Southwest Airways stays a favourite for a lot of flyers because of its beneficiant ticket change coverage, complimentary checked baggage and quirky boarding course of. However for essentially the most loyal Southwest vacationers, the Companion Move is the spotlight of this airline. This coveted cross lets you designate one individual to journey with you free of charge.
Sure, it is purchase one, get one free on all Southwest flights — whether or not you are paying money or utilizing Fast Rewards factors. You simply should pay the taxes and costs on the ticket.
So, what is the scoop on this distinctive perk, and the way do you earn it to deliver a buddy in your subsequent journey free of charge?
How do you earn the Companion Move?
Southwest provides two elite standing tiers, A-Listing and A-Listing Most well-liked, and the Companion Move. It’s essential to qualify yearly to retain your standing.
You may earn the Companion Move by finishing one of many following:
- Take 100 one-way qualifying flights on Southwest in a yr
- Earn 135,000 qualifying factors in a yr
Incomes the Companion Move by way of 100 one-way flights is comparatively simple. You need to full 100 flights on Southwest in a yr. Sure, that is a variety of flying. For many vacationers, the 135,000 qualifying factors are a neater path to acquiring the Companion Move. You may earn these factors by way of Fast Rewards actions, together with:
- Flying on Southwest
- Doing enterprise with journey companions like accommodations and automotive rental companies
- Eating by way of the Fast Rewards Eating program
- Opening and/or utilizing a Southwest bank card
For a restricted time, each of those playing cards are providing as much as 120,000 factors to new candidates:
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These are the finest provides we have seen on these playing cards, and each is price a whopping $1,680 per TPG’s July 2024 valuations. That is improbable worth for playing cards with cheap annual charges ($99 for the Premier and $199 for the Efficiency). Whereas the spending requirement is excessive, the payoff might be unbelievable.
For those who get considered one of these playing cards now and meet the $15,000 spending requirement by the tip of the yr, you may get pleasure from a Companion Move by way of the remainder of 2024 (after qualification) and all of 2025.
That is since you’ll obtain 120,000 factors from the tiered sign-up bonus. Plus, by spending $15,000, you may earn at the very least 15,000 factors by way of the common incomes fee (or extra factors if the spending class earns greater than 1 level per greenback).
Simply word that transferring Chase Final Rewards factors to Southwest doesn’t depend towards Companion Move qualification.
How does the Companion Move work?
Now, it is time for the enjoyable half — bringing a buddy alongside in your Southwest flights for (nearly) free.
Inside a few days of your Companion Move qualification, you may obtain an electronic mail the place you may nominate your companion. You may change your companion as much as thrice per calendar yr, so select the fortunate particular person properly. Try our four-step information to utilizing the Companion Move.
As talked about, you may have to pay the taxes and costs on your companion to fly. Home flights begin at $5.60 one-way per individual, whereas worldwide flights might be costlier.
Associated: Southwest A-Listing standing: What it’s and find out how to earn it
Backside line
The Southwest Companion Move enables you to ebook a flight for a further individual at nearly no value. Whereas 100 one-way flights in a yr is a steep requirement, incomes 135,000 Companion Move-qualifying factors is definitely inside attain whenever you discover a beneficiant welcome bonus on a cobranded bank card.
With Southwest flying domestically and internationally, who would not need to deliver a cherished one to Hawaii, Aruba or Costa Rica?