What happened
Southwest still offers 90,000 bonus points on the Rapid Rewards Priority card after $3,000 in purchases in the first 3 months, and those points can still count toward Companion Pass through December 31, 2027. The Plus card offers 80,000 points after $1,000 in the same window. Annual fees are $229 on Priority and $99 on Plus. Applications must be in by December 2, 2026 and approved.
Applicants cannot currently hold a Southwest personal card or have received an initial bonus on one in the past 24 months. A 10,000-point cardholder boost can take 30 days to post, leaving 35,000 more qualifying points after Priority or 45,000 after Plus. Neither bonus alone hits the 135,000-point Companion Pass threshold. Purchase points generally must post in 2026 to count, and spend after a December statement closes usually posts in January.
Once earned, a companion flies for taxes and fees starting at $5.60 one-way. In 2027, unlimited Companion Pass becomes a Platinum elite benefit and initial card bonuses generally stop helping cardholders qualify. Apply for an eligible Southwest personal card by December 2, 2026 and plan extra 2026 qualifying activity to close the remaining gap.
- Ends
- Dec 2, 2026
- Travel by
- Dec 31, 2027
- Numbers
- 90,000 points: Priority card welcome bonus
- $3,000: Priority card minimum spend in the first 3 months
- $229: Priority card annual fee
- 80,000 points: Plus card welcome bonus
- $1,000: Plus card minimum spend in the first 3 months
- $99: Plus card annual fee
- 135,000 points: Companion Pass qualifying points needed in a calendar year
- 10,000 points: qualifying-point boost for Southwest credit card customers
- 35,000 points: qualifying points still needed after Priority bonus and cardholder boost
- 45,000 points: qualifying points still needed after Plus bonus and cardholder boost
- 3 months: window after account opening to meet welcome-bonus spend
- $5.60: starting one-way taxes and fees for a companion
- Links
- Program page Southwest Companion Pass page southwest.com
- Program page Southwest 2027 Rapid Rewards transition help southwest.com
- Takeaway
- If you want Companion Pass through the end of 2027 via a card bonus, apply for an eligible Southwest personal card by December 2, 2026, get approved, and plan extra 2026 qualifying activity to close the remaining points gap.