Southwest Airways lately introduced it is going to end its bags-fly-free policy, ditch its Wanna Get Away fare and make several other customer-unfriendly changes. However, not less than up to now, one of the crucial advantageous choices within the journey trade — the Southwest Companion Cross — stays intact.
This helpful profit permits you to carry a companion alongside without cost (excluding relevant taxes and charges) on limitless Southwest Airlines flights till the go expires. For frequent Southwest flyers, this profit alone can simply quantity to hundreds of {dollars} saved yearly. So, this is what it’s best to find out about incomes and utilizing the Southwest Companion Cross.
How one can earn the Southwest Companion Cross
To earn a Southwest Companion Pass legitimate by means of the tip of the following calendar 12 months, you need to accrue 135,000 qualifying factors or full 100 qualifying flights inside a calendar 12 months.
You possibly can earn qualifying factors by means of varied means, together with flying with Southwest and interesting with its companions. The latter contains making purchases by way of the Rapid Rewards shopping portal, finishing resort stays and automotive leases with companions, and utilizing a Southwest bank card for purchases.
Cobranded Southwest bank cards are sometimes the best solution to earn the Companion Cross since you will earn qualifying factors on purchases, and the welcome bonus factors are qualifying. Moreover, vacationers with a cobranded Southwest bank card get 10,000 qualifying factors every calendar 12 months, successfully decreasing the Companion Cross requirement to 125,000 qualifying factors yearly.
Talking of welcome bonuses on Southwest bank cards, this is a take a look at a number of the present provides:
- Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card: Earn a Companion Cross by means of Feb. 28, 2026, plus 30,000 bonus factors after you spend $4,000 on purchases within the first three months from account opening (this supply ends March 31).
- Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card: Earn a Companion Cross by means of Feb. 28, 2026, plus 30,000 bonus factors after you spend $4,000 on purchases within the first three months from account opening (this supply ends March 31).
- Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Premier Business Credit Card: Earn 60,000 factors after you spend $3,000 on purchases within the first three months from account opening.
- Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Performance Business Credit Card: Earn 80,000 factors after you spend $5,000 on purchases within the first three months from account opening.
The 2 shopper Southwest playing cards supply a Companion Cross legitimate by means of Feb. 28, 2026, as a part of their welcome supply. Nevertheless, the bonus factors from every supply might allow you to earn a Companion Cross legitimate by means of the tip of 2026.
Lastly, it is also value noting that Southwest often provides promotions for limited-time Companion Passes. For instance, for a short while in February, Southwest let vacationers earn a two-month Companion Cross for later this 12 months after only one spherical journey or two one-way flights.
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How one can use the Southwest Companion Cross
As soon as you’ve got earned a Companion Cross, Southwest makes it extremely straightforward to make use of.
Arrange your Companion Cross
After you earn the Companion Cross, Southwest will ship you a congratulatory e mail inside just a few days. Log in to your Southwest Fast Rewards account to trace your progress towards incomes the Companion Cross.
Upon receiving the e-mail, click on the hyperlink to arrange your preliminary companion selection. The method is fast, however you will want to supply details about your companion, together with their authorized identify (matching their ID) and beginning date.
If you wish to hold the identical companion throughout your Companion Cross, you will solely must set it up as soon as. Nevertheless, keep in mind you may change your companion as much as 3 times every calendar 12 months.
Associated: 2 for 1: How airline companion tickets can save you serious money on your next trip
E-book your flight
Earlier than utilizing your Companion Cross, you need to ebook your individual Southwest flight. And for those who’re touring with somebody who is not your designated companion, ebook their flight, too. For instance, suppose you’re a household of 4 with one grownup holding the Companion Cross and the opposite grownup being the companion. In that case, it’s best to initially ebook tickets for the Companion Cross holder and the 2 youngsters.
You possibly can pay in your flights with money or redeem Southwest points when utilizing a Companion Cross. Nevertheless, if you buy the tickets with money, keep in mind to incorporate every traveler’s Fast Rewards quantity when reserving to allow them to earn Southwest points on their flights.
Associated: Southwest A-List status: What it is and how to earn it
Add your companion to your reservation
After getting booked your flight, you may add your companion to your reservation. Doing so instantly after reserving your flight is one of the simplest ways to make sure you add your companion earlier than the flight sells out.
Nevertheless, you may’t change a flight with a companion connected. And you may usually save severe factors or money by often checking whether or not you may rebook at a lower rate. As such, TPG lead author Katie Genter suggests establishing a Y9 alert in ExpertFlyer (owned by TPG’s father or mother firm, Pink Ventures) so you will get an e mail when solely 9 seats stay in your flight. Then, as soon as your flight is lower than two weeks out — the purpose at which Southwest flights often develop into costlier — or if you get the Y9 alert e mail, add your companion.
So as to add your companion to a flight, log in to your Southwest account and discover the flight in your upcoming journeys. If you have not added your companion but, it’s best to see an “Add companion” button for the flight.
Click on the button and double-check the prefilled data. Proceed by means of the method till you attain the purpose the place you will must pay the taxes and charges in your companion’s flight. Pay the taxes and charges, and your companion shall be confirmed on the flight. Your companion will get a unique affirmation quantity than you, although.
Associated: ‘The Day Southwest Died’: Reactions pour in about the carrier’s big changes
Backside line
The Companion Cross would possibly present important worth for those who often fly Southwest with a favourite companion. Likewise, for those who would fly Southwest often with one other traveler for those who might achieve this for about half the price, the Companion Cross is value contemplating.
Southwest bank cards can put incomes the Companion Cross inside attain even for those who do not meet the usual necessities by means of flights. Better of all, the Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus Credit Card and Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card have welcome provides by means of March 31 for a Companion Cross legitimate by means of Feb. 28, 2026, plus 30,000 bonus factors after you spend $4,000 on purchases within the first three months from account opening.
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