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Southwest Airlines offers one of the most well-known companion discounts. If you qualify, the Southwest Companion Pass lets you choose one guest to fly free with you every time you purchase or redeem points for your own ticket on a flight within the U. Keep in mind, no airline offers a perfect companion ticket. Unlike some airlines that offer a single companion ticket once a year, Southwest allows qualified members to designate a friend to fly with them for free not including taxes and fees on multiple Southwest flights for up to two years.
Since it will be valid for the remainder of the calendar year in which your status is earned and the entire calendar year after that, a single Companion Pass may be valid for nearly two years. Well, almost in half. Each of the above cards also comes with a sign-up bonus. It helps that Southwest allows you to pool points from multiple cards. Points from those purchases may go toward qualifying for the Companion Pass.
A companion fare or ticket is simply a one-time pass for a companion to join you on a flight either free of charge or for a small fee, a 2-for-1 deal. A companion pass gives you those same 2-for-1 privileges, but over a longer period, potentially years. Needless to say, the value of a companion pass is significantly greater than that of a companion fare or ticket.
The companion fares on this list are typically earned after meeting a modest minimum spend on a credit card, or on account anniversary when paying the annual fee. The companion must be traveling with another passenger on a paid published fare, on the same itinerary, and booked at the same time. Both passengers accrue mileage on the fare. Note: The companion fare may be used by anyone. Only the primary traveler accrues miles for the flight. The SkyMiles Companion Fares are only valid for domestic flights and differ slightly in what they offer.
Note: Companion certificates are valid for one round-trip First Class or Main Cabin depending on certificate type companion ticket with the purchase of certain adult round-trip fares on published routings within the 48 contiguous United States.
Seats are limited to specific fare booking classes. Virgin Islands must originate from there to the 48 contiguous United States. See the linked posts for details. There are two companion certificate options with American Airlines — one from a personal and one with a business credit card. Both certificates aren't the easiest to earn, nor are they the most generous companion fares available, but you've got options:.
Valid for one year from date of issue on AA flights within the 48 contiguous United States. A companion pass differs from a companion fare in that it can be used multiple times, in some cases for almost 24 months.
There are only two programs that offer a full companion pass, and there is a big difference in value. One of the holy grails of the frequent flyer community, the Southwest Companion Pass is one of the most rewarding benefits of any airline loyalty program.
Take a companion with you on any flight for just the cost of fees and taxes, including award flights! Update: As part of its Covid response, Southwest is giving all members a boost of 25, Companion Pass qualifying points for Members now only need to collect , qualifying points in the calendar year to earn the Companion Pass. As with most rewards redemptions, however, timing is everything when it comes to earning the Southwest Companion Pass, and if you get that timing right, you can hold the Pass for the better part of two years.
The reason for this is that once you have earned enough points for the Pass, you receive it for the remainder of the calendar year in which you earn it, plus the whole of the next year. With the current increased offers on the consumer Southwest credit cards , earning a Companion Pass in is more attainable than ever before. Earn up to , bonus points. Show more Highlights Earning Rates Our best points offer ever! Now enjoy more benefits and more ways to earn. Earn 2X points on local transit and commuting, including rideshare.
Earn 2X points on internet, cable, phone services, and select streaming. Show more Why We Like It Highlights Earning Rates The latest card to join the Southwest lineup of rewards cards, the Southwest Performance Business Card offers the highest Rapid Rewards signup bonus, earns more points than it's Southwest counterparts, receives a massive 9, point anniversary bonus, plus offers plenty of perks and benefits for Southwest fans.
One of the best co-brand business cards on the market. Earn 2X points on rideshare. Earn 2X points on social media and search engine advertising, internet, cable, and phone services and 1X points on all other purchases. Earn unlimited tier qualifying points towards A-List status.
If you're eligible for multiple Southwest cards, you can earn a Companion Pass even faster by applying for a business card and one of the three consumer cards. Or, small business owners could opt to acquire both of the business cards.
The value of a companion pass or fare can have a huge variance between airlines, with some barely qualifying as a benefit, and others worth selling a small part of your soul to acquire. We rate the Southwest Companion Pass as one of the most valuable frequent flyer perks available today, and signing up for the Southwest co-branded credit cards is the fastest and easiest way of attaining it.
The comments on this page are not provided, reviewed, or otherwise approved by the bank advertiser. Click here to cancel reply. Notify me of followup comments via e-mail Notify me of followup posts via e-mail. Turkish Airlines offers an international companion award ticket for less miles than a regular reward. Do any other airlines offer these? How do you earn that international companion award ticket?
The only other companion awards that we are aware of are in this post! With the American Airlines Companion Pass—do you have to actually fly by the expiration date or do you just have to book the flights by the expiration date. Do you know if you can use the AA companion pass flying in and out of different airports. Thank you for writing the comparisons here for us. Thank you for collecting and sharing this information about companion ticket benefits.
In a bit of bind. My daughter deploys in 1 week.. Are there any airlines that offer companion fares or discounted fares for me to fly from CO with them? And no.. Margaret, unfortunately not with this little time. If you are an elite member, you may be eligible to upgrade both tickets for free, or you can redeem miles to upgrade.
Yes, but you can only redeem the Alaska Companion Fare on Alaska Airlines-operated flights, not partner-operated flights. Alaska currently flies internationally to Canada, Costa Rica and Mexico.
The Alaska Companion Fare can only be used in conjunction with a paid ticket, so you cannot use the companion fare to add a person to your itinerary that you booked with miles. Both people traveling on the itinerary will earn miles for the flight, even if one person is traveling on a Alaska Companion Fare. Make sure your Alaska Mileage Plan account numbers are entered when booking.
Here are our picks for the best travel credit cards of , including those best for:. Master the nuts and bolts. Back to top. Use it for expensive itineraries. Get creative. Target the holidays. Bring your family to you. Get multiple companion passes.
Frequently asked questions How often can you use Alaska Companion Fare? Can I use the Alaska Companion Fare for first class? Can you use the Alaska Companion Fare on international flights? Can I use the Alaska Companion Fare with an award ticket? Do I earn miles with the Alaska Companion Fare?
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