Southwest Airlines has long been a customer favorite: They still give you two free checked bags, and there’s no charge for flight changes or cancelations. The loyalty program is one of the best, too.
Recently, Travel + Leisure broke down how to get a free companion seat on Southwest’s Rapid Rewards program.
The pass is earned when you fly 100 flights or accumulate 110,000 Companion Pass Qualifying Points in a calendar year. This earns you Companion Pass Status, which comes in addition to the points you’ve earned.
“That means you can take a designated companion with you whenever you buy or use points for a Southwest ticket, paying only nominal government fees. And get this — the status is good for the whole year that you qualify and the following year. So the earlier you get your Companion Pass in a calendar year, the more time you have to maximize it. For example, if you qualify on February 15, 2016, it will be valid until December 31, 2017,” writes T + L.
You can earn these points by flying, but also through signing up for a Southwest credit card from Chase, by transferring qualifying hotel points to Southwest, by shopping on Southwest’s online portal, by renting cars from companies like Hertz, Dollar and Alamo, and by enrolling in the Rapid Rewards Dining program and dining out.
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