I’ve written lots about the Southwest Companion Pass! It’s still my favorite deal for domestic travel, and it’s easy to earn now because all 3 Southwest cards currently have a 50,000 point sign-up bonus!
With the Southwest Companion Pass, your friend or family member flies with you for close to free on paid and award tickets. It’s almost like flying 2-for-1!
If you live in certain cities served by Southwest, your Companion Pass is an even better deal! That’s because these airports have many more departures and direct flights than others.
If you live in 1 of these cities, going for the Companion Pass is a no-brainer! Let’s see where they are!
Southwest’s Top 10 Cities
Link: Southwest Route Map
According to Wikipedia, Southwest flies to 95 destinations in the US, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Central America.
Southwest’s busiest airports (by number of departures and non-stop cities served) are as follows:
| City | Daily Departures | Non-Stop Destinations | Number of Gates |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago (Midway) | 247 | 65 | 35 |
| Baltimore | 218 | 61 | 28 |
| Las Vegas | 215 | 59 | 23 |
| Dallas (Love Field) | 180 | 52 | 18 |
| Denver | 176 | 56 | 22 |
| Phoenix | 176 | 49 | 24 |
| Houston (Hobby) | 151 | 42 | 19 |
| Atlanta | 125 | 37 | 18 |
| Orlando | 122 | 41 | 16 |
| Los Angeles | 118 | 24 | 11 |
I’m not surprised Chicago is #1! We always seem to route through there when we fly Southwest. It’s a good excuse to stop for a quick visit (and some of my favorite foods!) 🙂
Direct flights can often be cheaper (using cash or points) and are more convenient. Having so many flights from these cities gives folks who live there lots of opportunities to make the most of their Companion Pass!
And some of these airports offer non-stop international flights to Southwest’s newest destinations in Mexico, the Caribbean, and Central America.
You can fly non-stop between these cities for a fast and convenient trip to the tropics!
| Destination | Fly Non-Stop From These Cities |
|---|---|
| Belize City | Houston (Hobby) |
| Cabo San Lucas | Austin, Denver, Houston (Hobby), Orange County / Santa Ana |
| Cancun | Austin, Atlanta, Baltimore, Chicago (Midway), Denver, Houston (Hobby), Milwaukee, San Antonio |
| Mexico City | Houston (Hobby), Orange County / Santa Ana, San Antonio |
| Montego Bay | Baltimore, Chicago (Midway), Houston (Hobby), Orlando, Milwaukee |
| Nassau | Baltimore |
| Puerto Vallarta | Denver, Houston (Hobby), Orange County / Santa Ana |
| Punta Cana | Atlanta, Baltimore, Chicago (Midway), Milwaukee |
| San Juan | Baltimore, Fort Lauderdale, Houston (Hobby), Orlando, Tampa |
Lucky folks near these airports will have an easier time escaping the cold weather this winter! And with the Southwest Companion Pass, they can bring a buddy along for nearly free!
A Good Time for the Companion Pass
Link: Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card
Link: Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Business Credit Card
Link: Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card
For a limited time, you’ll earn 50,000 Southwest points after completing minimum spending requirements on the Chase Southwest Premier (Personal), Chase Southwest Premier (Small Business), and Chase Southwest Plus cards.
Check out my post for the trick to finding the 50,000 point sign-up bonus on the Chase Southwest Plus card!
With the sign-up bonus from 2 cards, you’ll get almost enough points for the Southwest Companion Pass. To qualify for the Southwest Companion Pass, you’ll need to earn 110,000 Southwest points in a calendar year.
But remember, you’ll also earn points from minimum spending on these cards. And there are lots of ways to earn the remaining points required to qualify for the Companion Pass!
Check out my step-by-step guide to getting Big Travel with the Southwest Companion Pass!
Bottom Line
The Southwest Companion Pass is a terrific deal for anyone living near an airport served by Southwest. Your companion flies with you for almost free on paid and award tickets!
But folks who live in certain cities get an even sweeter deal if they have the Companion Pass, because they have access to many more daily departures and destinations served by non-stop flights.
And better still if you live near an airport with direct service to Southwest’s destinations in Mexico, the Caribbean, and Central America. What a perfect excuse for a quick and easy getaway to warmer weather this winter!
Do you live near 1 of these airports? How often do you use your Companion Pass?