personal Card?	Do I Have to Cancel My Existing SW Business Card?
Two personal cards	Yes	No
One personal, one business	Yes	Yes, if you have the same card you for which you will apply; otherwise no
Two business cards	No	Yes

If you need to cancel, do it at least 30 days before you want to apply for the same type of card (personal or business).

6.) What's the safest way to earn/maximize the pass with credit cards?

Wait until December to start applying for the cards. Then you will have three months to meet minimum spends and earn the pass. Points from credit card bonuses and spending post after your statement date. Know that date, it is very important to make sure that your bonuses post in January or later.

7.) Can I use the CP for international flights?

You can. You can use the CP for any Southwest flight. You just have to pay the 9/11 security fee and other taxes.

8.) Will I lose my 125k points when I earn the CP?

No, you keep them, and and you can use them.

9.) Do I need to have 125k points in my account to earn the CP?

No, you just need to EARN 125k points in a calendar year. If you get 50k, spend them, get 50k, spend them, and then earn 25k more, you'll still get your CP.

10.) Do I have to choose a companion or is it just buy one get one and I choose the person each flight?

You have to choose a companion. Only that person can fly with you using your CP. If you both have flights and you cancel yours, your companion’s flight is automatically cancelled. You are able to change your companion three times per year by calling in.

11.) How do I use the CP after I have earned it?

You just book any flight you want to go on, points or cash. When you look at your reservation online, you'll see an area to "Add Companion". Click that, follow instructions.

12.) I got my CP card in the mail finally, do I need it?

Nope. Frame it. Apparently Southwest no longer issues an actual card.

13.) I wasn't auto approved. What do I tell recon now when I call?

The same thing you would tell any bank when you apply for two cards and one is denied. In this situation, my script would go something like this. "I like to keep my expenses separate and it's tough to do with authorized users with Chase. With both cards, I could keep everything in two accounts under one log in."

14.) Will Southwest extend the CP because of COVID?

CPs that were set to expire at the end of 2020 were give 2 extensions, first to June 30, 2021, and then again until the end of 2021. As of now, no other extensions have been announced.