southwest travel companion promotion

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The Ultimate Guide to the Southwest Companion Pass [2024]

Katie Seemann

Senior Content Contributor and News Editor

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Keri Stooksbury

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Table of Contents

What is the southwest companion pass, how to earn the southwest companion pass, how to use the southwest companion pass, final thoughts.

We may be compensated when you click on product links, such as credit cards, from one or more of our advertising partners. Terms apply to the offers below. See our  Advertising Policy for more about our partners, how we make money, and our rating methodology. Opinions and recommendations are ours alone.

Key Takeaways

• The Southwest Companion Pass allows a designated companion to fly with you for free (excluding taxes and fees) on any Southwest flight.
• Earn the pass by accumulating 135,000 qualifying points or flying 100 qualifying one-way flights in a calendar year.
• The pass is valid for the remainder of the year it’s earned and the following year.

The Southwest Companion Pass is one of the best deals available in the world of travel. While it’s not a fit for everyone, if you are a frequent Southwest Airlines flyer, it can save you a significant amount of money on flights.

This pass allows you to add a companion to any Southwest Airlines ticket for just the cost of the taxes and fees. Even better, if you time it right, you can get this perk for almost 2 full years.

Since Southwest has expanded its network, you can use the Companion Pass to get to popular vacation destinations like Hawaii and international locations including Mexico and the Caribbean.

If you’re intrigued by the Southwest Companion Pass, you’re in the right place. In this post, we’ll show you exactly what it is and more importantly, how to get one so you can save big bucks on your next flight.

The Southwest Airlines Companion Pass is the highest-level award that a member of the Rapid Rewards loyalty program can achieve. It allows you to essentially get unlimited buy-one-get-one-free tickets for up to 2 years. All you pay for are the taxes and fees for the second ticket.

While the Southwest Companion Pass is considered elite status by some, it’s not actually a status level and doesn’t include any Southwest Airlines elite status benefits. Southwest has 2 elite status levels, A-List and A-List Preferred, that are earned separately from the Companion Pass.

You can earn both a Southwest Companion Pass and A-List/A-List Preferred status but the benefits don’t cross over.

How Does the Southwest Companion Pass Work?

The Southwest Companion Pass allows you to add a companion to any Southwest ticket . All you need to do is pay the taxes and fees for the companion which are $5.60 for a one-way flight within the U.S. ($11.20 round-trip). Taxes and fees are higher on international flights , averaging ~$75 each way.

The companion can be added to any ticket as long as there is a seat available. The original ticket can be purchased with cash or points and the available seat doesn’t have to be in the same fare class as the original ticket.

For example, if you purchase a Wanna Get Away fare and want to add a companion later but there are only Business Select fares available, you’d still be able to add your companion even though the original ticket was a Wanna Get Away fare.

It’s best to add your companion at the time of booking to ensure a seat is available, but it’s not required. A companion can be added at any time, as long as Southwest has a seat for sale.

Bottom Line: The Southwest Companion Pass allows you to add a companion for just the cost of the taxes and fees ($5.60 one-way on a domestic ticket) to any and every flight you take while you have the pass. It can be used an unlimited number of times and works on tickets purchased both in points or cash.

Rapid Rewards members can earn a Southwest Companion Pass in 2 ways:

• Fly 100 qualifying one-way flights in a calendar year
• Earn 135,000 qualifying points in a calendar year

Once you qualify for the Companion Pass, it is valid for the remainder of the calendar year in which you earn it and the entire next calendar year.

That means if you can earn a Companion Pass in January, you’ll have it for almost 2 full years. If you earn your Companion Pass in December, you only get to keep it for about 1 year.

As you can see, timing is critical when earning a Companion Pass. The earlier in the year you can earn it, the longer the pass is good for.

Another important thing to know about the Southwest Companion Pass is that once you earn the required 135,000 points, you’ll still have those points in your account to use for flights. You don’t have to “buy” the Companion Pass with points. It simply activates as soon as you earn 135,000 points in a calendar year.

Bottom Line: You’ll get a Southwest Companion Pass after earning 135,000 qualifying points or flying 100 qualifying one-way flights in a calendar year. It’s valid for the remainder of the year in which you earn it and the next calendar year.

Earning the Southwest Companion Pass With Credit Cards

The easiest way to earn the Southwest Companion Pass is through credit card welcome bonuses earned by meeting minimum spending requirements. That’s because you’ll earn large chunks of qualifying points at 1 time and because as a Southwest credit cardholder, you’ll get a yearly 10,000-point boost toward Companion Pass Qualification.

The 10,000-point boost only counts toward Companion Pass qualification — they are not redeemable Rapid Rewards points.

Chase offers the following Southwest Airlines co-branded credit cards :

This card focuses on the Southwest traveler with anniversary points, travel credit, upgrades, and money back on inflight purchases.

The Southwest Rapid Rewards ® Priority Credit Card is the most premium personal Southwest card offering from Chase. When you peel back the curtain, it is easy to see why.

Not only does the card offer multiple bonus categories to help you earn more Southwest Rapid Rewards points, but it is also loaded with benefits that are sure to offer quite a bit of value to Southwest flyers.

Here is a full overview of the card to help you decide if it is a good fit for your wallet.

• 3x points per $1 on Southwest purchases
• 2x points per $1 on local transit and commuting, including rideshare purchases
• 2x points per $1 on internet, cable, phone services, and select streaming purchases
• $149 annual fee
• Does not earn transferable points
• Earn 50,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
• 7,500 anniversary points each year.
• Earn 3X points on Southwest ® purchases.
• Earn 2X points on local transit and commuting, including rideshare.
• Earn 2X points on internet, cable, and phone services; select streaming.
• $75 Southwest ® travel credit each year.
• No foreign transaction fees.
• Member FDIC
• APR: 21.49% - 28.49% Variable
• Foreign Transaction Fees:  None

Southwest Rapid Rewards Frequent Flyer Program

Earn Southwest points on every purchase, plus anniversary points, Tier Qualifying Points, and points toward the Companion Pass!

Another week, another flight. Flying weekly can get tiring, but you know that every flight gets you closer to taking some great vacations with your significant other or your favorite travel buddy.

To save money on the flights, you like to use Southwest Airlines.

So why not get the Southwest Rapid Rewards ® Premier Credit Card to help you earn extra Rapid Rewards points?

• 2x points per $1 on Rapid Rewards hotel and car rental partners
• 2x points per $1 on local transit and commuting, including rideshares
• $99 annual fee
• Does not earn transferable rewards
• Earn 75,000 bonus points after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
• 6,000 anniversary points each year.
• Earn 3X points on Southwest ®  purchases.
• 2 EarlyBird Check-In ®  each year.
• Foreign Transaction Fees:  $0

This card makes it easy to earn unlimited points and qualify for the Southwest Companion Pass.

If you spend a lot of time in the air, it’s important to get a great deal on your plane tickets.

Southwest Airlines can help you get those deals.

One way to save is by using the Southwest Rapid Rewards ® Plus Credit Card . This card helps you earn points for all your spending, and earning more reward points is always a good thing for a busy traveler!

• 2x points per $1 on Southwest purchases
• 2x points per $1 on internet, cable, phone services, and select streaming
• $69 annual fee
• 3,000 anniversary points each year.
• Earn 2X points on Southwest ® purchases.
• 2 EarlyBird Check-In ® each year.
• Earn 1 point for every $1 spent on all other purchases.

Additionally, there are 2 Southwest co-branded business card options:

• Southwest ® Rapid Rewards ® Performance Business Credit Card
• Southwest ® Rapid Rewards ® Premier Business Credit Card

Southwest Credit Card Rules

You should be able to earn a Companion Pass, or come very close, by earning 2 welcome bonuses (after meeting minimum spending requirements). Since you can’t have 2 personal Southwest co-branded credit cards at once, this needs to be done by opening 1 personal Southwest card and 1 business Southwest card.

Hot Tip: Qualifying for a business credit card may be easier than you think. Your business doesn’t need to be big to qualify for a credit card. Many small businesses, such as selling items on eBay, running a blog, or driving for Uber, can allow you to apply for business credit cards.

If you’ve had a Southwest credit card in the past or currently have one, you’ll need to determine how long it’s been since you’ve earned a new cardmember bonus. You’ll only be eligible for a Southwest credit card welcome offer if you don’t currently hold a Southwest card and it’s been more than 24 months since you’ve earned a bonus.

These rules apply separately to personal and business cards. For example, if you currently hold a Southwest business credit card and earned a bonus within the past 24 months, you’re still eligible to earn a bonus on a Southwest personal card and vice versa.

Timing Your Credit Card Bonuses

To get the most out of your Southwest Companion Pass it’s important to time your qualification correctly. Since the Companion Pass is valid for the rest of the calendar year in which you earn it and the entire following calendar year, you’ll get the most use out of it if you earn it early in the calendar year .

If you’re planning to earn most of your points through credit card welcome offers, you’ll want to ensure those points post as early in the year as possible.

Of course, you can wait until January 1 to apply for your new credit cards, but if you want to get a head start, you can apply for the credit cards in November or December. Start spending on the cards right away but don’t finish the minimum spend requirement until January 1. That way, after meeting your minimum spending requirement, your welcome points will post in January and you’ll have a Companion Pass for almost 2 years.

Other Ways To Earn 135,000 Qualifying Points

Earning the Southwest Companion Pass from credit cards is just one way to do it, but there are lots of other ways to earn the required 135,000 qualifying points:

• Revenue flights
• Partner hotel stays
• Partner car rentals
• Spending on Southwest-branded credit cards (based on when the points post to your account)
• Southwest credit card referral bonuses
• Rapid Rewards Dining (based on dining date)
• Rapid Rewards shopping portal (based on purchase date)

Southwest has additional partners and the base points you earn from these partners do count toward Companion Pass qualification:

• 1-800-Flowers.com (based on purchase date)
• Energy Plus (based on posting date)
• Harry & David (based on purchase date)
• Laithwaite’s Wine (based on purchase date)
• Make It Count – Marathon (based on posting date)
• NRG Home (based on posting date)
• Rocketmiles (based on the date of stay)
• Reliant Energy (based on posting date)
• Xoom (based on posting date)

You’ll notice some points qualify in the year they are posted and some points qualify based on the purchase date. This can be very important if you’re trying to qualify at the end of a calendar year.

For example, if you’re 5,000 points short in December so you do some extra spending on your credit card, those points won’t count unless they post in December. If they post in January they would count toward the next year’s qualification.

Hot Tip: The Southwest Companion Pass will be awarded as soon as you earn the required 135,000 Rapid Rewards points. You can then use those points to purchase tickets — you don’t have to cash them out to get the Companion Pass!

What Points Don’t Count Toward Southwest Companion Pass Qualification?

Here’s a look at the points that do not qualify for Southwest Companion Pass status:

• Flight bonus points
• Gifted points
• Partner bonus points
• Partner program transfers
• Points transferred from Chase Ultimate Rewards
• Promotion bonus points (except for credit card welcome and referral bonuses)
• Purchased points
• Tier bonus points
• Transferred points

How To Check Your Southwest Companion Pass Qualifying Points Balance

If you aren’t sure how many Companion Pass qualifying points you currently have, you can check your balance in your online account. First, click on View Details underneath your points total. Then choose the year you want to see and filter the list by Companion Pass Qualifying Points .

Designating and Changing Your Companion

Once you’ve earned your Companion Pass, the first thing you need to do is to choose your official companion.

Southwest allows you to select any 1 person to be your companion at any given time, and you can change that person up to 3 times a year, for a maximum of 4 companions over the course of the year.

You’ll be able to designate your initial companion online, but you’ll need to call Southwest at 800-435-9792 to change your companion. The first companion needs to be removed from any future reservations before a second companion can be designated.

According to the Southwest website, changing your companion can take up to 21 business days to process, however, in practice, it happens almost instantly most of the time.

Using your Southwest Companion Pass is incredibly easy.

First, you’ll need to book your ticket as you usually would. It can be purchased with points or cash and can be for any fare category (Wanna Get Away, Wanna Get Away Plus, Anytime, or Business Select).

Once your ticket is booked, you can add your companion either through Southwest.com or via phone.

On the website, you will see a place to click that says Add Companion . This is located just below your flight information, next to the links to cancel or change your flight. Simply click the button and enter the required information to add your companion. You’ll also need to pay the taxes at this point, which will be $5.60 for a one-way domestic trip.

To add a companion over the phone, just call reservations and let the representative know you will be using your Companion Pass to add another passenger to your flight.

Your companion can be added up until the time of the flight, as long as there are still seats for sale. This is true even if the price has gone up since you bought your ticket.

After you add a companion, you’ll see the companion confirmation number (which will be different from the original ticket) with your flight information.

Since your companion will have a different confirmation number, you’ll both have to check in for your flight separately. This can result in different boarding positions , which can potentially make sitting together more difficult.

If you want to ensure you’re sitting next to your companion on the plane, you may want to consider purchasing EarlyBird Check-In or using an Upgraded Boarding pass from the Southwest Priority card and Southwest Performance Business card .

There are some additional rules for Companion Pass tickets that you’ll want to keep in mind:

• Your companion must be ticketed and travel on the same flight as you
• If you change your flight, you must also change your companion’s flight
• If you cancel your flight , your companion’s flight will also be canceled
• The companion ticket is not considered to be a paid ticket, and therefore cannot have another companion added
• The companion ticket doesn’t earn points
• There are no blackout dates for Companion Pass tickets

How To Change a Companion Pass Flight

If you need to make a change to a flight that includes a companion, you can do it in 1 of 2 ways. You can call Southwest to make the change, or you can make the change online. To change a ticket that includes a companion online, you’ll first need to cancel the companion ticket. Then you can make a change to the original ticket and add the companion back once the change is made.

The Southwest Companion Pass is one of the best deals in travel. It allows you to add a companion for just the cost of the taxes and fees on any Southwest flight for up to 2 years.

To earn a Companion Pass you need to earn 135,000 qualifying points in a year or fly 100 one-way flights. Thankfully, credit card welcome offers are considered qualifying points, so earning a Companion Pass may be easier than you think.

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Watch CBS News

Southwest brings back Companion Pass buy-one, get-one-free promotion

By Megan Cerullo

Edited By Anne Marie Lee

Updated on: September 4, 2024 / 11:25 PM EDT / CBS News

When Southwest Airlines members purchase tickets for themselves, a friend can fly for free, under the carrier's renewed Companion Pass promotion, the airline said Thursday. 

The popular deal is back this month for a limited time, and is only available to Rapid Rewards members who purchase, or redeem points for airline tickets. It's effectively a buy-one, get-one-free promo for air travel. 

"We love offering this Companion Pass promotion because it allows our members to experience one of the many benefits of our award-winning Rapid Rewards program," Southwest Vice President of Marketing Jennifer Bridie said in a statement. 

It's the first time members can use their Rapid Rewards points, in addition to cash, and be eligible for the promotion, Bridie added. 

How can I qualify?

You must be a Rapid Rewards member to qualify for the promotion, and register to access it. Members must book flights between September 3-5, for travel by Nov. 20. Then, a companion can fly with you for free between Jan. 6, 2025, and Mar. 6, 2025. Successful registrants will receive an email letting them know they've qualified for the promotion, the airline said. 

You can designate your "companion" once you receive your promotional pass, and can change the friend or family member with whom you wish to travel up to three times, according to Southwest. 

Typically, you must earn 135,000 points or book 100 flights within a calendar year to qualify for the deal. But the limited-time promotion lets you earn a companion pass by booking a single round-trip flight.

Southwest is admired for promotions like these that appeal to budget-conscious travelers. The airline, for example, provides plus-size passengers who need more than one seat with an extra airline seat free of charge. Such passengers are instructed to purchase two seats, and then request a refund for the cost of the additional spot. 

In July, the airline ended its open-seating system, marking a major shake-up of one of its signature policies. Southwest will begin selling tickets with assigned seats beginning in 2025. 

Megan Cerullo is a New York-based reporter for CBS MoneyWatch covering small business, workplace, health care, consumer spending and personal finance topics. She regularly appears on CBS News 24/7 to discuss her reporting.

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Yahoo Finance

Southwest airlines brings back its limited-time companion pass promotion.

DALLAS , Sept. 3, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Southwest Airlines Co.  (NYSE: LUV) announces the return of its highly-coveted Companion Pass ® promotion. The airline's Companion Pass allows Rapid Rewards ® 1 Members to designate one person to fly with them for free 2 every time the Member purchases or redeems points for a flight.

"We love offering this Companion Pass promotion because it allows our Members to experience one of the many benefits of our award-winning Rapid Rewards program," said Jennifer Bridie , Vice President of Marketing at Southwest Airlines. "Earlier this year, we launched Cash + Points, giving our Customers extra flexibility to make their points go further. And now, for the first time, Members can use their Rapid Rewards points, a combination of cash and points, or other eligible forms of payment to book qualifying flights that count toward this Companion Pass promotion."

To qualify, Rapid Rewards Members must: 3

Register  for the promotion and purchase a qualifying Southwest ® flight (one round trip or two one-way qualifying flights), starting today through Sept. 5, 2024 .

Travel by Nov. 20, 2024 ; and

Designate a Companion to fly for free 1 with them between Jan. 6, 2025 , and March 6, 2025 .

Visit Southwest.com for the full list of terms and conditions.

Join Rapid Rewards The Southwest Rapid Rewards program is designed around a simple concept—to make earning reward flights faster and easier. With Rapid Rewards, every seat is a reward seat, there are no blackout dates, and points don't expire. 1 Customers can create an account to become a Rapid Rewards Member at  Southwest.com  to take advantage of Southwest's award-winning loyalty program benefits.

TERMS & CONDITIONS Visit Southwest.com for the full list of terms and conditions. 1 All Rapid Rewards rules and regulations apply and can be found at Southwest.com/rrterms . 2 Doesn't include taxes and fees from $5.60 one-way . Must include Rapid Rewards number during booking. Limited time. Restrictions apply. Qualifying flight(s) must be flown by the same Member. 3 Members can register for this promotion, then book one round trip or two one-way qualifying Southwest flights between 8:00 a.m. Central Time ("CT") on Sept. 3, 2024 , and 11:59 p.m. CT on Sept. 5, 2024 , (the "Promotion Period") for travel from Sept. 3, 2024 , and Nov. 20, 2024 , (the "Travel Period"), and fly during the Travel Period to earn a promotional Companion Pass valid for use between Jan. 6, 2025 , and March 6, 2025 . To register for this promotion, Members will need to provide their Southwest Rapid Rewards account number at the time of registration. If a Customer doesn't have a Rapid Rewards account number, they may register for an account by going online to Southwest.com/rapidrewards to become a Member. Rapid Rewards accounts are free. Member must register for this promotion, book one round trip or two one-way qualifying Southwest flights during the Promotion Period for travel during the Travel Period, and fly during the Travel Period. Registration must be completed prior to booking and commencement of travel. Valid on new qualifying flights booked during the Promotion Period for travel during the Travel Period and flown within the Travel Period. Member's qualifying flight must be booked through Southwest.com or swabiz.com during the Promotion Period for travel that must be completed during the Travel Period. Member's Rapid Rewards account number must be entered at the time of booking Member's qualifying flight to earn a promotional Companion Pass valid for use between Jan. 6, 2025 , and March 6, 2025 . A qualifying one-way flight for this promotion is a one-way flight on Southwest Airlines from an origin city to a destination city, including any intermediate stops and/or connections on Southwest Airlines. A qualifying round trip flight for this promotion is a round trip flight on Southwest Airlines from an origin city to a destination city and back to the originating airport or carrier-recognized co-terminal. Valid on new reservations booked within the Promotion Period for travel during the Travel Period only. Travel booked or flown prior to registration for this promotion is not eligible for this promotional Companion Pass offer. Reward travel and Cash + Points bookings qualify for this promotional offer. Companion Pass, charter flights, reward or group travel, and Southwest Vacations ® packages do not qualify as one-way or round trip flights for this promotion. Qualifying flights(s) booked with Cash + Points will qualify as round trip or two one-way revenue flights for this promotion. Changes made to any itinerary after purchase of a round trip or two one-way revenue flights may eliminate qualification for this promotion. The promotional Companion Pass is valid from Jan. 6, 2025 , through March 6, 2025 , and allows Members to designate one person to fly with them, free of airline charges ( doesn't include taxes and fees from $5.60 one-way ) on flights purchased by the Member, booked through Southwest, and completed between Jan. 6, 2025 , and March 6, 2025 . No Rapid Rewards points nor tier or Companion Pass qualifying points will be awarded for flights taken by the Companion when flying on a promotional Companion Pass or Companion Pass reservation. Members may change their designated Companion up to three times while they have the promotional Companion Pass. If a Member earns Companion Pass in 2024 by earning 135,000 Companion Pass qualifying points or flying 100 qualifying flights, any changes to their designated Companion during the time they have a promotional Companion Pass will reduce the number of changes they can make to their designated Companion in the 2025 calendar year. For example, if a Member earn a promotional Companion Pass through this promotion, change their designated Companion twice during the validity period for promotional Companion Pass, and later in 2025 earn Companion Pass, they would only be able to change their designated Companion one more time in 2025. Companion Pass is nontransferable. All Rapid Rewards rules and regulations apply and can be found at Southwest.com/rrterms . Southwest reserves the right to amend, suspend, or change the Rapid Rewards program and/or Rapid Rewards program rules at any time without notice. Rapid Rewards Members don't acquire property rights in accrued points. The number of points needed for a particular Southwest flight is set by Southwest and will vary depending on destination, time, day of travel, demand, fare type, point redemption rate, and other factors, and is subject to change at any time until the booking is confirmed.

ABOUT SOUTHWEST AIRLINES CO.      Southwest Airlines Co.  operates one of the world's most admired and awarded airlines, offering its one-of-a-kind value and Hospitality at 117 airports across 11 countries. Southwest took flight in 1971 to democratize the sky through friendly, reliable, and low-cost air travel and now carries more air travelers flying nonstop within the United States than any other airline 4 . Based in Dallas and famous for an Employee-first corporate Culture, Southwest maintains an unprecedented record of no involuntary furloughs or layoffs in its history. By empowering its more than 74,000 5 People to deliver unparalleled Hospitality, the maverick airline cherishes a passionate loyalty among more than 137 million Customers carried in 2023. That formula for success brought industry-leading prosperity and 47 consecutive years 6 of profitability for Southwest Shareholders (NYSE: LUV). Southwest leverages a unique legacy and mission to serve communities around the world including harnessing the power of its People and Purpose to put communities at the Heart of its success. Learn more by visiting Southwest.com/citizenship . As the airline with Heart, Southwest has set a goal to work toward achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2050 7 . Southwest has also set near-term targets and a three-pillar strategy to achieve its environmental goals. Learn more by visiting Southwest.com/planet .

4 Based on U.S. Dept. of Transportation quarterly Airline Origin & Destination Survey since Q1 2021   5 Fulltime-equivalent active Employees     6 1973-2019 annual profitability   7 Our net zero by 2050 goal includes Scope 1, Scope 2, and Scope 3 Category 3 emissions only and excludes any emissions associated with non-fuel products and services, such as inflight service items.

View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/southwest-airlines-brings-back-its-limited-time-companion-pass-promotion-302236762.html

SOURCE Southwest Airlines Co.

Simple Flying

Southwest airlines brings back popular companion pass promotion for three days only.

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US Carrier Southwest Airlines is bringing back one of its most popular promotions for three days only. The carrier confirmed this morning that its popular Companion Pass promotion has returned for a limited time.

How to earn the Southwest Airlines Companion Pass

The carrier's Companion Pass program lets Rapid Rewards frequent flyer members designate a plus-one to fly with them for free. The passes can be used repeatedly, and a designated companion receives a free ticket each time the member buys a cash ticket or redeems points for a flight.

Love learning about points and miles? Read more of our loyalty news and guides here .

To enter the competition, one must register for the promotion on the official page and purchase a round-trip or one-way flight anytime between now and Thursday, September 5th. Travel must be undertaken by November 20th, and the designated companion award will be issued for all flights taken between January 6th and March 6th, 2025.

How Many Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards Points Do You Need For A Free Flight?

Reap your Rapid Rewards to get reward flights!

Although the companion pass covers all the airline charges, it does not cover the taxes and fees, which start at $5.60 in each direction. Jennifer Bridie, Vice President of Marketing at Southwest Airlines, highlighted how the companion pass can be earned even faster now that customers can use a mix of money and miles to book flights.

"We love offering this Companion Pass promotion because it allows our Members to experience one of the many benefits of our award-winning Rapid Rewards program," "Earlier this year, we launched Cash + Points, giving our Customers extra flexibility to make their points go further. And now, for the first time, Members can use their Rapid Rewards points, a combination of cash and points, or other eligible forms of payment to book qualifying flights that count toward this Companion Pass promotion."

This marks a significant deal for those who fly infrequently on Southwest. The standard process for receiving the Companion Pass is to fly 100 qualifying one-way flights or earn 135,000 qualifying points. When undertaking the traditional route, members will earn a Companion Pass for the following full calendar year plus the remainder of the year in which they earned it. There are various ways to earn points, including holding the airline's credit card.

A summer of changes

This year has been significant for Southwest Airlines news. The carrier announced it is ending its longstanding seating policy , ending its reign as one of the few airlines that still allowed passengers to choose their seats upon boarding.

Get the latest aviation news straight to your inbox: Sign up for our newsletters today.

The airline has also been rewarding its frequent flyers more frequently in recent months. A promotion currently provides additional ways for members to earn the loyalty program's elite "A-List" status. Double-tier points will be awarded on flights through the end of November, alongside three more ways to earn status faster.

Southwest Airlines Brings Back More Ways To Earn Elite Status

Between now and November 30, there are multiple ways to get your A-List and A-List preferred status quicker.

This latest promotion follows another one in July when Southwest announced it was giving away one million Rapid Rewards points to a lucky person in honor of passing one million Instagram followers.

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Southwest Airlines Companion Pass offer: What to know about buy-one-get-one flights deal

DALLAS - Southwest Airlines is bringing back its Companion Pass promotion, which allows certain customers to take someone for nearly free on unlimited flights.

Generally, the popular promotion requires travelers to book 100 qualifying one-way flights or earn 135,000 qualifying points, and they’ll earn a Companion Pass for the remainder of the year and the following full calendar year.

But for the latest offer, Southwest is running a flash promotion in which customers can earn a two-month Companion Pass by booking one round trip or two one-way qualifying flights.

Here’s what to know about the new deal:

Southwest Airlines Companion Pass offer

To qualify for Southwest’s latest promotion, travelers need to first become a Rapid Rewards member .

Next, they’ll need to register here for the Companion Pass promotion , and purchase a qualifying Southwest flight – either one round trip or two one-way qualifying flights – through Sept. 5, 2024.

The customer must travel by Nov. 20, 2024, and they’ll be able to designate a companion to fly for free with them between Jan. 6, 2025, and March 6, 2025, Southwest said.

All the companion has to pay are the taxes and fees for the flight, which start at $5.60 one-way.

Members can also change their designated companion "up to three times while they have the promotional Companion Pass," the airline said.

Typically, eligible flights must be paid in part with cash to earn a promotional Companion Pass, according to The Points Guy . But for the latest promotion, Southwest flights booked solely with Rapid Rewards points also qualify, according to the deal’s terms and conditions.

Southwest to start assigning seats, offer extra legroom and redeye flights

In a move announced in July, Southwest said it plans to start assigning seats to travelers, as well as offering premium seating for customers who want more legroom — breaking a 50-year tradition for the carrier with the open seating model.

The carrier also announced that it would offer redeye flights for the first time as well, with nonstop routes from Las Vegas to Baltimore and Orlando; Los Angeles to Baltimore and Nashville; and Phoenix to Baltimore.

Southwest said its first overnight flight will land on Feb. 14, 2025, and it plans to phase in additional redeye flights over time.

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Free flights in 2025? Southwest Airlines' flash promo offers Companion Pass

Southwest Airlines ' sought-after Companion Pass is back, but only for a short period of time.

The U.S. carrier is running a flash promotion offering members of its frequent flyer Rapid Rewards program a two-month Companion Pass when they purchase or redeem points for one round-trip or two one-way flights from now until 11:59 p.m. CST on Thursday, Sept. 5. The flight must be completed before Nov. 20.

With the Companion Pass, the member can designate one person to travel with them for free on unlimited flights between Jan. 6 and March 6, 2025. Travelers do have to pay taxes and fees, which start at $5.60 one way.

It's an end of an era: Southwest Airlines is getting rid of its open seating policy

"We love offering this Companion Pass promotion because it allows our Members to experience one of the many benefits of our award-winning Rapid Rewards program," said  Jennifer Bridie , vice president of marketing at Southwest Airlines, in a statement.

Learn more: Best travel insurance

While Companion Passes are typically reserved for elite Rapid Rewards status, they will be available to any member through this promotion. The last time Southwest offered the pass to members was in May for qualifying flights to Hawaii.

Southwest Airlines Rewards Travelers With The Return Of Companion Pass

Southwest’s Companion Pass is an irresistible promotion for Rapid Rewards members. Here is what travelers should know about the deal.

Sarah Rand • Sep 10, 2024

Southwest Airlines recently made several  exciting announcements  that will benefit travelers. Among the  airline’s latest enhancements  is the return of one of its most sought-after promotions: the Companion Pass. Travelers are celebrating as  the promotion  is renewed, allowing them to bring a companion on their next trip. Here’s what we know about the promotion:

Southwest’s Companion Pass

In a press release on September 3, 2024, Southwest announced the return of its limited-time Companion Pass promotion. This highly coveted pass offers Rapid Rewards members an extra perk. The Rapid Rewards program already allows members to earn reward flights with no blackout dates and no expiration for points, giving travelers flexibility in redeeming them. The reintroduction of the Companion Pass takes this perk a step further.

The Companion Pass has become one of the most desirable travel benefits. It allows travelers to bring a companion on Southwest flights at minimal cost. This perk applies to all flights for an entire year without requiring the purchase of a second full-price ticket. However, due to the value of the pass, it is not easy to obtain.

Things To Know

One of the key requirements for Southwest’s Companion Pass is membership in the airline’s loyalty program. Members must either fly 100 qualifying one-way flights in a calendar year or earn 135,000 points in the same period. For the first time, members can use Rapid Rewards points, a combination of points and cash, or other forms of payment to book flights that count toward the promotion.

How To Access The Companion Pass

Rapid Rewards members must first register for the promotion on Southwest’s website. After registering, they must book a qualifying flight between September 3 and September 5, 2024 (the promotion period). The travel for this booking must occur between September 3 and November 20, 2024 (the travel period) to meet the promotion’s terms.

Once eligible, travelers will earn a promotional Companion Pass. They will be notified via email within 10 days of flying. Once the pass is awarded to their account on January 6, 2025, they can designate a companion. Companions can fly for free, excluding taxes and fees starting at $5.60, between January 6 and March 6, 2025. Travelers can change their designated companion up to three times per calendar year. A major benefit of the pass is that if travelers earn the Companion Pass in 2024, it will remain valid through December 2025.

Traveler Tip:  If travelers miss this promotion, they can look out for the next opportunity. For more information, visit Southwest’s promotion website.

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