Then you’ve come to the right spot to get started! This is part 1 of a 3 part series.
Disclaimer: In the name of full transparency, this blog post contains affiliate links and If you use them to sign up or purchase I might be rewarded credit or a commission. I only recommend brands and services that I personally use and love.
Any time I’ve brought up our Companion Pass goals I generally get either a blank stare or excitement with a nodding head and waning excitement as I start in on the details. They heard “Free Flights” and mostly think it’s too good to be true or really complicated. It seems pretty straightforward in my head, but don’t most things. This is for all of you that are truly interested in doing this yourself! A place to read slowly and refer back to. Because it’s definitely not as confusing as all my mumbled details make it sound.
What is it?
A Southwest Companion Pass. It allows 1 person to fly “free” each time you do on Southwest. BOGO flights if you will. They will still be responsible for gov’t taxes and fees (currently $5.60 each way domestic, more international). This pass lasts for the remainder of the calendar year in which you earn it in + the entire next calendar year. Any pass earned in 2019 2024 will be good until December 31, 2020 2025. So the sooner you earn it, the longer you can use it.
What do I have to do?
1. Fly 100 one-way flights
OR
2. Earn 110,000 135,000 Southwest Rapid Rewards points in 1 calendar year (Jan-Dec). You can earn points through any combination of these things (we’ll go into details in posts 2 & 3):
- Taking a paid flight
- Hotels and Rental Cars booked through Southwest
- Rapid Rewards Credit Card spending
- Rapid Rewards Credit Card sign up bonuses
- Rapid Rewards Shopping
- Rapid Rewards Dining
Marathon Make It Count- Credit Card Referrals
- NOTE: Surveys & bonuses for things other than the CC do NOT count.
Bonus Value: When you buy a ticket for a flight, even with your “free” companion joining you, you can do so with money OR Rapid Rewards points. The 110,000 135,000 points you just earned to get you the companion pass? They don’t go away. Think of it as a status level and not a paid trade. You can use all those points towards your own award travel. This means two people can take a round trip flight for as little as $22.40, as long as you have the points available.
That’s it for part 1! Those are the basics of WHAT the Southwest companion pass is, WHY you want it and the basics of how to achieve this travel changing goal! Next up in Part 2 is how I earned mine. Got questions? I got answers, or I really like researching and will find one for you!
