Summary
Companion passes and fares offer a great opportunity to cut the cost of traveling for two. For a breakdown of the most common companion passes, including what they offer and how to earn them, read on.
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The Bank of America content was last updated on November 3, 2021.
Flying can be a hefty expense – especially when you’re buying more than one airline ticket at a time. If you frequently fly with a companion, whether it be your child, spouse or friend, a companion pass can drastically reduce your travel costs.
While the terms vary depending on the airline and credit card, generally, companion passes allow a second passenger to fly with you for free or at a significantly discounted rate. Some credit cards automatically offer a companion pass when you are approved for the card or each year on your account anniversary. Others require you to charge a certain amount within a given time frame to earn the pass.
For more details on some of the most common companion passes, including what they offer and how to earn them, read on.
Which airlines offer companion passes?
Southwest Airlines Companion Pass
The Southwest Companion Pass is easily the most popular companion pass available due to its incredibly valuable offer: You can choose a designated person to fly free with you each time you purchase or redeem points for a Southwest flight for up to two years. You will only be responsible for taxes and fees, which start at $5.60 per one-way ticket.
How do you qualify for the pass?
To earn the Southwest Companion Pass, you usually have to fly 100 qualifying one-way flights or earn 125,000 Southwest Rapid Rewards points in a calendar year.
How long is it valid?
The Companion Pass is valid for the remainder of the year in which you earn the pass as well as the following full calendar year. So, for example, if you earn 125,000 points by November 2021, your companion pass will be valid for the remainder of that year, through Dec. 31, 2022.
| Which cards help you qualify? |
American Airlines Companion Certificate
American Airlines offers two Companion Certificate options, depending on which credit card you have. The CitiBusiness®/AAdvantage® Platinum Select® Mastercard® offers a Companion Certificate that lets you purchase one domestic round-trip main cabin ticket for a $99 fee, plus $21.60 to $43.20 in taxes and fees. The AAdvantage® Aviator® Silver World Elite Mastercard® (no longer open to new applications) lets you purchase tickets for up to two guests for $99 each, plus taxes and fees.
How do you qualify for the Companion Certificate?
You will receive a Companion Certificate each year that you spend $30,000 or more and renew your card membership.
How long is the certificate valid?
Once issued, the Companion Certificate will be valid for one year.
| Which cards help you qualify? |
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British Airways Travel Together Ticket
With the Travel Together Ticket, when you book a flight on a British Airways flight originating in and returning to the U.S., you’ll receive a second seat for a companion on the same flight and in the same cabin. You will only be responsible for the taxes, fees and carrier charges; however, those charges can range from $682 to $1,250 per adult.
How do you qualify for the Travel Together Ticket?
To qualify, you must spend $30,000 on your British Airways Visa Signature® Card within a 12-month period, starting on Jan. 1 and ending on Dec. 31. For example, if you opened your card account in June 2020, you have until Dec. 31, 2020 to reach the spend requirement for that year.
How long is the Travel Together Ticket valid?
The Travel Together ticket is valid for 24 months from the date of issue.
| Which cards help you qualify? |
| British Airways Visa Signature® Card |
Delta SkyMiles Companion Certificate
The Delta SkyMiles Companion Certificate lets a companion fly with you on eligible round-trip domestic flights. You will be responsible for taxes and fees of no more than $75 for round-trip domestic flights.
Delta SkyMiles Reserve® American Express Card cardholders can earn one domestic first class, Delta Comfort+ or main cabin companion certificate each year.
How do you qualify for the Delta Companion Certificate?
You will receive a Companion Certificate every year that you renew your card membership. The certificate will automatically be issued to your SkyMiles account following your renewal.
How long is the certificate valid?
Once the certificate is issued, it will be valid for the remainder of the year, until your next renewal date.
| Which cards help you qualify? |
| Delta SkyMiles Reserve® American Express Card |
Hawaiian Airlines companion discount
Hawaiian Airlines cardholders receive a one-time companion discount of 50 percent off a round-trip coach ticket between Hawaii and the Mainland on Hawaiian Airlines.
Additionally, primary cardholders are eligible for an annual $100 discount off one coach companion ticket for round-trip travel between Hawaii and the Mainland after each account anniversary.
How do you qualify for Hawaiian Airlines discount?
The one-time 50 percent discount will automatically be added to your HawaiianMiles account when you are approved for a Hawaiian Airlines card, while the $100 discount will automatically be added each year on your account anniversary.
How long is the discount valid?
The one-time 50 percent discount is valid for 13 months after opening your credit card account, while the annual $100 discount is valid for 12 months after each account anniversary.
| Which cards help you qualify? |
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Alaska Airlines Famous Companion Fare
Alaska Airlines gives cardholders two ways to save on flights: the annual Famous Companion Fare offer and a generous sign-up bonus.
New Alaska Airlines Visa Signature® credit card members can earn 40,000 bonus miles and a Famous Companion Fare, which lets them purchase one round-trip coach companion fare on Alaska Airlines starting at $121 ($99 base fare plus taxes and fees from $22) for spending $2,000 in the first 90 days. Additionally, eligible Alaska Airlines cardholders will earn a Famous Companion Fare each year on their account anniversary.
How do you qualify for the Famous Companion Fare?
To qualify for the Famous Companion Fare, you must be an Alaska Airlines Visa Signature® or Alaska Airlines Visa® Business cardholder. As part of the introductory offer, you must spend $2,000 in the first 90 days to receive a companion fare. You will automatically receive the companion fare each year on your account anniversary.
Travel must be booked on alaskaair.com.
How long is the fare valid?
The Famous Companion Fare is valid from the date of issue until your next account anniversary.
| Which cards help you qualify? |
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Lufthansa companion ticket
Miles & More World Elite Mastercard cardholders get one economy class companion ticket on Lufthansa Airlines after their first purchase, as well as an annual companion ticket each year after that. You will be responsible for taxes and surcharges.
How do you qualify for the Lufthansa companion ticket?
As the primary cardholder, you will receive an economy companion ticket when you make your first purchase using your Miles & More Mastercard. Each year after that, you will receive a companion ticket on your account opening anniversary, as long as your account remains open and in good standing.
To book the companion ticket, you must call Miles & More Companion Ticket Service at 866-461-5399.
How long is the companion ticket valid?
The Lufthansa companion ticket is valid from the date of issue until your next account anniversary.
| Which cards help you qualify? |
| Miles & More® World Elite Mastercard® |
Which companion pass is right for you?
The right companion pass for you depends on a number of factors, including how much you charge each year on your credit card, how often you travel and where you plan to fly. For example, if you don’t want to charge a large amount, a companion pass that’s automatically issued each year on your credit card anniversary – such as Delta SkyMiles, Alaska Airlines or Hawaiian Airlines – will be your best bet.
But if you travel several times per year with your companion, the Southwest Companion Pass offers the best option – as long as you can earn 125,000 points within a calendar year and you live in or near a city that Southwest Airlines services.
Whichever one you choose, companion passes and fares offer a great opportunity to cut the cost of traveling for two.
See related: How to get the Southwest Companion Pass, Earn sign-up bonus miles with the Southwest Rapid Rewards cards
The Bank of America content of this post was last updated on March 20, 2020.
*All information about the CitiBusiness AAdvantage Platinum Select Mastercard has been collected independently by CreditCards.com. The issuer did not provide the content, nor is it responsible for its accuracy.
Editorial Disclaimer
The editorial content on this page is based solely on the objective assessment of our writers and is not driven by advertising dollars. It has not been provided or commissioned by the credit card issuers. However, we may receive compensation when you click on links to products from our partners.
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