Southwest Making Changes to Rapid Rewards Program, Companion Pass Goes Up to 135K

Southwest sent out emails this morning to Rapid Reward members with information about upcoming changes to the loyalty program. One of the main changes is that the Companion Pass is getting more expensive once again. But, Rapid Rewards Credit Cardmembers will receive a boost of 10,000 Companion Pass qualifying points every year to make up for it.

Here are the changes that were announced in the email:

• Companion Pass holders can now board together with their Companions (unless the Companion Pass holder purchased a Business Select® fare, purchased Upgraded Boarding, or added the Companion after they had been assigned a boarding position).
• We’re increasing the points required to earn Companion Pass benefits from 125,000 to 135,000 qualifying points in a calendar year.  As a new benefit, Rapid Rewards Credit Cardmembers will receive a boost of 10,000 Companion Pass qualifying points every year.
• When you book Wanna Get Away® or Wanna Get Away Plus™ travel with your Rapid Rewards points, if your plans change and you want a points refund, you must cancel the reservation at least 10 minutes before the flight’s original scheduled departure time. Failure to cancel the trip 10 minutes before scheduled departure will result in forfeited points, starting summer 2023.

If you’re looking to earn more Companion Pass qualifying points, there are increased bonuses for personal Southwest credit cards.

Requalifying for Companion Pass

To requalify for your Companion Pass® you’ll need to fly 100 qualifying one-way flights or earn 125,000 qualifying points in a calendar year. And beginning January 1, 2023, you’ll need to earn 135,000 Companion Pass qualifying points or fly 100 qualifying one-way flights in a calendar year to requalify.

Companion Pass qualifying points are earned from revenue flights booked through Southwest®, points earned on Southwest Rapid Rewards® Credit Cards, and base points earned from Rapid Rewards® partners. Points earned during a billing cycle on a Southwest Rapid Rewards Credit Card from Chase are not available for redemption or qualification for Companion Pass status until they are posted on your billing statement and posted to your Rapid Rewards account. Only points posted on your billing statements and posted to your Rapid Rewards account during the same calendar year are available for qualification for Companion Pass status.

When a Member opens a Rapid Rewards Credit Card after the first business day of the calendar year, they will receive one boost of 10,000 Companion Pass qualifying points up to 30 days after opening the Rapid Rewards Credit Card. Only one boost of 10,000 Companion Pass qualifying points can be earned each calendar year by each Rapid Rewards account no matter how many Rapid Rewards Credit Cards are open for the Rapid Rewards account. Eligible Members will see the boost added to their Rapid Rewards account by logging in to their account on Southwest.com®. The Companion Pass Qualifying Points boost cannot be used for redemption.

The following do not count as Companion Pass qualifying points: purchased points; points transferred between Members; points converted from hotel and car loyalty programs, e-Rewards®, Valued Opinions, and Diners Club®; points earned from Rapid Rewards program enrollment; tier bonus points; flight bonus points; and partner bonus points (with the exception of the Rapid Rewards Credit Cards from Chase). 

No points nor tier or Companion Pass qualifying points will be awarded for flights taken by the Companion when flying on a Companion Pass reservation.

Learn more about the Southwest Companion Pass here.