Southwest is offering six weeks of a companion pass – bring someone with you when you travel on points or cash for just the taxes – after you take just a single trip.
- Register
- Purchase one roundtrip or two one way flights by April 5
- Travel by May 24
- Companion pass will be valid August 15 – September 30, 2023
The end of summer and beginning of the school year is a time Southwest clearly expects light bookings, because they’re willing to fill up planes with this offer during the period. A companion can be booked as long as there’s still a seat available for sale.
It’s a great deal, too. If I didn’t already have a companion pass I would book a mileage run, from Austin to either Dallas or Houston and back probably, and then be able to travel with someone every weekend for six weeks at half off. (Note: you have to book a paid ticket to earn the companion pass, Rapid Rewards redemptions don’t count.)
My current companion pass, earned in January 2022, runs through December 2023. I buy a ticket for myself, my wife is my companion (so most trips cost us just TSA fees for her travel) and then I redeem Rapid Rewards points for my daughter’s seat.
A few key points:
- Flights you already have booked don’t count to earn this. You need to book after registering, and between April 3 and 5. But since Southwest doesn’t have change fees, try repricing and then rebooking any current trips.
- Once your companion pass is awarded on August 15 you’ll be able to designate a companion and then add them to trips you’ve booked.
- Like a regular companion pass you can change who your companion is three times. Even though this is a six week companion pass. So you don’t have to travel with the same person each time.
Clearly they’re looking for incremental business, and if you live in a big Southwest city as I do (they’re the largest carrier in Austin) and you have the time to take advantage of the offer, it’s a good one.
@ Gary — But friends don’t let friends fly on Southwest!
You couldn’t pay ME to fly on that worthless, nasty, horrible carrier.
I don’t know what Gene and Neal Z have experienced on Southwest but I didn’t have any problems with them. No problems that I didn’t have traveling anywhere else anyway! I like the fact that Love field is smaller and closer to home.
@ Carol — I couldn’t find first class.
@Gene I asked what the difference was in first class and economy. I think it was on United. I thought if it’s a significant difference/improvement I might go for it. I was told the only difference was you don’t get different food-just extra of what they are already serving. And you get extra legroom. I’m tall but I’ve never had a problem with my legs being cramped. As far as the food I thought what do I want extra of this stuff for?! So I passed on paying I think about $100 extra to fly first class.
@ Carol — It’s all (only) about the space. The food is definitely not worth paying for!
@Carol: reserved seating . . .
Not queuing up like cattle to board.
WN is the modern day equivalent of Greyhound Bus.
@1KBrad I know 2 people that drove for Continental Trailways. One was still there when they merged with Greyhound. I’ve heard stories of a man sticking pins in a doll and mumbling to himself. The driver said I kept one eye on him. It was like every other situation when you have a lot of people together. You’re not going to please everyone. Some were too hot and others too cold. I experienced that driving a school bus. I heard that people dressed up to fly back in the day. It’s strange that high standards seemed to disappear when I started flying. Must be a coincidence.