southwest airlines travel pass

Advertiser Disclosure

Many of the credit card offers that appear on this site are from credit card companies from which we receive financial compensation. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site (including, for example, the order in which they appear). However, the credit card information that we publish has been written and evaluated by experts who know these products inside out. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse. This site does not include all credit card companies or all available credit card offers that are on the market. See our advertising policy here where we list advertisers that we work with, and how we make money. You can also review our credit card rating methodology .

The Ultimate Guide to the Southwest Companion Pass [2024]

Katie Seemann

Senior Content Contributor and News Editor

342 Published Articles 52 Edited Articles

Countries Visited: 28 U.S. States Visited: 29

Keri Stooksbury

Editor-in-Chief

34 Published Articles 3164 Edited Articles

Countries Visited: 47 U.S. States Visited: 28

How Does the Southwest Companion Pass Work?

Earning the southwest companion pass with credit cards, southwest credit card rules, timing your credit card bonuses, other ways to earn 135,000 qualifying points, what points don’t count toward southwest companion pass qualification, how to check your southwest companion pass qualifying points balance, designating and changing your companion, how to change a companion pass flight, final thoughts.

We may be compensated when you click on product links, such as credit cards, from one or more of our advertising partners. Terms apply to the offers below. See our Advertising Policy for more about our partners, how we make money, and our rating methodology. Opinions and recommendations are ours alone.

The Southwest Companion Pass is one of the best deals available in the world of travel. While it’s not a fit for everyone, if you are a frequent Southwest Airlines flyer, it can save you a significant amount of money on flights.

This pass allows you to add a companion to any Southwest Airlines ticket for just the cost of the taxes and fees. Even better, if you time it right, you can get this perk for almost 2 full years.

Since Southwest has expanded its network, you can use the Companion Pass to get to popular vacation destinations like Hawaii and international locations including Mexico and the Caribbean.

If you’re intrigued by the Southwest Companion Pass, you’re in the right place. In this post, we’ll show you exactly what it is and more importantly, how to get one so you can save big bucks on your next flight.

What Is the Southwest Companion Pass?

The Southwest Airlines Companion Pass is the highest-level award that a member of the Rapid Rewards loyalty program can achieve. It allows you to essentially get unlimited buy-one-get-one-free tickets for up to 2 years. All you pay for are the taxes and fees for the second ticket.

While the Southwest Companion Pass is considered elite status by some, it’s not actually a status level and doesn’t include any Southwest Airlines elite status benefits. Southwest has 2 elite status levels, A-List and A-List Preferred, that are earned separately from the Companion Pass.

You can earn both a Southwest Companion Pass and A-List/A-List Preferred status but the benefits don’t cross over.

The Southwest Companion Pass allows you to add a companion to any Southwest ticket . All you need to do is pay the taxes and fees for the companion which are $5.60 for a one-way flight within the U.S. ($11.20 round-trip). Taxes and fees are higher on international flights , averaging ~$75 each way.

The companion can be added to any ticket as long as there is a seat available. The original ticket can be purchased with cash or points and the available seat doesn’t have to be in the same fare class as the original ticket.

For example, if you purchase a Wanna Get Away fare and want to add a companion later but there are only Business Select fares available, you’d still be able to add your companion even though the original ticket was a Wanna Get Away fare.

It’s best to add your companion at the time of booking to ensure a seat is available, but it’s not required. A companion can be added at any time, as long as Southwest has a seat for sale.

Bottom Line: The Southwest Companion Pass allows you to add a companion for just the cost of the taxes and fees ($5.60 one-way on a domestic ticket) to any and every flight you take while you have the pass. It can be used an unlimited number of times and works on tickets purchased both in points or cash.

How To Earn the Southwest Companion Pass

Rapid Rewards members can earn a Southwest Companion Pass in 2 ways:

• Fly 100 qualifying one-way flights in a calendar year
• Earn 135,000 qualifying points in a calendar year

Once you qualify for the Companion Pass, it is valid for the remainder of the calendar year in which you earn it and the entire next calendar year.

That means if you can earn a Companion Pass in January, you’ll have it for almost 2 full years. If you earn your Companion Pass in December, you only get to keep it for about 1 year.

As you can see, timing is critical when earning a Companion Pass. The earlier in the year you can earn it, the longer the pass is good for.

Another important thing to know about the Southwest Companion Pass is that once you earn the required 135,000 points, you’ll still have those points in your account to use for flights. You don’t have to “buy” the Companion Pass with points. It simply activates as soon as you earn 135,000 points in a calendar year.

Bottom Line: You’ll get a Southwest Companion Pass after earning 135,000 qualifying points or flying 100 qualifying one-way flights in a calendar year. It’s valid for the remainder of the year in which you earn it and the next calendar year.

The easiest way to earn the Southwest Companion Pass is through credit card welcome bonuses earned by meeting minimum spending requirements. That’s because you’ll earn large chunks of qualifying points at 1 time and because as a Southwest credit cardholder, you’ll get a yearly 10,000-point boost toward Companion Pass Qualification.

The 10,000-point boost only counts toward Companion Pass qualification — they are not redeemable Rapid Rewards points.

Chase offers the following Southwest Airlines co-branded credit cards :

This card focuses on the Southwest traveler with anniversary points, travel credit, upgrades, and money back on inflight purchases.

The Southwest Rapid Rewards ® Priority Credit Card is the most premium personal Southwest card offering from Chase. When you peel back the curtain, it is easy to see why.

Not only does the card offer multiple bonus categories to help you earn more Southwest Rapid Rewards points, but it is also loaded with benefits that are sure to offer quite a bit of value to Southwest flyers.

Here is a full overview of the card to help you decide if it is a good fit for your wallet.

• 3x points per $1 on Southwest purchases
• 2x points per $1 on local transit and commuting, including rideshare purchases
• $149 annual fee
• Does not earn transferable points
• Earn 50,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
• 7,500 anniversary points each year.
• Earn 3X points on Southwest ® purchases.
• Earn 2X points on local transit and commuting, including rideshare.
• Earn 2X points on internet, cable, and phone services; select streaming.
• $75 Southwest ® travel credit each year.
• No foreign transaction fees.
• Member FDIC
• APR: 21.49% - 28.49% Variable
• Foreign Transaction Fees: None
• Credit Card Reviews
• Airline Credit Cards

Southwest Rapid Rewards Frequent Flyer Program

Earn Southwest points on every purchase, plus anniversary points, Tier Qualifying Points, and points toward the Companion Pass!

Another week, another flight. Flying weekly can get tiring, but you know that every flight gets you closer to taking some great vacations with your significant other or your favorite travel buddy.

To save money on the flights, you like to use Southwest Airlines.

So why not get the Southwest Rapid Rewards ® Premier Credit Card to help you earn extra Rapid Rewards points?

• 2x points per $1 on Rapid Rewards hotel and car rental partners
• $99 annual fee
• Does not earn transferable rewards
• Earn 75,000 bonus points after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
• 6,000 anniversary points each year.
• Earn 3X points on Southwest ®  purchases.
• 2 EarlyBird Check-In ®  each year.
• Foreign Transaction Fees: $0

This card makes it easy to earn unlimited points and qualify for the Southwest Companion Pass.

If you spend a lot of time in the air, it’s important to get a great deal on your plane tickets.

Southwest Airlines can help you get those deals.

One way to save is by using the Southwest Rapid Rewards ® Plus Credit Card . This card helps you earn points for all your spending, and earning more reward points is always a good thing for a busy traveler!

• 2x points per $1 on Southwest purchases
• 2x points per $1 on local transit and commuting, including rideshares
• $69 annual fee
• 3,000 anniversary points each year.
• Earn 2X points on Southwest ® purchases.
• 2 EarlyBird Check-In ® each year.
• Earn 1 point for every $1 spent on all other purchases.

Additionally, there are 2 Southwest co-branded business card options:

• Southwest Rapid Rewards ® Performance Business Credit Card
• Southwest Rapid Rewards ® Premier Business Credit Card

You should be able to earn a Companion Pass, or come very close, by earning 2 welcome bonuses (after meeting minimum spending requirements). Since you can’t have 2 personal Southwest co-branded credit cards at once, this needs to be done by opening 1 personal Southwest card and 1 business Southwest card.

Hot Tip: Qualifying for a business credit card may be easier than you think. Your business doesn’t need to be big to qualify for a credit card. Many small businesses, such as selling items on eBay, running a blog, or driving for Uber, can allow you to apply for business credit cards.

If you’ve had a Southwest credit card in the past or currently have one, you’ll need to determine how long it’s been since you’ve earned a new cardmember bonus. You’ll only be eligible for a Southwest credit card welcome offer if you don’t currently hold a Southwest card and it’s been more than 24 months since you’ve earned a bonus.

These rules apply separately to personal and business cards. For example, if you currently hold a Southwest business credit card and earned a bonus within the past 24 months, you’re still eligible to earn a bonus on a Southwest personal card and vice versa.

To get the most out of your Southwest Companion Pass it’s important to time your qualification correctly. Since the Companion Pass is valid for the rest of the calendar year in which you earn it and the entire following calendar year, you’ll get the most use out of it if you earn it early in the calendar year .

If you’re planning to earn most of your points through credit card welcome offers, you’ll want to ensure those points post as early in the year as possible.

Of course, you can wait until January 1 to apply for your new credit cards, but if you want to get a head start, you can apply for the credit cards in November or December. Start spending on the cards right away but don’t finish the minimum spend requirement until January 1. That way, after meeting your minimum spending requirement, your welcome points will post in January and you’ll have a Companion Pass for almost 2 years.

Earning the Southwest Companion Pass from credit cards is just one way to do it, but there are lots of other ways to earn the required 135,000 qualifying points:

• Revenue flights
• Partner hotel stays
• Partner car rentals
• Spending on Southwest-branded credit cards (based on when the points post to your account)
• Southwest credit card referral bonuses
• Rapid Rewards Dining (based on dining date)
• Rapid Rewards shopping portal (based on purchase date)

Southwest has additional partners and the base points you earn from these partners do count toward Companion Pass qualification:

• 1-800-Flowers.com (based on purchase date)
• Energy Plus (based on posting date)
• Harry & David (based on purchase date)
• Laithwaite’s Wine (based on purchase date)
• Make It Count – Marathon (based on posting date)
• NRG Home (based on posting date)
• Rocketmiles (based on the date of stay)
• Reliant Energy (based on posting date)
• Xoom (based on posting date)

You’ll notice some points qualify in the year they are posted and some points qualify based on the purchase date. This can be very important if you’re trying to qualify at the end of a calendar year.

For example, if you’re 5,000 points short in December so you do some extra spending on your credit card, those points won’t count unless they post in December. If they post in January they would count toward the next year’s qualification.

Hot Tip: The Southwest Companion Pass will be awarded as soon as you earn the required 135,000 Rapid Rewards points. You can then use those points to purchase tickets — you don’t have to cash them out to get the Companion Pass!

Here’s a look at the points that do not qualify for Southwest Companion Pass status:

• Flight bonus points
• Gifted points
• Partner bonus points
• Partner program transfers
• Points transferred from Chase Ultimate Rewards
• Promotion bonus points (except for credit card welcome and referral bonuses)
• Purchased points
• Tier bonus points
• Transferred points

If you aren’t sure how many Companion Pass qualifying points you currently have, you can check your balance in your online account. First, click on View Details underneath your points total. Then choose the year you want to see and filter the list by Companion Pass Qualifying Points .

Once you’ve earned your Companion Pass, the first thing you need to do is to choose your official companion.

Southwest allows you to select any 1 person to be your companion at any given time, and you can change that person up to 3 times a year, for a maximum of 4 companions over the course of the year.

You’ll be able to designate your initial companion online, but you’ll need to call Southwest at 800-435-9792 to change your companion. The first companion needs to be removed from any future reservations before a second companion can be designated.

According to the Southwest website, changing your companion can take up to 21 business days to process, however, in practice, it happens almost instantly most of the time.

How To Use The Southwest Companion Pass

Using your Southwest Companion Pass is incredibly easy.

First, you’ll need to book your ticket as you usually would. It can be purchased with points or cash and can be for any fare category (Wanna Get Away, Wanna Get Away Plus, Anytime, or Business Select).

Once your ticket is booked, you can add your companion either through Southwest.com or via phone.

On the website, you will see a place to click that says Add Companion . This is located just below your flight information, next to the links to cancel or change your flight. Simply click the button and enter the required information to add your companion. You’ll also need to pay the taxes at this point, which will be $5.60 for a one-way domestic trip.

To add a companion over the phone, just call reservations and let the representative know you will be using your Companion Pass to add another passenger to your flight.

Your companion can be added up until the time of the flight, as long as there are still seats for sale. This is true even if the price has gone up since you bought your ticket.

After you add a companion, you’ll see the companion confirmation number (which will be different from the original ticket) with your flight information.

Since your companion will have a different confirmation number, you’ll both have to check in for your flight separately. This can result in different boarding positions , which can potentially make sitting together more difficult.

If you want to ensure you’re sitting next to your companion on the plane, you may want to consider purchasing EarlyBird Check-In or using an Upgraded Boarding pass from the Southwest Priority card and Southwest Performance Business card .

There are some additional rules for Companion Pass tickets that you’ll want to keep in mind:

• Your companion must be ticketed and travel on the same flight as you
• If you change your flight, you must also change your companion’s flight
• If you cancel your flight , your companion’s flight will also be canceled
• The companion ticket is not considered to be a paid ticket, and therefore cannot have another companion added
• The companion ticket doesn’t earn points
• There are no blackout dates for Companion Pass tickets

If you need to make a change to a flight that includes a companion, you can do it in 1 of 2 ways. You can call Southwest to make the change, or you can make the change online. To change a ticket that includes a companion online, you’ll first need to cancel the companion ticket. Then you can make a change to the original ticket and add the companion back once the change is made.

The Southwest Companion Pass is one of the best deals in travel. It allows you to add a companion for just the cost of the taxes and fees on any Southwest flight for up to 2 years.

To earn a Companion Pass you need to earn 135,000 qualifying points in a year or fly 100 one-way flights. Thankfully, credit card welcome offers are considered qualifying points, so earning a Companion Pass may be easier than you think.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the southwest companion pass.

The Southwest Companion Pass is a pass that allows a Rapid Rewards member to add a companion to any flight that they book with Southwest, as long as there is another seat available for purchase. The member only needs to pay the taxes and fees for the companion ticket.

How do you earn a Southwest Companion Pass?

A Southwest Airlines Companion Pass is earned by either completing 100 qualifying one-way flights or earning 135,000 qualifying Rapid Rewards points in a single calendar year.

How long is the Southwest Companion Pass good for?

The Southwest Companion Pass is valid for the remainder of the calendar year in which it was earned and the entire following calendar year.

Do I earn points on flights taken with the Southwest Companion Pass?

When a Companion Pass is used, only 1 of the 2 passengers will earn points for the flight (if it was a paid flight; flights purchased with points don’t earn points). The member who holds the Companion Pass and buys the original ticket will earn points. The companion won’t earn points.

What is the value of the Southwest Companion Pass?

There is no set value for the Southwest Companion Pass. The pass becomes more valuable the more you use it.

If you were to use the pass only once for a flight that cost $250, then the value of your pass would be $250 minus the taxes and fees ($5.60 for a domestic one-way flight).

However, if you were to use the pass 100 times for flights that average $250, then the value of your pass would be ~$25,000.

The Southwest Companion Pass is not limited to a specific number of flights, so it is really as valuable as you want to make it.

Can I change my flight on a Companion Pass booking?

Yes, you can change your flight on a Companion Pass booking, but your companion’s flight must also be changed to the same new flight as you.

How many times can you use a Companion Pass on Southwest?

The number of times you can use a Southwest Companion Pass is virtually unlimited. As long as your pass is valid, you can use it as many times as you like.

Can you fly to Hawaii with the Southwest Companion Pass?

Yes, you can use the Southwest Companion Pass to fly to Hawaii. It’s valid for any Southwest flight that has an available seat.

Was this page helpful?

About Katie Seemann

Katie has been in the points and miles game since 2015 and started her own blog in 2016. She’s been freelance writing since then and her work has been featured in publications like Travel + Leisure, Forbes Advisor, and Fortune Recommends.

INSIDERS ONLY: UP PULSE ™

Get the latest travel tips, crucial news, flight & hotel deal alerts...

Plus — expert strategies to maximize your points & miles by joining our (free) newsletter.

We respect your privacy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA. Google's privacy policy and terms of service apply.

Related Posts

UP's Bonus Valuation

This bonus value is an estimated valuation calculated by UP after analyzing redemption options, transfer partners, award availability and how much UP would pay to buy these points.

Investor Relations

2023 Annual Report

2022 One Report

• Company Overview
• Purpose, Vision, and The Southwest Way
• Proven Business Strategy
• News Releases
• Events & Presentations
• Company Reports
• Quarterly Results
• SEC Filings
• Stock Quote & Chart
• Investment Calculator
• Historical Lookup
• Dividend & Stock Split History
• AirTran Acquisition
• Analyst Coverage
• Board of Directors
• Senior Executive Leaders
• Corporate Governance Guidelines
• Corporate Bylaws, Articles of Incorporation & Corporate Policies
• Board Committees
• Direct Stock Purchase Plan & Dividend Reinvestment
• Transfer Agent
• Investor FAQs
• Email Alerts
• Investor relations
• Corporate responsibility
• Our Company
• News & Events
• Stock Information
• Corporate Governance

Shareholder Services

• Investor Resources

SOUTHWEST AIRLINES' COVETED COMPANION PASS PROMOTION IS BACK!

March 25, 2024

Rapid Rewards Members should act fast to take advantage of this limited-time  promotional offer

DALLAS , March 25, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Southwest Airlines Co.  (NYSE: LUV) today announced the return of its Companion Pass ® promotion. The airline's Companion Pass allows Rapid Rewards ® Members to designate one person to fly with them for free 1 every time the Customer purchases or redeems points for a flight.

"We know the Companion Pass is a favorite perk of our Rapid Rewards program, and we're thrilled to bring back this promotion for a limited time so that Customers can experience why this popular benefit is so meaningful," said  Jonathan Clarkson , Vice President Marketing at Southwest Airlines. "We invite our Customers to take advantage of this offer because traveling with your favorite Companion supports sharing of adventures and creating memories that can last a lifetime."

To qualify, Rapid Rewards Members must: 2

• Register for the promotion  and purchase  a qualifying Southwest ® revenue flight (one round trip or two one-way flights), starting today through March 27, 2024;
• Travel by May 22, 2024; and
• Designate a Companion to fly for free 1 with them from Aug. 5, through Oct. 2, 2024.

To benefit from this promotional offer and learn more, Customers may visit Southwest.com  for the full list of terms and conditions.

Join Rapid Rewards The Southwest Rapid Rewards™ program is designed around a simple concept—make earning reward flights faster and easier. With Rapid Rewards, every seat is a reward seat, there are no blackout dates, and points don't expire. Customers can create an account to become a Rapid Rewards Member at  Southwest.com .

1 COMPANION PASS DISCLAIMER Doesn't include taxes and fees from $5.60 one-way.

2   PROMOTIONAL OFFER TERMS & CONDITIONS Customers must register for this promotion, then book one round trip or two one-way qualifying Southwest flights between 8:00 a.m . Central Time ("CT") on March 25, 2024, and 11:59 p.m . CT on March 27, 2024 (the "Promotion Period"), for travel from March 25, 2024, to May 22, 2024 (the "Travel Period"), and fly during the Travel Period to earn a promotional Companion Pass valid for use between Aug . 5, 2024, and Oct. 2, 2024.

To register for this promotion, Customers will need to provide their Southwest Rapid Rewards account number at the time of registration. If a Customer doesn't have a Rapid Rewards account number, then they may register for an account by going online to Southwest.com/rapidrewards  to become a Member. Rapid Rewards accounts are free. Member must register for this promotion, book one round trip or two one-way qualifying Southwest flights during the Promotion Period for travel during the Travel Period, and fly during the Travel Period. Registration must be completed prior to booking and commencement of travel. The promotion is valid on new qualifying revenue flights booked during the Promotion Period for travel during the Travel Period and flown within the Travel Period. The Member's qualifying flight must be booked through Southwest Airlines ® during the Promotion Period for travel that must be completed during the Travel Period. The Member's Rapid Rewards account number must be entered at the time of booking the Member's qualifying flight to earn a promotional Companion Pass valid for use between Aug. 5, 2024, and Oct. 2, 2024. A qualifying one-way flight for this promotion is a one-way revenue flight on Southwest Airlines from an origin city to a destination city, including any intermediate stops and/or connections on Southwest Airlines. A qualifying round trip flight for this promotion is a round trip revenue flight on Southwest Airlines from an origin city to a destination city and back to the originating airport or carrier-recognized co-terminal. The promotion is valid on new reservations booked within the Promotion Period for travel during the Travel Period only. Travel booked or flown prior to registration for this promotion is not eligible for this promotional Companion Pass offer. Companion Pass, charter flights, reward and group travel, and Southwest Vacations ® packages do not qualify as one-way or round trip revenue flights for this promotion. Changes made to any itinerary after purchase of a one-way or round trip revenue flight may eliminate qualification for this promotion. The promotional Companion Pass is valid from Aug. 5, 2024, and Oct. 2, 2024, and allows the Member to designate one person to fly with them, free of airline charges ( does not include taxes and fees from $5.60 one-way ) on flights purchased by the Member, booked through Southwest, and completed between Aug. 5, 2024, and Oct. 2, 2024. No Rapid Rewards points or tier or Companion Pass qualifying points will be awarded for flights taken by the Companion when flying on a promotional Companion Pass or Companion Pass reservation. Members may change their designated Companion up to three times while they have the promotional Companion Pass. If the Member earns a Companion Pass in 2024 by earning 135,000 Companion Pass qualifying points or flying 100 qualifying flights, any changes to their designated Companion during the time they have a promotional Companion Pass will reduce the number of changes they can make to their designated Companion in the 2024 calendar year. For example, if the Member earns a promotional Companion Pass through this promotion, changes their designated Companion twice during the validity period for the promotional Companion Pass, and later in 2024 earns Companion Pass, they would only be able to change their designated Companion one more time in 2024. Companion Pass is nontransferable. All Rapid Rewards rules and regulations apply and can be found at Southwest.com/rrterms . Southwest reserves the right to amend, suspend, or change the Rapid Rewards program and/or Rapid Rewards program rules at any time without notice. Rapid Rewards Members don't acquire property rights in accrued points. The number of points needed for a particular Southwest flight is set by Southwest and will vary depending on destination, time, day of travel, demand, fare type, point redemption rate, and other factors, and is subject to change at any time until the booking is confirmed.

ABOUT SOUTHWEST AIRLINES CO. Southwest Airlines Co.  operates one of the world's most admired and awarded airlines, offering its one-of-a-kind value and Hospitality at 121 airports across 11 countries. Southwest took flight in 1971 to democratize the sky through friendly, reliable, and low-cost air travel and now carries more air travelers flying nonstop within the United States than any other airline 3 . Based in Dallas and famous for an Employee-first corporate Culture, Southwest maintains an unprecedented record of no involuntary furloughs or layoffs in its history. By empowering its nearly 75,000 4 People to deliver unparalleled Hospitality, the maverick airline cherishes a passionate loyalty among more than 137 million Customers carried in 2023. That formula for success brought industry-leading prosperity and 47 consecutive years 5  of profitability for Southwest Shareholders (NYSE: LUV ). Southwest leverages a unique legacy and mission to serve communities around the world including harnessing the power of its People and Purpose to put communities at the Heart of its success. Learn more by visiting Southwest.com/citizenship . As the airline with Heart, Southwest has set a goal to work toward achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2050. Southwest has also set near-term targets and a three-pillar strategy to achieve its environmental goals. Learn more by visiting  Southwest.com/planet . 

3  Based on U.S. Dept. of Transportation quarterly Airline Origin & Destination Survey since Q1 2021 4  Fulltime-equivalent active Employees 5  1973-2019 annual profitability  

SOURCE Southwest Airlines Co.

Investor Alerts

Southwest Airlines offers automated options to receive Investor Alerts.

For details regarding Direct Stock Purchase & Dividend Reinvestment and other Transfer Agent information.

Get Investor Information

• Request Information |

Connect with us

Discussion Forum and Stories

© 2024 Southwest Airlines Co. All Rights Reserved. Use of the Southwest websites and our Company Information constitutes acceptance of our Terms & Conditions , Privacy Policy .

The timing of these postings are made at the discretion of Southwest Airlines. Readers should not assume that the information contained on this site has been updated or otherwise contains current information. Southwest Airlines does not review past postings to determine whether they remain accurate, and information contained in such postings may have been superseded.

This website contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Forward-looking statements are based on, and include statements about, the Company’s beliefs, intentions, expectations, and strategies for the future. Specific forward-looking statements can be identified by the fact that they do not relate strictly to historical or current facts and include, without limitation, words such as "plans," "believes," "expects," "anticipates," "may," "could," "intends," "goal," "will," "should," and similar expressions and variations thereof. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks and uncertainties that are difficult to predict. Therefore, actual results may differ materially from what is expressed in or indicated by the Company’s forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause these differences include, but are not limited to, the factors described under the heading "Risk Factors" in the Company's most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and in other filings, and as described in the press releases and other materials contained on this website. The Company assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements as a result of new information, future events, or developments, except as required by federal securities laws.

What is TSA PreCheck?

TSA PreCheck® provides expedited security screening benefits for flights departing from U.S. airports for individuals who participate. 

Related Articles

Search our help options and faqs.

Don't fly alone. Here's how Southwest's Companion Pass lets you bring a buddy for free.

Southwest Airlines is running a promotion to let Rapid Rewards members earn a Companion Pass more easily.

With the pass, qualifying travelers can bring a designated buddy with them for free on any trip between Aug. 5 and Oct. 2.

Normally, to earn a Companion Pass, Southwest frequent flyers need to fly 100 one-way flights in a year or earn 135,000 qualifying points. These points can be accumulated through flight purchases or eligible spending on Southwest-branded credit cards or with program partners.

Start the day smarter. Get all the news you need in your inbox each morning.

Under the promotion, all travelers have to do to qualify is register on Southwest’s website and purchase one round-trip or two one-way flights.

“We know the Companion Pass is a favorite perk of our Rapid Rewards program, and we’re thrilled to bring back this promotion for a limited time so that customers can experience why this popular benefit is so meaningful,” Jonathan Clarkson, Vice President Marketing at Southwest Airlines said in a statement. “We invite our customers to take advantage of this offer because traveling with your favorite companion supports sharing of adventures and creating memories that can last a lifetime.”

Cruising Altitude: Listening to music on a plane without headphones? Jail time!

To earn the promotional Companion Pass, travelers must purchase their qualifying flights by Wednesday, and travel must take place by May 22 after registering for the deal. 

Promotional Companion Pass holders can change their designated companion up to three times during the eligibility period. Full terms and conditions of the deal are available here on Southwest’s website . 

Zach Wichter is a travel reporter for USA TODAY based in New York. You can reach him at [email protected]

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Don't fly alone. Here's how Southwest's Companion Pass lets you bring a buddy for free.

Start Every Journey with Priority Pass

For the occasional Traveller

Standard plus, for the regular traveller, for the frequent traveller, priority pass excellence awards winners.

Celebrating outstanding airport lounge and travel experience partners in the Priority Pass global network. Discover the winners of this year’s awards.

PRE-BOOK YOUR LOUNGE NOW

Access to lounges is subject to space availability. Pre-book is available at select locations for a small fee. Log in to reserve your space in the lounge.

Unlock More with Priority Pass

Beyond premium lounges, explore a world of exclusive advantages. Refuel, relax and unwind with a variety of additional benefits to enhance your experience both within and beyond the airport.

ENRICH YOUR AIRPORT EXPERIENCE WITH THE PRIORITY PASS APP

Download the app to help you find and access lounges and experiences, navigate airports, manage your account and much more.

Priority Pass Airport Guides

Enhance your airport experience using our bespoke airport guides.

The Benefits of Priority Pass

YOUR MEMBERSHIP BENEFITS

WORTH ARRIVING EARLY

WHEREVER YOUR TRAVEL TAKES YOU

Recently added.

Belfast George Best City

Belfast, northern ireland.

ASPIRE LOUNGE

Rio de Janeiro Galeao International, Terminal 2

Rio de janeiro, brazil.

GOL SMILES (INTERNATIONAL)

Kuala Lumpur Intl, KLIA Terminal 1 (Satellite)

Kuala lumpur, malaysia.

TRAVEL CLUB LOUNGE

Washington DC Dulles International, Concourse A

Washington dc, usa.

VIRGIN ATLANTIC CLUBHOUSE

Southwest Airlines Community

• Discussion Forum
• Check-In & Boarding
• Re: Boarding Pass information on App for Internati...
• Subscribe to RSS Feed
• Mark Post as New
• Mark Post as Read
• Float this Post for Current User
• Printer Friendly Page

• Mark as New
• Get Direct Link
• Report Inappropriate Content
• Back to Board
• Previous Post

10 hours ago

Boarding Pass information on App for International Flight

Sept '23 promo companion pass photo trip report (san-phx), january 2020 website & app updates, thank you for your feedback on our digital experiences in 2019, re: first time flying alone, quick links, community champions.

Customer Service | FAQ

Save big on travel each week. Sign up

Connect with us

Discussion Forum and Stories

About Southwest

• Investor Relations
• Southwest Citizenship
• Southwest ® The Magazine
• Advertise with Southwest
• Supplier Information

Flying Southwest

• Why Fly Southwest?
• International Travel
• Airport Information
• Popular Routes
• Tarmac Delay Plan
• Contract of Carriage
• Flight Schedules

Southwest Products

• EarlyBird Check-in ®
• Business Select ®
• Southwest ® gift card
• Southwest Vacations
• WiFi & Inflight Entertainment
• Corporate Travel & Groups
• Charter Services
• Southwest ® The Store

Customer Service

• Customer Commitments
• Baggage Policies
• Special Assistance
• Customers of Size
• Traveling with Infants
• Traveling with Pets
• Purchasing & Refunds
• Lost and Found

Indicates external site which may or may not meet accessibility guidelines.

© 2019 Southwest Airlines Co. All Rights Reserved. Use of the Southwest websites and our Company Information constitutes acceptance of our Terms and Conditions . Privacy Policy

All prices displayed on this web page are in dollars of the United States of America.

• Southwest Airlines Business Travel logo and link Southwest Corporate Travel
• Southwest Airlines Cargo logo logo and link Southwest Cargo

An official website of the United States government Here's how you know

Official websites use .gov A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.

Secure .gov websites use HTTPS A lock ( Lock A locked padlock ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Biden-Harris Administration Announces Final Rule Requiring Automatic Refunds of Airline Tickets and Ancillary Service Fees

Rule makes it easy to get money back for cancelled or significantly changed flights, significantly delayed checked bags, and additional services not provided  

WASHINGTON – The Biden-Harris Administration today announced that the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) has issued a final rule that requires airlines to promptly provide passengers with automatic cash refunds when owed. The new rule makes it easy for passengers to obtain refunds when airlines cancel or significantly change their flights, significantly delay their checked bags, or fail to provide the extra services they purchased.

“Passengers deserve to get their money back when an airline owes them - without headaches or haggling,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg . “Our new rule sets a new standard to require airlines to promptly provide cash refunds to their passengers.”  

The final rule creates certainty for consumers by defining the specific circumstances in which airlines must provide refunds. Prior to this rule, airlines were permitted to set their own standards for what kind of flight changes warranted a refund. As a result, refund policies differed from airline to airline, which made it difficult for passengers to know or assert their refund rights. DOT also received complaints of some airlines revising and applying less consumer-friendly refund policies during spikes in flight cancellations and changes. 

Under the rule, passengers are entitled to a refund for:

• Canceled or significantly changed flights: Passengers will be entitled to a refund if their flight is canceled or significantly changed, and they do not accept alternative transportation or travel credits offered. For the first time, the rule defines “significant change.” Significant changes to a flight include departure or arrival times that are more than 3 hours domestically and 6 hours internationally; departures or arrivals from a different airport; increases in the number of connections; instances where passengers are downgraded to a lower class of service; or connections at different airports or flights on different planes that are less accessible or accommodating to a person with a disability.  
• Significantly delayed baggage return: Passengers who file a mishandled baggage report will be entitled to a refund of their checked bag fee if it is not delivered within 12 hours of their domestic flight arriving at the gate, or 15-30 hours of their international flight arriving at the gate, depending on the length of the flight.  
• Extra services not provided: Passengers will be entitled to a refund for the fee they paid for an extra service — such as Wi-Fi, seat selection, or inflight entertainment — if an airline fails to provide this service.

DOT’s final rule also makes it simple and straightforward for passengers to receive the money they are owed. Without this rule, consumers have to navigate a patchwork of cumbersome processes to request and receive a refund — searching through airline websites to figure out how make the request, filling out extra “digital paperwork,” or at times waiting for hours on the phone. In addition, passengers would receive a travel credit or voucher by default from some airlines instead of getting their money back, so they could not use their refund to rebook on another airline when their flight was changed or cancelled without navigating a cumbersome request process.  

The final rule improves the passenger experience by requiring refunds to be:

• Automatic: Airlines must automatically issue refunds without passengers having to explicitly request them or jump through hoops.   
• Prompt: Airlines and ticket agents must issue refunds within seven business days of refunds becoming due for credit card purchases and 20 calendar days for other payment methods.  
• Cash or original form of payment: Airlines and ticket agents must provide refunds in cash or whatever original payment method the individual used to make the purchase, such as credit card or airline miles. Airlines may not substitute vouchers, travel credits, or other forms of compensation unless the passenger affirmatively chooses to accept alternative compensation.    
• Full amount: Airlines and ticket agents must provide full refunds of the ticket purchase price, minus the value of any portion of transportation already used. The refunds must include all government-imposed taxes and fees and airline-imposed fees, regardless of whether the taxes or fees are refundable to airlines.

The final rule also requires airlines to provide prompt notifications to consumers affected by a cancelled or significantly changed flight of their right to a refund of the ticket and extra service fees, as well as any related policies.

In addition, in instances where consumers are restricted by a government or advised by a medical professional not to travel to, from, or within the United States due to a serious communicable disease, the final rule requires that airlines must provide travel credits or vouchers. Consumers may be required to provide documentary evidence to support their request. Travel vouchers or credits provided by airlines must be transferrable and valid for at least five years from the date of issuance.

The Department received a significant number of complaints against airlines and ticket agents for refusing to provide a refund or for delaying processing of refunds during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. At the height of the pandemic in 2020, refund complaints peaked at 87 percent of all air travel service complaints received by DOT. Refund problems continue to make up a substantial share of the complaints that DOT receives.

DOT’s Historic Record of Consumer Protection Under the Biden-Harris Administration

Under the Biden-Harris Administration and Secretary Buttigieg, DOT has advanced the largest expansion of airline passenger rights, issued the biggest fines against airlines for failing consumers, and returned more money to passengers in refunds and reimbursements than ever before in the Department’s history.

• Thanks to pressure from Secretary Buttigieg and DOT’s flightrights.gov dashboard, all 10 major U.S. airlines guarantee free rebooking and meals, and nine guarantee hotel accommodations when an airline issue causes a significant delay or cancellation. These are new commitments the airlines added to their customer service plans that DOT can legally ensure they adhere to and are displayed on flightrights.gov .  
• Since President Biden took office, DOT has helped return more than $3 billion in refunds and reimbursements owed to airline passengers – including over $600 million to passengers affected by the Southwest Airlines holiday meltdown in 2022.   
• Under Secretary Buttigieg, DOT has issued over $164 million in penalties against airlines for consumer protection violations. Between 1996 and 2020, DOT collectively issued less than $71 million in penalties against airlines for consumer protection violations.  
• DOT recently launched a new partnership with a bipartisan group of state attorneys general to fast-track the review of consumer complaints, hold airlines accountable, and protect the rights of the traveling public.  
• In 2023, the flight cancellation rate in the U.S. was a record low at under 1.2% — the lowest rate of flight cancellations in over 10 years despite a record amount of air travel.  
• DOT is undertaking its first ever industry-wide review of airline privacy practices and its first review of airline loyalty programs.

In addition to finalizing the rules to require automatic refunds and protect against surprise fees, DOT is also pursuing rulemakings that would:

• Propose to ban family seating junk fees and guarantee that parents can sit with their children for no extra charge when they fly. Before President Biden and Secretary Buttigieg pressed airlines last year, no airline committed to guaranteeing fee-free family seating. Now, four airlines guarantee fee-free family seating, and the Department is working on its family seating junk fee ban proposal.  
• Propose to make passenger compensation and amenities mandatory so that travelers are taken care of when airlines cause flight delays or cancellations.   
• Expand the rights for passengers who use wheelchairs and ensure that they can travel safely and with dignity . The comment period on this proposed rule closes on May 13, 2024.

The final rule on refunds can be found at https://www.transportation.gov/airconsumer/latest-news and at regulations.gov , docket number DOT-OST-2022-0089. There are different implementation periods in this final rule ranging from six months for airlines to provide automatic refunds when owed to 12 months for airlines to provide transferable travel vouchers or credits when consumers are unable to travel for reasons related to a serious communicable disease. 

Information about airline passenger rights, as well as DOT’s rules, guidance and orders, can be found at   https://www.transportation.gov/airconsumer .

Southwest Airlines quietly rolls out a new compensation program for flight delays

Southwest Airlines said it launched a compensation program for  flight delays as part of a $140 million U.S. Department of Transportation settlement over the carrier's meltdown in December 2022 during a busy holiday travel period.

Southwest agreed in December 2023 to provide $90 million in travel vouchers of $75 or more over three years to passengers delayed at least three hours getting to their final destinations because of an airline-caused issue or cancellation and to start the program by April 30.

The airline said Monday it had quietly launched the program on April 16 and has already heard from a few thousand customers seeking vouchers.

The airline agreed to the compensation program after the holiday meltdown that resulted in 16,900 flight cancellations and stranded 2 million passengers. The settlement included a $35 million cash fine.

Will Southwest start assigning seats? CEO says the airline is weighing changes

A massive winter storm in December 2022 and subsequent chaos prompted travel horror stories such as people missing funerals or long-awaited holiday gatherings, passengers with canceled flights forced to make cross-country drives of 17 or more hours and some cancer patients being unable to get treatment.

The delay compensation program is part of the Biden administration's aggressive efforts to get tough on airlines as it aims to require new passenger compensation. Vouchers will be awarded "upon request," Southwest said.

Southwest CEO Bob Jordan said in December that, given its operational performance, the $30 million in vouchers annually was "the right number" to commit to.

Asked if Southwest would end the program after three years, Jordan said consumer programs "rarely change or go away."

Rival U.S. airlines have not put in place similar programs and do not yet face a mandate to do so.

Enough with airline hidden fees: DOT rules take aim at 'corporate rip-offs'

President Joe Biden said last May that the DOT would propose new rules requiring airlines to compensate passengers with cash for significant controllable flight delays or cancellations by the end of the year. The DOT has not issued its proposal, and Congress has declined to mandate compensation for delays in a pending aviation reform bill.

Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said last week Southwest under the delay compensation requirement will "really lead the market and it will be very interesting to see how other airlines respond – not as punishment but by way of competition."

The DOT in 2022 asked carriers if they would pay at least $100  for delays of at least three hours  caused by airlines and none agreed.

Most carriers – including Southwest – voluntarily committed in August 2022 to provide hotels, meals and ground transportation for airline-caused delays or cancellations but resisted providing cash compensation as is required in the European Union .

What terminal is Southwest at the Phoenix airport? Here's where to find your gate

Navigating an unfamiliar airport can feel like a challenge. But if you fly Southwest Airlines out of Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport, getting to your gate is pretty straightforward.

Southwest Airlines is the second biggest airline at Sky Harbor Airport, behind only American Airlines. About 15.5 million passengers flew Southwest to and from Phoenix in 2022, according to airport data.

Southwest operates all its Phoenix flights at one of Sky Harbor's two terminals, via four of the eight concourses in the terminal. Here's what you should know to find your Southwest flight at the Phoenix airport.

Record traffic: Phoenix flyers have more international options than before the pandemic. Here's what's new

Which terminal is Southwest in the Phoenix airport?

Southwest Airlines is in Terminal 4 at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport.

How many gates does Southwest have in Phoenix?

Southwest operates 32 gates on the C and D concourses in Terminal 4 at the Phoenix airport, including the newest concourse that opened in June 2022 .

Exclusive: Frontier Airlines is cutting flights between Phoenix and these 3 cities. Here's what we know

What airlines use Terminal 4 in Phoenix?

American Airlines, which operates most arrivals and departures at Sky Harbor, is also in Terminal 4. American and Southwest collectively account for more than 70% of Sky Harbor's flight capacity.

British Airways, Condor Airlines, Volaris and WestJet also fly out of Terminal 4.

Phoenix airport food: Restaurants and bars in Terminal 4

Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport is known for a robust selection of favorite local restaurants. Popular places to eat and drink near the Southwest gates include Barrio Cafe, La Grande Orange, Humble Pie Pizza and Los Taquitos.

Here's our complete guide to the restaurants, stores and services in Terminal 3 and Terminal 4 in PHX .

Phoenix airport lounges: Admirals Club, Centurion, Escape Lounge

The answer to the biggest question is: No, there is no Priority Pass Lounge at the Phoenix airport. There are three lounges in Terminal 4 , however: an American Airlines Admirals Club, a Centurion Lounge and an Escape Lounge. All can be found on concourses A and B near the American Airlines gates.

Exclusive: Why Tempe is landing luxe hotels and what it means for travelers

Reach the reporter at  [email protected] . Follow him on Twitter  @salerno_phx .

Support local journalism.  Subscribe to  azcentral.com  today.

• Election 2024
• Entertainment
• Newsletters
• Photography
• Personal Finance
• AP Investigations
• AP Buyline Personal Finance
• AP Buyline Shopping
• Press Releases
• Israel-Hamas War
• Russia-Ukraine War
• Global elections
• Asia Pacific
• Latin America
• Middle East
• Election Results
• Delegate Tracker
• AP & Elections
• Auto Racing
• 2024 Paris Olympic Games
• Movie reviews
• Book reviews
• Personal finance
• Financial Markets
• Business Highlights
• Financial wellness
• Artificial Intelligence
• Social Media

Southwest Airlines is considering changes to its quirky boarding and seating practices

FILE - Southwest Airlines plane prepares to land at Midway International Airport, Feb. 12, 2023, in Chicago. Flight attendants at Southwest Airlines on Wednesday, April 24, 2024, ratified a contract that includes pay raises totaling more than 33% over four years, as airline workers continue to benefit from the industry’s recovery since the pandemic. (AP Photo/Kiichiro Sato, File)

• Copy Link copied

DALLAS (AP) — Southwest Airlines is studying changes to its quirky boarding and seating policies as it searches for ways to raise more revenue .

Airline officials say they are studying possible changes but won’t have anything to announce until September. That tease is leading to speculation about whether Southwest might ditch some longstanding traditions, including the practice of passengers picking their own seats only after they board a plane.

CEO Robert Jordan says he is proud of Southwest’s “product,” but it was developed when flights weren’t as full as they are today, and customers’ preferences change over time, prompting the “deep dive” into “transformational options” in boarding and seating.

“Early indications, both for our customers and for Southwest, look pretty darn interesting,” he told analysts and reporters Thursday.

Every other major U.S. airline sells first- or business-class seats with more room and amenities. They assign seats long before passengers arrive at the airport. And increasingly, they charge extra if economy-class passengers want to pick a particular seat, such as one in an exit row or near the front of the cabin.

Those policies generate significant “ancillary revenue.” Delta Air Lines took in $4.4 billion in “premium products” during the first quarter.

Southwest doesn’t have a first-class cabin or assigned seats. Passengers line up in the gate area in an order determined partly by who checked in first and – increasingly – who paid extra to move up in line . The lucky or high-paying ones get in the “A” boarding group, followed by the middling “B” crowd and finally the dreaded “C” group, whose unfortunate inhabitants usually wind up in a middle seat, maybe in the back of the plane.

Over the years, Southwest customers learned to check in online exactly 24 hours before departure to get the best shot at grabbing the seat they wanted. In 2009, the airline began charging an extra fee — called EarlyBird — to move up in the boarding line. The fee starts at $15 per flight but goes up when planes are full.

Jordan said any changes must generate significant new revenue and can’t slow down flights . Beyond that, he was deliberately and repeatedly vague, but executives did indicate that two possible changes have been ruled out already.

Ryan Green, Southwest’s chief commercial officer, said the airline won’t impose baggage charges — it’s the only U.S. carrier that lets passenger check one or two bags for free. He said Southwest also won’t install curtains like those that separate premium cabins from the economy-class section on other airlines.

Savanthi Syth, an airlines analyst with Raymond James Financial, said the lack of assigned seating is “a huge pain point for passengers,” although a shrinking contingent still likes it. Syth thinks passengers would prefer the ability to select a seat in advance to trying to get a better spot in the boarding line.

“More importantly, I think it opens you up to a greater pool of passengers that would not consider (Southwest) because of the stress of the current process,” she said. “This is particularly important now that Southwest has lost the differentiation of no change or cancellations fees.” Southwest’s closest rivals dropped change fees too during the pandemic.

Syth is less convinced that Southwest needs a first-class cabin, but she thinks adding extra-legroom seats could be attractive. “There are plenty of tall people who could use the extra space,” she said.

Southwest executives are frequently asked about changes in their policies around baggage, seating and first-class cabins. At an industry conference in November, Jordan said there was nothing in the works.

What changed?

Southwest’s financial results have become more dismal. The company reported Thursday that it lost $231 million in the first quarter, which was worse than analysts expected and a wider loss than a year ago.

The Dallas-based airline faces sharply rising labor costs — up 19% or $462 million from a year ago, and that was before flight attendants ratified a new contract with sharply higher wages. Spending on maintenance and airport fees are rising by double-digit percentages. And Southwest can’t add as many flights as it would like because a production crisis at Boeing means there are fewer new planes.

The company is freezing hiring other than critical positions, and it will take the rare step of pulling out of four airports in August to cut costs. Even with revenue rising on strong travel demand , the airline needs more to offset inflation.

The airline promises that whatever it decides, it won’t change Southwest’s unique character. That could be a tricky balancing act in the view of its many loyal customers. They must wait out the next several months.

“We are committed to a set of new strategic initiatives. I have hinted at boarding and seating and the cabin, and we’re going to share those with you at investor day” in September, Jordan told analysts.

Southwest passengers now get a $75 voucher for big flight disruptions

Customers who are delayed for more than three hours can fill out a form online to request the voucher

Southwest Airlines has launched a new compensation fund for inconvenienced fliers, offering $75 vouchers to passengers whose flights are significantly delayed or canceled for a reason within the airline’s control.

The compensation fund is part of the airline’s $140 million settlement with the Transportation Department, following Southwest’s operational meltdown in December 2022. A mix of winter weather, holiday travel and failing Southwest scheduling systems resulted in nearly 17,000 canceled or significantly delayed flights, affecting some 2 million passengers. Southwest agreed to pay the government $35 million and create a $90 million voucher fund for future fliers affected by operational errors, on top of the some $600 million it paid out in refunds and reimbursements to customers affected by the holiday debacle.

While the original agreement terms slated the voucher program to start Tuesday, Southwest rolled out the fund April 16. Any passenger who arrives at their final destination three or more hours after the scheduled arrival time for domestic flights or six hours for international flights can request a $75 voucher. The money is available only for fliers facing issues within Southwest’s control, such as a mechanical problem or swapping planes.

To receive the money, customers can fill out a form online . The request must be submitted within one year from the delayed or canceled flight. Southwest should get back to customers within 30 days, according to Southwest spokeswoman Laura Swift. The compensation fund is expected to run for three years.

Last week, the Biden administration announced new rules for airlines to strengthen passenger protection and increase transparency in the industry. Under the new regulations, airlines are required to streamline the refund process for canceled flights and abandon hidden fees by disclosing the price of surcharges for luggage and changes to reservations upfront.

While announcing those rules, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg also mentioned Southwest’s vouchers as a customer service measure that could influence other airlines.

“This is the month when those vouchers as part of the Southwest settlement kick in, and Southwest will now, because we are making them, really lead the market on that,” Buttigieg said. “It’ll be very interesting to see what other airlines respond — not as punishment, but by way of competition.”

In a statement Tuesday, DOT officials said they will be “closely monitoring” Southwest’s program, requiring the airline to submit an annual report documenting the voucher expenditures over the next three years.

Hannah Sampson contributed to this report.

More travel news

How we travel now: More people are taking booze-free trips — and airlines and hotels are taking note. Some couples are ditching the traditional honeymoon for a “buddymoon” with their pals. Interested? Here are the best tools for making a group trip work.

Bad behavior: Entitled tourists are running amok, defacing the Colosseum , getting rowdy in Bali and messing with wild animals in national parks. Some destinations are fighting back with public awareness campaigns — or just by telling out-of-control visitors to stay away .

Safety concerns: A door blew off an Alaska Airlines Boeing 737 Max 9 jet, leaving passengers traumatized — but without serious injuries. The ordeal led to widespread flight cancellations after the jet was grounded, and some travelers have taken steps to avoid the plane in the future. The incident has also sparked a fresh discussion about whether it’s safe to fly with a baby on your lap .

Here are airline passenger rights you need to know during a travel meltdown

Editor's Note

We expect 2024 will break records again for travel. Some of the air travel problems passengers saw post-2020 have been resolved, but there are still many issues.

Last year, hundreds of thousands of summer travelers experienced flight delays and cancellations . Every time they come up, we get asked the same question: "What are airline passengers' rights?"

Airline passengers in the U.S. have more rights than they used to. However, the rules are not quite as favorable as some travelers would hope.

Airlines often blame the weather when almost anything goes wrong — and, truthfully, the weather is often involved, at least as a triggering event. That was certainly the case last year as summer thunderstorms pounded the country and disrupted travel from Chicago to Newark.

Bad weather can have cascading, nationwide effects on airline operations. So, sometimes, you might run into a weather-related cancellation or delay even though it's clear and sunny outside your window.

Fortunately, there is good news to report this year.

New air passenger rights rules issued by the U.S. Department of Transportation mean things are improving for passengers ... even if they don't go as far as many had hoped to see.

For example, even if your flight is substantially delayed or canceled, you still aren't entitled to a full refund if you completed the trip in some form or fashion.

This is where a travel credit card offering trip protection and coverage for weather-related scenarios can help. The card can offset the cost of unexpected expenses you incur (like a hotel night, ground transportation and unexpected meals) to help close the gap.

While the current list of airline passenger rights is growing, some rules are in place to help with travel disruptions. Here's what you are currently entitled to when your air travel plans go sideways, as well as what could be coming down the road (or in the skies) in the future.

You're entitled to a refund

Per the DOT policy, every airline passenger is entitled to a cash refund when their flight is canceled or significantly delayed or when the schedule is significantly changed. (This only applies if they choose not to fly because of the change.)

That goes for weather-related disruptions and those that are technically the airline's responsibility, like maintenance issues.

Here are a few things to know about that refund:

• You're only entitled to a refund for the unused portion of your trip. So, say you fly from New York to Washington, D.C., your return trip gets canceled and you decide to take the train home. You would be owed a refund only for the return portion of your trip.
• If you accept the airline's rebooking offer, you're not eligible for a refund.
• Thanks to new rules just unveiled by the Biden administration, the DOT now defines what constitutes a significant delay or schedule change. As of April 2024, the DOT says a significant delay is three hours for domestic flights and six hours for international flights.
• If they don't end up traveling, eligible travelers must receive refunds for their trips automatically to their original form of payment within seven to 20 days, depending on how they paid.
• The DOT also rolled out the website FlightRights.gov . It's an update to the previous airline consumer service dashboard that notes which airlines already offer cash compensation, travel credits, vouchers or frequent flyer miles for delays and cancellations.

Compensation during airline delays

New rules from the Biden administration have increased passengers' rights overall. Forced compensation for long delays is not among the firm new rules.

However, as shown on the DOT's airline customer service dashboard , most major U.S. airlines provide meals, cash for meals or meal vouchers when delays cause a wait of three hours or longer. A notable exception is Frontier Airlines, which is not very generous.

Additionally, most major carriers guarantee hotel accommodations, plus the necessary ground transportation and from the hotel, when delays lead to an unexpected overnight stay. The only airline that doesn't guarantee this, according to the dashboard? Frontier Airlines.

Remember that these are for so-called controllable delays — the ones that are technically the airline's fault, like those due to aircraft maintenance or a staffing problem.

Notably, these guarantees do not apply to flights affected by bad weather or air traffic control problems.

Compensation for airline cancellations

Like with delays, airlines aren't required to compensate passengers for canceled flights. However, most major U.S. carriers do provide some guarantees for the cancellations deemed to be their responsibility. (Again, this doesn't apply to weather disruptions.)

All 10 carriers evaluated by the DOT guarantee meals, cash for meals or meal vouchers when cancellations lead to a wait of three hours or longer for a new flight.

Every airline — except Frontier — guarantees complimentary hotel accommodations for these covered cancellations leading to an unexpected overnight stay; the airlines also cover ground transportation to and from the hotel.

None of the airlines provide cash compensation for long delays or cancellations, which is what some of us at TPG would like to see. That would make the U.S. rules more like Europe's EU261 compensation rules.

Keep in mind that even if the airline doesn't technically owe you compensation, you can always ask. The worst the airline can say is "No."

Related: Tips for using social media to contact airlines and hotels

The 24-hour refund rule

Let's say you book an airline ticket and then find a better deal, or you realize your just-booked itinerary won't work for you. Or, maybe you simply select something you didn't intend.

There's good news: Per the DOT policy , in the U.S., airlines must do one of two things: provide penalty-free refunds to passengers who cancel within 24 hours or allow customers to place a 24-hour hold on a ticket without purchasing it.

This applies to all types of tickets, including basic economy tickets and those that are technically "nonrefundable."

Several airlines provide refunds for changes and cancellations beyond 24 hours, depending on the fare type, but they all have to give a 24-hour window of some sort.

Those rules came into effect in 2012. The DOT ordered airlines to allow passengers to cancel nonrefundable bookings or reservations within 24 hours of purchase as long as the booking is made at least seven days before the flight.

Tarmac delay rights

Airlines should not leave you on a plane on the tarmac for hourslong delays. Airlines have gotten much better about letting passengers off planes if they can't get clearance to take off in a reasonable amount of time; the DOT cracked down on long tarmac delays by issuing rules in 2010.

Airlines are now required to provide food and drinking water after passengers have sat for two or more hours on a plane on the ground. Airlines must allow passengers to get off by the three-hour mark for domestic flights and the four-hour mark for international flights. If the airline doesn't follow these rules, it is subject to large fines from the DOT.

Interestingly, some have argued that these rules have actually made delays worse. Either way, passengers have a right to avoid sitting indefinitely on the tarmac, unable to get off the plane.

New airline passenger rights under consideration

While most U.S. airlines guarantee things like meal vouchers and a complimentary hotel night when they are responsible for a major delay or cancellation, the Biden administration wants to go even further.

In May of 2023, the DOT announced a plan to propose rules requiring airlines to compensate passengers for these so-called controllable cancellations and delays. (Again, this wouldn't apply to bad weather and other factors outside the airline's control.)

If ultimately approved, the rule would seemingly bring consumer protections more in line with those in the European Union under that previously mentioned provision known as EU261.

"DOT has taken unprecedented action to protect and expand travelers rights when airlines cause cancellations and delays," a DOT spokesperson told TPG last year. "Before Secretary [Pete] Buttigieg was sworn in, none of the largest U.S. airlines guaranteed meals, hotels, or transportation when they were the cause of a cancellation — now 10 guarantee meals and transportation and nine offer hotels. Additionally, this Administration has helped return over a billion dollars in refunds to travelers, has fined airlines at all-time highs, and is continuing to fight to expand passengers' rights."

Major airline trade groups have criticized the proposals, pointing to existing guarantees by airlines for meals, hotels and ground transportation; they warn that regulations could drive up costs for all passengers.

The DOT will also now require airlines to proactively inform passengers if they're entitled to a refund and to issue refunds for paid services (like Wi-Fi or seat selections) that the customers don't actually receive.

Will there be a new airline passenger bill of rights?

Some political leaders want to go even further than the current air passenger rules being adopted by the DOT.

Sens. Richard Blumenthal, a Democrat from Connecticut, and Ed Markey, a Democrat from Massachusetts, proposed a law that would enshrine rights to airline passengers — much as the Bill of Rights protects the rights of Americans.

"[Airlines] need to provide not only refunds but also additional compensation like the $1,350 if flights are delayed more than four hours, which is part of my bill of rights. $1,350 on top of refunds and alternative transportation expenses. Because the only message that the airlines seem to understand is dollars and cents," Blumenthal shared with TPG.

"And if they have to pay a penalty beyond refunds and beyond paying for alternative transportation, it will get their attention," he continued. "And also giving passengers the right to sue, the right to legal recourse is very important because the Department of Transportation isn't always as vigorous as it should be."

Under the proposed legislation, airlines would be required to refund tickets for flights delayed as little as one hour and provide alternative transportation. They would also be required to pay for food and hotels. Finally, the bill would forbid airlines from using weather as an excuse for delays and cancellations when it's actually their fault.

A challenge for passengers is that even with that proposed legislation, there is an "out" for weather or other uncontrollable events. It's unclear if the meltdown Southwest Airlines suffered during the 2022 Christmas season , for example, would be considered weather-related or not for the purposes of coverage by that bill of rights.

These proposed airline passenger bills of rights are a long way from passage. Airlines for America has called the legislation "short-sighted" and promised to campaign against it.

Related: 6 real-life strategies you can use when your flight is canceled or delayed

Bottom line

The current list of airline passenger rights is not where we'd necessarily like to see it, but we have seen a lot of positive passenger developments in the past few years.

Regarding delays and cancellations due to weather, however, the airlines still have a lot of wiggle room in compensating passengers. That said, just like during Southwest's Christmas week meltdown , we are hopeful the airlines will do the right thing and make consumers whole for costs like meals, lodging and alternate flights in the end.

No matter what rules are in place, though, you will need to be your own best advocate. Record all expenses, and report your case directly to the airline for compensation. If you don't get relief, you can always contact your representatives in Congress and even file a complaint with the DOT.

The worst thing an airline can tell you is "No." Even then, if you use the right credit card to book your ticket , you'll still have an avenue to recoup some of your additional expenses.

Related reading:

• Key travel tips you need to know — whether you're a first-time or frequent traveler
• Flight canceled or delayed? Here's what to do next
• Best travel credit cards
• Where to go in 2024: The 16 best places to travel
• 8 of the best credit cards for general travel purchases
• 10 ways to get through airport security faster

Driving Distance Calculator

Driving distances between two cities.

Travelmath helps you find driving distances based on actual directions for your road trip. You can get the distance between cities, airports, states, countries, or zip codes to figure out the best route to travel to your destination. Combine this information with the fuel cost tool to find out how much it will cost you to drive the distance, or compare the results to the straight line distance to determine whether it's better to drive or fly. You can print out pages with a travel map.

Maybe you want to see the driving time instead? Or if you're driving a long distance, you might want to check the midpoint of your trip to find a hotel.

Home  ·  About  ·  Terms  ·  Privacy