Southwest offers points; Expansion of elite status and Companion Pass for selected travelers
Southwest Airlines had a rough end to 2022 when it canceled thousands of flights over the Christmas holiday and suffered possible consequences. biggest operational crisis in its history.
Now, the airline is extending the olive branch to some affected groups of passengers. Besides making offerings refund for visitorsSouthwest is also giving away points to some travelers and extending the eligibility period (and for select travelers, the benefit period) for Elite status in the A . list and Companion card. Some of this news was first reported by thrifty travelers and View from the Wing.
Here’s what you need to know.
25,000 Southwest points as an apology
On January 3, 2023, several Southwest members reported receiving an email titled “Message from Southwest CEO Bob Jordan.” Several TPG employees received this email, including senior reporter Zach Griff, who traveled in groups of four over the holiday season. Here’s a screenshot of the email Zach received:
Zach received a code for each of the four travelers in his group. Each of the 25,000 points is worth about $375 based on Valuation of TPG. Zach said he received a code for 25,000 bonus points per passenger apart from:
- Full refunds for canceled flights.
- $250 per visitor Southwest Tourist Credit.
- Refunds for last minute alternative flights on Hawaiian Airlines.
It’s not clear how Southwest decides which passengers receive emails with these codes. However, we suspect that Southwest may still be in the process of sending these emails. And it looks like you can get emails even if you’ve accepted travel credits, refunds, and expense reimbursements. So, if your trip was affected by Southwest holiday operational issues and you still haven’t received an email, keep checking.
Related: How to redeem points with Southwest Quick Rewards program
A-List extension and Companion Pass
Some Southwest members with Companion Card, A-List, or A-List status that expired on December 31, 2022, have received an email about the renewal. A Southwest spokesperson told TPG, “Members affected or at risk of being impacted by operational challenges received an email last week.”
The spokesperson went on to state:
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“For our Members, A-List Members, A-List Preferred Members, and Companion Cards that have not yet been eligible or re-eligible for A-List, Priority List Cards A or Companion Cards for 2023, we have extended the date by which they must be re-eligible from the end of December, (as is the annual practice) to the end of January 2023.”
Therefore, Southwest will extend the eligibility period through January 31, 2023, for all members who have not yet qualified or have not yet qualified for Southwest elite status or the Companion Card at the end of the year. 2022.
While Southwest is extending the eligibility period for all members, only select travelers will receive the A-List, A-List Priority, and Companion Card benefits that last until ends January 31, 2023.
However, my Companion Card expired at the end of 2022 and I have not received an email about the renewal nor see a renewed Companion Card in my account.
I asked Southwest about this and got the following response:
“If you have a Companion Pass in 2022 and are affected during our activity event, your status will be extended until January 31. When booking in January, you will be able to view and potentially add your companion (let us know if you don’t see it).”
As a result, Southwest is only extending its elite status and Companion Card benefits through January 31, 2023, to travelers impacted by airline holiday operational issues.
Note, however, that Southwest phone agents have provided some visitors with conflicting information. TPG’s Emily Thompson doesn’t have any holiday trips booked with Southwest, but multiple Southwest phone agents told her her Companion Card, which expires in late 2022, will be extended through May. 1, 2023. Both agents explained that the renewal would take some time. days to appear in all eligible accounts.
A Southwest spokesperson told us that only those who have traveled impacted by the operational crisis will see the Elite status and the Companion Card extensions. So, if you didn’t have any bookings to travel with Southwest during the affected period and don’t see the extension in your account, you may only get an extension of your eligibility period. (not the benefit period).
Related: Wondering what happened to your favorite Southwest route? Here’s what you need to know
How do Elite Eligible Extensions affect Companion Pass earnings?
All Southwest members who do not qualify for the Companion Pass by the end of 2022 will have additional time to earn the Companion Pass valid through the end of 2023. If you rely on flights or other activities on end of 2022 to earn the Companion Pass, you now have until January 31, 2023 to meet the eligibility requirements.
You may be wondering what this extension means if you’re looking to earn a Companion Pass valid through the end of 2024 by earning 135,000 Companion Pass eligibility points by early 2023. Southwest has confirmed. receive with Prize wallet that “all monetization in January 2023 will also count towards your 2024 Companion Card (earned in 2023, valid until 2024).”
If you are looking for quickly earn Southwest Companion Cardnow is a good time to earn signup bonus on any new product Southwest credit card you may have opened late 2022.
bottom line
While there’s no way to make up for lost time with friends and family over the holidays, it’s great that Southwest is offering refunds, rewards points, and status extensions to affected passengers affected by the failure of the company’s operations. It was the airline’s right thing to do after ruining many travel plans over the holidays.
However, it is disappointing that Southwest phone agents have provided some travelers with incorrect information. These travelers may have called in after reading other websites reporting that Southwest would be extending elite status and the Companion Pass to all members. However, a Southwest spokesperson told TPG that the airline is only extending elite status and the Companion Card benefits to passengers impacted by Southwest operational issues during the holidays. .
