Signed up for Southwest's Companion Pass promo? Fly your qualifying trip by November 18

Southwest Airlines ran a short Companion Pass promotion this summer. Signups are closed, but if you took part, there is a deadline coming. To earn the pass, you must finish your qualifying travel by November 18, 2026.

How the promotion works#

Southwest announced the offer on August 3. It was open to Rapid Rewards members for just four days. To qualify, you had to:

1. Register for the promotion.
2. Buy one qualifying round trip, or two qualifying one-way flights, by August 6, 2026. You could pay with cash, points, or a mix of both.
3. Fly that trip by November 18, 2026.

If you do all three, you earn a promotional Companion Pass for early 2027. That lets you name one person to fly with you for free, as often as you like, on qualifying Southwest flights. "Free" means no fare. You still pay taxes and fees, which Southwest says start at $5.60 each way.

If you did not register and book by August 6, you cannot join now.

The travel dates for the pass#

There is a small mismatch in Southwest's own materials. The main text of the announcement says the pass works on flights from January 5 to March 3, 2027. The fine print says the pass is valid from January 1 to March 7, 2027.

The safest plan is to book companion trips within the narrower window, January 5 to March 3. Check the full terms on Southwest.com before you lock in travel near either end.

That window covers the slow weeks after the holidays and much of the late winter. It is a good fit for ski trips, beach getaways and spring break trips that start in early March.

What to check before November 18#

If you registered, take a few minutes now to make sure you are on track:

• Confirm your flights. Make sure your qualifying trip is still booked and that both legs fly on or before November 18. If you changed or canceled the trip, check whether the new booking still counts.
• Check your Rapid Rewards number. The flights must be credited to the same account you registered.
• Pick your companion. You will name your companion once the pass posts. I'd check the terms on how often you can change that person, and choose with care.
• Watch your account. After you fly, look for the pass in your Rapid Rewards account. If it does not appear, contact Southwest.

How it compares with the full Companion Pass#

The full Companion Pass is one of the best-known perks in US air travel, but you earn it through a full year of flying and spending with Southwest and its partners. The bar is high, and most travelers never reach it. The current rules are on Southwest.com.

This promotion was far easier to earn: one round trip booked in a four-day window. The trade-off is time. You get roughly two months of free companion travel, while the full pass lasts much longer.

Southwest framed the offer as a way to show both new and longtime members what Rapid Rewards is worth. Nandika Suri, Southwest's vice president of Rapid Rewards, called the pass one of the most valued benefits in travel.

Other Rapid Rewards perks#

The announcement also reminded members that Rapid Rewards includes free Wi-Fi on Southwest flights, thanks to a deal with T-Mobile. That includes Starlink Wi-Fi on planes that have it.

Looking further ahead, Southwest plans its first airport lounges in Austin, Baltimore, Honolulu and Nashville in late 2027. Southwest says access will come with a new premium Southwest card from Chase. It has not said that a Companion Pass will include lounge access.

You can read Southwest's announcement and the full terms on Southwest.com.

Related reading#

• Southwest is the first US airline with a ChatGPT plugin, but you can't book with points yet
• Where Southwest flyers can wait at Austin, BWI, Nashville and Honolulu until its own lounges open
• Boeing's 737-7 is finally certified, with Southwest first in line for delivery

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