Quick Take: Southwest is offering a promotional Companion Pass after one qualifying round trip or two one-way flights. Register before booking, make the new reservation by 11:59 p.m. Central on August 6, and complete the qualifying travel by November 18. The promotional pass will then be valid from January 5 through March 3, 2027. Cash, points and Cash + Points reservations qualify, including Basic fares, but companion tickets still require available space and taxes and fees.
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Southwest has brought back one of its most useful short-term promotions, and this version is unusually easy to earn.
Instead of flying 100 qualifying one-way flights or earning 135,000 Companion Pass qualifying points, you can earn a temporary Companion Pass by registering and completing one round trip—or two one-way flights.
The catch is the timeline. You only have through Thursday, August 6, to register and book. The flight that earns the pass must be completed by November 18, while the pass itself won’t become usable until January 5, 2027.
If those dates fit travel you were already planning, this could be a straightforward way to create nearly two months of two-for-one travel. If they don’t, booking an unnecessary flight just to earn a pass you may not use can turn a good promotion into wasted money.
How the Southwest Companion Pass Promotion Works
Southwest’s official terms break the offer into three steps:
- Register for the promotion using your Rapid Rewards account before booking.
- Book one qualifying round trip or two qualifying one-way Southwest flights between August 3 and 11:59 p.m. Central on August 6, 2026.
- Complete that qualifying travel between August 3 and November 18, 2026.
After completing the requirements, you’ll receive a promotional Companion Pass valid for travel from January 5 through March 3, 2027. Southwest says qualifying members will receive an email within 10 days with instructions for designating and using the companion.
Registration has to happen first. A reservation made before registration doesn’t qualify, even if the flight falls inside the travel period.
Cash, Points and Basic Fares All Qualify
This version of the promotion is more flexible than some past offers. Southwest’s terms specifically say that redemption reservations and Cash + Points bookings qualify. Basic, Choice, Choice Preferred and Choice Extra fares are all eligible for the earning trip.
That means you don’t need to buy an expensive fare or use cash if an inexpensive points redemption works better. A round-trip points reservation can qualify with only the required taxes paid in cash.
Cash + Points bookings earn Rapid Rewards points and status-qualifying credit only on the cash portion of the base fare. A full points reservation can qualify for this promotion, but it doesn’t become a revenue flight for the ordinary Companion Pass qualification rules.
Companion Pass travel, charter flights, group travel and Getaways by Southwest bookings don’t count as the qualifying round trip or two one-ways.
Don’t Mix Up the Two Travel Windows
The qualifying flight and the companion travel happen in different periods:
- Earn the pass: book by August 6 and complete the qualifying trip by November 18, 2026.
- Use the pass: travel with your companion between January 5 and March 3, 2027.
You don’t receive free companion travel on the flight used to earn the promotion unless you already hold a separate Companion Pass. The August-through-November trip merely unlocks the temporary pass for early 2027.
The earning trip also needs to finish inside the promotion window. A round trip departing November 17 and returning November 19 wouldn’t satisfy the stated November 18 deadline.
Don’t change the trip casually: Southwest says itinerary changes made after the August 6 booking period may eliminate qualification. If you need to adjust a qualifying flight, confirm the effect with Southwest before making the change and save the promotion terms, registration confirmation and original reservation.
What the Promotional Companion Pass Provides
During the January 5–March 3 validity period, you can designate one person to accompany you on eligible Southwest flights without paying the companion’s airfare. The companion still pays taxes and fees, starting at $5.60 each way for a domestic itinerary.
Your own ticket can be purchased with cash or Rapid Rewards points. After booking it, you add the designated companion through the My Trips section of your Southwest account.
The pass isn’t limited to one use. You can add the companion to multiple eligible trips during the promotional period, which is where the value can grow quickly.
The companion’s reservation doesn’t earn Rapid Rewards points, tier-qualifying points or Companion Pass qualifying points. It also isn’t a purchased reservation that can support another companion booking.
Companion Space Isn’t Guaranteed in Advance
You can reserve your own early-2027 flights before the promotional pass becomes active, but Southwest says you can’t designate and add the companion until the pass is awarded on January 5.
At that point, the companion seat is subject to flight capacity and availability. If a popular flight sells out before January 5, holding your own ticket won’t create an extra seat for the companion.
That matters for holiday weekends, school breaks and routes with limited frequencies. Check how many seats remain before committing to nonrefundable hotels or activities for two people.
If the flight is already expensive or nearly full, consider a more flexible date or alternate airport. The thePointsPage Travel Planning Checklist can help keep both reservations, hotel deadlines and backup options organized.
You Can Change the Companion—With Limits
Southwest allows up to three companion changes during the promotional period. That can make the pass useful for different trips with a spouse, friend or family member.
You can only have one designated companion at a time. Before changing the name, make sure any existing companion reservations are handled correctly. A reservation attached to the former companion doesn’t automatically transfer to the new person.
If you later earn a standard Companion Pass in 2027, changes made during the promotional period reduce the number of companion changes available for the rest of that calendar year.
What If You Already Booked a Southwest Trip?
A flight booked before registration doesn’t qualify. The promotion requires a new qualifying reservation made after registration and during the August 3–6 booking period.
You may be considering cancelling and rebooking an existing trip. Before doing that, confirm the current fare and available seats. The replacement price could be higher, and changing an existing confirmation isn’t the same as creating a clearly eligible new booking.
If the promotion is the reason you’re rebuilding an existing itinerary, register first, keep screenshots and make sure the final reservation shows your Rapid Rewards number and eligible travel dates. When the handling is ambiguous, ask Southwest to confirm qualification in writing.
Is This Promotion Worth It?
The strongest use case is simple: you already need a Southwest round trip before November 18 and expect to take at least one Southwest trip with another person between January 5 and March 3.
Even one companion trip can produce meaningful savings. Two or three trips can make the promotion exceptionally valuable, especially when your own reservations are booked with points.
The calculation is weaker when you need to manufacture an unnecessary qualifying trip, reposition to an airport Southwest serves or force travel into a narrow winter window. Include the earning flight, ground transportation, parking, hotel and your time when deciding whether the pass is truly free.
Use the Tools of the Trade guide to compare fares and flight options. If you’re paying cash, review the travel protections attached to the card before booking. Coverage depends on the card, payment method and reason for a disruption.
Promotional Pass vs. Standard Companion Pass
This offer doesn’t provide a full year—or nearly two years—of companion travel. It’s valid only from January 5 through March 3, 2027.
The ordinary Companion Pass requires 100 qualifying one-way flights or 135,000 qualifying points in a calendar year. Once earned, it remains valid for the rest of that year and the following full calendar year.
The promotion is dramatically easier to earn, but its value depends on a much smaller travel window. Don’t let the familiar “Companion Pass” name obscure the expiration date.
Getting to the Point(s)
Southwest’s promotion offers a remarkably short path to nearly two months of companion travel. Register first, book one qualifying round trip or two one-way flights by August 6, and complete the trip by November 18.
Cash, points and Cash + Points reservations qualify, and every Southwest fare type can be used for the earning flight. The promotional pass then applies to eligible companion travel from January 5 through March 3, 2027.
The offer is best when the qualifying trip and at least one winter trip already fit your plans. If you need to invent travel merely to participate, calculate the complete cost before letting a short deadline make the decision for you.
Keep the Two Travel Windows Organized
The earning trip and companion trips have different dates, reservations and deadlines. Use the free Travel Planning Checklist to keep them together, and follow The Runway for new airline and loyalty promotions.
Sources & Further Reading
- Southwest — Promotional Companion Pass Registration, FAQs and Terms
- Southwest — Standard Companion Pass Rules and Usage
- One Mile at a Time — August 2026 Companion Pass Promotion
- Thrifty Traveler — Qualifying Fares and Booking Options
- Travel on Points — Promotional Companion Pass Overview
This article reflects the promotion terms available on August 4, 2026. Southwest may amend the promotion or Rapid Rewards program. Confirm your registration, booking dates, travel dates, reservation type and current terms directly with Southwest before purchasing or changing travel.
