You Have Your Southwest Companion Pass- Now What?
Advertiser Disclosure: The Rewards Mom has partnered with CardRatings for our coverage of credit card products. The Rewards Mom and CardRatings may receive a commission from card issuers.
The Southwest Companion Pass is one of the most valuable perks for families who travel, giving your designated companion unlimited free flights (just pay taxes and fees) with you on any Southwest flight. If you’ve already earned it—amazing! Now let’s make sure you’re using it to its full potential.
If you’re still working your way into the points world, don’t miss my Beginner’s Guide to Points & Miles—it’s a great place to start!
Picking Your Travel Buddy
Once the pass is active, you’ll need to assign your companion. Log in to your Southwest account and go to “My Account” → “Choose Your Companion.” You’ll enter their info there.
It can be your spouse, child, best friend—whoever you want! And yes, you can change it up to three times per calendar year.
🚨 Just make sure to cancel any booked flights for your current companion before making a switch. It’s usually instant but could take up to 48 hours.
You can change companions online, through the app, or by calling 1-800-435-9792.
Booking Flights with the Companion Pass
The process is simple. First, book your own flight (with cash, points, or credits). Then, look for the button to “Add Companion.” On desktop it’s a white button under your trip; on the app, it’s a big blue plus sign.
Click it, pay the taxes (usually just $5.60 one-way), and that’s it—your companion is booked!
✈️ Tip: Always check there’s at least one seat left on the flight before booking, just to be safe.
How Often Can You Use It?
As often as you want! There are no blackout dates, no limit on use. As long as a seat is available for purchase, your companion can fly free with you. Think holidays, school breaks, and spontaneous getaways.
Planning Around Southwest’s Flight Releases
Southwest releases flights in batches every few months, and prices are often lowest right when they drop. If you’re planning a trip to a hot spot like Hawaii or Orlando, it pays to be ready to book early.
💡 Waiting for your pass to activate but don’t want to miss out? Book your companion’s seat with points, then cancel and rebook them as your free companion once your pass kicks in. More on how to book Disney trips with points here.
Tips to Make the Most of It
✅ TSA PreCheck or Global Entry: Kids under 13 can’t use your PreCheck unless they’re on the same confirmation number. Since Southwest creates a separate number for companions, Global Entry is a better long-term bet—and some cards cover the fee for kids!
✅ Check-In Timing Matters: Southwest doesn’t assign seats. You’ll want to check in exactly 24 hours before the flight (or use EarlyBird Check-In). Keep in mind your companion might end up in a different boarding group. If you’re flying with kids who are too old for Family Boarding but too young to sit alone, that can be tricky.
✅ Use Upgrade Perks: Some cards offer upgraded boarding or reimburse EarlyBird Check-In. Here’s a list of cards I recommend for flexible travel rewards—especially helpful for perks like these.
✅ Monitor Prices: If your flight drops in price after booking, you can rebook and get a refund in points or travel credit. Southwest’s change policy is one of the most flexible in the industry.
Want more travel tips for families? Be sure to join my email list for weekly ideas, tips, and deals. I also share daily travel advice over on Instagram and inside our private Facebook group.
Where Can You Go?
With the Companion Pass, the sky’s the limit—literally. Popular spots include:
🌴 Hawaii
🎢 Disneyland & Disney World
🗽 New York City
🐠 Cancun, Costa Rica, and more
Southwest also flies to charming U.S. cities like Charleston, Nashville, and Salt Lake City. Sometimes, flying to a larger hub can unlock cheaper international routes too.
If you're pairing this with hotel points, don’t miss my guide to using Hyatt for family travel. And if you’re thinking about a Disney trip, here’s how we used points for Disneyland.
Want to keep the pass for future years? It’s totally doable.
Most families earn it through welcome offers. If you’re strategizing for next year, track your cards in Travel Freely so you’ll know when you’re eligible again. If you’re new to business cards, check out this guide to qualifying—you might be surprised what qualifies.
Here are some of my favorite cards if you're looking to boost your points next time around.
Editorial Disclosure: Opinions, reviews, analyses & recommendations are the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, endorsed, or approved by any of these entities.
Advertiser Disclosure: The Rewards Mom has partnered with CardRatings for our coverage of credit card products. The Rewards Mom and CardRatings may receive a commission from card issuers.
