Deal: Get a 2-Month Companion Pass with this Southwest Airlines Promotional Offer

Southwest Airlines has been in the news lately as changes to its leadership, seating policy, red-eye routes, and recent layoffs - all pushed by activist investor Elliott Management - have made headlines. In some good news, Southwest recently announced the return of its promotional companion pass deal. Southwest has launched promotions for the last few years where travelers can earn a short-term Companion Pass. Valid for about two months, a Companion Pass allows the pass holder to choose one person to fly with them for free (save for taxes and fees), unlimited times, whenever the pass-holder purchases or redeems points for a flight.

While this isn't the most compelling offer to me, it's easy to take advantage of, and if you're planning to travel with a plus-one this summer (to places Southwest flies to), it could make sense for you. Let's dive in!

The Southwest Companion Pass

The Southwest Companion Pass is one of my favorite travel deals. As mentioned above, it allows the holder to designate a companion that can fly alongside the holder for free to any destination within the Southwest route network - you only need to pay the taxes and fees on the companion fare. Typically valid for the rest of the year in which it is earned, and the entire next year, a traditional Companion Pass can provide outsized value. If you earn a Companion Pass early in a calendar year, you'll enjoy nearly two years of buy-one-get-one airfare on Southwest. 

For three years in the late 2010s, I was a proud Southwest Companion Pass holder, and collectively, Mrs. Blackbeard and I got a ton of value out of it. We flew a buy-one-get-one fare to Hawaii as some of Southwest's first passengers to the 50th state once the airline cleared ETOPS. One of the best parts about the Companion Pass is that it works on award fares, too. Thus, if you have a slew of Rapid Rewards Points (or have Chase Ultimate Rewards you can transfer to Southwest), you can essentially fly yourself and one other person to your destination, paying just the taxes and fees for two tickets. 

You can read the full scoop on the traditional Companion Pass here. 

The Latest Promotional Companion Pass Offer

As mentioned above, this deal is a promotional companion pass - meaning that it is only valid for a given period - from 8/7-10/8/2025. It's pretty easy to earn this companion pass - here are the requirements:

• Register for the promotion here. (You'll be prompted to log in).
• After registering, you'll need to purchase one round trip or two one-way flights by 2/21/25.
• You'll need to complete the travel by 3/31/25.

If you complete these steps, you'll receive a companion pass valid for the travel period of 8/7 - 10/8/2025.

***A few things to call out: Be sure to register first, then book your flights before 2/21/2025, and make sure you fly before the end of the qualification period, 3/31/2025.

Flights that you may have already booked prior to registration—even if they are for departure dates prior to or on 3/31/2025—won't count.***

Lastly, you can be flexible about who you designate as your companion. You can change your companion up to three times during the promotional period. This may prove helpful if you have summer travel plans involving different groups of people. 

Where Can Your Companion Pass Take You and Your Plus One ? 

Southwest services 117 destinations, including 10 countries in the Caribbean and Latin America - Aruba, Bahamas, Belize, Cayman Islands, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Jamaica, Turks and Caicos, Mexico, and Costa Rica. Throwing in Hawaii, there are plenty of tropical destinations if you're looking to enjoy some fun and sun at the end of summer/early fall. It's low season in almost all those destinations (albeit, it's also Hurricane season for many), so if you can snag a solid hotel deal, you'll be in line to save significant money if you qualify for the Companion Pass. 

South Caicos is just a short plane ride from Providenciales in Turks and Caicos, a Southwest Destination. 

Southwest Airlines offers flights to both San José and Liberia airports in Costa Rica. As one of the most biodiverse places on earth, there are ample waterfalls, jungles, beaches, and volcanos to enjoy, but don't overlook the capital. San Jose is an underrated food city!

Southwest flies to three destinations in Mexico - San Jose del Cabo, Puerta Vallarta and Cancún. The J.W. Marriott Cabo offers one of the more dramatic entrances.

Conclusion 

This deal isn't for me—I don't fly Southwest too much these days, so I won't be able to take advantage of the Companion Pass. That said, if you have any travel before the end of March that can be booked on (or switched to) Southwest Airlines, you'll get to enjoy the perks of the Companion Pass for two months. That's not a bad deal, especially if you can snag some of those low Wanna Get Away fares!