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The worst reason to buy Southwest points is to reach the Companion Pass. Purchased points do not count toward it, so every dollar spent on that plan is wasted for that purpose. There are sound reasons to buy Rapid Rewards points, but this isn't one of them.

Here is what the pass requires, what does count, and when buying points is the right call.

What is the Companion Pass?

The Companion Pass is Southwest's best-known perk. Once you earn it, you can name a companion who can fly with you and pay only taxes on their ticket. It works whether you paid cash or used points for your own seat.

According to Frequent Miler, you earn it by collecting 135,000 qualifying Rapid Rewards points in a calendar year.

The word that trips people up is qualifying.

Why bought points do not help

Frequent Miler spells out what is excluded: purchased points, points transferred between members, and most bonus points. Points moved in from hotel programs or Chase Ultimate Rewards don't count either. One Mile at a Time says the same about purchased points.

So the plan to buy 30,000 points to get over the line fails. The points land in your account and can be spent on flights, but your Companion Pass progress does not move.

It is an expensive misunderstanding. At a 50% discount, 30,000 points cost $450. At the standard price of 3 cents each, they cost $900.

What does count

Frequent Miler lists the sources that qualify:

• Base points earned from paid Southwest flights.
• Points earned from spending on Southwest credit cards.
• Credit card welcome bonuses.
• Many partner activities.

Southwest credit cardholders also receive 10,000 Companion Pass qualifying points each year, and debit cardholders 7,500, according to the same guide. If you are close to the threshold, a paid flight or card spending can close the gap.

Is there any Companion Pass angle to buying points?

It's narrow, and it comes with a warning. If you already hold the pass, you can use points you buy to pay for your seat while your companion flies for taxes, stretching each point further. One Mile at a Time calculates that this could yield 2.2 to 3.0 cents of value per point.

The same writer says there is absolutely zero reason to do it, because booking a paid ticket and adding your companion works out better. The pass doubles the value of whatever you spend, cash included, and cash tickets earn points.

See your Rapid Rewards points offer.

Three more weak reasons to buy

To earn elite status

Buying points gets you points to spend. Do not expect it to move you toward A-List. Check the purchase terms in your account for what counts toward status.

Because the discount looks big

Southwest's standard price is 3 cents a point. One Mile at a Time reported a September 2 to October 2, 2026 sale with discounts of 35%, 45%, or 50% depending on the account. Even the best tier, 1.5 cents per point, is at the top of what a point typically earns. Frequent Miler's benchmark is 1.3 cents, and One Mile at a Time estimates 1.1 to 1.5 cents.

To pay for an entire trip

Southwest prices awards in line with cash fares. If a point is worth about 1.3 cents on your flight and you paid 1.5 cents for it, you have overpaid by roughly 15%. Paying the fare directly is cheaper and earns points that count toward the Companion Pass.

Top up your Rapid Rewards balance for your next flight.

The good reasons to buy

To close a small gap

You need 15,000 points and have 12,400. The sale applies to purchases of at least 3,000 points, which cost about $45 at 50% off. That turns a stranded balance into a ticket. This is the clearest case for buying.

To keep bookings flexible

Frequent Miler notes that award flights can be canceled with no fee up to 10 minutes before departure and that points are returned immediately. A canceled cash ticket becomes a travel credit instead. For a trip that might move, points are the more forgiving way to book.

To book for someone else

You can use your points to book flights for other people. That is usually smarter than transferring points to them, because Southwest charges a fee for transfers between members.

How to check before you pay

• Look up the flight. Note the cash fare and the points price.
• Divide the fare by the points to get your value per point.
• Compare with your cost per point at your discount tier.
• If you are only topping up, compare the purchase cost with the value of the points you already hold.

Details worth knowing

• You can buy up to 60,000 points a day, with no annual limit.
• Rapid Rewards points do not expire.
• Points.com processes the purchase, so your card does not treat it as airfare.
• Discounts vary by member. Your account may show a different tier than a friend's.

If your goal is the Companion Pass, fly and spend on a Southwest card. If your goal is to finish paying for a flight you are about to book, a small points purchase during a sale is reasonable. Keep the two apart, and you will not waste money.