Update 1/15/21: They’ve now extended the 2020 Companion Pass through December 31, 2021 (previously it was only extended through June 2021). Hat tip to reader W
Update 5/7/20: The 15,000/25,000 tier qualifying points have been added to accounts
Original Post:
Southwest has announced a number of measures for loyalty members due to COVID-19. The biggest of which is that current companion pass members will have their companion pass extended by six months until June 30th, 2021. In additional A-List & A-List Preferred members will have their status extended by a year until December 31st, 2021. All members will also receive a boost of 15,000 tier qualifying points and 10 flight credits towards A-List & A-List Preferred status and 25,000 tier qualifying points and 25 flight credits towards companion pass status for 2020 status year.
There are two changes being made to travel funds. Firstly Funds that are set to expire or funds that are created between March 1, 2020, and September 7, 2020, will have an expiration date of September 7, 2022. Secondly for those with funds that expire during that same period (March 1st – September 7th, 2020) you can convert those funds to Rapid Rewards points at the same rate you would be able to purchase a ticket with points.
Overall I think these are strong changes. I know a lot of people were hoping for a year extension to the companion pass but I always thought that a six month extension was more likely. Most other airlines are offering a 12 month extension to status, but Southwest’s companion pass is unique in the value proposition it provides. I’d hope that if travel and isolating restrictions continue into the end of 2020 that Southwest will revisit this decision and further increase the extension. One other thing that would have been nice is a six month extension for those that have already earned the companion pass this year.
