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Companion fares — also known as a companion pass, companion certificate, or companion ticket — are one of the most sought-after benefits offered by an airline or credit card. Whatever it's called, a companion fare offers an individual the ability to travel with a companion at little to no extra cost.
However, not all companion fares are created equal. Some companion fares offer eligible travelers the ability to use their companion fare year-round. Other airlines and credit cards only offer a single-use companion ticket. Some airlines make you earn the companion fare, while other airlines provide it to anyone who wants it. And the most flexible companion tickets let you redeem them for half the value if you're traveling solo.
Some airlines have designed their companion passes as a well-thought-out feature of their rewards program, worthy of attention and pursuit. Meanwhile, other airlines have turned it into a lazy half-benefit, slipped into the back end of a credit card's benefits as an afterthought and only offering marginal value.
Page Contents
Types of Companion Fares, Passes, and Tickets
Companion passes or fares can generally be broken down into two different categories:
- Companion tickets / fares
- Companion passes
The first category is a single-use ticket that allows you to travel with a companion at little to no cost. Often, these one-time-use fares are renewed each year with elite status or card membership.
The second category is far more lucrative. Companion passes offer travelers 2-for-1 travel privileges over a longer period of time. Usually, this period is over a calendar year.
Needless to say, the value of a companion pass is significantly greater than that of a companion fare or ticket. How do you earn a companion fare or companion pass? What airlines and credit cards currently offer companion passes or tickets? Let's look.
Which Airlines Offer Companion Fares or Passes?
In recent years, a number of credit cards have added companion fare benefits. Then, there are additional airlines where the companion ticket isn't tied to a credit card. All of the following offer some type of companion fare, pass, ticket, or discount:
- Aer Lingus
- Alaska Airlines
- American Airlines
- British Airways
- Delta Air Lines
- Hawaiian Airlines
- Lufthansa
- Southwest Airlines
- Virgin Atlantic
How You Can Earn Companion Fares, Certificates, or Passes
Earning a companion fare can sometimes be as easy as paying the annual fee on an eligible credit card — or simply booking a ticket, no other effort required, in the case of Virgin Atlantic. Other companion fares/tickets require cardholders to meet a minimum spend requirement — which varies between credit cards.
In the case of the Southwest Airlines Companion Pass, travelers don't need a credit card to earn it. However, having an eligible Southwest Airlines co-branded credit card makes earning Companion Pass much easier — especially starting in 2023.
Here's how to earn companion fares or passes with eligible airlines — starting with the best one of them all:
Southwest Airlines Airline Companion Pass
One of the holy grails in the frequent flyer community is the Southwest Companion Pass. It is by far one of the most rewarding benefits of any airline loyalty program.
With the Southwest Airlines Companion Pass benefit, you can bring a designated companion with you on any flight for just the cost of fees and taxes. This even includes flights booked with Rapid Rewards points. The companion pass doesn’t come cheap, requiring either 100 individual segments or earning 135,000 Rapid Rewards points within a calendar year.
Companion Pass holders must designate a traveler as their companion each year they qualify. And you can only change your companion just three times per year.
Related: How To Select Your Companion and Use Your New Southwest Companion Pass
As with most rewards redemptions, however, timing is everything when it comes to earning the Southwest Companion Pass. If you get that timing right, you can hold the Companion Pass for the better part of two years.
That's because once you have earned enough points, you will receive Companion Pass status for the remainder of the calendar year in which you earn it, plus all of the following year. For example, if you earn it in February 2024, you’ll keep it until December 2025.
Luckily, you can earn towards the Southwest Companion Pass on eligible everyday purchases when you use any of the Southwest co-branded Chase credit cards. Additionally, sign-up bonuses on Southwest credit cards count towards Companion Pass requirements.
Southwest Rapid Rewards personal cards:
- Earn 50,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
- 7,500 anniversary points each year.
- Earn 3X points on Southwest® purchases.
- Earn 2X points on local transit and commuting, including rideshare.
- Earn 2X points on internet, cable, and phone services; select streaming.
- $75 Southwest® travel credit each year.
- No foreign transaction fees.
- Member FDIC
- 3X points per $1 spent on all Southwest® purchases
- 2X points per $1 spent on all Rapid Rewards® Hotel and Car Rental Partner purchases
- 2X points per $1 spent on local transit and commuting, including rideshare
- 2X points per $1 spent on internet, cable, phone services, and select streaming services
- 1X point per $1 spent on all other purchases
- Earn 50,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
- 6,000 anniversary points each year.
- Earn 3X points on Southwest® purchases.
- Earn 2X points on local transit and commuting, including rideshare.
- Earn 2X points on internet, cable, and phone services; select streaming.
- 2 EarlyBird Check-In® each year.
- No foreign transaction fees.
- Member FDIC
- 3X points per $1 spent on all Southwest® purchases
- 2X points per $1 spent on all Rapid Rewards® Hotel and Car Rental Partner purchases
- 2X points per $1 spent on local transit and commuting, including rideshare
- 2X points per $1 spent on internet, cable, phone services, and select streaming services
- 1X point per $1 spent on all other purchases
- Earn 50,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
- 3,000 anniversary points each year.
- Earn 2X points on Southwest® purchases.
- Earn 2X points on local transit and commuting, including rideshare.
- Earn 2X points on internet, cable, and phone services; select streaming.
- 2 EarlyBird Check-In® each year.
- Earn 1 point for every $1 spent on all other purchases.
- Member FDIC
- 2X points per $1 spent on Southwest® purchases and Rapid Rewards® Hotel and Car Rental Partner purchases
- 2X points per $1 spent on local transit and commuting, including rideshare
- 2X points per $1 spent on internet, cable, phone services, and select streaming services
- 1X point per $1 spent on all other purchases
Southwest Rapid Rewards business cards:
- Earn 80,000 points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
- 9,000 bonus points after your Cardmember anniversary.
- Earn 4X points on Southwest® purchases.
- Earn 3X points on Rapid Rewards® hotel and car rental partners.
- Earn 2X points on rideshare.
- Earn 2X points on social media and search engine advertising, internet, cable, and phone services and 1X points on all other purchases.
- 4 Upgraded Boardings per year when available.
- Member FDIC
- 4X points per $1 spent on Southwest® purchases
- 3X points per $1 spent on Rapid Rewards® hotel and car partners
- 2X points per $1 spent on social media and search engine advertising, Internet, cable and phone services
- 2X points per $1 spent on rideshare
- 1X point per $1 spent on all other purchases
- Earn 60,000 points after you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open.
- 6,000 bonus points after your Cardmember anniversary.
- Earn 3X points on Southwest Airlines® purchases.
- Earn 2X points on Rapid Rewards® hotel and car rental partners.
- Earn 2X points on rideshare.
- 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases.
- 2 EarlyBird Check-In® each year.
- Member FDIC
- 3X points per $1 spent on Southwest® purchases
- 2X points per $1 spent on Rapid Rewards® Hotel and Car Rental Partner purchases
- 2X points per $1 spent on local transit and communting, including rideshare
- 1X point per $1 spent on all other purchases
If you're eligible for multiple Southwest cards, you can earn a Companion Pass even faster by applying for a business card and one of the three consumer cards. Alternatively, small business owners could opt to acquire both business credit cards. Unfortunately, you can't hold more than one personal card.
Aer Lingus companion ticket
Aer Lingus Visa Signature® Card cardholders can earn a Companion Ticket by making $30,000 or more in purchases during a calendar year. The ticket is valid for 12 months.
Once you hit that threshold, you'll receive a voucher email within 4–6 weeks. To use it, you'll need to email Aer Lingus at chasecompanionticket@aerlingus.com. You're promised a maximum response time of 48 hours if you email Monday to Thursday and 72 hours Friday to Sunday.
Also, note that you don't have quite the full year to make purchases. That's because purchases must post to a billing statement that closes during the calendar year to count. So, purchases that you make after your December statement closes will count toward the next year.
- Earn 75,000 Avios after you spend $5,000 on purchases within the first three months of account opening.
- Earn 3 Avios per $1 spent on purchases with Aer Lingus, British Airways, Iberia, and LEVEL.
- Earn 2 Avios per $1 spent on hotel accommodations when purchased directly with the hotel. Plus earn 1 Avios per $1 spent on all other purchases.
- Every calendar year you make purchases of $30,000 on your Aer Lingus Visa Signature Card, you'll receive a Commercial Companion Ticket good for 12 months
- You and any authorized users on your account are eligible for Priority Boarding on Aer Lingus flights departing from and returning to the US from Ireland, subject to availability.
- Pay no foreign transaction fees when you travel abroad.
- Simply tap to pay with your contactless Aer Lingus Visa Signature Card. Just look for the contactless symbol at checkout. It's fast, easy and secure!
- Member FDIC
- 3X Avios per $1 spent on purchases with Aer Lingus, British Airways, Iberia, and LEVEL
- 2X Avios per $1 spent on hotel accommodations
- 1X Avios for every $1 spent on all other purchases
Alaska Companion Fare
Some of the easier companion fares to earn are acquired through the co-branded Alaska Airlines credit cards. Both cards offer a companion fare as a card benefit; however, there are slightly different requirements for each card.
- Alaska Airlines Visa® credit card holders can earn a companion fare from $122 ($99 fare plus taxes and fees from $23) each account anniversary after you spend $6,000 or more on purchases within the prior anniversary year.
- Alaska Airlines Visa® Business card holders receive a companion fare from $122 ($99 fare plus taxes and fees from $23) each account anniversary after they spend $6,000 or more purchases within the prior anniversary year and pay the annual fee.
- Earn 3 miles for every $1 spent on eligible Alaska Airlines purchases
- Earn 2 miles for every $1 spent on eligible gas, cable, streaming services and local transit including ride share purchases
- Earn 1 mile for every $1 spent on all other purchases
With these cards, you'll earn the Alaska Airlines Companion Fare on your card anniversary after meeting the spending requirement.
To redeem their companion fare, travelers must enter their discount code when booking. Both travelers will accrue Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan miles on flights booked with their companion fare.
Not planning to travel soon? Note that anyone may use your companion fare. The only limitation is that the companion fare cardholder must pay for the fare with the Alaska credit card that received the companion fare.
American Airlines Companion Certificate
There are a few ways to earn an American Airlines Companion Certificate. These include options for both personal and business credit cards. Unfortunately, unlike Alaska companion fares, earning an American Airlines companion certificate for travel on American Airlines is not as simple or cheap.
Here are the current credit cards that offer a companion certificate to cardholders:
- AAdvantage® Aviator® Silver Mastercard®
- AAdvantage® Aviator® Red World Elite Mastercard®
- AAdvantage® Aviator® World Elite Business Mastercard®
- CitiBusiness® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® Mastercard®
Each card comes with slightly different eligibility requirements for earning a companion certificate. Here's an overview of how you'll earn an American Airlines companion ticket with each credit card:
| American Airlines Co-Branded Credit Card | Companion Certificate Spend Requirements | Annual Fee |
|---|---|---|
| AAdvantage® Aviator® Silver Mastercard® | Earn a companion certificate for domestic travel good for 2 guests at $99 each (plus taxes and fees) if you spend $20,000 on purchases and your account remains open for 45 days after your anniversary date. | $199 |
| AAdvantage® Aviator® Red World Elite Mastercard® | Earn a companion certificate for domestic travel good for 1 guest at $99 (plus taxes and fees) if you spend $20,000 on purchases and your account remains open for 45 days after your anniversary date. | $99 |
| AAdvantage® Aviator® World Elite Business Mastercard® | Earn a companion certificate for domestic travel good for 1 guest if you spend $30,000 on purchases and your account remains open for 45 days after your anniversary date. Redeeming the certificate costs $99 plus applicable taxes and fees. | $95 |
| CitiBusiness® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® Mastercard® | Earn a companion certificate for domestic travel good for 1 guest after you spend $30,000 or more in purchases each cardmember year. Additionally, you must renew your card. Redeeming the certificate costs $99 for the ticketing fee plus taxes and fees. | $99, waived for first 12 months |
Arguably the best deal for those looking for a personal credit card, the Aviator Silver provides a companion certificate — redeemable for up to 2 companions at $99 per ticket (plus taxes and fees) — when you spend $30k on the card during your card's membership year (12-month rolling period from the date you opened the card). This card carries a $199 annual fee.
If you have the CitiBusiness® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® Mastercard®, the American Airlines Companion Certificate gets you a domestic round-trip main cabin ticket for $99 base fare plus taxes and fees after you reach $30k in annual spending on the card. The certificate is valid for one year from the date of issue on American Airlines flights within the 48 contiguous United States. This card carries an annual fee of $99, waived for first 12 months.
British Airways Travel Together Certificate
British Airways offers a companion certificate on the British Airways Visa Signature® Card. To earn the British Airways Travel Together Certificate, cardholders need to spend at least $30,000 on purchases using their card in a calendar year.
The British Airways Travel Together Certificate renews each calendar year. Therefore, as long as you meet the eligible spending requirements, you can continue to enjoy this benefit each year you renew your account. And you'll redeem the ticket on award travel, not paid fares.
The British Airways companion certificate can be redeemed for travel in First, Business (Club World/Europe), Premium Economy, and Economy. As British Airways fuel surcharges can be quite hefty at times, redeeming your companion certificate for travel in premium cabins typically yields the most value. There is one caveat to this companion offer: Travel must originate and return in the United States.
If you don't have a companion to bring along on your next British Airways flight, the Travel Together Certificate can be redeemed for a solo trip. Instead of receiving a companion ticket, solo travelers will receive 50% of an Avios award redemption. This 50% discount does not apply to taxes and carrier-imposed surcharges on your award booking.
- Earn 75,000 Avios after you spend $5,000 on purchases within the first three months of account opening.
- Earn 3 Avios per $1 spent on purchases with British Airways, Aer Lingus, Iberia, and LEVEL.
- Earn 2 Avios per $1 spent on hotel accommodations when purchased directly with the hotel. Plus earn 1 Avios per $1 spent on all other purchases.
- 10% off British Airways flights starting in the US when you book through the website provided in your welcome materials.
- Every calendar year you make $30,000 in purchases on your British Airways Visa card, you'll earn a Travel Together Ticket good for two years.
- Pay no foreign transaction fees when you travel abroad.
- Simply tap to pay with your contactless British Airways Visa Signature Card. Just look for the contactless symbol at checkout. It's fast, easy and secure!
- Member FDIC
- 3X Avios per $1 spent on purchases with British Airways, Aer Lingus, Iberia, and LEVEL
- 2X Avios per $1 spent on hotel accommodations
- 1X Avios for every $1 spent on all other purchases
Delta SkyMiles companion certificate
To earn the Delta SkyMiles companion certificate, you must hold an eligible Delta co-branded credit card from American Express. The following American Express credit cards allow cardholders to earn a companion certificate for travel on Delta Air Lines:
- Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card
- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card
- Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card
- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card
How you earn a Delta companion certificate varies from card to card:
- Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card: Cardholders receive a companion certificate for domestic travel in the main cabin. Annual fee: $250 (Rates & Fees)
- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card: Cardholders receive a companion certificate for domestic travel in first class, Comfort+, or the main cabin. Annual fee: $550 (Rates & Fees)
- Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card: Cardholders receive a companion certificate for domestic travel in the main cabin. Annual fee: $250 (Rates & Fees)
- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card: Cardholders receive a companion certificate for domestic travel in first class, Comfort+, or the main cabin. Annual fee: $550 (Rates & Fees)
If you hold any of the cards listed above, you are eligible for the Delta SkyMiles Companion Certificate each year after renewing your account.
This companion certificate allows the primary cardholder to travel with a companion while only paying taxes and fees. These taxes and fees are no more than $75 for a round-trip flight in the United States.
Unlike the Alaska Airlines Companion Fare, only the primary traveler will accrue miles for the flight.
Companion certificates are valid for one round-trip First Class or Main Cabin (depending on certificate type) companion ticket with the purchase of certain adult round-trip fares on published routings within the 48 contiguous United States. Seats are limited to specific fare booking classes.
Residents of Hawaii, Alaska, Puerto Rico, or the U.S. Virgin Islands must originate from there and travel to the 48 contiguous United States.
Hawaiian Airlines
Hawaiian Airlines' companion ticket is a bit more complicated compared to others on this list. That's partly because two types of companion tickets are offered as a benefit of the Hawaiian Airlines® World Elite Mastercard®.
One-time 50% companion discount
The first companion ticket — rather, companion discount — is the one-time 50% companion discount offered as a benefit to Hawaiian Airlines® World Elite Mastercard® cardholders. Cardholders receive a one-time 50% discount toward a published full-fare economy round-trip fare for a companion. This one-time 50% companion discount offer is good for 13 months from when your account is opened.
$100 companion travel discount
The second companion discount is available each year you renew your Hawaiian Airlines® World Elite Mastercard®. You can bring a companion along on a Hawaiian Airlines and save $100. It's not the most competitive or compelling benefit, but it's a nice way to save $100 a year on airfare. This discount is valid for 12 months from your card's anniversary date.
Here is an overview of the Hawaiian Airlines® World Elite Mastercard®:
- Welcome offer: Welcome Bonus Earn 70,000 bonus miles after spending $2,000 on purchases in the first 90 days
- Annual fee: $99
The same benefits available to those holding the personal use Hawaiian Airlines credit card are also available to those with the Hawaiian Airlines® World Elite Business Mastercard®. The Hawaiian Airlines business credit card also comes with a welcome bonus:
- Welcome offer: Earn 70,000 bonus miles after spending $2,000 on purchases in the first 90 days
- Annual fee: $99
Lufthansa
It may come as a surprise, but you can earn a companion certificate for travel on Lufthansa. Offered as a benefit of the Miles & More® World Elite Mastercard®, cardholders receive one economy class companion certificate each year on their account anniversary. Unlike other passes, this includes the first year!
There are some restrictions; however, Lufthansa does a fantastic job of outlining all of them on its companion certificate landing page. Ultimately, it's a pretty straightforward and rather lucrative benefit of the card.
Here's an overview of the Miles & More® World Elite Mastercard®, which offers cardholders the annual companion certificate:
- Welcome offer:Earn 100,000 award miles if you spend $3,000 in purchases and pay the annual fee, both within the first 90 days.
- Annual fee: $89
Virgin Atlantic companion seat
Virgin Atlantic Flying Club offers the easiest companion ticket of them all. You don't need to earn it. And it's valid in all cabins.
The cost of a companion ticket award will depend on where you're flying and whether it's a peak/off-peak travel date. You can find those dates here.
With Virgin Atlantic's companion seat, you'll pay taxes, fees, and carrier-imposed charges. These can be hefty, unfortunately. Prices below are for round-trip travel, and you'll pay half the points for a one-way trip. Once you've booked your ticket, here are some examples of how many points you'll pay to bring a companion:
- New York City to/from U.K: 9,000 points in economy, 16,000 in premium, or 28,000 in Upper Class
- Miami to/from the U.K.: 12,5000 points in economy, 22,400 in premium, or 47,400 in Upper Class
- Los Angeles to/from the U.K.: 15,000 points in economy, 27,400 in premium, or 67,400 in Upper Class
- South Africa to/from the U.K.: 12,400 points in economy, 25,000 in premium, or 57,400 in Upper Class
- India to/from the U.K.: 10,000 points in economy, 17,400 in premium, or 47,400 in Upper Class
Prices are roughly 20% higher if you travel on peak dates. Many of these prices represent a 50% discount on award bookings.
Final Thoughts
The value of a companion pass or fare varies greatly depending on the airline. Of course, the Southwest Airlines Companion Pass is one of the most valuable frequent flyer perks available to travelers. Signing up for a Southwest co-branded credit card is the fastest and easiest way of attaining it.
Of the companion fares, the Delta Air Lines Companion Certificate is one of the best values, charging just the taxes and fees — up to a maximum of $75 per round-trip. However, the British Airways Travel Together Ticket and Virgin Atlantic companion seat offer deals on award travel in premium cabins, something not offered with other companion tickets.
What's your favorite companion fare? How do you get the most value from your companion tickets each year?
For rates and fees of the cards mentioned in this post, please visit the following links: Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card (Rates & Fees), Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card (Rates & Fees), Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card (Rates & Fees), and Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card (Rates & Fees)
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Thanks for putting this together. Southwest has been the best and most flexible I’ve tried so far.
My experience, in general with these, especially Alaska Airlines that it is never available on the routes I want and dates.
There is also a special link you have to use and often, prices of the ticket are much higher, so when you add the credit card annual fee, $99 for a companion ticket, taxes, and fees, it ends up being more expensive than if you’d buy two tickets regularly.
In my experience, Lufthansa companion tickets are also useless, as well as Delta ones for the same costs reason as Alaska.
Turkish Airlines offers an international companion award ticket for less miles than a regular reward. Do any other airlines offer these?
Interesting! How do you earn that international companion award ticket? The only other companion awards that we are aware of are in this post!
With the American Airlines Companion Pass–do you have to actually fly by the expiration date or do you just have to book the flights by the expiration date.
Do you know if you can use the AA companion pass flying in and out of different airports. Same itinerary for both travelers- For example: Into Key West out of Miami?
The companion fare with Alaska sounds attractive and I’m looking forward to making use of that in the next year. Thank you for writing the comparisons here for us.
Thank you for collecting and sharing this information about companion ticket benefits. There are a lot of details to compare, so I’m glad for the help to simplify.
In a bit of bind. My daughter deploys in 1 week..she lives in CO. I am in IL and need to get 3 kids (age 4-7/ 7yr old is special needs) from CO to IL. Are there any airlines that offer companion fares or discounted fares for me to fly from CO with them? And no..i do not have any credit cards or frequent flyer miles etc… ANY HELP is greatly appreciated.
Margaret, unfortunately not with this little time. I’d suggest reaching out to family/friends to see what they might have. Leverage your network; best of luck.
The alaska pass allowed me to go to hawaii for very cheap from the east coast.
My wife and I alternate signing up for Southwest Rapid Rewards cards every 2 years so that we always have a companion pass between us. The companion pass combined with Southwest’s no fee rebooking policy is hard to beat!
Thanks for this, I know what I’ll be doing very soon!
what is it that you’ll be doing?
I like the SAS option in Norway – if you spend enough with their co-branded Amex card you get a companion ticket but can also use it to redeem points with a 50% bonus – much easier than finding a companion who can travel on the same flight I find.
I must be losing it. I have the AA Platinum card and never realized if I spend $30,000 I earn a companion certificate. I limit the amount I spend to AA purchases which are close to $30,000 for my family. I guess I have to make sure to up the spend to hit the $30,000 since I’m so close anyhow.
Trying to patiently wait to get under 5/24 so I can get a companion pass. The biggest trouble then will be who to pick for my companion … my husband who gets business tickets booked for him anyway or my toddler who maybe left at home for some adult only trips.
Thanks for the helpful guide.
good luck finding first class availability with the BA deal. Business is usually no problem, but first is almost impossible.
I dunno — BA first availability hasn’t been that bad actually — at least for my searches to London from the US/East Coast and to Asia
Eh, at this point I don’t see myself really trying hard for these. I can imagine that it’s hard to redeem some of these. Though I do wonder about the Southwest redemption, if it’s difficult. I have been reading about the boarding process and all the things people do to hold seats or try to look like someone they wouldn’t want to sit next to. It’s all very saddening and it doesn’t make me want to fly SouthWest.
Good information on companion passes. Too bad they no longer allow hotel point transfers.
Any info regarding United?
negative.
I believe the Barclays Aviator Silver card also offers a companion ticket upon meeting a spending threshold ($30k?)
Yes, exactly. We’ll get it added. Thanks!
For Southwest example in the post, you mention “For example, if you earn it in February 2018, you’ll keep it until December 2020.” I believe there is a typo there and it should be “until December 2019.”
Yes, indeed … that was my fault. I’ve fixed it; thank you!
Does anyone know if you can use the BA companion /Travel Together Certificate by booking on codeshare flights with a BA codeshare number but on AA metal, and would the taxes/surcharges be less in this case (taxes are lessthey are less when booking direct on AA flights on AA.com itself) ?
Must book on BA metal.
The companion pass is great for many people but since I travel with varied people, or alone, it doesn’t really interest me or provide much value. And I’m definitely not a fan of the Southwest boarding process.
Companion pass acquired January of this year, good until 2019! Pretty proud of myself for pulling that off, really.
nicely done!!!
Great deals, and most often don’t get the love they deserve.
Once my 5/24 clears again, sounds like I need to go for SW companion pass.
I love this SWA Companion Pass. SWA is our go to airline from NorCal to San Diego where our kids live so getting the fare at 1/2 price when 2 of us fly is amazing. I have to find a way to re-earn this by the beginning of 2019!
While it’s not an airline, it’s worth noting that the $79 annual fee Amtrak card from Bank of America offers a companion pass valid for a one way or round trip reservation. The card also provides a one class upgrade coupon and a free Amtrak lounge coupon. There is a 20,000 mile sign up bonus presently. The free card doesn’t provide the coupons.
Thanks for the Amtrak offer heads up. Yes, it’s not an airline deal, but it’s definitely award travel.
I wish it was easier to get AA passes. Thanks for the info.
Goes without saying that the companion pass remains perhaps the best deal in travel.
this is 100% true, up to 50% off is great
But, in the always changing landscape, it’s good to remind ourselves!
Thanks for the info. Great summary. I’ve bookmarked for reference.
The best offer was when SWA offered the companion pass for opening its credit card in certain regions.
Oh yeah, this was a heck of a deal: https://awardwallet.com/blog/current-southwest-credit-card-offers/
Question on Southwest Companion Pass —
I want to book a flight from ABQ to SEA via DEN and then home the same way. I would do {2} one way tickets.
I have a companion pass and I want my companion to fly on the DEN-SEA-DEN segments. I know the return flight won’t be an issue since I will be on the initial flight from SEA -DEN; companion will get off and I will continue on; notifying FA that companion has left.
It’s the flight to SEA. Since I would be starting in ABQ and companion wouldn’t be getting on until DEN, will that cause the companion not to be able to fly DEN-SEA??
I realize I can fly ABQ-DEN a a single ticket and then do DEN-SEA, but that really increases the # of RR needed.
Thanks for your insights.
You’ve identified it correctly. You would need to split your ticket up — your companion must fly the same routing as you on a given ticket.
PLEASE HELP!
At this link, there once was a complete step by step guide in how to acquire the SWA Companion Pass by getting the Marriott Rewards card(s) and AMEX SPG Card(s) by Husband/wife and then combining these points to acquire the SWA Companion pass BUT NOW this link is not showing this any longer??
Please HELP me to locate this information and I need to complete the steps listed!
John, not sure where you saw it, but I don’t think it was on this specific post. That said, the time left to get the companion pass through hotel transfers is coming to a close – https://awardwallet.com/blog/southwest-reprieve-on-companion-pass-through-march-2017/
Very helpful info. I just received offers for Southwest for credit cards. Will now seriously consider options. I have American Airlines credit card but not willing to pay fee after first free year.
I’m curious, why do you think Chase would provide both a Premier and a Plus card to the same person?
I re-apply every couple of years to take advantage of the Southwest sign-up bonus, and recently got a new Premier card to try for a Companion Pass this year. (With the sign up bonus and charging three college tuitions, we have a shot at meeting the 110,000 points. ) Based on your blog I just applied to add a Plus card, and usually it’s an instant online approval. However, I got the “we need to review your application and will send a response by mail within 30 days.” That pretty much means, “No.”
Did you mean that one could apply for both a personal and a business card?
Megan, Chase will approve someone for both a Premier and Plus card, under certain conditions of course. Keep in mind if you’ve applied for 5 or more cards in the last 24 months you’ll have a hard time being approved for another Southwest card — a restriction that Chase places on many of its card products.
You could call up to verify that your application has been received and that there are no errors or omissions on the application. Many times when I apply for cards I’m not instantly approved and I need to call to verify my identity or provide additional information. One time I entered my wife’s SSN on my credit card application.
My family member has earned the Southwest companion fare bcuz of business travel, he loves it!
Could I purchase 110,000 RR with Chase Ultimate rewards to qualify?
No, you could not.
Could I just buy 110,000 Rapid Rewards with my Chase Ultimate rewards to qualify? I have over 400,000 Ultimate rewards
No, you could not.
great write up.. I need to learn more about companion passes.. this is excellent.
If you look at the DOC of airlines, you realize that the price you pay for the companion is exactly the DOC times the longest transcontinental distance you can fly within the US. So airlines are selling them at cost, at least when fuel was at $100/barrel. Might be slightly profitable now for them.
If the points transferred from hotel programs are done before the deadline in March but not enough to reach the 110,000 points for a companion pass, does it still count after the March deadline?
For example, I have 20,000 points in Rapid Rewards, plan to apply for the credit card for another 50,000 points, transfer my current Marriott points to get 20,000 more Rapid Rewards. I don’t have enough points to do the hotel + air package. But if I continue to fly Southwest after March and accrue mileage, will the transferred points before March count?
Yes, the transfers will count towards your goal.
We were 100 points away from the companion pass a few years ago on Southwest. Since then we’ve decided to route our efforts in other directions. We just don’t spend enough or fly enough to compete for any of the other opportunities described above.
I think this is a clear place where it is important to pick your travel goals at the start of the year and focus on those goals. Back when we tried for the companion pass it made sense for us – now it doesn’t. Much more of our current air travel is to asia, europe or the middle east.
Also, we’re saving our marriott points for some specific things.
Ok thank you… after sign up bonuses and min spend I’ll be at 56k spg points. Any MS ideas that will not cause a red flag with Amex as I’ve read they can be sensitive to ms and flag for complete financial review.
Are there any other miles/points you can transfer to sw other than Marriott and spg via Marriott? I have the spg card and just got approved for the spg business card, but that still leaves me very short of the needed miles to gain in the next 2 months.
Hyatt is another option. There are lots of options, but other than Hyatt and SPG/Marriott, the rates for transfers are poor.
Lufthansa Miles and More companion ticket (trips to Europe) have taxes so high that it becomes unusable.
So, the Amex companion fares are not available on domestic or economy fares?
correct: http://iap.americanexpress.com/
I have had the Chase British Airways Visa for several years and have earned at least four companion vouchers. When I’ve been able to find award seats, the award is truly wonderful. But this year I have not been able to find award seats from the Southwestern US and as a result my current voucher will expire unused. I have another voucher with a later expiration date. I’m considering dropping the BA Visa because I’ve since opened a Chase Sapphire Reserve account and don’t need two Visas. I’d like to know others’ recent experience with this award and whether I will forfeit the award if I close the BA Visa.
Are the taxes high like other BA awards? (would use from India)
Too bad there aren’t more southwest type passes with other airlines….
For the Marriott air +hotel package, does the trip have to be completed by march 31st? Or will the status be awarded as long as the reservation is made by march 31st?
Thanks!
The package simply needs to be booked by then. The hotel itself doesn’t need to be booked until the 7-day certificate expires, which is a year, and depending on the agent you speak to, you may be able to get it further extended.
I just earned 50K Southwest RR points for signing up with the credit card and am awaiting approval of the business version for another 50K RR points. Since I already have over 10K points in my RR account, I am very excited to soon be able to cash in on the Companion Pass! This is going to be great for my partner and I! Southwest has only been expanding their routes and availability so we are looking forward to lot’s of trips at half the price!
If Chase doesn’t overlook the 5/24 rule for the business card (which I have already appealed since I only have one other business card (not through Chase) – the others are personal, I have more than enough Marriott points to cash in for the companion pass before March 31st! I am so excited that this is within reach!
Nice detailed post! OP may want to mention that the SW credit cards are subjected to Chase 5/24 rule.
Doesn’t the Barclay’s Aviator Silver card also offer a companion certificate after meeting an annual spending threshold?
Can you apply for the Silver card now?
Any international passes?
The BA TTT can be used for international *award* flights, but as the post indicated, taxes & surcharges cane be quite high, in the neighborhood of $2000+ for F.
And as MP mentions below, the Lufthansa MC from Barclays, not covered in the post, offers an annual Economy Class Companion Ticket after $30k in spend, but there too, you’re looking at high taxes & surcharges when redeeming.
Do you know if Alaska Airlines allows usage of the companion pass for open-jaw itineraries?
According to the terms, no, but in reality, you may be able to get it to ticket online. Scott at TravelCodex put together an excellent piece, specifically on this: https://www.travelcodex.com/2016/01/13-tips-and-tricks-alaska-airlines-companion-fare/
Can you use more than 1 hotel when booking the 7 night stay using Marriott points?
You cannot.
It seemed like Southwest had pretty much halted route expansion entirely, so them being one of the Cuba launch airlines makes the SW CP an extremely enticing option.