BA Travel Together Companion vs Southwest Companion Pass 2026: Which is more valuable?
Both BA and Southwest offer "companion" benefits. BA Travel Together Companion saves 145k Avios on a 2-passenger long-haul redemption. Southwest Companion Pass gives unlimited free companion travel for 18-24 months. Which is more valuable?
- Allows a second passenger to fly with you on a paid Avios award booking
- Pays only the taxes and fees for the companion (not Avios)
- Valid for 2 years from earning
- Limited to BA-marketed flights (not partner-airline awards)
Two of the most-leveraged "companion" benefits in points travel: British Airways Travel Together Companion and Southwest Companion Pass. They're structurally different — BA's saves miles on a paid Avios redemption (typically once-yearly aspirational); Southwest gives unlimited free companion travel for 18-24 months (typically domestic). Which is more valuable depends on your travel pattern.
The BA Travel Together Companion
Earned by spending $30,000 on the Chase British Airways Visa Signature card in a calendar year. The certificate:
- Allows a second passenger to fly with you on a paid Avios award booking
- Pays only the taxes and fees for the companion (not Avios)
- Valid for 2 years from earning
- Limited to BA-marketed flights (not partner-airline awards)
Practical example: 145,000-Avios round-trip US-Europe business class:
- Without Companion: 290,000 Avios for 2 passengers
- With Companion: 145,000 Avios for both passengers
- Savings: 145,000 Avios (typically valued at $2,000-$2,900 in cents-per-point)
The Southwest Companion Pass
Earned by accumulating 125,000 Rapid Rewards points within a calendar year. The pass:
- Allows unlimited free companion travel on Southwest for the rest of the calendar year and all of next
- Companion pays only $5.60 in taxes per ticket
- Typical earning: 2 Chase Southwest credit card sign-up bonuses (50-90k each) within a calendar year hits the threshold
- Valid for 18-24 months depending on when you earn it
Practical example: a couple flying Southwest 8 round-trips/year domestically:
- Without Companion Pass: ~$3,200/year in companion airfare
- With Companion Pass: ~$45/year in taxes (8 × $5.60 round-trip)
- Savings over 18 months: ~$5,000-$8,000 in cash equivalent
The math head-to-head
| Benefit | BA Travel Together | Southwest Companion Pass |
|---|---|---|
| Cash value (typical use) | \$2,000-\$2,900 per use (single use per certificate) | \$5,000-\$8,000+ per 18-24 months |
| Geographic coverage | BA-flight routes only (US-LHR + intra-Europe) | All Southwest routes (continental US, Caribbean, Mexico, Hawaii) |
| Required spending | \$30,000/year on BA card | \$10,000+/year on 2 Southwest cards (varies) |
| Frequency | Once per year if \$30k spend met | Every 2 calendar years if 125k earned in same calendar year |
| Best for | Aspirational long-haul couples | Frequent domestic + nearby international flyers |
The decision: which is more valuable
For most travelers, Southwest Companion Pass produces meaningfully more annual value than BA Travel Together — but only if you fly Southwest regularly. The break-even points:
Get points tips in your inbox
Fare alerts, points strategy guides, and exclusive sweet spots. No spam.
By subscribing you agree to receive emails from Pointify. Unsubscribe anytime.
- If you fly 4+ Southwest round-trips/year with a companion: Southwest Companion Pass is more valuable.
- If you book 1+ aspirational BA business class round-trip with companion every year: BA Travel Together is more valuable per redemption.
- If you fly mostly other airlines (not Southwest): BA Travel Together is the only relevant option.
- If your only domestic flying is via Southwest: Companion Pass clearly wins.
The card-stacking strategy
For travelers who can use both:
- Earn Southwest Companion Pass via 2 Chase Southwest cards (sign-up bonuses + spending)
- Earn BA Travel Together via Chase BA Visa Signature with $30k annual spend
- Use Companion Pass for domestic + Caribbean/Mexico travel
- Use BA Travel Together for aspirational US-Europe business class trips
Total annual fees: $69-$149 (Southwest cards) + $95 (BA card) = $263-$343. Annual value: $5,000-$10,000+ in saved travel costs.
Bottom line
For frequent Southwest flyers, Southwest Companion Pass is the most-leveraged single benefit in domestic US travel — $5,000-$8,000 annual value at $148-$298 in card fees. For travelers booking aspirational BA long-haul business class with a companion, BA Travel Together produces $2,000-$2,900 per redemption at $30,000 in qualifying spend. Most points-savvy travelers can earn both — Companion Pass via 2 Chase Southwest cards, BA Travel Together via the Chase BA Visa Signature.
Plan your companion-pass strategy on Pointify →
Last verified by the Pointify research team on May 1, 2026, against current Chase BA Visa Signature and Southwest Rapid Rewards card terms. Spending thresholds and benefit structures may shift; verify with Chase before relying on specific benefits.
About the author
Published
The Pointify team analyzes loyalty programs, fare data, and booking strategies across 300+ airlines and major award programs. Our goal: help you get maximum value from every point and mile.
Get points tips in your inbox
Fare alerts, points strategy guides, and exclusive sweet spots. No spam.
By subscribing you agree to receive emails from Pointify. Unsubscribe anytime.
Further Reading
The Chase 5/24 rule, explained: what it is and how to plan around it
The 5/24 rule is one of the most misunderstood gatekeepers in the points hobby. Here is what it actually counts, why it exists, how to check your own number, and how to sequence new cards so you never get blindsided by a denial.
Is your card's annual fee worth it? A yearly 5-minute audit
Every year your premium cards quietly renew and charge a fee. Here is a simple five-minute audit to decide whether each one still earns its keep, plus the underrated middle option most people forget: the product change.
The travel insurance hiding in your credit card: trip delay, baggage, rental
Premium travel cards quietly bundle real protections most cardholders never use — trip delay, lost baggage, rental car collision, no foreign fees. Here is what they commonly cover and how to actually file a claim.