Southwest Airlines is offering Rapid Rewards members a shortcut to one of travel’s most coveted benefits: a two-month promotional Companion Pass, available through August 6. Qualifying members can earn the pass by booking just one round-trip flight or two one-way flights, then completing travel by November 18. Once earned, the promotional Companion Pass will be valid from January 5 through March 3, 2027, allowing members to bring one designated person on unlimited flights for only the cost of taxes and fees, starting at $5.60 each way.
To qualify, Rapid Rewards members must first register for the promotion on Southwest’s website, then book their eligible flights by 11:59 p.m. Central Time on August 6. All Southwest fare types qualify, including Basic, Choice, Choice Preferred, and Choice Extra. Members can also use Rapid Rewards points, a combination of cash and points, or other eligible payment methods to book qualifying flights. The airline notes that changes made to an itinerary after August 6 may disqualify travelers from the promotion, so members should finalize their bookings carefully.
The Companion Pass itself remains one of Southwest’s most valuable loyalty benefits. Once activated, it lets a member designate one person to fly with them for free on every Southwest flight they book or redeem points for—no blackout dates. Members can change their designated companion up to three times during the promotional period, adding flexibility for those who want to share the benefit with different travel partners.
Southwest has offered similar promotional Companion Pass deals several times in recent years. In September 2024, the airline launched a comparable promotion requiring members to book one round trip or two one-way flights by September 5, 2024, for travel by November 20. Those who qualified earned a promotional Companion Pass valid from January 6 through March 6, 2025. The airline’s Vice President of Marketing, Jennifer Bridie, noted at that time that the promotions give members a chance to experience one of the core benefits of the Rapid Rewards program without the typical requirement of earning 135,000 Companion Pass qualifying points or flying 100 qualifying flights in a calendar year.
The August 2026 promotion comes as Southwest continues to evolve its loyalty program following major changes that took effect in January 2026. The airline introduced assigned seating, renamed fare classes, and added new seat types—changes that have reshaped how the program operates. Despite these shifts, the Companion Pass remains a cornerstone benefit, and the airline continues to use limited-time promotions to attract and retain engaged members. For those interested in this offer, the registration and booking window is narrow, closing at the end of business on August 6.
Sources
- The Points Guy — Details on the August 2026 promotional Companion Pass offer, registration requirements, booking deadlines, and how to use the pass once earned.
- AwardWallet — Comprehensive breakdown of the August 2026 promotion terms, including registration and travel windows, fare types that qualify, and payment methods accepted.
- Southwest Airlines Investor Relations — September 2024 press release on the airline’s limited-time Companion Pass promotion, explaining the program’s mechanics and member benefits.
