Southwest Airlines Companion Pass offer: What to know about buy-one-get-one flights deal
FILE - A Southwest Airlines Boeing 737 jet departs from San Diego International Airport en route to St. Louis on Aug. 24, 2024, in San Diego, California. (Photo by Kevin Carter/Getty Images)
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.