Southwest Companion Pass Explained - Rules, Benefits, and Booking Tips

Southwest Airlines is one of the best Airlines in the world, and this US-based Airline ensures that Passengers have the best assistance. If you want to fly with your loved ones but don't feel like paying for it, Southwest has what you are looking for, and this is why they came up with the feature of the Companion Pass. But what is a companion pass? You should read the full information if you are looking for it. The benefit of the companion pass is that it allows you to travel with one person, and you don't need to pay anything for that person. You can do it every time you redeem or purchase new points for a flight. Apart from this, some rules and criteria must be followed to enjoy Southwest's option. To know more about the Companion Pass, read the article below. 

How can one earn a Southwest Companion Pass? 

There are some ways to earn a Southwest Companion Pass, and one can do it either by accumulating 135,000 Companion Pass qualifying points or by qualifying for 100 Passes by one-way flights within a single calendar year. You can earn these points through Reward Credit Cards, revenue flights, and Rapid Rewards partner activities. There are also some other important considerations that you should keep in mind, and these considerations are: 

• The calendar year runs from January 1 to December 31. During this time, you must complete both "earning points" and "flying flights," and only then are you eligible to qualify for the Companion Pass. 
• The Validity of the companion pass plays a vital role, and you need to understand the validity system. According to Southwest Airlines, you can use the Pass from the beginning to the end of the year. For example, if you earn the points in March 2023, then you can use these points at the end of March 2024. 
• If you are holding a Companion Pass, you don't need to pay for the companion. Still, when it comes to paying taxes and government security fees, you need to pay liable taxes. 

How do I manage my Companion Pass or a reservation for my Companion? 

Here are the ways you can designate or change your Companion. Make sure to follow the steps. 

• Southwest Airlines allows its companions to designate a Companion Online. To start the process, open Southwest Airlines' official website. 
• You will find the "Rapid Rewards " Account there, where you must log in by providing the necessary Credentials. 
• Then click on the My Account, and this option will be found at the top of the screen. 
• You are eligible to designate your Companio, and if you are, you can do so by following the on-screen instructions. 
• In the end, Southwest Airlines will notify you through a confirmation email, which will be sent to your registered email address. 

Change the Companion: The feature of change is also available to change your companion, and here you can do it thrice. Companionmy Account is the tab that you have to navigate after visiting the Airline's official website, or you can do it through the Southwest app. You can find the App either in the Play Store or the App Store. In case you are facing any issue changing a companion, feel free to reach the customer service team of Southwest Airlines. 

What are the merits of the Southwest Companion Pass? 

The Companion Pass feature is full of benefits. It is always helpful to have a Companion Pass. One significant advantage of having a Companion Pass is flying with no additional airline fee. Here, you are free to fly with your Companion while saving money because you can fly together instead of paying the price for only one. 

• No need to pay for a Companion: Do not pay the Airline for the companion you chose to travel with, but some companions 
• The unlimited use: During the valid period, you can use your Companion Passes as much as you want. 
• Easy Change: You can use your Companion Pass to purchase and redeem cash with Points flights.
• Get the benefit of Instant service: Southwest allows you to change your designated Companion thrice a year, and the benefit is instant: You can start the new Companion with a few clicks. 

Can I use a Companion Pass for an International Flight? 

The best advantage of the Companion Pass is that you can use it for domestic and International flights. Do not forget that the Companion Pass is still applicable for surcharges, Taxes and applicable fees. 

How do you board with a Companion Pass in Southwest? 

One can board easily with a Companion Pass in Southwest. You should never forget that you must book a flight for yourself first, and then you can add your designated Companion to the booking. To get access, you need to visit the official website or app, and there you will find the "My trips" tab, which will help you do that. Follow the on-screen instructions, and once you have successfully added the Companion, the Companion's boarding pass will be associated with your flight booking. 

Is it possible for a Companion to board with a list member? 

Yes, it is possible for a Companion Pass holder to board with a Companion who is already an A-List member of Southwest Airlines' Rapid Rewards. Under many conditions, they bare both eligible for priority boarding access. 

What are the disadvantages of Southwest Airlines Companion Pass? 

The Southwest Airlines Companion Pass certainly has many advantages, but it is also important to remember that there are a few disadvantages. 

• No matter how you pay through the credit card bonus, you still need to spend some money. This means that even in the Companion feature, you must still pay taxes and other applicable fees. 
• When it comes to getting the best value, Rapid Rewards credit cards may not offer the best deal, which is one of the other disadvantages of the Companion feature. 

What is Southwest Airlines Companion Pass Policy? 

The Companion Pass Policy allows you to travel with the Companion Pass. To qualify for the Companion Pass, you must have 100 qualifying one-way flights or 135,000 qualifying points in the calendar year.

• The Option of Rapid Rewards on the official website of Southwest Airlines allows you to designate a Companion online. 
• Make sure to book yourself first, and then the Companion 
• Fees and Taxes are covered in the Companion pass, typically costing around 5.60 USD. 
• The base points from Rapid Rewards, Points earned on Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards credit cards and points earned through revenue flights are the sources from which you can gain the Companion Pass. 
• If you have questions or doubts about the Companion Pass or are unable to use these points, you should contact the official customer service team. 

Final words

The Southwest Companion Pass is mainly a good feature for people who want to travel with someone and don't like to pay for the other person, and due to this, you can save a lot of money. The above Article is about Southwest Airlines' companion pass. Hopefully, you have read the full article and now know how to use this feature. If you still have queries and doubts, please visit Southwest Airlines' official website. It is also recommended that you visit the website once because you will find the latest updates and changes there.