Southwest Airways loyalists have run a convoluted course this yr, maintaining with every thing from major shifts in its baggage policies, boarding process, seat assignments and route networks to an overhaul of its cobranded credit cards.
However one fan-favorite facet has remained by means of the noise: the coveted Southwest Companion Pass, which is well the most effective offers in journey. This perk basically means that you can create your personal buy-one-get-one airfare voucher, letting you carry a accomplice, little one, mother or father or pal with you on your entire Southwest flights for simply the price of taxes and charges on their ticket.
Even in case you guide your flight with Speedy Rewards factors, your companion can nonetheless fly with you utilizing the Companion Cross.
This is what you should learn about timing Southwest bank card functions to make your Companion Cross last more.
The right way to completely time a Southwest Companion Cross
To earn a Companion Cross, you should earn 135,000 qualifying factors in a calendar yr.
When you acquire the Companion Cross, it is legitimate for the remainder of the yr through which you earn it, plus all the subsequent calendar yr.
That timing makes an enormous distinction. For instance:
- Earn it in November or December 2025, and it will be legitimate by means of the top of 2026.
- Earn it in Q1 of 2026, and it will final by means of December 2027, nearly two full years of two-for-one journey.
That is why the most effective technique is to begin incomes late this yr and have your qualifying factors submit early in 2026.
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What exercise counts towards the Companion Cross?
For the reason that various for incomes the Companion Cross requires taking 100 flights with Southwest, incomes it by means of factors is the quickest and best path for most individuals. Southwest defines what types of points activity count towards incomes the Companion Cross as:
The next don’t rely as qualifying exercise:
- Flight bonus factors
- Getaways by Southwest™ trip bookings
- New-member bonuses for becoming a member of Speedy Rewards
- Associate bonus factors aside from these earned with Southwest Airways cobranded playing cards
- Factors transformed from lodge and automobile rental loyalty applications, e-Rewards, Valued Opinions surveys or Diners Membership
- Factors purchases
- Points transferred between members
- Factors transferred from Chase Ultimate Rewards
- Reward journey
- Tier bonus factors
Southwest additionally notes that the Companion Cross is earned from factors posted to your account inside the similar calendar yr, so you should begin once more from zero on January 1 of every yr.
For that motive, it is crucial that bonus factors earned from Southwest card welcome bonuses submit to your account in early Q1 2026.
Now that you understand how the Companion Cross is earned, let’s dive into some high methods for qualifying — and learn how to maintain it for practically two years.
Associated: Got a new credit card? Here are 4 tips to help you earn your welcome bonus
Incomes the factors you should obtain the Companion Cross
Realizing you will not need to earn the Companion Cross till Q1 of 2026, the top of this yr is a superb time to begin planning your Southwest Companion Cross acquisition.
With the present bonus offers on Southwest credit cards, you could possibly apply for one private or enterprise Southwest card (or mix the non-public and business cards) to jump-start incomes the Companion Cross in 2026 and 2027.
Earn a Companion Cross with a Southwest private card
The present bonus on all three private playing cards:
The data for the Southwest Speedy Rewards Premier Credit score Card has been collected independently by The Factors Man. The cardboard particulars on this web page haven’t been reviewed or supplied by the cardboard issuer.
Every card permits new cardholders to earn 85,000 factors after spending $3,000 on purchases within the first three months from account opening. That welcome bonus will get you nicely over 50% of the best way towards the Companion Cross.
Plus, every card comes with 10,000 Companion Cross qualifying factors credited to your account inside 30 days from account opening. So when mixed with the welcome supply, you’d solely must earn 40,000 extra factors to earn a Companion Cross.
Associated: How to quickly earn the Southwest Companion Pass
Earn a Companion Cross with a Southwest enterprise card
When you’re a small-business proprietor, you could possibly contemplate making use of for considered one of Southwest’s enterprise playing cards:
You possibly can apply for each enterprise playing cards and earn the Companion Cross by means of their welcome bonuses, however pairing one private card and one enterprise card is the most cost effective and most effective method to hit the 135,000-point mark.
For instance, opening the Southwest Plus and Southwest Premier Enterprise playing cards and incomes each bonuses may internet you round 145,000 factors — sufficient to safe the Companion Cross — with a mixed $248 in annual charges.
Moreover, there are different methods to earn the remaining factors if you cannot open two playing cards, reminiscent of extra bank card spending, really flying on eligible Southwest fares and accomplice exercise; however the quickest method to earn a Companion Cross is by opening a Southwest enterprise card in tandem with a Southwest private card now in case you’re eligible.
Associated: Who qualifies for a business card
Technique for incomes the Southwest Companion Cross in 2026-2027
The quickest method to earn a Companion Cross is to open a Southwest private and enterprise card now. Their mixed welcome bonuses alone can earn you one.
Nevertheless, in case you’re unable to open each playing cards, going the non-public card route is your finest wager, as you’d earn no less than 95,000 qualifying factors (from the welcome supply and the ten,000 Companion factors increase), which might get you closest to incomes the Companion Cross.
No matter which route you go, you will need to start making use of for a Southwest card now.
It is vital to notice that transferred factors from playing cards that earn Chase Final Rewards, just like the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card (see rates and fees), to your Southwest Speedy Rewards account do not rely towards the Companion Cross.
Nevertheless, upon getting earned the Companion Cross, you may switch factors to Speedy Rewards from Chase to guide your Southwest award tickets and have your designated companion fly with you principally for no extra price.
Associated: How to redeem points with the Southwest Rapid Rewards program
Who’s eligible for a brand new Southwest bank card?
The eligibility guidelines for Southwest’s playing cards are fairly strict. The phrases state:
“The product is just not out there to both (i) present Cardmembers of any Southwest Speedy Rewards® Credit score Card, or (ii) earlier Cardmembers of any Southwest Speedy Rewards Credit score Card who obtained a brand new Cardmember bonus inside the final 24 months. This doesn’t apply to Cardmembers of the Southwest Speedy Rewards Enterprise Card and Worker Credit score Card merchandise.”
This implies that you may solely obtain the new-cardmember bonus on one Southwest private bank card inside a 24-month cycle, so you should definitely select the cardboard that gives the most effective bonus attainable. Additionally word that in case you at present have any open Southwest private bank cards, you will not be eligible for these presents.
In the meantime, the enterprise card eligibility guidelines aren’t as strict as these of the non-public Southwest playing cards. The enterprise card restrictions state:
“This new Cardmember bonus supply is just not out there to both (i) present Cardmembers of this enterprise bank card, or (ii) earlier Cardmembers of this enterprise bank card who obtained a brand new Cardmember bonus for this enterprise bank card inside the final 24 months.”
This implies you may’t have earned a bonus on the Southwest enterprise card you are making use of for up to now 24 months, and you can also’t at present maintain the Southwest enterprise card you are making use of for, however you may apply for the opposite one.
Nevertheless, keep in mind that you may earn a bonus from a small-business bank card and a private bank card from Southwest in the identical calendar yr to get nearer to acquiring a Companion Cross. Alternatively, you could possibly get two small-business card bonuses; you simply cannot get two private playing cards.
And remember about Chase’s 5/24 rule. When you’ve opened 5 or extra new private bank cards throughout any card issuers within the final 24 months, you will possible be denied in case you apply for a Southwest card.
Associated: Do I need a business to get a business credit card?
Backside line
Now’s the time to lock in your Southwest Companion Cross technique. By making use of for one private and one enterprise Southwest card earlier than the yr ends — and timing your spend so welcome bonuses submit in early 2026 — you may safe practically two full years of two-for-one journey by means of the top of 2027.
And in case you want to begin smaller, even one private card can get you a lot of the method there and each level you earn after that strikes you even nearer.
Apply right here: Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus Credit Card
Be taught extra: Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier Credit Card
Apply right here: Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card
Apply right here: Southwest Rapid Rewards Performance Business Credit Card
Apply right here: Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier Business Credit Card