I flew to Atlanta for the day to earn a 2-month Southwest Companion Pass — here's why (and how it went)
Update: Some offers mentioned below are no longer available.
Earlier this year, Southwest Airlines brought back its promotion to earn a limited-time Companion Pass. If you registered, booked a flight between Aug. 28 and Aug. 30 and completed travel by Sept. 30, you'd earn a coveted Companion Pass valid from Jan. 8 through March 8, 2024.
I'm not a frequent Southwest flyer, but I am a Southwest Rapid Rewards member, and the carrier does offer extensive service from my home state of Florida. So, I started thinking. Could I take a quick trip solely for the sake of earning this Companion Pass, thus creating buy-one, get-one flights for a few months next year?
As it turns out, I was able to do this with little hassle and minimal out-of-pocket expense.
Here's why I flew to Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) — and back — on the same day, all because of a promo.
Related: How to use the Southwest Companion Pass
Booking the flight
When the promotion launched and I hatched my plan, I knew I couldn't take just any flight. These were must-haves when I began searching:
- Low cost: First, I needed a flight with a relatively low cost. After all, the Companion Pass will only be valid for two months, so spending several hundred dollars on a flight would make it harder to recoup that cost by using the perk.
- Florida departure: I live on Florida's Treasure Coast, which gave me relatively easy access to a trio of Southwest airports: Palm Beach International Airport (PBI), Orlando International Airport (MCO) and Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL). I focused my searches on these three gateways.
- Minimal hassle: I love working remotely, but I wanted to make sure that I could still get my work done during the day. Additionally, I didn't want to deal with a flight at the crack of dawn or a late-night arrival, thus missing valuable time with my family. For this to work, I wanted to minimize my inconvenience.
So, I began searching.
I started on Southwest's route map, a handy way to see all the carrier's nonstop flights out of specific airports. It even gives you a starting price for one-way flights, helping you zero in on destinations with the carrier's lowest fares.
Palm Beach options were limited (and expensive), and Orlando itineraries also weren't great in my search. However, I was thrilled to see that flights from Fort Lauderdale to Atlanta (and back) were priced at less than $50 each way.
With a target route in mind, I then moved on to Southwest's handy low-fare calendar (side by side with my own Outlook calendar). And on Tuesday, Sept. 19 — a day on which I was mostly free — I found a flight for a total of $107.36.
This would mean leaving my house around 7:45 a.m. (around the same time my wife normally leaves with my daughter to drop her at school en route to work) and getting back home around 7:30 p.m. With inflight Wi-Fi and roughly three hours on the ground in Atlanta, I knew I would still have a large part of the day to work like normal — and the price sure was right.
I booked the flight using my Chase Sapphire Reserve to earn 3 points per dollar and to ensure I was covered in the event of delays or cancellations. I could almost taste the free trips I'd book for my companion once the pass arrives in January.
But first, of course, I needed to take the flight.
Flying to Atlanta and back
The morning departure from my house went according to plan, and I even used part of my drive to have a call with a team member. While I hit some standard South Florida traffic, I parked in the on-site garage around 9:40 a.m. It was a short walk to Terminal 1, where I used Clear (thanks to The Platinum Card® from American Express, which offers statement credits of up to $209 per year when you charge your Clear Plus membership fee to the card; subject to auto-renewal, enrollment required) and TSA PreCheck to clear security comparatively quickly — though I did hit a small delay thanks to the new scanners in use at the checkpoint.
The terminal was rather busy, but I sent a few emails and had a quick call with another team member before we started boarding. I checked in right at the 24-hour mark and was assigned B07, so I had no problem finding a window seat in Row 17. The entire boarding process was smooth, and we pushed back from the gate two minutes ahead of schedule.
After a quick taxi, we took off at 10:58 a.m., making a quick turn to the north en route to Atlanta.
I connected to the inflight Wi-Fi for $8, which I charged to my Ritz-Carlton Rewards Credit Card (and then erased using the card's $300 annual airline incidental credit). While the card isn't available to new applicants, you can request a product change from an existing Marriott card from Chase.
The information for the Ritz-Carlton card has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
The flight was uneventful, and we touched down in Atlanta at 12:19 p.m., arriving at Gate C22 at 12:25 p.m., 20 minutes early.
After deplaning, I grabbed a bite to eat at a place specializing in make-your-own salads before walking to Terminal F (gotta get those steps in!) and checking into The Club at ATL, a Priority Pass lounge that you can access on a wide variety of credit cards.
I worked from there, including two additional calls, before walking back to Terminal C for my return flight.
Boarding was yet again uneventful, and with B22 on my boarding pass, I snagged a window seat in Row 21 — and even enjoyed an empty middle seat on the less-than-full flight. We pushed back one minute behind schedule but only taxied for nine minutes before taking off at 4 p.m.
I again connected to the Wi-Fi for $8 using the credit from my Ritz card, and I worked until close to landing. The wheels hit the runway at 5:32 p.m., and we parked at the gate at 5:36 p.m. (four minutes before our scheduled arrival).
Total cost to earn the Companion Pass
So, when all was said and done, how much did this jaunt cost me? Here's a complete breakdown:
- Flight: $107.36
- Round-trip drive to FLL (calculated based on IRS reimbursement rates): $141.48
- Lunch in ATL: $12.41
- Wi-Fi on flights: $0 (ordinarily $16, but these were covered by the fee credit on my Ritz card)
- Parking at FLL: $15
- Total: $276.25
Perhaps most importantly, I was able to do this entire trip at a very minor inconvenience. I used some of my drives to and from the airport to talk to my team members, and I got in several additional hours of work on the flights and in the airport.
The day after the flight, I got an email from Southwest confirming that I had met the requirements to earn the Companion Pass.
Unfortunately, the terms of the promotion indicate that the pass won't be awarded to my Rapid Rewards account until Jan. 8, 2024, and only then can I designate my companion and start booking trips for her.
There's a chance that one (or more) of the flights I want will be sold out by that point, but Companion Pass tickets aren't subject to inventory restrictions. As long as there's a seat — regardless of the price at the time of booking — I can add my companion for just the taxes and fees.
Bottom line
Saying I got some odd looks when I told some friends and family members what I was doing would be an understatement. After all, "I'm flying to Atlanta for the day to earn a Southwest Companion Pass" isn't the most normal thing to hear.
However, I'm excited about the prospect of designating my daughter as my companion and taking her along on a handful of flights in early 2024. While this deal is now closed for registration, Southwest has a history of doing things like this from time to time, in case you missed this round. For less than $300, I've unlocked the potential to enjoy a ton of additional travel — which means more memories for me and my family.
And that doesn't seem far-fetched at all.
Related reading:
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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
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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.