After I informed my associate 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 someday, 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 Go. The coveted Companion Go is basically a buy-one-get-one-free airfare deal that permits you to add a delegated extra particular person 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 dwelling simply earlier than lunchtime to earn this move.
Here is how I did it and why this one move will save me lots of of {dollars} in airfare in 2026.
Associated: How one can shortly earn the Southwest Companion Go
Southwest supplied a limited-time two-month Companion Go
Usually, to earn the Companion Go, a Southwest Fast Rewards member must earn 135,000 qualifying factors or fly 100 one-way segments in a calendar yr. Then, you may have the profitable move for the rest calendar yr and the next calendar yr. For instance, when you earned it in August 2025, your move could be good by means of Dec. 31, 2026.
That stated, Southwest typically presents a promotional Companion Go after finishing set necessities. Not like the standard Companion Go, these promotional passes are solely legitimate for a restricted time.
In August, Southwest marketed a two-month Companion Go 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 Go good from Jan. 6 to March 6, 2026.
As somebody who’s planning to e book an extended weekend ski journey and a Caribbean getaway throughout these winter months, I used to be very a lot keen on incomes this Companion Go.
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Nevertheless, I needed to crunch some numbers and ensure the price of the round-trip flight could be value it, as Fundamental fares weren’t eligible for this deal. Subsequently, I must purchase a Selection fare, which is a step above Southwest’s Fundamental fares and prices extra money.
Associated: Southwest card welcome bonuses: Final probability to earn 100,000 factors
I earned the Southwest Companion Go earlier than lunch
As a Florida resident, I knew that my dwelling 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 quick 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 dwelling in time to select my son up from day care (my associate 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 software, 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 Fast Rewards member, I would earn 1,254 factors on this round-trip flight.
So, after paying $8 to park and utilizing about $10 value of fuel to drive to and from the airport, this promotional Companion Go value me about $267 to earn — and I used to be again in my dwelling workplace earlier than 1 p.m.
How I plan to make use of my limited-time promotional Southwest Companion Go
Word that costs had been correct on the time of writing.
As I discussed, I plan to e book a ski-centric journey to a resort in Colorado this winter. Although PBI is my dwelling 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 e book my flight and my associate’s flight for an extra $59.37. Calculating what I paid to earn the Companion Go plus the taxes and charges I would pay for this flight, I am going to save about $116.
- Monetary breakdown: $442.96 (complete value of my associate’s flight) – $59.37 (what I’ve to pay for the taxes and charges of the flight) – $267 (out-of-pocket value of incomes the Companion Go) = $116.59 (complete financial savings on this itinerary)
And that is not the one journey I wish to take with my two-month Companion Go.
I’m additionally planning a visit to Cancun, Mexico, in February for my associate’s birthday. For February journey dates, flights are upward of $667.03 per particular person. With the Companion Go, we would pay a complete of $862.06 for 2 round-trip flights, or simply $431.03 per particular person.
Since the price of incomes the Companion Go was already factored into the earlier journey’s breakdown, here’s what I would save by reserving this second journey:
- Monetary breakdown: $1,334.06 (complete for 2 round-trip flights to CUN) – $667.03 (value 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 Go.
Associated: Why now could be one of the best time to use for Southwest Airways bank cards
Issues to remember
Although registration for this limited-time Companion Go is not accessible for Fast Rewards members, Southwest presents an identical deal just a few occasions a yr. Subsequently, when the airline program launches one other promotion, listed below are some extra issues to remember:
Crunch the numbers: Incomes a promotional Southwest Companion Go is nice, however provided that you are planning to make use of it. You probably have no upcoming journeys in thoughts or do not plan to e book a flight inside the timeframe allotted by the promotional Companion Go, it does not make sense to take a position the money and time to fly to earn such a BOGO deal.
Learn the phrases earlier than reserving: If Southwest presents one other promotional move, be sure you learn the phrases and circumstances earlier than reserving your flight. For instance, Fundamental fares didn’t depend towards this deal.
Ebook award flights: You probably have a stash of Southwest Fast Rewards factors or Chase Final Rewards factors, which switch to the airline at a 1:1 charge, 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 possibly can basically pay simply the taxes and charges when you e book two one-way flights.
Total, the early wakeup time was value it to earn the limited-time Southwest Companion Go, which is able to assist me lower your expenses on future journeys.
