The Southwest Airlines Companion Pass is widely considered one of the most valuable perks in the travel world. Imagine: you buy one ticket, and your chosen companion flies with you for almost free – just paying for taxes and fees, which can be as low as $5.60 one-way for domestic flights! This can lead to incredible savings and unlock countless travel opportunities.
But how do you get this coveted pass, and more importantly, how do you add your companion once you have it? Don't worry, we're here to guide you through every step.
The Ultimate Guide to Adding Your Companion on Southwest Airlines with the Companion Pass
First things first, congratulations on either already having or working towards earning the Southwest Companion Pass! You're about to unlock a fantastic way to travel with a loved one without breaking the bank. Ready to get started?
Step 1: Confirm Your Companion Pass Status (Are You Ready to Fly with a Friend?)
QuickTip: Pause to connect ideas in your mind.
Before you can add a companion, you need to be sure your Companion Pass is active and designated. This is often the first hurdle for many.
How do you know if you have it?
Check your Rapid Rewards Account: Log in to your Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards account on Southwest.com. On your account dashboard, you should see a section indicating your Companion Pass status and often a tracker showing your progress if you're still working towards it.
Eligibility: To qualify, you generally need to earn 135,000 qualifying Rapid Rewards points or fly 100 qualifying one-way flights in a calendar year. If you have a Southwest Rapid Rewards credit card, you also get an annual boost of 10,000 Companion Pass qualifying points, effectively lowering the requirement to 125,000 points.
Important Note: Points earned from credit card sign-up bonuses do count towards the Companion Pass! This is often the quickest and easiest way to achieve it.
Designating Your Companion:
If you've just earned the Companion Pass, you'll need to officially designate your companion. This is done within your Rapid Rewards account online. Look for a "Choose Your Companion" or "Enter Companion info" link in the Companion Pass section. You'll need their full name, date of birth, gender, address, email, and phone number.
Remember: You can change your designated companion up to three times per calendar year. This offers great flexibility!
Step 2: Book Your Flight First (You're the Star of the Show!)
This is a crucial rule of the Companion Pass: you must book your flight first, and then add your companion. You cannot add a companion to a flight you haven't yet booked for yourself.
Booking Your Own Flight:
Go to Southwest.com or use the Southwest mobile app.
Search for your desired flight, just as you normally would.
You can book your flight using Rapid Rewards points or by paying cash. The Companion Pass works with both!
Complete the booking process for your ticket only. Make sure you receive a confirmation number.
Step 3: Add Your Companion (The Moment You've Been Waiting For!)
Once your flight is booked and confirmed, it's time to bring your companion along!
QuickTip: Treat each section as a mini-guide.
Option 1: Adding Online (Recommended and Easiest)
Log in to your Rapid Rewards account: Go to Southwest.com and sign in.
Navigate to "My Trips": On your account dashboard, find the "My Trips" or "Upcoming Trips" section.
Locate your flight: Find the specific flight reservation you just booked for yourself.
Click "Add Companion": You'll see a prominent link or button that says "Add Companion" next to your flight details.
Review Companion Information: The system will display the details of your currently designated companion. Double-check that this is indeed the person you want to add to this flight.
Proceed to Purchase/Confirm: Click "Continue" or a similar button to proceed. You'll then be taken to a screen where you'll review the companion's flight details and the applicable taxes and fees (usually $5.60 one-way for domestic flights).
Complete the Reservation: Click "Purchase" or "Confirm" to finalize the companion's ticket. You will not be charged the full fare, only the taxes and fees. You will receive a separate confirmation for your companion's ticket.
Option 2: Adding via Phone Call
If you prefer, or if you encounter any issues online, you can call Southwest Airlines Customer Service at 1-800-435-9792.
Inform the representative that you have a Companion Pass and wish to add your designated companion to an existing flight reservation.
Be ready to provide your flight confirmation number and your companion's details.
Step 4: Confirm and Prepare for Your Trip!
After successfully adding your companion, you'll receive a confirmation email for their ticket.
Check Confirmation: Review both your and your companion's confirmations carefully to ensure all details are correct.
Boarding Positions: When you check in for your flight (24 hours before departure), you and your companion will typically receive sequential boarding positions. However, if you purchased a Business Select fare or added the companion after you had already been assigned a boarding position, your companion's position will be based on their check-in time or A-List status, not necessarily sequential to yours.
Enjoy the Savings! Now you're all set to travel together, enjoying the incredible value of the Southwest Companion Pass!
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| How To Add Companion Southwest Airlines |
Maximizing Your Companion Pass Experience
Timing is Key for Earning: If you're still working towards the Companion Pass, try to earn it early in the calendar year. The pass is valid for the remainder of the calendar year in which you earn it, plus the entire following calendar year. Earning it in January means nearly two full years of companion travel!
Monitor Seat Availability: While the Companion Pass has no blackout dates, it is subject to seat availability. This means if a flight is completely sold out, you won't be able to add a companion. It's always best to book your flight and then add your companion as soon as possible, especially for popular routes or peak travel times.
Changing Your Companion: Remember, you can change your designated companion up to three times per calendar year. If you plan to fly with different people throughout the year, strategize your changes. Any existing companion reservations for the old companion must be canceled before you can change your designated companion.
No Points for Companions: Your companion's flight on the Companion Pass does not earn Rapid Rewards points for them. Only the primary passenger (you) earns points on your paid or points-redeemed flight.
Two Free Checked Bags: Don't forget that both you and your companion each get two free checked bags on Southwest, which is a fantastic added benefit!
Tip: Note one practical point from this post.
10 Related FAQ Questions (How To's)
Here are some common "How to" questions related to the Southwest Companion Pass, with quick answers:
How to Earn the Southwest Companion Pass? You can earn the Southwest Companion Pass by accumulating 135,000 qualifying Rapid Rewards points or by flying 100 qualifying one-way flights within a calendar year. Points earned from Southwest Rapid Rewards credit cards, including welcome bonuses, count towards this total.
How to Designate My Companion for the First Time? After earning the Companion Pass, log into your Rapid Rewards account on Southwest.com, go to "My Account," and look for a "Choose Your Companion" or "Enter Companion info" section to input your companion's personal details.
How to Change My Designated Companion? Log in to your Rapid Rewards account online. Navigate to the Companion Pass section in "My Account." You'll find an option to "Change Companion." Remember, you can do this up to three times per calendar year, and any existing reservations for the current companion must be canceled first.
QuickTip: Read section by section for better flow.
How to Add a Companion if I Already Booked My Flight? Log in to your Rapid Rewards account, go to "My Trips," locate your flight, and click the "Add Companion" link. Follow the prompts to add your already designated companion.
How to Use the Companion Pass for International Flights? The process is the same as for domestic flights. You book your flight first, then add your companion. Be aware that taxes and fees for international companion tickets will be higher than the standard $5.60 for domestic flights.
How to Know How Many Companion Changes I Have Left? When you go to change your companion online within your Rapid Rewards account, Southwest will typically display how many companion changes you have remaining for the current calendar year.
How to Book a Flight for My Companion if Seats Are Limited? If you're concerned about a flight selling out before you can add your companion, you can consider booking a refundable (or points-based) ticket for your companion initially. Once you add them using the Companion Pass, you can then cancel their original paid/points ticket for a refund or points redeposit.
How to Check My Companion Pass Qualification Progress? Log in to your Rapid Rewards account on Southwest.com. Your account dashboard usually features a "Companion Pass Tracker" that shows how many qualifying points or flights you've accumulated.
How to Maximize the Length of My Companion Pass? To get nearly two full years of benefits, aim to earn the required points/flights early in a calendar year (ideally in January). This way, the pass is valid for the remainder of that year and the entire following year.
How to Travel with Two Companions on the Same Flight? The Southwest Companion Pass allows you to bring one designated companion per flight. You cannot use the Companion Pass to bring two or more companions on the same flight. If you want to travel with another person, they would need their own purchased ticket.
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