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Southwest companion flies free in Winter 2021!

x3 skier

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Bought one!

Cheers
 

Sugarcubesea

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Dang, I wish I was retired, I would love to take advantage of this deal...
 

davidvel

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This is basically 25% off both trips. Not bad but nothing to write home about.
 

PigsDad

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This is basically 25% off both trips. Not bad but nothing to write home about.
It can be much, much more. First off, the first "qualifying" flight can be just you; no need to buy two tickets. Then you will earn the Companion Pass that is valid from 1/6/21 - 2/28/21. You can use the Companion Pass as many times as you want. You could fly every day, and your companion would fly free with you.

Kurt
 

silentg

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Sounds good
 

davidvel

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It can be much, much more. First off, the first "qualifying" flight can be just you; no need to buy two tickets. Then you will earn the Companion Pass that is valid from 1/6/21 - 2/28/21. You can use the Companion Pass as many times as you want. You could fly every day, and your companion would fly free with you.

Kurt
Oh wow, I thought it was a single use coupon. May have to try this for ski season.
 

x3 skier

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Oh wow, I thought it was a single use coupon. May have to try this for ski season.

Since Southwest now flys direct to Steamboat, it is the reason I bought an el Cheapo ($100) R/T Ticket for a day trip for myself in order to qualify. Now I can take somebody for free on a Wanna Get Away fare for several long weekend trips to the ‘Boat or elswhere.

Cheers
 

melissy123

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I’m wondering if I can just buy a one way ticket but not use it.
 

davidvel

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I’m wondering if I can just buy a one way ticket but not use it.
Rules say you must buy and fly. Also, it is further limited by the fact you cannot book your companion flight until the award is issued Jan 1. So to get cheap (14 days in advance) flights, you really are limited to about 1/15 through 2/28, or 45 days.
 

pedro47

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To the OP: Thanks for the information.
 

PigsDad

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Rules say you must buy and fly. Also, it is further limited by the fact you cannot book your companion flight until the award is issued Jan 1. So to get cheap (14 days in advance) flights, you really are limited to about 1/15 through 2/28, or 45 days.
Not quite -- you can book your flight and then add the companion later. So you can book that Jan 8th flight now, even, and just add the companion on Jan 1. And I would recommend that, as the cheaper fares sell out first (of course). With Southwest, if there is any available seat on the plane, you can book your companion; the same fare class does not need to be available (it's all coach, but there is Business Select, Anytime, and Wanna Get Away fares).

If by some chance the flight is completely full and you can't book your companion, you can always just change your flight or cancel and get a full credit for future use, since there are no cancellation fees.

I've had Southwest's Companion Pass for a couple of years, and we are always making changes to our bookings. To date, we have never had to forfeit a single dollar due to us cancelling or changing flights, and we have done a lot of that in the last year!

Kurt
 

davidvel

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Not quite -- you can book your flight and then add the companion later. So you can book that Jan 8th flight now, even, and just add the companion on Jan 1. And I would recommend that, as the cheaper fares sell out first (of course). With Southwest, if there is any available seat on the plane, you can book your companion; the same fare class does not need to be available (it's all coach, but there is Business Select, Anytime, and Wanna Get Away fares).

If by some chance the flight is completely full and you can't book your companion, you can always just change your flight or cancel and get a full credit for future use, since there are no cancellation fees.

I've had Southwest's Companion Pass for a couple of years, and we are always making changes to our bookings. To date, we have never had to forfeit a single dollar due to us cancelling or changing flights, and we have done a lot of that in the last year!

Kurt
Thanks for that info.
 

silentg

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I was hoping it extended thru April?
 

TheHappyWanderer

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I read the rules differently. I see January 6 as the first day to purchase the primary ticket, but can it be interpreted to mean that's the first date to add the companion ticket???
 
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dsmrp

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Sounds nice, but we can't take advantage. We're minimizing our air trips
 

mdurette

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I haven't been paying much attention to my SW CP since we haven't been flying.....but I just logged in an noticed the one I have now which would expire on 12/31/20 has been extended to 06/30/21.
 
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If you plan it out right, there are no conditions on the Fall 2020 flight. So, you could get a small hop flight for $100 round-trip. Like for me, I could hop on an SWA flight from MCO to Fort Lauderdale real cheap. Then, all Winter, free companion! Due to my wife being in the ICU (multiple infections, Covid-19 negative), I'm not doing any traveling for a while.

TS
 

Dori

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Sounds like a great deal! I wish we could take advantage of this, but not an option for us due to Covid restrictions for Canadians. Any time we are flying to the U.S, we drive to Buffalo and take Southwest. We luv this airline!

Dori
 

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I haven't been paying much attention to my SW CP since we haven't been flying.....but I just logged in an noticed the one I have now which would expire on 12/31/20 has been extended to 06/30/21.
Yes, Southwest announced that they extended the expiration date six months for all CP holders back around April or May, I believe.

Kurt
 

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*Does not include taxes and fees from $5.60 one-way.
 

PigsDad

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*Does not include taxes and fees from $5.60 one-way.
I've never had the taxes and fees be more than $5.60 for any domestic one-way itinerary. Not sure if they are more for international.

Kurt
 

mdurette

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I've never had the taxes and fees be more than $5.60 for any domestic one-way itinerary. Not sure if they are more for international.

Kurt

I recall international being much higher on our trips to Aruba - in my head I'm thinking it was around $125 round trip????
 
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