Earn the Southwest Companion Pass in 2026

In this Hurdy Gurdy Travel Podcast episode, Justin sits down with Max Craig from Points to the Max to break down exactly how to earn and maximize the Southwest Companion Pass for 2026.

We cover the best timing for points, which cards to open (and when), stacking strategies, and what recent program tweaks mean for your plan.

Whether you’re brand-new to points or already flying regularly, you’ll get a practical, step-by-step gameplan to secure the companion pass and squeeze maximum value from it, plus intel on routes, hubs, and event meetups to level up your travel.

What you’ll learn

The cleanest timeline to lock the 2026 Southwest Companion Pass

Which credit cards to consider and how to sequence them

Points vs. flights: the math to qualify efficiently

Recent Southwest program changes (and what still works)

Hubs, routes, and positioning strategies

Opportunity cost: when not to chase it

Chapters

00:00 Intro

00:45 Meet Max Craig (Points to the Max)

02:50 Companion Pass, explained (eligibility & value)

04:49 Credit-card strategy & timing for 2026

06:10 What changed at Southwest (and what didn’t)

07:49 Qualifying: points vs. flight segments

11:22 App strategy: rules, pacing, and denials

23:35 Events, meetups, and community resources

28:47 Music City Miles & Points shoutouts

29:37 Frequent Traveler University notes

30:33 Fine print of the Companion Pass

32:55 Hubs, routes, positioning flights

34:53 Opportunity cost & alternative plays

43:10 Program benefits recap & pitfalls to avoid

43:36 Where to find Max (site & socials)

45:31 Trip planning tips & closing thoughts

51:31 Outro

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