UPDATED: Southwest Companion Pass 2027: The Credit Card Shortcut Is Ending

The Brief

Southwest Airlines is making sweeping changes to its Rapid Rewards program beginning January 1, 2027, and travel hackers are losing one of the best deals in domestic travel.

For years, earning a Southwest Companion Pass through credit card signup bonuses has been a favorite strategy. By opening Southwest credit cards late in the year and earning the bonuses early the following year, travelers could secure nearly two years of companion travel.

That strategy is officially coming to an end.

Southwest is eliminating traditional Companion Pass qualifying points and replacing them with Tier Qualifying Points (TQPs). Credit card welcome bonuses will no longer count toward qualification under the new rules.

However, Southwest has announced a limited grandfathering provision for cards approved by December 2, 2026.

The catch? Even if your signup bonuses post in early 2027, the resulting Companion Pass will only be valid through December 31, 2027.

Let's look at what is changing, what opportunities remain, and whether Southwest credit cards are still worth pursuing.

The Offer: One Last Opportunity to Earn Companion Pass With Signup Bonuses

Southwest has confirmed that customers approved for a Southwest Rapid Rewards credit card on or before December 2, 2026, can still have their welcome bonuses count toward Companion Pass qualification.

This applies even if the required spending isn't completed until early 2027.

But there's an important distinction.

As Frequent Miler explains, these grandfathered bonuses will effectively count toward the 2026 qualification year, rather than the new 2027 program.

That means qualifying members receive a Companion Pass valid through December 31, 2027, even if they don't actually finish earning it until January or February 2027.

How the Old and New Strategies Compare

Bottom line: The traditional two-year Companion Pass strategy is dead, but there is still an opportunity to earn a pass for 2027.

Can Two Southwest Credit Cards Still Earn a Companion Pass?

Potentially, yes.

Under the existing 2026 rules, you need 135,000 Companion Pass qualifying points or 100 qualifying one-way flights.

Consider this example using an 80,000-point business card offer and a 50,000-point consumer card offer:

That would exceed the 135,000-point requirement without counting the points earned from minimum spending.

There is a new, targeted offer for 80k points on the Southwest Plus consumer card. Link Here to article.

Under Southwest's existing rules, an eligible cardholder receives one 10,000-point Companion Pass qualification boost per calendar year. New cardholders can receive the boost within 30 days of opening an account. The boost is not redeemable for flights.

There are two important considerations:

• The 10,000-point boost must be credited toward the relevant 2026 qualification year.
• Southwest's transition exception specifically addresses welcome bonuses. Don't assume ordinary spending points posting in 2027 will also be backdated to 2026.

Applicants should confirm that all necessary qualifying activity is properly credited before assuming they have earned Companion Pass.

Explore Southwest Rapid Rewards credit cards

The Benefits: What Changes in 2027?

Southwest isn't eliminating Companion Pass entirely. Instead, it's making the benefit part of its new elite status and milestone rewards structure.

New Companion Pass Qualification Requirements

Under the new program, earning 95,000 TQPs unlocks three companion trips. Each certificate can be used for a one-way or round-trip itinerary.

Reaching 140,000 TQPs earns Platinum status, which includes unlimited Companion Pass trips.

Credit Card Spending Still Counts, but Differently

Beginning January 1, 2027, Southwest Rapid Rewards credit cards will earn one TQP for every dollar spent on qualifying purchases.

This applies regardless of how many redeemable Rapid Rewards points a purchase earns.

For example:

A $5,000 purchase earning 3X Rapid Rewards points would produce:

• 15,000 redeemable Rapid Rewards points
• 5,000 Tier Qualifying Points

Those are two different earning calculations.

Additionally, Southwest has announced a special 2027 cardholder benefit: earn 130,000 TQPs and receive a one-time boost of 10,000 TQPs toward Platinum qualification.

That boost is separate from the existing 2026 Companion Pass qualification boost.

These Activities Will No Longer Count Toward Companion Pass

Under the new 2027 system, the following activities generally won't generate TQPs:

• Credit card welcome bonuses
• Credit card referral bonuses
• Anniversary bonus points
• Bonus points from spending categories
• Hotel and rental car partner points

These activities may continue earning redeemable Rapid Rewards points, but those points won't help you reach the new Companion Pass thresholds.

Existing Companion Pass Holders Are Protected

There's good news for travelers who have already earned a traditional Companion Pass.

Anyone qualifying under the 2026 rules retains unlimited companion travel through December 31, 2027.

Southwest has also confirmed that existing promotional Companion Pass offers will be honored according to their original terms.

The Summary: Is It Still Worth Applying for Southwest Credit Cards?

For travelers who regularly fly Southwest, particularly those living near major Southwest airports such as Las Vegas, Southwest credit cards can still offer meaningful value.

A strong business card signup bonus can be worthwhile even without Companion Pass. The points remain redeemable for Southwest flights, and cardholders may receive valuable flight discounts, checked baggage privileges, and other benefits.

But the value proposition is changing.

Previously, opening a business and consumer card could unlock nearly two years of companion travel. Now, even applicants who qualify for Southwest's grandfathering exception will receive a pass that expires at the end of 2027.

That's a significant reduction in value.

Our Take

We still see an opportunity for travelers who can qualify for strong Southwest credit card bonuses before the December 2 deadline.

However, we'd approach this differently than in previous years.

First, evaluate each card's signup bonus on its own merits. An attractive points bonus can have significant value without relying on Companion Pass.

Second, consider how often you'll realistically travel with a companion during 2027. For someone planning several Southwest trips, even a single year of Companion Pass benefits could provide substantial savings.

Finally, remember that December 2, 2026, is the approval deadline, not merely the application deadline.

We recommend allowing time for Chase to review an application or request additional information. Applying at the last minute introduces an avoidable risk.

For travelers who were hoping to earn Companion Pass for both 2027 and 2028 through credit card bonuses, that opportunity is gone.

The good news is that Companion Pass isn't disappearing. The bad news is that earning it without substantial flying or spending is about to become much more difficult.

Sources and Additional Reading

• Southwest Airlines: Official 2027 Companion Pass Changes
• Southwest Airlines: 2026-to-2027 Transition Rules
• Southwest Airlines: Rapid Rewards 2027 FAQs
• Frequent Miler: Major Southwest Changes Coming in 2027

Information updated October 19, 2026. Credit card offers and airline program terms are subject to change. Always review the current offer terms and qualification requirements before applying.