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Southwest’s Limited-Time Companion Pass Offer Returns
Those looking to get a taste of Southwest’s famed Companion Pass can currently participate in a limited-time promotion.
About the offer:
Southwest Airlines is once again giving flyers a chance to claim a limited-time Companion Pass. To qualify, Rapid Rewards members must first register for the promotion and book either one round-trip flight or two one-way flights by August 30th. These flights must be completed by September 30th. Customers will also need to designate their Companion.
If these conditions are met, members will enjoy a complimentary limited-time Companion Pass. This special pass will be valid from January 8th through March 8th, 2024.
About Southwest Companion Pass:
With Southwest Companion Pass, Rapid Reward Members can book fare-free tickets for their designated traveler when also booking one for themselves. This means that members will just need to pay taxes and fees on the free ticket, which start at $5.60 each way. Furthermore, this offer applies whether the Companion Pass recipient is booking with cash or redeeming Rapid Reward points.
Typically, earning a Companion Pass requires customers to fly 100 qualifying one-way flights or earn 135,000 qualifying points. Once flyers qualify for Companion Pass, they’ll be able to use it during the remainder of the current calendar year as well as the entirety of the following calendar year.
What they’re saying:
In a press release announcing the special offer, Southwest’s VP of Marketing said, “The Companion Pass is one of the most coveted airline perks in the industry, rewarding Customers for being part of our Rapid Rewards loyalty program. As the airline with Heart, we want our Customers to feel appreciated for flying with Southwest, and what better way to do that than to offer the opportunity to travel and share experiences with a Companion.”
My thoughts:
On the one hand, this latest Southwest Companion Pass offer is awesome because it’s easily achievable. Of course, the validity period of the pass itself is quite short — as is the time left to take advantage of this deal. Still, for those who are booking flights for next month and could also benefit from having (essentially) free companion fares early next year, this offer is a gift.
As for those who will miss out on this particular deal, the good news is that all hope is likely not lost. Instead, those interested in Southwest’s Companion Pass should keep an eye out for potential offers related to the airline’s co-branded credit card lineup or other “flash” sales like this one. For those who are able to secure a Companion Pass for themselves, the savings could really add up — which is why the deal remains one of the travel industry’s most popular.