Apr 27, 2022
Southwest Airlines offers what is arguably one of the best perks within the travel industry: the Southwest Companion Pass. If you are someone who likes to travel and would be interested in having your spouse or companion fly with you for FREE, this episode is for you! I’ll give you all the details you need about the Southwest Companion Pass, how to qualify for it, and how to get the most out of it.
You will want to hear this episode if you are interested in...
- What is the Southwest Companion Pass? [1:26]
- How does the Southwest Companion Pass work? [3:05]
- The best way to qualify for the Southwest Companion Pass [4:40]
- The best time to qualify for the pass and tips and trick to earn it faster [10:38]
First-class perks
One of the number one activities enjoyed by retirees is travel. After all, who wouldn’t want to see the world after completing a successful career? One of the best ways to travel is the Southwest Companion Pass. With the pass, designated companions can fly with you for free for as long as you hold it. Your companion will have to cover the taxes and fees associated with the cost of regular tickets, but that’s small in comparison to full-price airfare.
Flyers earn a companion pass by either flying 100 qualifying one-way flights OR accumulating 125,000 qualifying Southwest points in a calendar year. Once you earn the pass, it’s valid for the remainder of the current year and the following year with no limit to the number of times the pass can be used. While you can only select one designated companion to fly with at a time, you can change your companion up to three times in a calendar year.
Bang for your buck
As great as the Southwest Companion Pass is, there are definitely some things you need to be aware of to get the most out of it. While simply earning the pass is an achievement, earning it as early as you can in the year will help maximize your experience. Because the companion pass has to be earned within a calendar year, the sooner you qualify the more you can get out of it. On the contrary, even if you are only one point away, all qualifying points must be earned before the stroke of midnight on December 31st, or else all points will reset.
Another thing to keep in mind is that Southwest does not allow for reserved seats. Southwest boards in A, B, and C groups, and seats are first-come, first-serve via boarding order. You can however pay an upgrade fee to lock in your A Group status or earn it through their rewards program. Families with small children and flyers requiring wheelchairs are automatically upgraded to pre-board status based on availability. All of this, of course, rests on whether or not Southwest flies routes that you want to travel. Their offerings are extensive and growing so check their website for more information. Listen to this episode for continued tips on the Southwest Companion Pass!