# Southwest Companion Pass excludes card bonuses from January 1, 2027

_Oct 15 18:10_

Tags: Southwest, loyalty program, policy change, airline, promotion, program change

Type: Program change

## Summary

From January 1, 2027, Rapid Rewards points from Southwest credit card welcome bonuses will no longer count toward Companion Pass. Extra points from spend multipliers are excluded, so a 2x category bonus will contribute only the base 1x.

Anniversary points are carved out. Referral bonuses will not count either. Hotel and car bookings through partners will not help, and shopping portal earnings would seemingly be excluded too. The same activity can still deposit Rapid Rewards points but will not produce Tier Qualifying Points for Companion Pass. Southwest announced a broader loyalty overhaul the same day.

Southwest said 135,000 points posted by December 31, 2026 would still produce a Companion Pass valid through December 2027. After 2026 the Companion Pass becomes much harder to earn without flying or base card spend. Get remaining Southwest credit card signup bonuses posted to Rapid Rewards by December 31, 2026 to keep them counting toward Companion Pass.

## Key facts

- **Announced**: Oct 15, 2026
- **Starts**: Jan 1, 2027
- **Numbers**:
  - 135,000 points: example Rapid Rewards balance posted by 12/31/26 that would still earn a Companion Pass valid through December 2027
  - 2x multiplier: example credit-card category bonus that will no longer fully count toward Companion Pass
  - 1x multiplier: only the base earn rate from card spend will count toward Companion Pass
- **Who qualifies**: Rapid Rewards members seeking Companion Pass; credit card signup bonus points must post by December 31, 2026 to still count
- **Links**:
  - Offer page: [Companion Pass 2027 changes](https://www.southwest.com/rapid-rewards/2027/companion-pass-changes)
- **Takeaway**: Get any Southwest credit card signup bonus points posted to Rapid Rewards by December 31, 2026 if you want them to count toward a Companion Pass.

## Sources cited

- [Doctor of Credit](https://doctorofcredit.com/southwest-companion-pass-no-longer-earned-with-signup-bonus-points-starts-2027) — Southwest Companion Pass No Longer Earned With Signup Bonus Points (Starts 2027)

## Related signals

- [Southwest takes up to 25% off Rapid Rewards awards through November 9](https://thetravelsignal.com/s/southwest-award-sale-get-up-to-25-off-when-booking-with-rapid-rewards-points.md)
- [December 2 is the cutoff for Southwest bonuses toward Companion Pass](https://thetravelsignal.com/s/southwests-new-credit-card-bonuses-offer-up-to-90-000-points-toward-companion-pa.md)
- [Chase raises Southwest signup bonuses to 80,000-90,000 points](https://thetravelsignal.com/s/targeted-chase-southwest-plus-card-80-000-points-signup-bonus.md)
- [Southwest adds Platinum at 140,000 points on January 1, 2027](https://thetravelsignal.com/s/how-southwests-new-2027-elite-status-compares-to-american-delta-and-united.md)
- [Southwest will open 11 Icon Lounges from late 2027](https://thetravelsignal.com/s/southwest-will-open-11-airport-lounges-starting-in-2027-here-s-what-we-know.md)

Older: [Amex no longer auto-pools Membership Rewards on new cards](https://thetravelsignal.com/s/american-express-no-longer-automatically-pools-membership-rewards-points-from-ne.md)
Newer: [Southwest folds Companion Pass into Platinum at 140,000 TQPs](https://thetravelsignal.com/s/southwest-rapid-rewards-overhaul-new-elite-tiers-companion-pass-changes-partner.md)

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