The requirements are standard for all people. You have to earn the 110,000 points during a single calendar year to achieve a companion pass. Most people do this by getting both a SW Plus and Premier credit card when the 50,000 point promotion is offered. When meeting the required $2,000 spend for each card you'll have earned 104,000 points. The remaining 6,000 points can be earned via spend (manufactured or actual), shopping bonus points, and/or flights, car rentals, or hotel stays booked via SW. The companion pass is active for the remainder of the calendar year in which it's earned and for the entire following calendar year. Obviously the earlier in the calendar year you can earn the pass is optimum, particularly if you have planned flights.