What happens if you cancel a flight with a companion pass?

If the primary ticket or the Companion ticket is cancelled, both tickets will be cancelled and the Companion ticket will not be reissued.



If you cancel a flight booked with a Southwest Companion Pass in 2026, the process involves two separate steps because the bookings are technically linked but separate. First, you must cancel the Companion's reservation before you can cancel the primary traveler's flight. If you cancel at least 10 minutes before departure, the taxes and fees paid for the Companion (typically $5.60 each way for domestic flights) will be refunded to the original form of payment or held as a flight credit for future use by the Companion. For the primary traveler, the outcome depends on the fare type: "Wanna Get Away" fares will be held as a non-expiring flight credit, while "Anytime" or "Business Select" fares can be refunded to the original payment method. If the primary flight was booked using Rapid Rewards points, those points are returned to the account holder's balance. It is critical to follow the 10-minute rule; failing to cancel in time may result in a "no-show" status, where both the primary fare and the companion taxes are forfeited. The Companion Pass itself remains active and can be used to book a new flight immediately, provided the primary traveler makes a new reservation first.

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To cancel the companion reservation: In your account go to upcoming trips. On the flight you want to change click companion details then cancel that reservation.

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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.

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You may change your designated Companion up to three times each calendar year that you maintain Companion Pass privileges. Any reservation with your current designated Companion must be canceled before changing your designated Companion. To change your Companion, you must call 1-800-435-9792.

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How do I change my Companion? You may change your designated Companion up to three times each calendar year that you maintain Companion Pass privileges. Any reservation with your current designated Companion must be canceled before changing your designated Companion.

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Can I upgrade to First Class with my companion fare? Yes. When traveling on a companion fare, you are eligible for all upgrades we offer. You can upgrade using miles, elite + companion upgrades, guest upgrades, or paid upgrades that may be offered at check-in.

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Pro tip: if you add your companion and later want to cancel your flight, you must first cancel the companion's itinerary before you can change or cancel the itinerary for the primary traveler.

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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.

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Essentially, this status gains you access to two-for-one tickets. For instance, if you book a round trip ticket to Hawaii on Southwest, with the Companion Pass you could add your designated companion on those flights with you for no charge other than taxes and fees.

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Employees have free, unlimited travel privileges for themselves and eligible dependents on Southwest Airlines.

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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.

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This pass grants you the privilege of bringing a companion along for free (excluding applicable taxes and fees) on an unlimited number of Southwest Airlines flights throughout the pass. For frequent Southwest flyers, this benefit alone can easily amount to thousands of dollars saved annually.

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To cancel flights for a specific traveler, you must divide the reservation. That will create multiple individual reservations, and then cancel the applicable reservation. To divide the reservation, select the individual cancel option in the travelers section on the reservation.

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A simple way to change or cancel a flight without paying a fee is to do so within 24 hours of booking. After this window, the next option is to wait to see if the airline makes a change to the flight — the departure time, the aircraft, etc. — which will automatically grant you a refund if you change or cancel.

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The cheapest way to get a business or first-class ticket is to buy an economy ticket then buy an upgrade. You can either do this immediately after booking or look for last-minute upgrades as your travel date approaches. The price for premium cabin fares decreases as you get closer to departure.

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The best way to get upgraded to first class for free is to earn elite airline status. Complimentary upgrades are offered to frequent fliers on all the major airlines, although not necessarily on every route.

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