While airlines in the United States had a pretty good summer, it could end up being a rough fall and winter. Coronavirus cases are on the rise, kids are going back to school, and international travel restrictions continue to remain place. Many airline executives have hinted at future bookings slowing down, so here’s an awesome promotion from Southwest Airlines intended to help secure some bookings.
In this post:
Southwest Companion Pass promo with two flights
Southwest Airlines is offering a limited time Companion Pass. In order to take advantage of this promotion:
- Register for the promotion and then purchase one roundtrip or two one-way flights by September 9, 2021
- Complete travel by November 18, 2021
- Receive a promotional Companion Pass that’s valid between January 6 and February 28, 2022
There are a couple more key terms to be aware of:
- Charter flights, group travel, Southwest Vacations Packages, and Rapid Rewards award tickets, don’t count towards this promotion
- Changes made to itineraries after purchase may eliminate qualification for this promotion
- The requirement here is either one roundtrip or two one-ways; a one-way with two segments wouldn’t satisfy the requirements, for example
Southwest Airlines offered a very similar promotion to this about a year ago.
What is Southwest Companion Pass?
For those of you not familiar with Companion Pass, it’s one of the best deals in travel. Those with Companion Pass can have a companion fly with them for just the cost of taxes, regardless of whether paying cash or redeeming points. With this promotional Companion Pass you can even change your companion three times during the promotional period.
Ordinarily Companion Pass requires 100 flights or 125,000 qualifying points in a year, but this year those requirements are being lowered to 75 flights or 100,000 qualifying points.
To put this promotion into perspective, if you book two one-ways or a roundtrip flight for travel by November 18, you’ll be able to take a companion with you for nearly eight weeks in early 2021. That’s a heck of a deal.
Bottom line
Southwest has an incredibly lucrative Companion Pass offer. If you book and complete just two one-way flights (or one roundtrip), you’ll receive Companion Pass for nearly eight weeks in early 2022, allowing you to take a companion with you.
If you’re planning any travel in the coming weeks and may also be traveling next year, then this promotion is definitely worth considering. From Southwest’s perspective this offer makes a lot of sense — the airline is encouraging people to fly around periods with weak leisure demand, at a time when future bookings seem to be slowing down a bit.
Do you plan on taking advantage of this Southwest promo?
Does anyone know when the companion pass will be posted? Or at least when you might be notified that you definitely received the promotion pass?
It’s January 1st and I STILL haven’t gotten confirmation from Southwest that I’ve earned this even though it’s supposed to go live in 6 days.
Anyone else see anything to the contrary?
I got this deal! Can't wait for the January calendar to open tomorrow (09/16/21) so I can start looking at flights :)
Good deal from SWA but I missed the registration cut off unfortunantly
Good deal from SWA but I missed the registration cut off
WN is also running a 2X Tier Qualifying Point promo. It may or may not be a targeted promo. In any case, you access the promo via the My Account page under "promotions". Registration is required. Once registered, you earn 2X TQP for every flight booked and flown between 9/3/21 and 11/30/21. The TQP bonus will count for status qualification but NOT Companion Pass status. The bonus TQPs will also not be redeemable. 2X is...
WN is also running a 2X Tier Qualifying Point promo. It may or may not be a targeted promo. In any case, you access the promo via the My Account page under "promotions". Registration is required. Once registered, you earn 2X TQP for every flight booked and flown between 9/3/21 and 11/30/21. The TQP bonus will count for status qualification but NOT Companion Pass status. The bonus TQPs will also not be redeemable. 2X is earned only on flights booked and flown after registration during the promo period. Pre-existing bookings do not earn 2X. You will need to cancel and re-book for those AFTER you register. The Promo is stackable with the current Companion Pass promo.
I helped my sister in law book this yesterday morning. If you're nervous about a previous booking then just book another roundtrip and make sure you pay cash for it
I have already purchased a ticket that meets all the guidelines for the Companion Ticket. Am I still eligible?
It says you can't use miles to pay for the ticket, but what about paying with Travel Funds? I don't see any rule that prohibits it, but don't want to mess this up.
I’d like to know this also. I have travel funds.
According to a SWA Agent I just spoke with travel funds and gift cards qualify!
Just booked r/t HNL-OGG for $39 each way...this is a steal of a deal to get the companion pass for less than $80. ;)
Just cancelled and rebooked a set of flights to qualify for this. May not use it, but for the $20 extra bucks it cost me, worth it.
They had the same promo last year if i remember correctly.
Yep...I did a r/t DAL-HOU to get it...and it saved my behind in February during the massive winter storm that started in the PNW then dumped all over Texas and Louisiana.
Does changing can existing flight count as a new book or should I cancel the whole thing & start over?
Need to cancel and start over...it's new bookings only