Southwest Airlines’ Companion Pass is a sought-after benefit that allows you to take a friend along on nearly free flights (just pay taxes and fees) for unlimited travel. While typically requiring significant flying or credit card spend to earn, the airline occasionally offers special promotions that make qualifying for a Companion Pass quicker and easier.
Right now, you can secure a two-month promotional Companion Pass by booking a round-trip flight. Here’s how:
- Register here and purchase either one round-trip or two one-way flights by June 27. Note that basic fares aren’t eligible.
- Your travel must occur by August 31.
- The promotional Companion Pass will be valid from September 8 to November 15.
Usually, earning a Companion Pass requires 135,000 qualifying points or 100 qualifying one-way flights within a calendar year. These points can often be accumulated through significant flying or credit card usage.
However, Southwest frequently provides opportunities to earn a Companion Pass for a shorter duration by fulfilling simpler tasks, such as completing just one round-trip flight.
Additionally, this promotion allows you to qualify even if you book with Southwest Rapid Rewards points. According to the terms, “Redemption reservations and Cash + Points bookings qualify for this promotional offer.”
That said, using Cash + Points may not be the ideal way to book flights with Southwest.
Remember, “Flights must be purchased, and/or changed during the promotional period, and the new flight(s) must be flown between June 24-August 31, 2025, to qualify for this promotion.” If you have qualifying flights booked during the promotional window, registering for the promotion and rebooking could be advantageous. Just be aware that modifying older tickets might result in a loss of advantages like free baggage.
Daily Newsletter
Stay updated with the Flying Frugal Daily newsletter.
Join over 700,000 readers for the latest news, detailed guides, and exclusive offers from Flying Frugal’s experts.
The Companion Pass is a legendary benefit in the rewards community, enabling you to bring a guest along for only the taxes and fees, effectively halving your travel costs. Whether booked using cash, points, or a combination, your companion’s only financial responsibility begins at $5.60 for one-way flights.
There is one caveat: you must select a designated companion in your Rapid Rewards account for each flight. Nonetheless, Southwest’s flexibility allows you to change your designated companion up to three times each year, including for promotional passes.
If you haven’t yet made summer travel plans, consider flying with Southwest. You could earn a valuable Companion Pass this fall—perfect for an unforgettable road trip or leaf-peeping adventure.
If you’re pursuing the Companion Pass through traditional means, you can also earn 50,000 qualifying points by adding one of the following cards to your wallet and meeting the welcome offer:
The information for the Southwest Premier card has been independently collected by The Points Guy and is not endorsed by the card issuer.
All three of these cards offer a welcome bonus of 50,000 bonus points, obtainable after spending $1,000 within the first three months of account opening.
Related reading:
