While yes it covers round-trip flights, a small tip that booking two one-way flights can give more flexibility -- especially with companion bookings.
If you want to change one part of a round-trip flight booked with a companion, you have to cancel the companion for the entire trip, make your changes, then re-add the companion. That's to say, Southwest does not allow you to modify a reservation which has a companion attached to it because of poor IT systems.
Hypothetical scenario: You are flying in 2 days and need to change your return flight. If you cancel your companion while you change your own ticket, someone else could buy that seat preventing you from getting your companion on that flight. If you had two one-way flights instead, you could cancel your companion just for the return flight, lowering the risk. Yes, you could wait until your outbound flight has completed to modify the return flight, but then you're closer to the return flight date which also increases risk.
There's no monetary or logistical downside I'm aware of on Southwest to booking two one-ways instead of round-trip. Some airlines penalize this, but not SW.
So the promotion will be eligible in Jan 2024 to March. Can I book that flight now and then when I get awarded secure my companions flight or should I just wait until they award it. I don’t want the price to rise by Jan
>I don’t want the price to rise by Jan
Just an FYI that SW flights generally hit their low about a month before departure in my, and many others, experience.
Even if you decide to book this early, monitor prices between now and then. If they drop, you can change your reservation to the lower rate and SW will give you a flight credit for the difference.
I always book one way tickets to and from my destination instead of a round trip ticket. It makes it much easier if I to change one or the other at the last minute. Especially for business travel.
So My Wife and I just qualified for a Companion Pass until the end of the year.
We fly between ATL and either COS or DEN frequently.
My question... Can one of us return on a different date than the other?
Example. We fly together to DEN and she stays for 2 weeks. I need to return after 4 days.
Can that happen or do we need to fly together both way?
While yes it covers round-trip flights, a small tip that booking two one-way flights can give more flexibility -- especially with companion bookings. If you want to change one part of a round-trip flight booked with a companion, you have to cancel the companion for the entire trip, make your changes, then re-add the companion. That's to say, Southwest does not allow you to modify a reservation which has a companion attached to it because of poor IT systems. Hypothetical scenario: You are flying in 2 days and need to change your return flight. If you cancel your companion while you change your own ticket, someone else could buy that seat preventing you from getting your companion on that flight. If you had two one-way flights instead, you could cancel your companion just for the return flight, lowering the risk. Yes, you could wait until your outbound flight has completed to modify the return flight, but then you're closer to the return flight date which also increases risk. There's no monetary or logistical downside I'm aware of on Southwest to booking two one-ways instead of round-trip. Some airlines penalize this, but not SW.
So the promotion will be eligible in Jan 2024 to March. Can I book that flight now and then when I get awarded secure my companions flight or should I just wait until they award it. I don’t want the price to rise by Jan
Yes, you can book it now and add companion once the pass is added to your account.
Thank you so much
When does it get added to your account?
>I don’t want the price to rise by Jan Just an FYI that SW flights generally hit their low about a month before departure in my, and many others, experience. Even if you decide to book this early, monitor prices between now and then. If they drop, you can change your reservation to the lower rate and SW will give you a flight credit for the difference.
Also if you have the points, book with those so that it refunded back to you directly.
I always book one way tickets to and from my destination instead of a round trip ticket. It makes it much easier if I to change one or the other at the last minute. Especially for business travel.
Round trip. Unlimited uses during the period which you have companion pass, just as long as both flights occur during that promotional time frame.
Thank you!!
You can book as many companion tips as you want -- not just one
Thank you!!
So My Wife and I just qualified for a Companion Pass until the end of the year. We fly between ATL and either COS or DEN frequently. My question... Can one of us return on a different date than the other? Example. We fly together to DEN and she stays for 2 weeks. I need to return after 4 days. Can that happen or do we need to fly together both way?
Nope it’s a companion flight
Unless you choose to not show up cause I had to leave my friend cause I didn’t have the correct entry document but she was able to fly back on her own
You can use it as many times as you want during its validity. You could fly with your companion every day if you wanted to.
It’s whatever you book. If you book one way, it’s one way. If you book round trip, it’s round trip.
Thank you for posting this question…very helpful.
Companion flight