Ah, the Southwest Companion Pass! It's truly one of the most valuable perks in the world of airline loyalty programs, essentially giving you a "buy one, get one free" deal on every single flight you take with Southwest for an extended period. But like all good things, there are rules, and one of the most common questions revolves around changing your designated companion.
Let's dive deep into how many times you can change your companion on Southwest Airlines, and walk you through the process step-by-step.
The Magic Number: How Many Times Can You Change Your Southwest Companion?
Here's the essential answer you're looking for: You can change your designated Southwest Companion up to three (3) times each calendar year that you hold Companion Pass privileges.
This means that if you earn the Companion Pass in, say, July 2025, and it's valid for the remainder of 2025 and all of 2026, you'll have three changes available in 2025 (from July to December) and another three changes available in 2026. This flexibility is incredibly valuable, allowing you to adapt to changing travel plans or share the incredible benefit with different friends or family members.
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| How Many Times Can You Change Your Companion On Southwest Airlines |
A Note on Calendar Years:
It's important to understand that the "calendar year" aspect is key. Your three changes reset on January 1st of each year that your Companion Pass is active. So, if you use two changes in November 2025, you'll still have three fresh changes available starting January 1, 2026.
Your Step-by-Step Guide to Changing Your Southwest Companion
Alright, are you ready to unlock the full potential of your Southwest Companion Pass? Let's walk through the process of changing your designated companion. It's relatively straightforward, but there are a couple of crucial points to remember.
Step 1: Gather Your Thoughts and Your Companion's Info!
QuickTip: Look for contrasts — they reveal insights.
Before you even log into your account, take a moment. Have you chosen your next companion? Do you have their full name (exactly as it appears on their government-issued ID), date of birth, and Rapid Rewards number (if they have one) readily available? This will make the process much smoother.
Step 2: Cancel Existing Companion Reservations (If Applicable)
This is a CRITICAL step. You cannot change your designated companion if there are any existing, active reservations with your current designated companion.
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Sub-heading: Why is this important? Southwest's system needs to ensure that the previously designated companion isn't "attached" to any upcoming flights before you can switch them out. Think of it like swapping out a player in a game – you need to take the current player off the field before the new one can enter.
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Sub-heading: How to cancel a companion's reservation:
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Log in to your Rapid Rewards account on Southwest.com or via the Southwest app.
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Navigate to your "My Trips" or "Upcoming Trips" section.
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Locate any flights where your current designated companion is listed.
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You will need to cancel their reservation specifically. This often appears as an "Add Companion" or "Cancel Companion" link associated with your booked flight.
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Confirm the cancellation. Don't worry, the taxes and fees you paid for their flight will typically be refunded to you.
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Step 3: Access Your Companion Pass Management Section
Now that any existing companion reservations are cleared, you're ready to make the change.
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Log in to your Rapid Rewards account on Southwest.com.
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Once logged in, look for the "My Account" section at the top of the screen.
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Within "My Account," you'll usually find a "Snapshot" tab or a section specifically dedicated to your Companion Pass. Look for something like "Choose Your Companion" or "Manage Companion Pass."
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Click on the relevant link, which will likely say "Enter Companion Info" or "Change Companion."
Step 4: Enter Your New Companion's Details
This is where you'll input the information for your new designated companion.
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You will be prompted to enter the new companion's full name (first, middle, and last, exactly as it appears on their ID).
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Provide their date of birth.
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If they have a Southwest Rapid Rewards account, you can enter their Rapid Rewards number. This is recommended but often not strictly required at this stage.
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Double-check all the information carefully! Mistakes here can cause issues later when booking flights.
Step 5: Confirm the Change
After entering the details, you'll be asked to confirm the change. Read through the confirmation message to ensure everything is correct. Southwest will usually inform you how many changes you have remaining for the current calendar year.
QuickTip: Take a pause every few paragraphs.
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Sub-heading: Processing Time: In most cases, the change is effective immediately or within a few minutes. Southwest states that it can take up to 48 hours for processing, but typically it's much faster, allowing you to book travel with your new companion almost right away.
Step 6: Book Flights with Your New Companion!
Congratulations! Your new companion is now officially designated. You can now proceed to book flights for yourself, and then add your newly designated companion to those reservations.
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Sub-heading: Remember the sequence: Always book your own flight first (whether with cash or points), and then go back into your "My Trips" section to add your companion. There will be an "Add Companion" link next to your flight. You'll only pay the applicable taxes and fees for your companion's ticket (typically $5.60 per one-way domestic flight).
What Happens If I've Used All My Changes?
If you've utilized all three of your companion changes within a calendar year, you will not be able to designate a different companion until the next calendar year begins (January 1st). Choose wisely! This is why it's crucial to consider your travel patterns and potential companions for the year.
Related FAQ Questions
Here are 10 related frequently asked questions, all starting with "How to," along with their quick answers:
How to Earn the Southwest Companion Pass?
You can earn the Southwest Companion Pass by flying 100 qualifying one-way flights or earning 135,000 qualifying points in a calendar year. Points earned from Southwest Rapid Rewards credit cards, including welcome bonuses, count towards this goal.
QuickTip: Use the post as a quick reference later.
How to Add a Companion to an Existing Southwest Flight?
After you book your own flight, log into your Rapid Rewards account, go to "My Trips," find your upcoming flight, and click the "Add Companion" link. Follow the prompts to add your designated companion.
How to Know How Many Companion Changes I Have Left?
You can typically see your remaining companion changes by logging into your Rapid Rewards account on Southwest.com, navigating to the "My Account" or "Snapshot" section where your Companion Pass details are displayed.
How to Use the Southwest Companion Pass for International Flights?
Yes, the Companion Pass works for international flights. However, the taxes and fees for your companion will be higher than domestic flights, sometimes over $100 per leg, depending on the destination.
How to Re-qualify for the Southwest Companion Pass?
To re-qualify, you must again meet the requirement of 100 qualifying one-way flights or 135,000 qualifying points within a single calendar year.
How to Benefit Most from the Southwest Companion Pass?
QuickTip: Don’t ignore the small print.
To maximize the benefit, earn the Companion Pass early in the calendar year. This way, you get to use it for the remainder of that year and the entire following calendar year, potentially nearly two full years of free companion flights.
How to Deal with a Companion Who Can't Travel Anymore?
If your designated companion can no longer travel on a specific flight, you must cancel their reservation on that flight. If you need to change your designated companion entirely, you'll follow the steps above, ensuring all previous companion reservations are canceled first.
How to Check if a Flight Has Companion Pass Availability?
As long as there's a seat for sale on a Southwest flight, you can generally add your companion. Southwest does not have "blackout dates" for Companion Pass usage, meaning if you can book your own seat, you can add your companion.
How to Combine Points and Cash to Book a Flight with a Companion Pass?
You can use a combination of points and cash for your own ticket, and then still add your Companion Pass. The cash portion of a Cash + Points booking will earn Rapid Rewards points, tier qualifying points, and Companion Pass qualifying points.
How to Contact Southwest Airlines for Companion Pass Issues?
For Companion Pass specific questions or issues, you can often find dedicated phone lines for Rapid Rewards members, especially if you have A-List or A-List Preferred status. Otherwise, you can use the general Southwest customer service number found on their website.
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