Yes to every question you asked. As long as the Companion Pass holder has a paid ticket they can add a companion to the flight. Paid includes reservations made with points, gift cards, vouchers, travel credits, and credit card.
People Also Ask
First, you don't have two companion passes so don't think you can book two companions. You have one CP and can have one companion. You cannot earn CP multiple times concurrently. If your son also has a companion pass then he can also designate one companion.
There's no limit to the number of flights you can book with a Companion Pass and you can change companions up to three times per calendar year. The great thing about the Southwest Companion Pass is how attainable it is. The spending and welcome bonus on the Southwest cards counts towards the 135,000-point requirement.
The basics of the Southwest Companion PassIt's valid on both cash and Rapid Rewards points bookings. You can even add a companion to an existing Southwest reservation. You don't have to worry about any blackout dates or seat restrictions.
This $5,000 minimum spend is admittedly higher than other welcome bonuses, but it pales in comparison to what you'd need to spend outside of this promotion. To earn the standard 125,000 points you'd normally need for the Companion Pass®, you'd have to pay for up to $125,000 in purchases with your Southwest card.
If you don't have a credit card and plan to earn the Companion Pass through flying in 2023, you'll need to earn the full 135,000 points or take 100 qualifying one-way flights. This translates to the following spending on base fares: $22,500 on Wanna Get Away.
The Companion Pass is valid from the date earned through the end of the next calendar year. For example, if the Companion Pass is earned in March 2024, it will be valid through December 31, 2025. That means Companion Pass holders get at least a full calendar year of benefiting from a companion ticket on Southwest.
It can expireOne of the strictest Delta Companion Certificate rules is that travel for any companion pass must be booked and completed by the expiration date listed on the certificate. Note that its validity is not based on the calendar year.
Taxes/Fees:The fare for Companion tickets requires payment of government-imposed taxes and fees of no more than $80 for roundtrip domestic flights (for itineraries with up to four flight segments). Taxes and fees depend on the itinerary.
3,000 Southwest points are worth around $39.9 when redeemed for airfare. While Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards points are most valuable when redeemed for Travel, they're also redeemable for gift cards, hotel stays, merchandise, and more.
One of the amazing benefits you have as a Delta employee is that you and your eligible family members/companions can travel on standby on all Delta flights either free or for a reduced rate.
So if you, for instance, signed up for one of the cards and achieved the Companion Pass status through earning the qualifying points from a combination of credit card spend and flights booked, you would not lose the pass if you were to close the card at a later date.