Last Call: We Nearly Missed This No-Cost $600 Hawaii Ticket

If you missed the original offer from Southwest, this is your last chance to score a free round-trip Hawaii ticket for a travel companion—pay only the taxes and fees. For BOH editors, the cost of the round-trip companion ticket this summer between the Pacific Northwest and Hawaii is currently $700 (that’s about $600 plus taxes and fees). Southwest Airlines extended its unusual, easy-to-earn Companion Pass promotion for one final day, giving travelers until tonight, February 21.

After covering this offer earlier in the week, we thought we had the qualifying flight booked until we realized we had forgotten to buy the qualifying flight. That mistake would have cost us the chance to bring a companion on a free trip from Hawaii to the mainland later this summer. Thankfully, the deadline extension gave us enough time to fix it, and we wanted to pass that reminder along.

For those who intended to take advantage of this deal but didn’t book, this is the final reminder before it’s gone.

How to claim the free Southwest Companion Pass.

To qualify for the Companion Pass, travelers must register for the promotion on the Southwest website and then book a round-trip or two one-way Southwest flights by 11:59 p.m. Central Time tonight, February 21. Travel must be completed by March 31 to qualify.

The pass allows a designated companion to fly for just taxes and fees on Southwest flights from August 7 through October 8, 2025. Once earned, the pass can be used unlimited during the promotion window. That’s a fact that editor Rob nearly missed, too. During the promotional period of the pass, you can change your companion up to three times.

According to the rules, you’ll be notified within 10 days of taking the qualifying flight that a companion pass will be available in your Rapid Rewards account on August 7. That will also be the first day to book your ticket and have your companion fly free.

Why this is a significant deal for Hawaii travelers.

With rising costs for flights between the mainland and Hawaii—and even interisland travel—the Companion Pass offers a rare chance to save on island flights. It allows two people to fly for nearly the price of one across Southwest’s entire network, including Hawaii. While taxes and fees still apply, the potential savings are still substantial.

Securing this pass now could mean dramatically lower travel costs for those with trips planned later this summer or fall. Families flying together can double the benefit of earning multiple passes within the same household.

Even those without confirmed travel plans should consider qualifying while there is still time. A short mainland or interisland flight may be all that is needed to unlock the pass for potential travel later.

Will Southwest offer this promotion again?

While Southwest occasionally offers limited-time Companion Pass promotions, they’re somewhat unpredictable. Typically, earning a full-year pass requires accumulating 135,000 Rapid Rewards points or flying 100 one-way flights—making this deal, which we have seen offered previously, a much easier shortcut.

There is no guarantee that another offer like this will come later this year. If another promotion does appear, it may not align with upcoming travel plans. Booking now ensures access without needing to wait for a future deal.

Have you used a companion pass before, and did it work for you? If you plan to book this Southwest deal, let us know in the comments.