Start with the Companion Pass tracker, then check when your remaining points will post. Buying points won’t fill a gap, two people can’t combine their earnings, and December points won’t join January points to meet one year’s target. Those three mistakes can undo an otherwise workable plan.
Six earning mistakes
- Using your redeemable balance as the qualification total. Check the dedicated Companion Pass tracker.
- Buying or transferring points to fill a gap. These can fund redemptions, but don’t qualify.
- Combining two people’s points. Each individual must meet the target in their own account.
- Counting the annual credit boost twice. It’s one per eligible member, including when several Southwest cards are held.
- Assuming every partner bonus qualifies. Read the exact offer; general promotional bonuses are often excluded.
- Forgetting returns and fees. Net eligible purchases matter, and an annual fee doesn’t count as qualifying purchase spend.
Three timing mistakes
- Triggering a bonus in December when you wanted January. Track pending transactions, recurring bills and all authorized-user spending.
- Waiting until the last days of the year. Rewards can take weeks to post. The purchase date alone isn’t enough.
- Missing the welcome-offer deadline. Your timing plan still needs to leave enough time to meet the offer’s spending requirement.
Use your real statement dates and keep a buffer. A forum formula for changing a payment date isn’t proof of how your next statement will close.
Three booking mistakes
- Assuming a primary booking reserves the companion’s seat. The companion must be added separately while space is available.
- Assuming “free” means no remaining charges. Taxes, fees and applicable extras can still apply. International taxes may be considerably higher than the domestic starting point.
- Using an expired playbook. Recheck assigned seats, bag allowances, Basic fare restrictions and promotional-pass dates.
If the points didn’t arrive when you expected
Look at your card statement, Rapid Rewards activity and Companion Pass tracker together. Note the amounts and dates. An email saying you earned a bonus doesn’t mean Southwest has received the points yet.
If points are missing, wait the stated posting period, then contact the issuer or partner through its missing-points process. If they posted in the wrong year for your plan, recalculate what you still need. Customer service generally can’t move correctly posted points into a different year.
Before spending more to catch up, compare the new cost with the tickets you’d save on. It may be cheaper to postpone the pass and buy those tickets.
Sources for this chapter
Last checked October 4, 2026.
- Southwest: 2026 year-end qualification and posting guide
- Southwest: Rapid Rewards program terms
- Southwest: Companion Pass overview and qualifications
- Chase: Performance Business card and offer terms
- Community perspective: r/churning Companion Pass wiki