Few advantages within the factors and miles world are extra profitable than the Southwest Companion Pass. As soon as earned, you possibly can bring a designated friend or family member in your Southwest Airways flights — whether or not your ticket is a income reserving or a Southwest Rapid Rewards redemption.
Incomes the Companion Move sometimes requires a whole lot of flying and spending — or a limited-time provide on a Southwest credit card. Final fall, nevertheless, the provider introduced again its (now expired) promotion, which allowed members to earn a limited-time Companion Pass by taking a single round-trip flight (or two one-way flights).
I knew I might fly Southwest a minimum of 3 times when this promotional cross could be legitimate, so I hatched a wild plan. May I discover a cheap journey to satisfy the {qualifications} and save lots of of {dollars} in airfare?
And the reply shortly fell into my lap. Here is why I wound up taking the good distance from Lengthy Seashore, California, to Los Angeles — and the way I received practically $500 price of flights by spending lower than $120.
Associated: It’s back: Earn a Companion Pass plus 30,000 points with these limited-time Southwest card offers
Planning my technique
The provide phrases have been comparatively easy. After registering, you needed to guide a round-trip flight (or two one-way flights) between Sept. 3 and Sept. 5, 2024. Journey needed to be accomplished by Nov. 20, 2024, after which your promotional Companion Move could be legitimate from Jan. 6 to March 6, 2025.
This was significantly interesting resulting from a pair of beforehand deliberate journeys with my household:
- Orlando Worldwide Airport (MCO) to Pittsburgh Worldwide Airport (PIT) for this weekend’s Groundhog Day celebrations in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania (Feb. 2 is my birthday)
- MCO to Louis Armstrong New Orleans Worldwide Airport (MSY) for a February weekend to benefit from the Mardi Gras festivities
Whereas not wildly costly, the mixed worth of those flights was round $500 per particular person, which turned a dear proposition for me, my spouse and my daughter.
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So, I attempted to determine a approach to make the most of this limited-time provide to my benefit.
Sadly, it turned clear that a wholly separate journey wasn’t possible. The most cost effective same-day, round-trip flight I may discover that labored for my schedule nonetheless rang in at over $150 — and that is with out the drive to the airport, parking charges and misplaced productiveness from being on the highway.
Nonetheless, that is once I realized that I had a terrific alternative on a visit that was already occurring.
Reserving the right itinerary
On the finish of October, I had been requested to talk at a convention in Lengthy Seashore in the course of the eligible journey window to earn the Companion Move. On account of scheduling restrictions, I used to be booked to fly out and in of Los Angeles Worldwide Airport (LAX). That sparked my considering — may I discover low cost flights in Southern California throughout my journey? Or, may I even fly from Lengthy Seashore Airport (LGB) to LAX by way of one other close by Southwest metropolis?
Sure, because it seems.
A couple of hours after my session was set to finish on the Lengthy Seashore Conference Heart, there was a one-way, nonstop flight from LGB to Harry Reid Worldwide Airport (LAS) in Las Vegas. From there, I had a number of nonstop choices to get to LAX. Apart from the airfare, there have been no extra bills to incur. Reserving these flights would exchange taking a ride-hailing service again as much as Los Angeles (although I did want a shorter journey to LGB).
Here is what my same-day itinerary regarded like:
| Flight | Route | Departure | Arrival | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Southwest Flight 2678 | LGB-LAS | 12:55 p.m. | 2:05 p.m. | $85.97 |
| Southwest Flight 3125 | LAS-LAX | 5:45 p.m. | 7:05 p.m. | $70.98 |
Since these have been separate reservations (to fulfill the requirement of taking two one-way flights), I gave myself loads of time to attach. Nonetheless, I opted to spend an additional $15 for a Wanna Get Away Plus fare on the flight from LAS to LAX — this gave me the choice of a free same-day change if I needed to chop down my layover time in Las Vegas.
I charged each flights to my Chase Sapphire Reserve® to earn 3 factors per greenback (after utilizing the annual $300 journey credit score) and luxuriate in numerous journey protections in case issues went fallacious. Fortunately, although, the plan went off with out a hitch.
Flying from Lengthy Seashore to LA by way of Las Vegas
After my session completed, I known as a Lyft and headed to LGB. The journey price $33.35 complete (fares to get again to LAX round that point have been round $60, not together with tip). It was my first time flying out of that airport, and it was a beautiful expertise. Safety was a breeze, and I had loads of time to seize a fast sandwich and wander the open-air house between the 2 units of gates earlier than boarding commenced for my flight to Las Vegas.
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The airplane was solely about two-thirds full, so I loved a window seat with an empty center. We pushed again three minutes late and took off at 1:09 p.m. into a stunning Southern California sky.
The flight was fairly turbulent, so there was no drink service, however we landed simply 39 minutes after takeoff and parked on the gate at 1:56 p.m., 9 minutes early.
Since I simply had a carry-on bag, I knew I might don’t have any hassle making an earlier flight. Earlier than deplaning, I fired up the Southwest app, and, positive sufficient, I may verify a seat on the three:50 p.m. departure for no extra payment (it could’ve been $75 had I booked the cheaper Wanna Get Away fare). That also gave me loads of time to take the practice to Concourse D and go to the Las Vegas Centurion Lounge, which I accessed with my Platinum Card® from American Express.
There was a brief wait to get in, however lower than 10 minutes later, I used to be having fun with some scrumptious meals whereas catching up on work.
It was quickly time to go again to the C gates for my flight to LAX. Due to my same-day change, I used to be assigned B 58 as my boarding place — however like my first flight, the airplane wasn’t practically full, so I had one other empty center seat for the brief hop.
We pushed again two minutes early and took off at 3:59 p.m. We have been within the air for simply 42 minutes, touching down at 4:41 p.m. and parking on the gate simply six minutes after touchdown, 23 minutes forward of schedule. It was a brief stroll from Terminal 1 to the Hyatt Regency Los Angeles Worldwide Airport.
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Lower than 24 hours after finishing the necessities, I obtained an e mail from Southwest confirming {that a} promotional Companion Move could be on the way in which in early January.
Receiving — after which utilizing — the Companion Move
On Monday, Jan. 6, 2025, I obtained one other e mail from Southwest notifying me that the Companion Move had arrived and that I may designate my companion on-line. With only a few clicks, my daughter formally turned the beneficiary of my harebrained scheme.
Then, I simply had so as to add her to my present reservations. This, too, was a easy course of, as Southwest had a transparent callout so as to add a companion proper from my account dashboard.
You are still liable for taxes and costs in your companion’s ticket, however that got here to only $11.20 for this round-trip flight to Pittsburgh.
I then added her to our second flight to New Orleans, paying solely $5.60 in taxes and costs for her ticket. Identical to that, we have been all set.
I received practically $500 in flights for about $120
So, was this journey price it? In brief, completely.
My two flights in California price $156.95, and once you add the Lyft to the airport, the overall price was $190.30. Nonetheless, I saved a journey again to LAX, which might’ve been roughly $72 ($60 for the bottom fare plus a 20% tip). So, in actuality, the web expense was lower than $120.
In return, I received a Companion Move for my daughter that saved the next on airfare:
- MCO-PIT-MCO: $11.20 in taxes and costs as a substitute of $321.96
- MSY-MCO: $5.60 in taxes and costs as a substitute of $186.48
- Complete financial savings: $491.64
Most significantly, this journey was achieved with minimal interruption to my every day life. It occurred on a visit I used to be taking already, and I may nonetheless work full days.
Lastly, whereas this promotion is not accessible, it’s price noting that there are at the moment some limited-time credit card offers to earn a Companion Move. When you apply for the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card, the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card or the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card, you possibly can earn a Companion Move legitimate by Feb. 28, 2026 — plus 30,000 bonus factors — after spending $4,000 throughout the first three months from account opening.
Backside line
Final October, I flew from Lengthy Seashore to Los Angeles by way of Las Vegas. And, no, it wasn’t simply to keep away from site visitors in Southern California. As an alternative, by embedding these two flights inside a enterprise journey I used to be already taking, I earned a two-month Southwest Companion Move.
In all, I spent $118.30 to finally get $491.64 price of flights — a incredible return for little to no problem. Put one other manner, I stored $373.34 in my pocket, which can go a good distance towards protecting different journey bills.
This promotion is not accessible, however it could come again sooner or later. And for this or every other related provide, there’s a key takeaway: When one crops up, take a look at your upcoming travels. You may have the ability to use it to your benefit.
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