Southwest Airlines offers Rapid Rewards members who earn 110,000 Rapid Rewards points each year a Companion Pass, which essentially means you can bring along a travel partner with you free of charge on both paid and award flights.

Southwest has just made a change that will make earning their lucrative companion pass more difficult since now points converted from hotel and car loyalty programs will no longer count toward the status. It’s important to note there is no change to having credit card sign-up bonuses count toward the pass.

Per the Companion Pass Terms:

Companion Pass Qualifying Points are earned from revenue flights booked through Southwest Airlines, points earned on Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards Credit Cards, and base points earned from Rapid Rewards Partners.

Purchased points, transferred points transferred between members, points converted from hotel and car loyalty programs, and e-Rewards, e-Miles, Valued Opinions and Diners Club, points earned from program enrollment, tier bonus points, flight bonus points, and partner bonus points (with the exception of the Rapid Rewards Credit Cards from Chase) do not qualify as Companion Pass Qualifying Points. Points earned during a billing cycle on a Southwest Airlines 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.

Do you have a Southwest Companion Pass? Feel free to share your thoughts below!

Hat Tip: Dan’s Deals