Southwest Is Bringing Back Its Companion Pass® Promotion

Southwest has been going through some changes. In July, it announced that it was adding assigned seating, extra legroom options, and that it would begin flying some redeye flights for the first time in its history. Now, the airline has brought back its Companion Pass® promotion for a limited time. The airline’s Companion Pass® allows Rapid Rewards^® members to designate one person to fly with them for free every time the they purchase or redeem points for a flight.

To qualify for this promotion, Rapid Rewards^® members need to register (here) and then purchase a qualifying Southwest flight by September 5th. Travel needs to occur by November 20th. Once complete, the member can designate another traveler as their companion and they will fly free between January 6th and March 6th.

Terms & Conditions:

• Visit Southwest.com for the full list of terms and conditions.
• All Rapid Rewards rules and regulations apply and can be found at Southwest.com/rrterms.
• Doesn’t include taxes and fees from $5.60 one-way. Must include Rapid Rewards number during booking.
• Limited time.
• Restrictions apply.
• Qualifying flight(s) must be flown by the same Member.
• Members can register for this promotion, then book one round trip or two one-way qualifying Southwest flights between 8:00 a.m. Central Time (“CT”) on Sept. 3, 2024, and 11:59 p.m. CT on Sept. 5, 2024, (the “Promotion Period”) for travel from Sept. 3, 2024, and Nov. 20, 2024, (the “Travel Period”), and fly during the Travel Period to earn a promotional Companion Pass valid for use between Jan. 6, 2025, and March 6, 2025.
• To register for this promotion, Members will need to provide their Southwest Rapid Rewards account number at the time of registration.
• If a Customer doesn’t have a Rapid Rewards account number, they may register for an account by going online to Southwest.com/rapidrewards to become a Member.
• Rapid Rewards accounts are free.
• Member must register for this promotion, book one round trip or two one-way qualifying Southwest flights during the Promotion Period for travel during the Travel Period, and fly during the Travel Period.
• Registration must be completed prior to booking and commencement of travel.
• Valid on new qualifying flights booked during the Promotion Period for travel during the Travel Period and flown within the Travel Period.
• Member’s qualifying flight must be booked through Southwest.com or swabiz.com during the Promotion Period for travel that must be completed during the Travel Period.
• Member’s Rapid Rewards account number must be entered at the time of booking Member’s qualifying flight to earn a promotional Companion Pass valid for use between Jan. 6, 2025, and March 6, 2025.
• A qualifying one-way flight for this promotion is a one-way flight on Southwest Airlines from an origin city to a destination city, including any intermediate stops and/or connections on Southwest Airlines.
• A qualifying round trip flight for this promotion is a round trip flight on Southwest Airlines from an origin city to a destination city and back to the originating airport or carrier-recognized co-terminal.
• Valid on new reservations booked within the Promotion Period for travel during the Travel Period only.
• Travel booked or flown prior to registration for this promotion is not eligible for this promotional Companion Pass offer. Reward travel and Cash + Points bookings qualify for this promotional offer. Companion Pass, charter flights, reward or group travel, and Southwest Vacations® packages do not qualify as one-way or round trip flights for this promotion.
• Qualifying flights(s) booked with Cash + Points will qualify as round trip or two one-way revenue flights for this promotion.
• Changes made to any itinerary after purchase of a round trip or two one-way revenue flights may eliminate qualification for this promotion.
• The promotional Companion Pass is valid from Jan. 6, 2025, through March 6, 2025, and allows Members to designate one person to fly with them, free of airline charges (doesn’t include taxes and fees from $5.60 one-way) on flights purchased by the Member, booked through Southwest, and completed between Jan. 6, 2025, and March 6, 2025.
• No Rapid Rewards points nor tier or Companion Pass qualifying points will be awarded for flights taken by the Companion when flying on a promotional Companion Pass or Companion Pass reservation.
• Members may change their designated Companion up to three times while they have the promotional Companion Pass.
• If a Member earns Companion Pass in 2024 by earning 135,000 Companion Pass qualifying points or flying 100 qualifying flights, any changes to their designated Companion during the time they have a promotional Companion Pass will reduce the number of changes they can make to their designated Companion in the 2025 calendar year.
• For example, if a Member earn a promotional Companion Pass through this promotion, change their designated Companion twice during the validity period for promotional Companion Pass, and later in 2025 earn Companion Pass, they would only be able to change their designated Companion one more time in 2025.
• Companion Pass is nontransferable.
• All Rapid Rewards rules and regulations apply and can be found at Southwest.com/rrterms.
• Southwest reserves the right to amend, suspend, or change the Rapid Rewards program and/or Rapid Rewards program rules at any time without notice.
• Rapid Rewards Members don’t acquire property rights in accrued points.
• The number of points needed for a particular Southwest flight is set by Southwest and will vary depending on destination, time, day of travel, demand, fare type, point redemption rate, and other factors, and is subject to change at any time until the booking is confirmed.

Anthony’s Take: If you’re planning to fly Southwest, this is a great promotion to register for and take advantage of the Companion Pass®.

(Image Credits: Owen Lystrup and Southwest Airlines.)