Southwest’s Companion Pass lets a designated companion fly with you for just taxes and fees, even when you book your own ticket with points. Two new credit card offers give you an 80,000- or 90,000-point head start, but you’ll need to apply by December 2 and be approved for the initial bonus to count under the transition rules. Neither bonus earns the pass on its own, and a pass earned this way expires at the end of 2027.