Booking with a Southwest Companion Pass {Beginners Guide}

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Hi, I’m Katie from Katie’s Travel Tricks! I am here to help you learn the secrets that my family has been using for over a decade, using everyday expenses and welcome offers to supercharge your points earning. When you learn to do this, you can cover entire vacations every year.
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[@vmega007]

This was VERY helpful. Thank you for posting!

[@shelleyexplores4201]

I spent some quality time with your website learning about southwest companion pass this weekend. And early bird. And upgraded boarding. And requesting compensation for delay. That’s all good stuff. Thanks so much for all you do!

[@evandervila]

Incredible help btw, thank you so much. We finally qualified and were very nervous about screwing it up 😩

[@amandafredrickson5003]

Wow!! So much good information! I don’t think I have any more questions, they were all answered!

[@katiestraveltricks]

I had your list in front of me as I made my outline so I was hoping to hit them all!

[@Vlad0121]

Great info. Thank you!

[@katiestraveltricks]

Our pleasure!

[@brandydougherty8725]

This was extremely helpful

[@katiestraveltricks]

So glad it helped! There are a lot of little nuances at first.

[@milkyISO]

Thank you

[@funkybung]

great video! for my companion, does s/he have to check in separately for boarding position 24 hours before?

[@katiestraveltricks]

They are supposed to get automatically assigned to an adjacent position to you. This works for us 99% of the time but we randomly had a flight last year where it didn't happen. But then they do need to check in at some point.

[@adjeemd]

Do you and your husband book your tickets separately(each with your own rapid rewards card) so that you each might use your companion pass?
If you and your husband are on the same reservation, how are you able to add two companion pass tickets?
Thanks to you and your amazing video we were able to obtain two companion passes for almost 2 full years.

[@katiestraveltricks]

We typically book our tickets from the same Rapid Rewards account but make sure we both have our RR number listed. Then we each log into our own account and add our Companion from there. Sometimes when adding the 2nd companion to the same reservation, the website or app will glitch and we need to call in. When checking in the 2nd Companion, the app often gets confused too.

[@meganfleming9071]

After earning companion pass every other January, over those next 23 months at what time do you cancel your business and personal card before applying again every other fall?

[@katiestraveltricks]

There are a few factors -- I discussed them in this newsletter last year: katiestraveltricks.ck.page/posts/cp-bootcamp-when-to-close-a-sw-card-for-max-value

[@zj860]

Do you get alert when the southwest tickets price gets lower than when you booked? If not How do you find it out?

[@katiestraveltricks]

Just by checking every few weeks or especially when Southwest is advertising sales

[@ralphbani]

@@katiestraveltricksAdditional question on this, after I notice the prices went down, how exactly do you get the refund for the difference in the cash/points?

[@zj860]

I want to see how you and your husband got keep the companion pass every year?

[@katiestraveltricks]

We have been at it long enough that we have earned it many different ways, some of which are no longer available. The current best way to earn it perpetually for 2 people involves referring each other back and forth and alternating who gets the personal card + premier and who gets business performance. I have a video detailing this strategy I can link!

[@zj860]

I watched that video, it did explained all! Thanks!@@katiestraveltricks

[@darryl2366]

Is the companion pass a one time use??

[@katiestraveltricks]

Unlimited use for the time it is active. You can change the named companion 3x in a calendar year, too.

[@asdifhjaoduifjalskdfj]

Okay, I know I’m reading into this way too much but you mentioned adding your companion after purchasing early bird. Do you know if it matters if I bought early bird check-in after adding my companion?

[@katiestraveltricks]

I don't think the order would matter!