In addition to having A-List Preferred status benefits, if you earn 125,000 135,000 Companion Pass Qualifying Points or fly 100 qualifying one-way flights booked through Southwest Airlines per calendar year, you will qualify for a Companion Pass.
You earn Companion Pass Qualifying Points when you purchase flights. The amount and type of fare you choose determines how many points you earn. The more money you spend, the more points you earn. You also earn Companion Qualifying points by using your Chase Southwest Rapid Rewards Cards and from shopping with Rapid Rewards Partners.
And now, all Chase Rapid Rewards Credit Cardmembers will receive a boost of 10,000 Companion Pass qualifying points every calendar year.
The terms of the program state…
Companion Pass qualifying points are earned from revenue flights booked through Southwest Airlines, points earned on Southwest Rapid Rewards Credit Cards, and base points earned from Rapid Rewards Partners.
Purchased points, points transferred between members, points converted from hotel and car loyalty programs, and e-Rewards, e-Miles, Valued Opinions and Diners Club, points earned from program enrollment, tier bonus points, flight bonus points, and partner bonus points (with the exception of the Rapid Rewards Credit Cards from Chase) do not qualify as Companion Pass qualifying points
The above also means that points transferred in from Chase Ultimate Rewards and points transferred in from Marriott Bonvoy do not count towards the Companion Pass.
It is important to note that points earned from Rapid Rewards partners not only includes the points you earn by spending on your Chase Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier Cards, but also includes the sign up bonuses on these cards. So if you can score 2 out of 3 of the card bonuses close together, you are almost at the 125,000 135,000 qualifying points. However, you can no longer have both personal Southwest Rapid Rewards cards at the same time, however, you can have one personal card and the business card whose bonuses will bring you very close (if not to) the required 135,000. This will be a method that I employ in the next few years when I am ready to travel to a Southwest airline destination. (um college visits on the horizon…)
The Companion Pass allows you to designate someone to fly with you on Southwest Airlines flights EVERY TIME that you purchase a ticket whether purchasing a ticket with dollars or points. You first book and purchase your flight in cash or points through Southwest Airlines and then book the Companion’s flight. Both you and your Companion must be booked on the same flights and dates. If you are an A-List or A-List Preferred Member, you will get the A-List benefits but the benefits will not be provided to the Companion unless they are an A-List member too.
Companion Pass qualification will be based on a calendar year. Once Companion Pass status is earned, you can begin using your Companion Pass immediately. You will maintain Companion Pass status for the remainder of the calendar year in which the status was earned and for the entire calendar year immediately following. (Earn it early in the year-for example apply for a card late in the year so you earn your sign-up bonus points early the following year)) To continue receiving Companion Pass privileges, you must requalify each calendar year.
