What is a Companion Pass? – It Means Much More Than Just “Taking Someone with You”
Southwest's Companion Pass program allows a person traveling in the US to bring one person with them for free for an entire year. The second passenger pays only a small tax (usually $5.60) on all flights, excluding taxes. This means “buy one ticket, fly two” for couples traveling within the US.
To earn a Southwest Companion Pass, you need to accumulate 135,000 Rapid Rewards points or complete 100 flight segments. However, reaching this goal has become surprisingly achievable through credit card bonuses. Combining the sign-up bonuses from two cards can cover most of this requirement. This pass is valid not just for a calendar year but for the remainder of the year it's earned and the entire following year. For example, if you earn it in January 2025, it will be valid for two years until December 2026.
While Delta, Alaska, and British Airways offer similar “companion fare” perks in different forms, Southwest's Companion Pass stands out for its unlimited use and long validity period.
Earn Companion Passes with Credit Cards – Fly Less, Get More
With Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus, Premier, and Priority credit cards, 80% of the points required for a Companion Pass can be earned through sign-up bonuses alone. This means you can earn points without even flying. Some cards offer up to 60,000 points as an opening bonus, while only 135,000 points are required for the Companion Pass. Additionally, promotions such as “20% more points” at the end of the year make it easy to close the gap.
The Alaska Airlines Visa Signature card offers an annual “Companion Fare”: The second person can travel for just $122 (or less in some cases) plus the base fare and taxes. This offer can be used once a year but is particularly appealing for those living in the western United States. The British Airways Visa Signature card provides a “Travel Together Ticket” to those who spend $30,000 annually. This ticket provides an extra seat for one person on flights purchased with Executive Club Avios. However, taxes and fuel surcharges can be quite high.
The Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express card also offers a companion certificate each year when renewed. Although it is only valid for domestic round-trip flights, it is noteworthy that it can be used on business class tickets.
Unlimited Flights with Companion Pass – “Not Just a Free Ticket, It's a Lifestyle”
With Southwest Companion Pass, you can fly an unlimited number of times with the same person. Whether you fly to a different state every week or plan a monthly getaway, the person traveling with you flies free every time (excluding taxes). Some users saved over $3,000 in 2023 by using the Companion Pass on more than 30 flights. This savings represents a real budget win for those planning to travel as a couple for a year.
Not only do you save on flights, but the Companion Pass also eliminates the hassle of buying tickets for children. One parent can take their children with them for free as a companion. The companion can be changed, but only three times per year. This provides flexibility for those who want to fly with different travel partners.
Lesser-Known Benefits and Unknown Details
Southwest's Companion Pass can also be used on international flights. Its validity for destinations like Mexico and the Caribbean shows that it's not limited to domestic flights. A Companion Pass holder can add a companion ticket at the last minute. So, if there's space on your flight, a companion passenger can always be added—this offers great flexibility for spontaneous trips.
Thanks to Southwest's “no change fee” policy, flight changes for companion passengers are also free. This is a significant advantage compared to other airlines' “penalty-based flexibility” policies.
Less Well-Known Airlines Are Also Quietly Offering Companion Deals
Hawaiian Airlines World Elite Mastercard offers a “companion discount” every year during the card renewal period. After purchasing the main passenger's ticket, only $99 + tax is paid for the second person. On special and expensive routes such as Hawaii, this advantage can turn into a significant saving.
Aer Lingus, Iberia, and British Airways all use the same Avios reward system, and British Airways' “Travel Together Ticket” can be used across this network. This opens the door to more flexible companion use for European travel. WestJet RBC World Elite Mastercard holders receive one “WestJet Companion Voucher” each year. This Canada-based airline also allows this ticket to be used on flights to the US and the Caribbean. Companion seats start at CAD 119.
Virgin Atlantic sometimes offers two-person business class rewards to Flying Club members through partner promotions. This advantage is even more valuable when combined with Amex transfer campaigns.
Companion Pass Restrictions and “Fine Print” Facts
The Southwest Companion Pass is valid for award tickets, but the companion passenger can only be added once the main reservation has been confirmed. This means that it is not possible to search for separate tickets for the companion or redeem Avios for the companion's ticket.
If the Companion Pass holder cancels the flight, the companion ticket is automatically canceled as well. Therefore, it should not be assumed that the companion passenger will not be affected by any changes to the itinerary. You are only allowed to change the companion three times per year. Therefore, it is important to plan ahead. Once the change limit is reached, you cannot travel with a new companion.
Some card companion benefits (e.g., Alaska or Delta) are only valid in economy class. Those who wish to use them in business or first class may encounter restrictions. Although British Airways' “Travel Together” ticket is valid in business or first class, taxes and fuel surcharges can bring the total cost to nearly the price of a second ticket.
Lounge Access, Baggage, and Status Connection
Companion tickets usually only offer a seat. Extras such as free baggage, lounge access, or priority boarding may only be available to the companion passenger depending on the status of the primary ticket holder.
A Delta Reserve companion certificate can provide Sky Club lounge access to the companion if the cardholder is Platinum or Diamond Medallion – but only if they are on the same flight and reservation. Southwest companion passengers also have two free baggage allowances, just like the main passenger. This is a significant advantage for family travel. Many airlines do not have such generous baggage policies.
The Delta companion ticket that comes with American Express Platinum does not offer lounge access, but in some cases, Sky Priority (priority check-in and boarding) may also apply to the companion. However, this depends on the airport and staff discretion.
User Stories and Real Examples
When searching for “Southwest Companion Pass Travel Vlog” on YouTube, you can find videos of some couples in the US who traveled to 15 different states in 12 months using only this pass. While the total cost of the flights for two people exceeded $5,000, the total amount they paid was only $600.
A Reddit user wrote that they flew between Denver and San Diego every month with their companion pass and made a total of 22 flights. Considering that these tickets normally cost $200 per person, this represents a savings of approximately $4,000. Some cardholders have used additional perks that come with the companion pass, such as statement credits (e.g., 75 USD) or priority boarding, to save money and enjoy a more comfortable travel experience.
Marketing Pitfalls and Things to Watch Out For
Some banks offer companion pass-like deals with small print that limits the benefit, such as “one-time use” or “only on select dates.” These types of offers are not on the same level as passes that offer unlimited use, such as Southwest.
British Airways' “Travel Together” ticket is often advertised as a “free airline ticket.” However, with taxes and fuel surcharges, the second passenger may have to pay up to $700 in additional fees. This calls into question the “free ticket” claim.
Delta companion certificates are only valid for round-trip flights. Therefore, this advantage is lost for those planning one-way tickets. This detail can be overlooked when applying for the card. Some credit cards require a certain annual spending limit to use the companion ticket. Amounts like 30,000–60,000 USD may be unattainable for ordinary users. Therefore, applying for the card solely based on the “advantage” may not be reasonable.