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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 316433 times)

Offline sb139422

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Re: Southwest Companion Pass Master Thread
« Reply #1160 on: January 19, 2017, 06:30:14 PM »
Anyone want to purchase 120k points and a companion pass?

Offline coolmuke

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Re: Southwest Companion Pass Master Thread
« Reply #1161 on: January 21, 2017, 02:21:56 PM »
Is there a dedicated thread for SPG-Marriott-SW for companion pass. Wanted data points on the transfer times. I was short of points and just applied for Marriott CC. Wanted to be sure if I can make it before 31st. Once the points from CC posts, I also have to transfer some to my wifes account.

Offline Hamavin

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Re: Southwest Companion Pass Master Thread
« Reply #1162 on: January 22, 2017, 09:18:32 AM »
How long before statement closes do I need to finish spend on marriot biz to get the bonus points on that statement?

Offline Ryan the Yid

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Re: Southwest Companion Pass Master Thread
« Reply #1163 on: January 23, 2017, 01:05:42 AM »
My companion pass just ended this past December, Can I earn companion again with spend or only by flying?

Offline mmgfarb

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Re: Southwest Companion Pass Master Thread
« Reply #1164 on: January 23, 2017, 01:27:42 AM »
My companion pass just ended this past December, Can I earn companion again with spend or only by flying?
Yes.
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Offline Ryan the Yid

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Re: Southwest Companion Pass Master Thread
« Reply #1165 on: January 23, 2017, 01:33:20 AM »

Offline mmgfarb

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Re: Southwest Companion Pass Master Thread
« Reply #1166 on: January 23, 2017, 01:34:10 AM »
How much spend?
One PPD spend will be $110k
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Offline Ryan the Yid

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Re: Southwest Companion Pass Master Thread
« Reply #1167 on: January 24, 2017, 10:31:50 AM »
One PPD spend will be $110k

I guess that will be a lot of MS. Is that for another two years or just one year?

Offline mmgfarb

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Southwest Companion Pass Master Thread
« Reply #1168 on: January 24, 2017, 10:38:06 AM »
I guess that will be a lot of MS. Is that for another two years or just one year?
Rest of the year in which you earn it plus the next year. Honestly, if you're really planning on putting all that money on SW cards, you're better off putting that spend on an SPG or a FU. Even assuming all of that will be 1cpp spend no matter what card you put it on (highly unlikely) you'll still come out ahead with 110k SPG or 165k UR instead of 110k SW plus a CP.
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Online Yehuda57

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Re: Southwest Companion Pass Master Thread
« Reply #1169 on: January 24, 2017, 10:43:23 AM »
Rest of the year in which you earn it plus the next year. Honestly, if you're really planning on putting all that money on SW cards, you're better off putting that spend on an SPG or a FU. Even assuming all of that will be 1cpp spend no matter what card you put it on (highly unlikely) you'll still come out ahead with 110k SPG or 165k UR instead of 110k SW plus a CP.
How does 165k ur get you a cp?

Offline mmgfarb

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Re: Southwest Companion Pass Master Thread
« Reply #1170 on: January 24, 2017, 10:50:03 AM »
How does 165k ur get you a cp?
I meant monetarily wise, although now that I think about it, depending on how you use the CP, it may be more worthwhile then the extra UR.
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Offline Ryan the Yid

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Re: Southwest Companion Pass Master Thread
« Reply #1171 on: January 24, 2017, 11:36:54 AM »
I meant monetarily wise, although now that I think about it, depending on how you use the CP, it may be more worthwhile then the extra UR.

According to my calculations flying on a CP is worth approximately 4 cents, which is more than any SPG. The only exception I can think of is the Sherraton Eatontown, they charge $240/night weekends or 3000 points which comes out to around 8 cents.

Offline Ryan the Yid

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Re: Southwest Companion Pass Master Thread
« Reply #1172 on: January 25, 2017, 01:37:54 AM »
Yes.

Does the Marriott  travel package transfer work to get cp even if you have already had it?

Offline shulem92

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Re: Southwest Companion Pass Master Thread
« Reply #1173 on: January 25, 2017, 01:46:26 AM »
Does the Marriott  travel package transfer work to get cp even if you have already had it?
Why not?

Offline shulem92

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Re: Southwest Companion Pass Master Thread
« Reply #1174 on: January 25, 2017, 01:48:15 AM »
According to my calculations flying on a CP is worth approximately 4 cents, which is more than any SPG. The only exception I can think of is the Sherraton Eatontown, they charge $240/night weekends or 3000 points which comes out to around 8 cents.
There are many more exceptions...but ur math is correct. Its a great value. SW themselves value it at 3.5 CPP, because they value their points at 1.75 IINM

Offline ShlockDoc

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Re: Southwest Companion Pass Master Thread
« Reply #1175 on: January 25, 2017, 07:52:58 AM »
According to my calculations flying on a CP is worth approximately 4 cents, which is more than any SPG. The only exception I can think of is the Sherraton Eatontown, they charge $240/night weekends or 3000 points which comes out to around 8 cents.

 It depends how you calculate it. With companion pass you get more for your points but you don't save more dollars since the price in dollars for two tickets is the same as one. So the cpp isn't doubled.

For example:  if a flight from New York to Florida costs $100 or 10000 points your CPP is one.   If you have companion pass you are  getting two tickets but your cost is still only $100 therefore making the CPP still one.

Offline as2

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Re: Southwest Companion Pass Master Thread
« Reply #1176 on: January 25, 2017, 07:58:19 AM »
It depends how you calculate it. With companion pass you get more for your points but you don't save more dollars since the price in dollars for two tickets is the same as one. So the cpp isn't doubled.

For example:  if a flight from New York to Florida costs $100 or 10000 points your CPP is one.   If you have companion pass you are  getting two tickets but your cost is still only $100 therefore making the CPP still one.
Correct, but the comparison is between the price without the CP and the price with the CP. Dollars or points, you're still at a 50% gain
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Offline coolmuke

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Re: Southwest Companion Pass Master Thread
« Reply #1177 on: January 25, 2017, 08:39:25 AM »
Trying to get CP before march 31st- How long does it take for points to show up for transfers between spouse accounts?

Offline 12HRS

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Re: Southwest Companion Pass Master Thread
« Reply #1178 on: January 25, 2017, 09:39:17 AM »
Trying to get CP before march 31st- How long does it take for points to show up for transfers between spouse accounts?

please don't cross post.

i believe you can call them and have them do it over the phone since you need it for an immediate redemption.

Offline coolmuke

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Re: Southwest Companion Pass Master Thread
« Reply #1179 on: January 25, 2017, 09:45:00 AM »
please don't cross post.

i believe you can call them and have them do it over the phone since you need it for an immediate redemption.
Thanks. Deleted the other post.