Once I instructed my accomplice that I might be waking up at 4:30 a.m. to fly from Florida’s Palm Seaside Worldwide Airport (PBI) to Orlando Worldwide Airport (MCO) at 6:40 a.m. and again in in the future, he requested the identical query others — apart from my co-workers — had: “However, why?”
In layman’s phrases, Southwest Airways was providing a limited-time promotional Companion Cross. The coveted Companion Cross is basically a buy-one-get-one-free airfare deal that permits you to add a chosen further individual to your flight reservation for simply the price of the taxes and charges (beginning at $5.60) on any Southwest flight.
So, with only a backpack and an extra-large espresso in hand, I started my round-trip flight journey from one Florida metropolis to a different, touchdown again house simply earlier than lunchtime to earn this move.
Here is how I did it and why this one move will save me a whole lot of {dollars} in airfare in 2026.
Associated: The best way to shortly earn the Southwest Companion Cross
Southwest provided a limited-time two-month Companion Cross
Sometimes, to earn the Companion Cross, a Southwest Speedy Rewards member must earn 135,000 qualifying factors or fly 100 one-way segments in a calendar 12 months. Then, you will have the profitable move for the rest calendar 12 months and the next calendar 12 months. For instance, in case you earned it in August 2025, your move can be good by Dec. 31, 2026.
That stated, Southwest generally gives a promotional Companion Cross after finishing set necessities. Not like the normal Companion Cross, these promotional passes are solely legitimate for a restricted time.
In August, Southwest marketed a two-month Companion Cross after registering, buying (by 11:59 p.m. CDT on Aug. 28) and finishing a round-trip flight or two one-way flights by Nov. 15. Those that met the necessities would obtain a Companion Cross good from Jan. 6 to March 6, 2026.
As somebody who’s planning to ebook a protracted weekend ski journey and a Caribbean getaway throughout these winter months, I used to be very a lot all for incomes this Companion Cross.
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Nevertheless, I needed to crunch some numbers and ensure the price of the round-trip flight can be price it, as Fundamental fares weren’t eligible for this deal. Subsequently, I must purchase a Alternative fare, which is a step above Southwest’s Fundamental fares and prices extra money.
Associated: Southwest card welcome bonuses: Final likelihood to earn 100,000 factors
I earned the Southwest Companion Cross earlier than lunch
As a Florida resident, I knew that my house airport, PBI, operates day by day Southwest flights to and from MCO. Plus, because the airports are solely about 170 miles from each other, I knew it could be a very brief flight.
First, I needed to examine if the flight occasions lined as much as meet my private wants. As a mother, I wanted to be house in time to choose my son up from day care (my accomplice might do the drop off). Fortunately, they did.
Southwest operates day by day routes between the 2 airports, so I discovered a 6:40 a.m. flight leaving from PBI and touchdown in MCO at roughly 7:40 a.m., then the return departing MCO at 10:50 a.m. and arriving again in PBI at 11:50 a.m.
Utilizing Southwest’s calendar search instrument, I booked a flight for a random Wednesday in September, which was the most affordable possibility (on the time), costing $249.35. Plus, as a Speedy Rewards member, I might earn 1,254 factors on this round-trip flight.
So, after paying $8 to park and utilizing about $10 price of gasoline to drive to and from the airport, this promotional Companion Cross price me about $267 to earn — and I used to be again in my house workplace earlier than 1 p.m.
How I plan to make use of my limited-time promotional Southwest Companion Cross
Be aware that costs have been correct on the time of writing.
As I discussed, I plan to ebook a ski-centric journey to a resort in Colorado this winter. Although PBI is my house airport, I additionally fly out of Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood Worldwide Airport (FLL) and MCO if the fares are cheaper and/or the routes are direct. Proper now, there’s a round-trip flight from FLL to Denver Worldwide Airport (DEN) for $442.96 in January.
With this move, I can ebook my flight and my accomplice’s flight for a further $59.37. Calculating what I paid to earn the Companion Cross plus the taxes and charges I might pay for this flight, I am going to save about $116.
- Monetary breakdown: $442.96 (complete price of my accomplice’s flight) – $59.37 (what I’ve to pay for the taxes and charges of the flight) – $267 (out-of-pocket price of incomes the Companion Cross) = $116.59 (complete financial savings on this itinerary)
And that is not the one journey I need to take with my two-month Companion Cross.
I’m additionally planning a visit to Cancun, Mexico, in February for my accomplice’s birthday. For February journey dates, flights are upward of $667.03 per individual. With the Companion Cross, we would pay a complete of $862.06 for 2 round-trip flights, or simply $431.03 per individual.
Since the price of incomes the Companion Cross was already factored into the earlier journey’s breakdown, here’s what I might save by reserving this second journey:
- Monetary breakdown: $1,334.06 (complete for 2 round-trip flights to CUN) – $667.03 (price of 1 round-trip flight) – $195.03 (taxes and charges for one round-trip flight to CUN = $472 (complete financial savings on this itinerary).
Subsequently, with two journeys in thoughts, I can doubtlessly save about $588 with my Companion Cross.
Associated: Why now’s one of the best time to use for Southwest Airways bank cards
Issues to bear in mind
Although registration for this limited-time Companion Cross is not obtainable for Speedy Rewards members, Southwest gives an identical deal just a few occasions a 12 months. Subsequently, when the airline program launches one other promotion, listed below are some further issues to bear in mind:
Crunch the numbers: Incomes a promotional Southwest Companion Cross is nice, however provided that you are planning to make use of it. When you have no upcoming journeys in thoughts or do not plan to ebook a flight inside the timeframe allotted by the promotional Companion Cross, it would not make sense to speculate the money and time to fly to earn this sort of BOGO deal.
Learn the phrases earlier than reserving: If Southwest gives one other promotional move, ensure you learn the phrases and situations earlier than reserving your flight. For instance, Fundamental fares didn’t depend towards this deal.
Guide award flights: When you have a stash of Southwest Speedy Rewards factors or Chase Final Rewards factors, which switch to the airline at a 1:1 fee, it can save you much more in your out-of-pocket bills by redeeming factors to your flight. Since award flights are eligible so as to add your designated companion, you may basically pay simply the taxes and charges in case you ebook two one-way flights.
Total, the early wakeup time was price it to earn the limited-time Southwest Companion Cross, which is able to assist me lower your expenses on future journeys.