Your next ticket on Southwest Airlines might come with an unexpected perk: a free ticket for a friend to join you.
During a press event Thursday in Texas, the airline announced a revamp of its loyalty program, including a new Platinum loyalty tier that will give customers unlimited Companion Passes to have a friend or family member join them for their travels.
Those free flights also won’t be restricted to just Platinum flyers. The brand is also introducing new Milestone Rewards that will let customers unlock new benefits as they work toward Platinum status, including up to three Companion Pass trips before they get there.
The changes are part of a sweeping overhaul of not only the brand’s loyalty program, as Southwest transitions away from its legacy as a low-cost airline and positions itself to better compete with the likes of United Airlines, Delta Air Lines, and American Airlines.
For longtime Southwest flyers, Southwest’s Companion Pass isn’t new. The perk has been one of the airline’s most recognizable loyalty benefits for a while now. Traditionally, qualifying members could designate someone to accompany them on flights, paying only applicable taxes and fees for the companion’s ticket.
Under the new program, Southwest’s loyalty program looks a bit more like its competition.
The airline plans to introduce three elite status levels: Silver, Gold, and Platinum. The airline’s existing A-List status will become Silver, while A-List Preferred will become Gold. Platinum will sit above both and include unlimited Companion Pass trips.
While unlimited Companion Pass trips are restricted to Platinum customers, travelers who don’t reach Platinum can earn new Milestone Rewards that will get them up to three passes as they move up in status throughout the year.
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