[Still Available, Act Today] Take One Flight, Earn A Southwest Airlines Companion Pass

by Gary Leff

A Southwest Airlines Companion Pass lets you bring someone with you on a flight whenever you travel (paid ticket or award) for just the cost of taxes.

Normally it requires earning 125,000 eligible points in a year. This year Southwest is giving everyone 25,000 Companion Pass qualifying points, so they need 100,000 more. That would earn a companion pass through the end of 2021.

Right now though Southwest has a rather impressive promotion: book a ticket by Thursday, September 24, 2020 [Extended: Friday, September 25, 2020] and fly by November 15, 2020 and you will earn a companion pass valid from January 6, 2021 through February 28, 2021. That’s nearly two months of companion pass flying after buying and flying a single ticket. Registration is required.

  • Southwest is incentiving travel during a time when travel is uniquely low
  • And they’re offering a limited companion pass during a time when travel is historically low

It’s an ingenious promotion, but one that some can make incredible use out of. I have a companion pass through the end of 2021 already, but the system did allow me to register.

Key terms:

  • Register, then book a Southwest flight between September 22 and 24, 2020 and travel September 22 through November 15, 2020.

  • Offer is not targeted.

  • Registration must be completed prior to booking and commencement of travel.

  • Rapid Rewards account number must be entered at the time of booking Member’s qualifying flight

  • A one-way revenue flight will qualify

  • Charter flights, group travel, Southwest Vacations® Packages and reservations made using Rapid Rewards points do not qualify for this promotion.

  • Changes made to the itinerary after purchase may eliminate qualification for promotion.

  • You may change your designated Companion up to three times while you have Promotional Companion Pass, even though it’s valid for less than two months.

Will this get you booking and flying with Southwest?

About Gary Leff

Gary Leff is one of the foremost experts in the field of miles, points, and frequent business travel - a topic he has covered since 2002. Co-founder of frequent flyer community InsideFlyer.com, emcee of the Freddie Awards, and named one of the "World's Top Travel Experts" by Conde' Nast Traveler (2010-Present) Gary has been a guest on most major news media, profiled in several top print publications, and published broadly on the topic of consumer loyalty. More About Gary »

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Comments

  2. I might sign up for it because there is a chance I will be taking a job back east and will be flying at that time. Now I might never use the companion pass in those 2 months but it won’t be costing me anything either. And if I don’t end up using the ticket I can at least use the credit at a later date.

  3. Guess this is as good a sign as any that middle seat blocking on Southwest won’t be extended into 2021.

    Still love Southwest, and love supporting a customer-friendly airline!

  4. If I read it correctly your flights with a companion have to be paid for, can’t be points, as it says purchase and you can’t book a flight for February now and add companion later, so you will most likely pay a lot more for the flights, as there is just a 7 week window. I am tempted, though. Is this how everyone interprets this?

  5. So, I’ll get one case of Covid if I fly and then I get to share that with my companion?
    Thanks, I’ll pass.

  6. booked a same day r/t for $98. will hang out in airport with priority pass restaurants and lounges for 6 hours or so. basically paying $100 now for a future ticket worth hopefully more. seems alright and not too big of a gamble.

  7. How many CPs can you get–will I get 10 CPs if I purchase and fly 10 revenue flights, or is it only 1 CP regardless of the number of revenue flights I purchase and fly?

Comments are closed.