Why I flew from Long Beach to Los Angeles via Las Vegas
Few benefits in the points and miles world are more lucrative than the Southwest Companion Pass. Once earned, you can bring a designated friend or family member on your Southwest Airlines flights — whether your ticket is a revenue booking or a Southwest Rapid Rewards redemption.
Earning the Companion Pass typically requires a lot of flying and spending — or a limited-time offer on a Southwest credit card. Last fall, however, the carrier brought back its (now expired) promotion, which allowed members to earn a limited-time Companion Pass by taking a single round-trip flight (or two one-way flights).
I knew I would fly Southwest at least three times when this promotional pass would be valid, so I hatched a wild plan. Could I find an inexpensive trip to meet the qualifications and save hundreds of dollars in airfare?
And the answer quickly fell into my lap. Here's why I wound up taking the long way from Long Beach, California, to Los Angeles — and how I got nearly $500 worth of flights by spending less than $120.
Planning my strategy
The offer terms were relatively straightforward. After registering, you had to book a round-trip flight (or two one-way flights) between Sept. 3 and Sept. 5, 2024. Travel had to be completed by Nov. 20, 2024, and then your promotional Companion Pass would be valid from Jan. 6 to March 6, 2025.
This was particularly appealing due to a pair of previously planned trips with my family:
- Orlando International Airport (MCO) to Pittsburgh International Airport (PIT) for this weekend's Groundhog Day celebrations in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania (Feb. 2 is my birthday)
- MCO to Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport (MSY) for a February weekend to enjoy the Mardi Gras festivities
While not wildly expensive, the combined price of these flights was around $500 per person, which became a pricey proposition for me, my wife and my daughter.
Related: The best hotels in New Orleans, from the French Quarter to the Garden District
So, I tried to figure out a way to utilize this limited-time offer to my advantage.
Unfortunately, it became clear that an entirely separate trip wasn't feasible. The cheapest same-day, round-trip flight I could find that worked for my schedule still rang in at over $150 — and that's without the drive to the airport, parking fees and lost productivity from being on the road.
However, that's when I realized that I had a great opportunity on a trip that was already happening.
Booking the perfect itinerary
At the end of October, I had been asked to speak at a conference in Long Beach during the eligible travel window to earn the Companion Pass. Due to scheduling restrictions, I was booked to fly in and out of Los Angeles International Airport (LAX). That sparked my thinking — could I find cheap flights in Southern California during my trip? Or, could I even fly from Long Beach Airport (LGB) to LAX via another nearby Southwest city?
Yes, as it turns out.
A few hours after my session was set to end at the Long Beach Convention Center, there was a one-way, nonstop flight from LGB to Harry Reid International Airport (LAS) in Las Vegas. From there, I had multiple nonstop options to get to LAX. Aside from the airfare, there were no additional expenses to incur. Booking these flights would replace taking a ride-hailing service back up to Los Angeles (though I did need a shorter ride to LGB).
Here's what my same-day itinerary looked like:
| Flight | Route | Departure | Arrival | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Southwest Flight 2678 | LGB-LAS | 12:55 p.m. | 2:05 p.m. | $85.97 |
Southwest Flight 3125 | LAS-LAX | 5:45 p.m. | 7:05 p.m. | $70.98 |
Since these were separate reservations (to satisfy the requirement of taking two one-way flights), I gave myself plenty of time to connect. However, I opted to spend an extra $15 for a Wanna Get Away Plus fare on the flight from LAS to LAX — this gave me the option of a free same-day change if I wanted to cut down my layover time in Las Vegas.
Flying from Long Beach to LA via Las Vegas
After my session finished, I called a Lyft and headed to LGB. The trip cost $33.35 total (fares to get back to LAX around that time were around $60, not including tip). It was my first time flying out of that airport, and it was a lovely experience. Security was a breeze, and I had plenty of time to grab a quick sandwich and wander the open-air space between the two sets of gates before boarding commenced for my flight to Las Vegas.
The plane was only about two-thirds full, so I enjoyed a window seat with an empty middle. We pushed back three minutes late and took off at 1:09 p.m. into a gorgeous Southern California sky.
The flight was quite turbulent, so there was no drink service, but we landed just 39 minutes after takeoff and parked at the gate at 1:56 p.m., nine minutes early.
Since I just had a carry-on bag, I knew I'd have no trouble making an earlier flight. Before deplaning, I fired up the Southwest app, and, sure enough, I could confirm a seat on the 3:50 p.m. departure for no additional fee (it would've been $75 had I booked the cheaper Wanna Get Away fare). That still gave me plenty of time to take the train to Concourse D and visit the Las Vegas Centurion Lounge, which I accessed with my Platinum Card® from American Express.
There was a short wait to get in, but less than 10 minutes later, I was enjoying some delicious food while catching up on work.
It was soon time to head back to the C gates for my flight to LAX. Because of my same-day change, I was assigned B 58 as my boarding position — but like my first flight, the plane wasn't nearly full, so I had another empty middle seat for the short hop.
We pushed back two minutes early and took off at 3:59 p.m. We were in the air for just 42 minutes, touching down at 4:41 p.m. and parking at the gate just six minutes after landing, 23 minutes ahead of schedule. It was a short walk from Terminal 1 to the Hyatt Regency Los Angeles International Airport.
Related: The 10 best hotels near Los Angeles International Airport
Less than 24 hours after completing the requirements, I received an email from Southwest confirming that a promotional Companion Pass would be on the way in early January.
Receiving — and then using — the Companion Pass
On Monday, Jan. 6, 2025, I received another email from Southwest notifying me that the Companion Pass had arrived and that I could designate my companion online. With just a few clicks, my daughter officially became the beneficiary of my harebrained scheme.
Then, I just had to add her to my existing reservations. This, too, was a simple process, as Southwest had a clear callout to add a companion right from my account dashboard.
You're still responsible for taxes and fees on your companion's ticket, but that came to just $11.20 for this round-trip flight to Pittsburgh.
I then added her to our second flight to New Orleans, paying only $5.60 in taxes and fees for her ticket. Just like that, we were all set.
I got nearly $500 in flights for about $120
So, was this trip worth it? In short, absolutely.
My two flights in California cost $156.95, and when you add the Lyft to the airport, the total cost was $190.30. However, I saved a ride back to LAX, which would've been roughly $72 ($60 for the base fare plus a 20% tip). So, in reality, the net expense was less than $120.
In return, I got a Companion Pass for my daughter that saved the following on airfare:
- MCO-PIT-MCO: $11.20 in taxes and fees instead of $321.96
- MSY-MCO: $5.60 in taxes and fees instead of $186.48
- Total savings: $491.64
Most importantly, this trip was done with minimal interruption to my daily life. It happened on a trip I was taking already, and I could still work full days.
If you apply for the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card (see rates and fees), the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card or the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card (see rates and fees), you can earn 50,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.
The information for the Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
Bottom line
Last October, I flew from Long Beach to Los Angeles via Las Vegas. And, no, it wasn't just to avoid traffic in Southern California. Instead, by embedding these two flights inside a business trip I was already taking, I earned a two-month Southwest Companion Pass.
In all, I spent $118.30 to ultimately get $491.64 worth of flights — a fantastic return for little to no hassle. Put another way, I kept $373.34 in my pocket, which will go a long way toward covering other trip expenses.
This promotion is no longer available, but it may come back in the future. And for this or any other similar offer, there is a key takeaway: When one crops up, take a glance at your upcoming travels. You might be able to use it to your advantage.
TPG featured card
Rewards
| 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. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases. |
Intro offer
Annual Fee
Recommended Credit
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.
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. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases. |
Intro Offer
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.