Topic Wiki

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 316322 times)

Offline yakovwogi

  • Dansdeals Platinum Elite
  • ****
  • Join Date: Apr 2011
  • Posts: 347
  • Total likes: 11
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 0
    • View Profile
  • Location: Texas
  • Programs: AA,CO,United,BA,Chase Saphire,National Exec.....
Re: Southwest Companion Pass Master Thread
« Reply #960 on: July 01, 2016, 10:11:43 AM »
What does this mean?

I already got a companion pass this year.
If you already have it for this year... This looks like you are close to re-qualifying to extend it to next year.
When did you earn it?

Offline sag95

  • Dansdeals Platinum Elite
  • ****
  • Join Date: Jun 2015
  • Posts: 433
  • Total likes: 15
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 1
    • View Profile
Re: Southwest Companion Pass Master Thread
« Reply #961 on: July 01, 2016, 12:13:36 PM »
If you already have it for this year... This looks like you are close to re-qualifying to extend it to next year.
When did you earn it?
I earned it this past February. I got a total of about 115k points, so I don't know how that would make sense.

Offline coralsnake

  • Dansdeals Presidential Platinum Elite
  • ********
  • Join Date: May 2008
  • Posts: 4555
  • Total likes: 162
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 9
    • View Profile
Re: Southwest Companion Pass Master Thread
« Reply #962 on: July 01, 2016, 05:21:51 PM »
I earned it this past February. I got a total of about 115k points, so I don't know how that would make sense.
Did you have a refund or something that dipped you under the 110k threshold?
"Here at DansDeals we don’t do buses." -Dan

Offline yakovwogi

  • Dansdeals Platinum Elite
  • ****
  • Join Date: Apr 2011
  • Posts: 347
  • Total likes: 11
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 0
    • View Profile
  • Location: Texas
  • Programs: AA,CO,United,BA,Chase Saphire,National Exec.....
Re: Southwest Companion Pass Master Thread
« Reply #963 on: July 01, 2016, 05:27:03 PM »
Did you have a refund or something that dipped you under the 110k threshold?
That's what I was thinking also. Earned this year so at one point 110 was in there.

Offline sag95

  • Dansdeals Platinum Elite
  • ****
  • Join Date: Jun 2015
  • Posts: 433
  • Total likes: 15
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 1
    • View Profile
Southwest Companion Pass Master Thread
« Reply #964 on: July 01, 2016, 06:20:43 PM »
Did you have a refund or something that dipped you under the 110k threshold?
Just went through my points activity, and in April they took away a few thousand points that I earned from their shopping portal in February. That caused me to go just below 110k as shown. I have earned more since, not sure why it doesn't show up. Also the fact that it said earn your "next" companion pass threw me off.

Offline Aaaron

  • Dansdeals Lifetime Platinum Elite
  • *******
  • Join Date: Jan 2012
  • Posts: 1360
  • Total likes: 39
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 3
    • View Profile
  • Location: Baltimore
Re: Southwest Companion Pass Master Thread
« Reply #965 on: October 09, 2016, 11:59:25 AM »
They're not allowing me to add a companion on one way of my RT ticket because it's an international itin.  Is that a thing?  Or should I HUCA?

Offline yakovwogi

  • Dansdeals Platinum Elite
  • ****
  • Join Date: Apr 2011
  • Posts: 347
  • Total likes: 11
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 0
    • View Profile
  • Location: Texas
  • Programs: AA,CO,United,BA,Chase Saphire,National Exec.....
Re: Southwest Companion Pass Master Thread
« Reply #966 on: October 09, 2016, 12:11:12 PM »
They're not allowing me to add a companion on one way of my RT ticket because it's an international itin.  Is that a thing?  Or should I HUCA?
is this from a website error or from calling in.
On int. travel they make you call in companions...

Offline Aaaron

  • Dansdeals Lifetime Platinum Elite
  • *******
  • Join Date: Jan 2012
  • Posts: 1360
  • Total likes: 39
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 3
    • View Profile
  • Location: Baltimore
Re: Southwest Companion Pass Master Thread
« Reply #967 on: October 09, 2016, 12:13:20 PM »
is this from a website error or from calling in.
On int. travel they make you call in companions...

Called in.  There are no seats on my outbound and he wouldn't let me book the companion on the return only.

Offline @Yehuda

  • Dansdeals Lifetime Presidential Platinum Elite
  • *********
  • Join Date: Oct 2013
  • Posts: 9693
  • Total likes: 187
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 5
  • Gender: Male
    • View Profile
Re: Southwest Companion Pass Master Thread
« Reply #968 on: October 10, 2016, 09:14:54 AM »
Called in.  There are no seats on my outbound and he wouldn't let me book the companion on the return only.
I don't know if that's the rule or an incorrect rep, but you can just book as 2 one ways and you should have no problems.

Offline Aaaron

  • Dansdeals Lifetime Platinum Elite
  • *******
  • Join Date: Jan 2012
  • Posts: 1360
  • Total likes: 39
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 3
    • View Profile
  • Location: Baltimore
Re: Southwest Companion Pass Master Thread
« Reply #969 on: October 10, 2016, 02:42:31 PM »
I don't know if that's the rule or an incorrect rep, but you can just book as 2 one ways and you should have no problems.

It's a rule.  Confirmed with a supervisor that on Int. itins they need to apply the companion to the PNR, so if one isn't available they can't add the companion.

This is the second time I made the mistake of booking a RT WN flight.  Oh well, live and learn.

Offline Hamavin

  • Dansdeals Lifetime Platinum Elite
  • *******
  • Join Date: Oct 2012
  • Posts: 1628
  • Total likes: 3
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 0
    • View Profile
Re: Southwest Companion Pass Master Thread
« Reply #970 on: November 03, 2016, 08:43:36 PM »
If just approved for sw I should wait to meet spend till begging of jan?

Offline mmgfarb

  • Dansdeals Lifetime Presidential Platinum Elite
  • *********
  • Join Date: Dec 2015
  • Posts: 8355
  • Total likes: 1110
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 4
    • View Profile
Re: Southwest Companion Pass Master Thread
« Reply #971 on: November 03, 2016, 08:48:07 PM »
If just approved for sw I should wait to meet spend till begging of jan?
Yes, I'm not sure why you wouldn't, you'll get an extra year out of the companion pass.
"JS [is] a fetid cesspool of unvarnished linguistic manure, with lots of useless drivel and post-padding." -Moishebatchy

Offline shulem92

  • Dansdeals Presidential Platinum Elite
  • ********
  • Join Date: Feb 2015
  • Posts: 2955
  • Total likes: 122
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 1
    • View Profile
  • Location: Lakewood
Re: Southwest Companion Pass Master Thread
« Reply #972 on: November 03, 2016, 08:52:01 PM »
If just approved for sw I should wait to meet spend till begging of jan?
The spending doesn't necessarily need to be after Jan 1, but rather the statement closing date has to be after Jan 1

Offline Hamavin

  • Dansdeals Lifetime Platinum Elite
  • *******
  • Join Date: Oct 2012
  • Posts: 1628
  • Total likes: 3
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 0
    • View Profile
Re: Southwest Companion Pass Master Thread
« Reply #973 on: November 03, 2016, 11:35:38 PM »
The spending doesn't necessarily need to be after Jan 1, but rather the statement closing date has to be after Jan 1
That was gonna be my next question...are you sure?

Online mendy613

  • Dansdeals Platinum Elite + Lifetime Gold Elite
  • ******
  • Join Date: Apr 2013
  • Posts: 871
  • Total likes: 19
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 3
    • View Profile
  • Location: Brooklyn
Re: Southwest Companion Pass Master Thread
« Reply #974 on: November 04, 2016, 12:17:06 AM »
Easiest thing to do is wait till the end of DEC to start spending...
Too many people make a mistake and points post early etc

Offline rsm1444

  • Dansdeals Platinum Elite
  • ****
  • Join Date: Jan 2016
  • Posts: 303
  • Total likes: 5
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 0
    • View Profile
  • Location: San Ramon
Re: Southwest Companion Pass Master Thread
« Reply #975 on: November 04, 2016, 12:48:17 AM »
I have a reservation for Dec travel. If i qualify for a companion pass by end of november. can i add the companion to the reservation that was booked before i qualified for the companion pass.
« Last Edit: November 04, 2016, 12:58:11 AM by rsm1444 »

Offline keemster26

  • Dansdeals Lifetime Platinum Elite
  • *******
  • Join Date: Jan 2015
  • Posts: 2315
  • Total likes: 37
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 5
    • View Profile
Re: Southwest Companion Pass Master Thread
« Reply #976 on: November 04, 2016, 01:00:32 AM »
I have a reservation for Dec travel. If i qualify for a companion pass by end of november. can i add the companion to the reservation that was booked before i qualified for the companion pass.
Yes. As long as there is availability

Offline Hamavin

  • Dansdeals Lifetime Platinum Elite
  • *******
  • Join Date: Oct 2012
  • Posts: 1628
  • Total likes: 3
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 0
    • View Profile
Re: Southwest Companion Pass Master Thread
« Reply #977 on: November 18, 2016, 12:33:11 AM »
If I have extra Ultimate points is there any way I can transfer to marriot in my moms name (without adding au) or from marriot to southwest this way she can get pass or it has to be in my name?

Offline Hamavin

  • Dansdeals Lifetime Platinum Elite
  • *******
  • Join Date: Oct 2012
  • Posts: 1628
  • Total likes: 3
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 0
    • View Profile
Re: Southwest Companion Pass Master Thread
« Reply #978 on: November 19, 2016, 09:49:41 PM »
Basically can I transfer from Ur to hyatt or from hyatt to southwest with same last name but different first(Dont want to waste au)?

Offline wonderlust

  • Dansdeals Lifetime Platinum Elite
  • *******
  • Join Date: Sep 2012
  • Posts: 1014
  • Total likes: 5
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 0
  • Gender: Male
    • View Profile
  • Location: NJ
Re: Southwest Companion Pass Master Thread
« Reply #979 on: November 21, 2016, 12:07:28 PM »
To do the trasnfer of 90k to marriott to get the 110k sthwst plus the 7 nights at marriott. Do you need to choose the hotel stay at the time of transfer or can you just make the transfer and you'll get a credit of 7 nights to use?

Thanks