Southwest Airways not too long ago introduced it’ll finish its bags-fly-free coverage, ditch its Wanna Get Away fare and make a number of different customer-unfriendly modifications. However, no less than thus far, one of the advantageous choices within the journey business — the Southwest Companion Cross — stays intact.
This invaluable profit permits you to deliver a companion alongside totally free (excluding relevant taxes and charges) on limitless Southwest Airways flights till the move expires. For frequent Southwest flyers, this profit alone can simply quantity to 1000’s of {dollars} saved yearly. So, here is what you must learn about incomes and utilizing the Southwest Companion Cross.
Methods to earn the Southwest Companion Cross
To earn a Southwest Companion Cross legitimate by means of the tip of the following calendar yr, you could accrue 135,000 qualifying factors or full 100 qualifying flights inside a calendar yr.
You’ll be able to earn qualifying factors by means of varied means, together with flying with Southwest and interesting with its companions. The latter consists of making purchases by way of the Fast Rewards purchasing portal, finishing lodge stays and automotive leases with companions, and utilizing a Southwest bank card for purchases.
Cobranded Southwest bank cards are sometimes the best option to earn the Companion Cross since you may earn qualifying factors on purchases, and the welcome bonus factors are qualifying. Moreover, vacationers with a cobranded Southwest bank card get 10,000 qualifying factors every calendar yr, successfully lowering the Companion Cross requirement to 125,000 qualifying factors yearly.
Talking of welcome bonuses on Southwest bank cards, here is a have a look at a number of the present gives:
- Southwest Fast Rewards® Plus Credit score Card: Earn a Companion Cross by means of Feb. 28, 2026, plus 30,000 bonus factors after you spend $4,000 on purchases within the first three months from account opening (this provide ends March 31).
- Southwest Fast Rewards® Precedence Credit score Card: Earn a Companion Cross by means of Feb. 28, 2026, plus 30,000 bonus factors after you spend $4,000 on purchases within the first three months from account opening (this provide ends March 31).
- Southwest® Fast Rewards® Premier Enterprise Credit score Card: Earn 60,000 factors after you spend $3,000 on purchases within the first three months from account opening.
- Southwest® Fast Rewards® Efficiency Enterprise Credit score Card: Earn 80,000 factors after you spend $5,000 on purchases within the first three months from account opening.
The 2 shopper Southwest playing cards provide a Companion Cross legitimate by means of Feb. 28, 2026, as a part of their welcome provide. Nonetheless, the bonus factors from every provide might enable you to earn a Companion Cross legitimate by means of the tip of 2026.
Lastly, it is also value noting that Southwest sometimes gives promotions for limited-time Companion Passes. For instance, for a short while in February, Southwest let vacationers earn a two-month Companion Cross for later this yr after only one spherical journey or two one-way flights.
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Methods to use the Southwest Companion Cross
As soon as you have earned a Companion Cross, Southwest makes it extremely simple to make use of.
Arrange your Companion Cross
After you earn the Companion Cross, Southwest will ship you a congratulatory electronic mail inside a number of days. Log in to your Southwest Fast Rewards account to trace your progress towards incomes the Companion Cross.
Upon receiving the e-mail, click on the hyperlink to arrange your preliminary companion selection. The method is fast, however you may want to offer details about your companion, together with their authorized title (matching their ID) and beginning date.
If you wish to hold the identical companion throughout your Companion Cross, you may solely must set it up as soon as. Nonetheless, keep in mind you may change your companion as much as thrice every calendar yr.
Associated: 2 for 1: How airline companion tickets can prevent severe cash in your subsequent journey
Ebook your flight
Earlier than utilizing your Companion Cross, you could e-book your personal Southwest flight. And if you happen to’re touring with somebody who is not your designated companion, e-book their flight, too. For instance, suppose you’re a household of 4 with one grownup holding the Companion Cross and the opposite grownup being the companion. In that case, you must initially e-book tickets for the Companion Cross holder and the 2 youngsters.
You’ll be able to pay to your flights with money or redeem Southwest factors when utilizing a Companion Cross. Nonetheless, if you are going to buy the tickets with money, keep in mind to incorporate every traveler’s Fast Rewards quantity when reserving to allow them to earn Southwest factors on their flights.
Associated: Southwest A-Listing standing: What it’s and how one can earn it
Add your companion to your reservation
After getting booked your flight, you may add your companion to your reservation. Doing so instantly after reserving your flight is the easiest way to make sure you add your companion earlier than the flight sells out.
Nonetheless, you may’t change a flight with a companion hooked up. And you’ll typically save severe factors or money by sometimes checking whether or not you may rebook at a decrease charge. As such, TPG lead author Katie Genter suggests organising a Y9 alert in ExpertFlyer (owned by TPG’s father or mother firm, Purple Ventures) so you may get an electronic mail when solely 9 seats stay in your flight. Then, as soon as your flight is lower than two weeks out — the purpose at which Southwest flights often turn out to be dearer — or once you get the Y9 alert electronic mail, add your companion.
So as to add your companion to a flight, log in to your Southwest account and discover the flight in your upcoming journeys. If you have not added your companion but, you must see an “Add companion” button for the flight.
Click on the button and double-check the prefilled data. Proceed by means of the method till you attain the purpose the place you may must pay the taxes and charges to your companion’s flight. Pay the taxes and charges, and your companion might be confirmed on the flight. Your companion will get a unique affirmation quantity than you, although.
Associated: ‘The Day Southwest Died’: Reactions pour in in regards to the service’s huge modifications
Backside line
The Companion Cross may present vital worth if you happen to incessantly fly Southwest with a favourite companion. Likewise, if you happen to would fly Southwest incessantly with one other traveler if you happen to might achieve this for about half the fee, the Companion Cross is value contemplating.
Southwest bank cards can put incomes the Companion Cross inside attain even if you happen to do not meet the usual necessities by means of flights. Better of all, the Southwest Fast Rewards Plus Credit score Card and Southwest Fast Rewards Precedence Credit score Card have welcome gives by means of March 31 for a Companion Cross legitimate by means of Feb. 28, 2026, plus 30,000 bonus factors after you spend $4,000 on purchases within the first three months from account opening.
