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Can I Use My Southwest Companion Pass for My Dog?
Julian Mark Kheel
Contributor
June 14, 2017
•
4 min read
Can I Use My Southwest Companion Pass for My Dog?
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"Reader Questions" are answered three days a week — Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays — by TPG Senior Writer Julian Mark Kheel.
It might not be as easy as it used to be to get a Southwest Companion Pass, but it's still possible, and TPG reader Ben wants to know if he can use one for his furry friend...
[pullquote source="TPG Reader Ben"]This question is somewhat silly, but can you use a Southwest Companion Pass on a dog?[/pullquote]
First of all, let's clear up something right off the bat — this is not a silly question as far as I'm concerned. Man's (and woman's) best friend should absolutely be Companion Pass-eligible in my opinion, and if they happen to also slobber on the in-flight peanuts, then that's just part of how h*ckin' awesome they are. Besides, I have human friends who slobber on the peanuts as well.
Of course, if your dog is an emotional support animal — and we're not going to get into the controversial question of emotional support animals here today — then there's no charge to bring them into the cabin in any case. But what if they're not? If you're not able to add your dog to your Companion Pass, how much can you expect to pay for an in-cabin pet?
As you might expect, it differs depending on the airline, but here's a list of the basic in-cabin pet fees for domestic travel on most major US carriers:
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| Airline | in-cabin kennel FEE | NOTES |
|---|---|---|
$100 | Pets allowed in the passenger cabin are dogs, cats, rabbits and household birds. | |
$125 | With the exception of a few breed restrictions, you can only travel with cats and dogs. | |
$125 | Dogs, cats, household birds, guinea pigs, rabbits, hamsters, and marmots. Yes, marmots. | |
$35 for travel within the state of Hawaii
$175 for travel from Hawaii to North America | Permitted only on inter-island flights and flights leaving the state of Hawaii. Not allowed on flights arriving into the state of Hawaii due to quarantine requirements, with exceptions made for service animals. | |
$100 | You'll earn 300 TrueBlue points on each flight segment when traveling with your pet. | |
$95 | Cats and dogs only. Unlike many other Southwest charges, the pet fee is non-refundable. | |
$125 | Domesticated cats, dogs, rabbits and household birds (excluding cockatoos) can travel accompanied in the aircraft cabin. | |
$100 | Cats, dogs, household birds and domesticated rabbits are accepted in the main cabin. |
There are many more details and some additional restrictions on in-cabin pets, so if you'd like to read more extensively about bringing your pet either on an airline or to a hotel, check out our post on Tips for Traveling With Pets: Airline and Hotel Policy Roundup.
But what about Ben's original question — can a dog be a free Southwest Companion? Well, when I called to inquire on this topic, I was informed by a friendly yet firm Southwest customer service agent that neither doggos nor puppers can be named as companions on the Companion Pass.
So even though they're good dogs, Brent, it would seem they'll need to pay to fly. Thanks for the question, and if you're a TPG reader who'd like us to answer a question of your own, tweet us at @thepointsguy, message us on Facebook or email us at info@thepointsguy.com.
Featured image by Getty Images/iStockphoto
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Best for dining at restaurants
TPG Editor‘s Rating
Go to reviewCard Rating is based on the opinion of TPG‘s editors and is not influenced by the card issuer.
Rewards Rate
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com. |
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You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.As High As 100,000 points. Find Out Your Offer.Annual Fee
$325Recommended Credit
Credit ranges are a variation of FICO® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.Excellent to Good
Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.