How Cheer Parents Can Fly Smarter: Why December is the Best Time to Earn the Southwest Companion Pass

Let’s be real, cheer parents: between booking flights, paying for hotels, and ensuring your athlete’s uniform hasn’t disappeared into the cheer bag abyss, competition season can drain your wallet and your sanity. But what if I told you there’s a way to save thousands on flights and look like a travel genius in the process? Enter the Southwest Companion Pass, aka the golden ticket of travel rewards.

And guess what? December is the time to make it happen. 

What is the Southwest Companion Pass, and Why Should You Care?

Imagine this: every time you book a flight, your cheerleader flies with you for free (well, you still pay the mandatory $5.60 TSA fee, because alas, nothing is truly free in life). Whether you pay for your ticket with cash or points, your companion’s ticket is on the house.

Here’s the kicker: the pass is valid for the rest of the year you earn it plus the entire next year. So, if you time it right (spoiler: now), you could have a nearly two-year free pass to every competition—and maybe even a few vacations, if cheer ever leaves room for those.

Why December is the Magic Month

The trick to earning the Companion Pass is racking up 135,000 qualifying points in a calendar year. And before you faint at the number, hear me out: the easiest way to do this is by opening two Chase Southwest credit cards (one personal, one business) and scoring their welcome bonuses in early 2025.

Here’s the play-by-play:

1. Apply for the cards in December.
2. Hit the spending requirements in January or February, so those juicy points hit your account early in the year.
3. Bask in the glow of a Companion Pass that’s good for almost two full years.

This timing maximizes your travel savings because you’ll get the pass for the rest of 2025 and all of 2026.

Which Cards Do You Need?

Southwest offers a few personal and business card options, and they’re all solid picks. My go-to combo is:

• A personal Southwest card (like the Rapid Rewards® Plus, with a $69 annual fee)
• A business Southwest card (like the Premier Business Card—don’t worry, you don’t need to own a Fortune 500 company to qualify).

Together, these cards give you a big chunk of the points you need, leaving just a little extra to earn. (I’ll earn a small commission if you’re approved, so thank you for helping keep this blog running!)

How to Hit the Spending Requirements Without Breaking a Sweat

Meeting the minimum spend for the welcome bonuses doesn’t have to feel like scaling a pyramid (leave that to the cheerleaders). Here’s how you can do it:

1. Everyday Spending: Groceries, gas, and even holiday shopping (hello, December!) count.
2. Cheer Travel Costs: Flights, hotels, and meals will rack up points fast.
3. Use My Cheer Budget Tools: Download a Cheer Budget Workbook to track every cent and make sure you don’t overspend—because no one needs post-holiday buyer’s remorse.

Why Southwest’s Flexible Booking Policy is Every Cheer Parent’s Secret Weapon

One of the many reasons Southwest Airlines is a cheer parent's best friend (aside from the Companion Pass, of course) is their flexible rebooking policy. Unlike other airlines that charge hefty fees to make changes, Southwest allows you to rebook your flights if the fare drops—and you’ll get the difference refunded in points or cash.

Here’s how it works:

 

1. Keep an Eye on Prices: After you book your flight, check Southwest's website or app regularly to see if the fare has dropped.
2. Rebook Online: If the price goes down, log in to your account, select your flight, and choose the “Change Flight” option. Pick the same flight at the new, lower price.
3. Get a Refund in Points: If you booked your flight with points, the difference will automatically be refunded to your Rapid Rewards account. If you paid in cash, the difference will be refunded as a travel credit. The travel credit can only be used by the person who was originally booked, but points are 100% flexible and can be used for anybody! Another great reason to bank a bunch of Southwest points.

Why This Matters for Cheer Travel

Let’s say you book your flight six months ahead of a competition to lock in a good price. A few weeks before the event, Southwest has a sale and your flight drops by 5,000 points. By rebooking, you’ll get those points back—no hassle, no fees. And if you’re using the Southwest Companion Pass, you get double the savings, double the cheer parent joy.

December: The Month of Savings (and Holiday Cheer, Too)

Let’s face it: as cheer parents, we’re always looking for ways to save money and stay ahead of the chaos. Opening Southwest cards in December is a no-brainer. With a little planning, you can secure nearly two years of free flights for your athlete—and maybe treat yourself to a guilt-free coffee at the airport.

Ready to apply? Click here to get started.

And don’t forget to grab one of our Cheer Budget Workbooks to keep everything organized. Because if there’s one thing cheer parents love even more than sparkly bows, it’s saving money.

Happy travel hacking! 🎉