
Despite any calculation within this post, keep in mind that the true value of the Companion Pass to you depends on how much you can use it.įrom the outset, Southwest has some advantages that have made it attractive as compared to American, Delta, and United. Unfortunately, the past few years were a different story thanks to the pandemic we also had a Companion Pass in my household during 20 and we didn’t get to use it a single time thanks to the pandemic.

For the latter half of the last decade, we used our Companion Pass many times each year, getting tons of value out of it. The decision about whether a Companion Pass makes sense for you starts with how much you’ll use it. The primary focus of this post is the comparative value of the Southwest Companion Pass as opposed to booking award flights on the other major US carriers. You only get value out of it if you use it (but you can count it every time) Given what I expect will continue to be increased demand for domestic travel in 2023, I wanted to revisit methodology for my 2020 comparison, my 2021 comparison, and my 2022 comparison to answer the question, “Is the Southwest Companion Pass still worth it in 2023?”. Getting two passengers for the price of one every time you fly, whether on a paid ticket or award ticket, even when the primary passenger’s ticket is paid for with someone else’s miles, has long been a no-brainer massive value for anyone who can accept Southwest’s boarding process / lack of assigned seats. There is no doubt that the major holiday meltdown of 2022 will be remembered for many years to come - but eventually, I imagine that this, too, shall pass - and when it does, will the Southwest Companion Pass still be the best deal in domestic travel? With booming demand for travel and increased prices across the board, will the savings via the Southwest Companion pass increase in 2023? Some will swear off the airline with the emotions of ruined holiday celebrations still fresh and questions still lingering about which expenses Southwest will reimburse and the rollout of 25K apology points per passenger being very rocky (with many not receiving the points or not able to redeem them because the website appears to be in a constant state of overload).

To earn the elite status perks, you only need to book a single one-way flight by September 24, 2020, and fly by November 15, 2020.Southwest Airlines has had a rough couple of weeks to put it mildly.

If you're planning to fly in the opening weeks of the new year, this bonus is worth it. You will need to act quickly to get Companion Pass for the first two months of 2021. Otherwise, you will need to earn 125,000 qualifying Rapid Rewards or complete 100 one-way flights in a year to earn the Companion Pass. The points you earn from card purchases and the new cardmember bonus count toward the annual point requirements to get the Companion Pass. Spending $5,000 in the first three months lets you earn the first 70,000 points.
#Southwest airlines companion pass contest full
You will need to spend $25,000 within the first six months to earn the full 100k bonus. It's possible to earn up to 100,000 bonus Rapid Rewards with the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Performance Business Credit Card. Applying for a card and purchasing a qualifying flight won't help with this promotion, but you have an accelerated path to earning Companion Pass for all of 2021. Or, you might prefer hitting the ski slopes if you like winter activities.īest Southwest Airlines Credit Card OffersĬhase and the branded Southwest Airlines credit cards are currently running limited-time signup offers as well. The Caribbean or Mexico can be another winter vacation idea.

Hawaii can be a likely destination as the tropical getaway is planning to reopen with "resort bubbles" on October 15, 2020. Then, you and your favorite person can fly at a steep discount for a lovely trip during the dreary winter months. You only need to book a single one-way flight for yourself. While this Companion Pass offer only gives you "elite status" for two months, it's an easy offer to achieve. It's possible to book multiple companion flights during the January and February promotion period.
