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Southwest Companion Pass.

What is it:

The SW CP is arguably the most valuable airline perk available today. It allows you to bring a companion with you for free on any Southwest flight, regardless of whether you are on a revenue or award ticket. All you pay are the government taxes on the ticket. The pass works for all Southwest flights, including international flights. The pass also works on Airtran flights that are sold on Southwest.com. Airtran flights that are not sold on Southwest.com are not eligible.
Like all other Southwest award bookings, the CP is not subject to any capacity controls, and as long as there is still a seat for sale on a particular flight, it is yours.
The pass is valid for the year it is earned in and the entire next calendar year. If you earned your CP in July 2014, your pass will be valid for the remainder of 2014 and the entirety of 2015.

How to get it:

The SW CP is obtained by earning 125,000 Southwest points in one calendar year. For example, if you earned 8k points by flying at the beginning of 2014, you need to earn another 117k points throughout the rest of 2014 in order to qualify for CP. Once 2015 rolls around, the points you've earned in 2014 no longer qualify for earning your CP, although they will still be redeemable points.

The primary method of accumulating Southwest points is CC signup bonuses. The Southwest CC frequently offers 50k point signup bonuses on all 4 flavors of Southwest cards and signup bonuses count towards earning the CP. Get approved for 2 of these cards, meet the 2k spending requirement on each and you are only 21k points away from the CP.

All points earned through the Rapid Rewards shopping mall also count towards SW CP eligibility.
Points transferred from Hyatt, Club Carlson, Marriott, and Wyndham all count towards CP status.
Points transferred from Ultimate Rewards do not count towards CP, although you can transfer can transfer 50K Ultimate Rewards points into 50K Hyatt and 50K Hyatt transfers into 30K Southwest.

Points earned by crediting hotel stays and car rentals to Southwest also count towards CP.

Using the CP:

Using your CP is very simple. Once you book a flight on Southwest, an "Add a companion" button will appear under your reservation. Just fill out the info and pay the taxes and you are done.
It is best to add your companion right when you book your own flight as there have been instances where people have forgotten to add their companion, the flight subsequently sold out and they were not able to add their companion. One thing to keep in mind is that online changes with a companion booked are not possible, you need to cancel the companion, wait 10-15 min, make the change and then add the companion again. You can make the necessary changes over the phone though.
You can change your companion up to 3 times during the life of your CP. (I believe you can change it 3 times per calendar year.)

« Last edited by pointer on January 23, 2020, 03:35:55 PM »

Author Topic: Southwest Companion Pass Master Thread  (Read 316431 times)

Offline KenZein

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Re: Southwest Companion Pass Master Thread
« Reply #1340 on: February 19, 2018, 10:55:02 PM »
I have never been asked to show my companion pass. Yes, it does get mailed to you at some point.

Have you flown with a companion in recent times? Just nervous that it's recently changed.

Offline AJK

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Re: Southwest Companion Pass Master Thread
« Reply #1341 on: February 20, 2018, 12:05:32 AM »
Not needed.
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Re: Southwest Companion Pass Master Thread
« Reply #1342 on: February 20, 2018, 12:07:05 AM »
Have you flown with a companion in recent times? Just nervous that it's recently changed.

I have. Never ever shown the pass or even had it with me.  You can always log in to your account and show them there.

Offline KenZein

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Re: Southwest Companion Pass Master Thread
« Reply #1343 on: February 20, 2018, 01:40:46 PM »
Great, thanks everyone for your quick and helpful replies!

Offline metsgiantsfan

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Re: Southwest Companion Pass Master Thread
« Reply #1344 on: February 20, 2018, 02:39:43 PM »
Can the southwest companion pass be used if the ticket was bought using reward points, or only can use companion pass if it was a cash ticket? thanks!

Offline Lou Bob

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Re: Southwest Companion Pass Master Thread
« Reply #1345 on: February 20, 2018, 02:43:33 PM »
Can the southwest companion pass be used if the ticket was bought using reward points, or only can use companion pass if it was a cash ticket? thanks!
Yes. It works with points
Always use an Amex, you'll thank me one day.

Offline metsgiantsfan

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Re: Southwest Companion Pass Master Thread
« Reply #1346 on: February 20, 2018, 02:46:11 PM »
thank you!

Offline 12HRS

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Re: Southwest Companion Pass Master Thread
« Reply #1347 on: February 22, 2018, 11:24:32 PM »
You don't need the card. Unless this rule is new

Rule is not new

Offline keemster26

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Re: Southwest Companion Pass Master Thread
« Reply #1348 on: February 23, 2018, 02:26:57 AM »

Online Moshe26

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Re: Southwest Companion Pass Master Thread
« Reply #1349 on: February 23, 2018, 11:28:51 AM »
Have you flown with a companion in recent times? Just nervous that it's recently changed.
I flew last week and they didn't ask for the card.

Offline gozalim

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Re: Southwest Companion Pass Master Thread
« Reply #1350 on: February 25, 2018, 12:20:56 AM »
Can me and my companion each bring a lap child?
My wife is my companion and we have 2 kids... TIA
yes. I've done that
IINM you can bring 2 on your own
what???

Offline as2

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Re: Southwest Companion Pass Master Thread
« Reply #1351 on: February 25, 2018, 01:46:21 AM »


what???

I believe southwest (and possibly others) allow 2 lap children per adult.
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Offline davidrotts63

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Re: Southwest Companion Pass Master Thread
« Reply #1352 on: February 25, 2018, 01:49:34 AM »
(Quit) pulling out the flowers, and watering the weeds. -Peter Lynch

Offline as2

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Re: Southwest Companion Pass Master Thread
« Reply #1353 on: February 25, 2018, 02:00:46 AM »
Wrong.
https://www.southwest.com/html/customer-service/family/baby-on-board-pol.html?clk=GFOOTER-CUSTOMER-INFANT
I was basing this off something I saw somewhere...it was a while ago, so I'm having a hard time figuring out where. I may just be plain wrong.
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Re: Southwest Companion Pass Master Thread
« Reply #1354 on: March 13, 2018, 09:21:24 AM »
1) does the "companion" have to be named from the beginning or can I have a different companion on each trip?
2) does the companion ticket have to be booked at the time of the booking?
3) I am signing up for both c.c so I can get this pass. How long do you anticipate till I receive the bonus's in my account?

thANK YOU!

Offline @Yehuda

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Re: Southwest Companion Pass Master Thread
« Reply #1355 on: March 13, 2018, 10:09:31 AM »
1) does the "companion" have to be named from the beginning or can I have a different companion on each trip?
2) does the companion ticket have to be booked at the time of the booking?
3) I am signing up for both c.c so I can get this pass. How long do you anticipate till I receive the bonus's in my account?

thANK YOU!
1) You don't have to name the companion right away, but once you do you can only change who it is 3 times a calendar year.
2) No, but if you wait too long, the flight might sell out and then you can no longer get them a seat.
3) A few days after the statement in which you spent the money closes.

Offline metsgiantsfan

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Re: Southwest Companion Pass Master Thread
« Reply #1356 on: March 13, 2018, 10:35:59 AM »
AMAZING!  thank you

Offline Abey

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Re: Southwest Companion Pass Master Thread
« Reply #1357 on: March 21, 2018, 04:44:46 PM »
Can I use my points before earning the cp? (will it still count towards the 110 k)

Offline as2

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Re: Southwest Companion Pass Master Thread
« Reply #1358 on: March 21, 2018, 05:21:58 PM »
Can I use my points before earning the cp? (will it still count towards the 110 k)
Yes, the points just need to be earned in one calendar year. You do not need to maintain a balance of 110k+ to earn CP
Memories last forever, make them while you can.

Offline Abey

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Re: Southwest Companion Pass Master Thread
« Reply #1359 on: March 21, 2018, 05:55:54 PM »
Yes, the points just need to be earned in one calendar year. You do not need to maintain a balance of 110k+ to earn CP
Thnx