Southwest Airlines is introducing unlimited Companion Pass trips as part of a major loyalty overhaul

Your next Southwest ticket 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, Delta, and American Airlines. A new way to earn unlimited Companion Pass trips 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 fe…

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