TL;DR: Since earning our Southwest Companion Pass in February 2024, it’s been worth $3,441! Our pass is valid through December 2025. We’re on track to save over $5,000 by using a few simple tricks that you can use too!
In less than a year, we’ve saved $1,112.49 in cash and 172,746 points by using these Southwest Companion Pass tricks, with Sandra (aka Zuzu) flying for nearly free. Below, we break down exactly how much the Companion Pass has been worth to us from February 2024 until now.
Here’s Exactly What the Tricks Have Saved So Far
| Flights Taken | Cash Saved | Points Saved | Total Saved |
|---|---|---|---|
| 21 | $1,112 | 172,746 points | $3,441 |
This table details the number of Southwest flights we’ve taken, our direct cash savings, Rapid Rewards points saved, and the total equivalent value. By using Southwest Companion Pass tricks (like leveraging credit card bonuses and timing), we’ve maximized our savings.
Southwest Rapid Rewards points have been worth about 1.3 cents each to us. So the “Total Saved” column combines both cash savings and the equivalent value of points, which we calculate based on a valuation of 1.3 cents per point.
Learn why Hyatt points are worth 3 times as much to us here!
Why We LUV the Southwest Airlines Companion Pass
We think the Southwest Companion Pass is one of the best deals in travel optimization. Since earning the pass in February 2024, we’ve used it for 17 flights, allowing Sandra to join me for just the cost of taxes and fees. That’s only $5.60 for each 1 way domestic flight!
This pass has already saved us $892 in cash and 172,746 points, making it one of the more valuable travel perks we’ve ever utilized.
Before this, we had a promotional Companion Pass in 2022, which allowed Sandra to fly with me for (almost) free on 13 trips. During that year, we saved $4,363 in flight costs, mostly on leisure trips, although we also extended a number of business trips to enjoy some vacation time together. This experience further convinced us of the value of earning the full Companion Pass in 2024.
We actually earned our very 1st Companion Pass way back in 1996, but we didn’t know the tricks of how to get and use the SWA Companion Past. Here’s what we’ve learned (& how we’ve improved) since then.
How to Maximize the Value of Southwest Companion Pass Tricks
In order to earn a Companion Pass and make sure it’s worth alot, there are a number of tips and tricks to consider. Some are obvious and some are a little less so.
Here’s how we used some simple tricks to earn and maximize our Companion Pass.
Credit Card Welcome Bonuses
One of the easiest Southwest Companion Pass tricks is to earn the pass quickly through credit card sign-up bonuses. By opening one or two Southwest credit cards and hitting the spending requirements, you can earn enough points to get the Companion Pass in just a few months. That’s exactly how we earned 135,000 Rapid Rewards points in early 2024. This trick lets us fly nearly free for almost two full years.
Check out our Companion Pass Guide for a deeper dive into earning with credit cards.
Opening both personal and business Southwest credit cards gave us a massive boost toward earning the Companion Pass fast.
The welcome bonuses that you get upon signup were the biggest help, and timing the spending just right was key to unlocking the pass as quickly as possible.
Earn the Pass Early in the Calendar Year
Since the Southwest Companion Pass is valid for the rest of the calendar year, plus the full next year, you can maximize value by earning it as early in the year as possible.
For example, we earned our Companion Pass in February 2024. That means it’s valid for the rest of 2024 and all of 2025. Nearly 23 months! On the other hand, if you earn it in December, it’s valid for just December and the next 12 months.
Want to take advantage of this trick? Learn more about the Southwest credit card bonuses here!
Live Near a Southwest Airport
If it’s not convenient to fly Southwest, you won’t get much value from the Companion Pass.
We’re lucky to live just a few minutes away from the Nashville airport which has a ton of SWA flights every day. But if the closest Southwest airport is several hours away, you likely won’t fly Southwest as often.
And you won’t get much value from this Companion Pass.
Travel Frequently or Want to Travel Frequently
To expand on my last point, if you don’t use the Companion Pass much, it’s not going to be worth much to you. If you’re only flying Southwest once or twice a year, it might be better to not try to get the Companion Pass and focus your travel efforts elsewhere.
Since we learned how to travel for almost free back in 2021, we usually fly Southwest 10-20 times each year. The Companion Pass essentially cuts our cost in half!
Have a Travel Companion
See the name? It’s a Companion Pass.
Your companion flies for free, so if you don’t have a travel buddy, it’s not going to help you much.
OTOH, if you’ve got a family member or friend who is going to travel with you regularly, that’s where you get the most savings. Keep in mind that you can change your designated companion 3 times a year if there’s not one particular person who’s going to take all of your flights with you.
I’m lucky that Zuzu‘s job is extremely flexible. Pretty much anytime I want to fly or need to fly, she can take off and come with me.
Combine Business and Leisure Trips
I mentioned that Zuzu‘s job has the flexibility that she can take time off pretty much whenever she wants. I don’t travel much for business, but when I do, she comes along on our Companion Pass, and we usually extend the business trip by one or more days so we can have a little vacation.
If you travel for work like I do, the Companion Pass is one of several great ways that business trips can help you earn free travel with points and miles!
OK, maybe some of these Companion Pass tricks were obvious but they really decide whether the value of the Southwest Companion Pass is likely to be small or HUGE like it is for us.
Learn more about how we maximize our trips here.
Ongoing Savings: 2024-2025 Southwest Flights
Here’s the exact cash and points that we’ve saved since earning the Southwest Companion Pass in February 2024.
DCA-BNA, 02/25/24: 1st Flight with the New Pass
When we earned the Southwest Companion Pass, we were actually in the middle of a trip, staying for free at the Grand Hyatt Washington DC.
Because I booked our round trip as two 1-way flights, I was able to cancel Sandra’s $115 return flight and add her as my “free” Companion. Sandra’s cost was just $5.60 in taxes, saving us $109.40.
BNA-MSY, 03/24: New Orleans Spring Break Flights
Our son Trent spent his Spring Break with us on a quick trip to the Big Easy. We spent 3 nights at the Hyatt Centric French Quarter (free with Hyatt points) and Trent got his first taste of Bourbon Street!
My Southwest ticket was $150 from Nashville and $157 coming back. Zuzu’s flights were $5.60 each direction for savings of $295.80.
BNA-DEN, 05/24: Denver Travel Meetup
In May, we flew out to Denver to hang out with some “Points & Miles” friends and share notes on how we all travel for next to nothing.
Had a nice stay at the Grand Hyatt Denver in a Junior Suite. Our room was free with Hyatt points, of course!
Instead of cash, I used 8,098 Rapid Rewards points on the way out to Denver and 15,897 points for my return. Sandra flew for just $5.60 each way, saving 23,995 points.
Based on our point valuation, her Southwest Companion Pass was worth $99.21 + $201.91, a total of $301.12 of savings on this trip.
BNA-LGA, 05/24: NYC (but really Europe!)
For our biggest trip of 2024, we flew Southwest to New York City as a positioning flight for our One Week Trip to Germany and Switzerland.
A “Positioning Flight” is a flight that puts you in the right place for a more important flight.
In this case, we used 13,426 points to fly SWA on Monday night to NYC. After a free night at the Hyatt Place in Flushing, the ‘more important flight’ was a spectacular deal in 1st Class lie-flat seats on Delta. We flew from JFK to Europe for only $250 cash and then stayed (for free) at the Andaz Munich and the swanky Park Hyatt Zurich.
A week later, Delta One brought us back to JFK & then Southwest flew us home to Nashville. My flight to Nashville was another 2,831 Rapid Rewards points.
Our Companion pass saved us 16,257 points and enabled us to take advantage of a massive deal on Delta to Europe. Based on what we think Southwest points are worth, we saved the equivalent of $203 thanks to the Companion Pass.
BNA-MCO, 06/24: Orlando Flights: Work + Play!
In June, I went on a business trip to Orlando for a client. They covered the cash price of my Southwest tickets: $326.98 to Orlando and $171.97 back to Nashville. Thanks to our Companion Pass, Zuzu came along for free and we tacked a couple extra nights of vacation onto the end of the business trip at the Hyatt Regency Orlando.
Sandra’s flight was just $5.60 in taxes each way, bringing our savings to $487.75 for the roundtrip.
BNA-OAK, 07/24: Oakland (but really Napa Valley!)
For our trip to Napa Valley on a budget, we flew in and out of the Oakland airport. Nonstop from BNA was free for me with 17,950 points.
After 1 night at the nearby Waterfront Hotel, 3 nights at the wonderful Andaz Napa Valley, and 1 night at Hyatt Centric Fisherman’s Wharf (all free on Hyatt points), we flew back home for 18,097 points.
Thanks to our Southwest Companion Pass, Sandra’s flights were only $5.60 each way. On this budget trip to Napa Valley, we saved 35,687 Rapid Rewards points which has a cash value to us of $487.08.
BNA-CLT, 09/24: Charlotte for a Football Game
It’s Football season so we made a quick trip to Charlotte to watch our TN Vols whip NC State! Ross flew on SWA points and Sandra’s flight was just $5.60 each way. That’s a savings of 16,197 points which is worth $210 to us!
Read our full trip report and learn how we saved money on our Charlotte football trip! We only spent $884 including game tickets, travel, food and 3 nights at the Hyatt House in downtown Charlotte!
BNA-OKC, 09/24: Oklahoma City for Football
Another Fall weekend, another free flight to see the Vols play football!
Our Southwest flight from BNA to OKC was loaded with Vol fans wearing orange & the Flight Attendants fired us up by playing Rocky Top over the intercom!
Along with our free flights (I used 36,942 points for my roundtrip), we had a great stay at the Fordson Hotel in downtown Oklahoma City! By using 24,000 Hyatt points, we got our $819 hotel stay for free!
Our Southwest Companion Pass saved us $479 on this fun weekend trip!
BNA-PVR: 10/24: Mexico All Inclusive Resort!
Zuzu and I LOVE using points and miles to stay for free at All Inclusive Resorts!
In October, we traveled with friends to Secrets Bahia Mita Resort in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. We paid with 191k Hyatt points and our 7 night stay was totally free instead of $5,541!
Since this was a Southwest flight outside the US, the taxes and fees were a little more than domestic Southwest flights.
We each paid $134.32 for taxes and fees for the roundtrip. I used 43,668 Rapid Rewards points. Sandra’s Companion Pass was worth $567.68 on this trip.
BNA-CVG, 11/24: Date Night in Cincinnati
For a quick 1 night getaway, we flew to Cincinnati from Nashville for a fun date night. The highlight of the trip? Dinner at Skyline Chili, one of our favorite meals since we discovered Cincinnati Chili 30 years ago!
Our $154 room Hyatt Place Cincinnati Airport was free thanks to 5,000 Hyatt points. At 3.1 cents per point, that’s just below the 3.8 cents that Hyatt points are worth to us since 2021.
For the outbound flight, I spent $48.99 for my ticket and Zuzu only paid $5.60 in taxes and fees, saving $43.39. The return trip was the same price & same savings which brought the total savings for this trip to $86.78 with the Southwest Companion Pass.
We also got to explore The Club CVG Lounge and the Escape Lounge at CVG airport.
BNA-MDW, 12/24: Holiday Lights in Chicago
Sandra and I took a three-day holiday trip to Chicago to see the Christmas lights. As a nice surprise, our son Trent joined us because he was home from the University of Tennessee for Christmas break.
Some Chicago highlights included:
- Staying at the historic Chicago Athletic Association, a stunning building converted into a Hyatt hotel, where we stayed for free using Hyatt points.
- Visiting the 94th-floor observation deck of the John Hancock building at sunset. We saw the city during the day, at sunset, and later lit up with holiday lights.
- Exploring Navy Pier’s festive lights and the Lincoln Park Zoo Lights Festival.
Trent’s unexpected favorite? A visit to the famous Billy Goat Tavern, known for inspiring the “Cheeseburger! Cheeseburger!” skit on Saturday Night Live.
For the Nashville to Chicago Midway roundtrip, Sandra paid just $5.60 each way. Altogether, her Companion Pass saved us $132.76 for this trip.
Is the Southwest Companion Pass Worth It?
So far, the numbers speak for themselves. With $1,112.49 in cash savings and 172,746 points saved, the Companion Pass is absolutely worth it for us. And with over a year to go, we’re on track to save at least $5,000 with the Southwest Companion Pass.
But it’s not just about the money saved. The Companion Pass gives us the freedom to travel more often, to places we might not have considered otherwise. Whether it’s a spontaneous weekend getaway or Zuzu tagging along on a business trip, the Southwest Companion Pass makes it easy and affordable.
If you’re wondering whether the Companion Pass is worth it for you, we’ve detailed who should and shouldn’t get the pass in this guide.
How We Got $130k in Free Travel
Since 2021, we’ve used the Southwest Companion Pass Trick and a few easy-to-learn methods to rack up more than $130,000 of free travel. If we can do it, so can you!
By far, the biggest way we’ve traveled for free is with credit card points and miles. In just a few short years, we’ve redeemed over 3 million points and miles for things like:
- 1 Week in Germany and Switzerland for Under $2000 (Including 1st Class Flights)
- Ross & Zuzu’s Ultimate Guide to Free Travel
- Hawaii in February: How We Saved $11k with Points and Miles
- Nassau, Bahamas on a Budget: Free Resort Suite & Free Flights
Want to start your own journey with the Southwest Companion Pass? Check out our full Companion Pass Guide for tips on how to get started.
Need help with earning a Southwest Companion Pass? Drop me a note and I’ll help for free.
Want to learn how you can travel for free like we do? Download our 14 page PDF: Guide to Free Luxury Travel
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