Southwest Companion Pass
Earn 135,000 qualifying points in a calendar year and a companion flies free with you (taxes only) on every Southwest flight for the rest of that year plus the next full year.
Why this redemption is worth chasing
3.7¢ per point beats the 1¢ baseline you'd get from cash-back redemptions by a significant margin. The cash ticket runs around $5,000 for economy class, a good return on 135,000 points. Worth doing when you have the miles and a flexible date.
How to earn 135,000 Southwest Rapid Rewards points
Southwest Rapid Rewards accepts transfers from these credit cards. One sign-up bonus from any of them gets you most or all of the way to this redemption.
How to book this redemption
Confirm award space before you transfer. Transfers are usually irreversible, and award costs here are published-pricing estimates.
- 1Confirm award space first. Southwest Airlines award seats can disappear in minutes. Search for the specific dates you want directly on the Southwest Rapid Rewards website (or use our sweet-spot library to compare programs side-by-side first).
- 2Earn or transfer the points. If you don't already have 135,000 Southwest Rapid Rewards points, transfer from a flexible bank-points card (e.g. Chase Sapphire Preferred, Chase Sapphire Reserve). Transfers usually complete within minutes.
- 3Book immediately after the transfer lands. Award seats can vanish between your transfer and your booking. Have the search results open when you transfer.
- 4Pay any fuel surcharges or taxes. Most awards carry $50-$300 in cash fees on top of the miles. Check the estimate before you transfer, it should still be a fraction of the cash ticket.
Common questions
- How many points do you need to fly Southwest Airlines economy class to North America?
- 135,000 Southwest Rapid Rewards points one-way for economy class on Southwest Airlines. Cash equivalent runs around $5,000, putting this redemption at roughly 3.7 cents per point.
- Is 135,000 Southwest Rapid Rewards points a good redemption?
- Yes, at 3.7¢ per point this beats the typical 1¢ baseline by 270%. It's a solid redemption that beats most cash-back alternatives.
- What credit cards transfer to Southwest Rapid Rewards?
- Southwest Rapid Rewards accepts transfers from major flexible-points programs. Check the program's transfer partners on each bank's portal. Chase Ultimate Rewards, Amex Membership Rewards, Citi ThankYou, Capital One Miles, and Bilt Rewards each partner with different airline programs.
- When should I transfer points to Southwest Rapid Rewards?
- Transfer only after you've confirmed award space on the specific date you want. Transfers are non-reversible. Southwest Rapid Rewards can devalue their award chart at any time, so if you have the points and the seat is available, book the same day you transfer.
Award pricing is set by Southwest Rapid Rewards and can change with little notice. The 135,000-point figure reflects the most recent published award chart we've verified. Confirm current pricing and availability inside your Southwest Rapid Rewards account before transferring, transfers are non-reversible.