{"id":194576,"date":"2025-09-22T14:00:05","date_gmt":"2025-09-22T14:00:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/2025\/09\/22\/how-flying-to-orlando-before-lunch-saves-me-600-in-2026-the-points-guy\/"},"modified":"2025-09-22T14:00:05","modified_gmt":"2025-09-22T14:00:05","slug":"how-flying-to-orlando-before-lunch-saves-me-600-in-2026-the-points-guy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/2025\/09\/22\/how-flying-to-orlando-before-lunch-saves-me-600-in-2026-the-points-guy\/","title":{"rendered":"How flying to Orlando before lunch saves me $600 in 2026 – The Points Guy"},"content":{"rendered":"


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When I told my partner that I would be waking up at 4:30 a.m. to fly from Florida’s Palm Beach International Airport (PBI) to Orlando International Airport (MCO) at 6:40 a.m. and back in one day, he asked the same question others \u2014 aside from my co-workers \u2014 had: “But, why?”<\/p>\n

In layman’s terms, Southwest Airlines<\/a> was offering a limited-time promotional Companion Pass<\/a>. The coveted Companion Pass is essentially a buy-one-get-one-free airfare deal that allows you to add a designated additional person to your flight reservation for just the cost of the taxes and fees (starting at $5.60) on any Southwest flight.<\/p>\n

So, with just a backpack and an extra-large coffee in hand, I began my round-trip flight journey from one Florida city to another, landing back home just before lunchtime to earn this pass.<\/p>\n

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GABRIELLE BERNARDINI\/THE POINTS GUY<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Here’s how I did it and why this one pass will save me hundreds of dollars in airfare in 2026.<\/p>\n

Related: How to quickly earn the Southwest Companion Pass<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

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Southwest offered a limited-time two-month Companion Pass<\/h2>\n

Typically, to earn the Companion Pass, a Southwest Rapid Rewards member needs to earn 135,000 qualifying points or fly 100 one-way segments in a calendar year. Then, you’ll have the lucrative pass for the remainder calendar year and the following calendar year. For example, if you earned it in August 2025, your pass would be good through Dec. 31, 2026.<\/p>\n

That said, Southwest sometimes offers a promotional Companion Pass<\/a> after completing set requirements. Unlike the traditional Companion Pass, these promotional passes are only valid for a limited time.<\/p>\n

In August, Southwest advertised a two-month Companion Pass after registering, purchasing (by 11:59 p.m. CDT on Aug. 28) and completing a round-trip flight or two one-way flights by Nov. 15. Those who met the requirements would receive a Companion Pass good from Jan. 6 to March 6, 2026.<\/p>\n

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A Southwest Airlines Boeing 737 at Baltimore\/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI). SEAN CUDAHY\/THE POINTS GUY<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

As someone who is planning to book a long weekend ski trip<\/a> and a Caribbean getaway during these winter months<\/a>, I was very much interested in earning this Companion Pass.<\/p>\n

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However, I had to crunch some numbers and make sure the cost of the round-trip flight would be worth it, as Basic fares were not eligible for this deal. Therefore, I would have to buy a Choice fare, which is a step above Southwest’s Basic fares and costs more money.<\/p>\n

Related: Southwest card welcome bonuses: Last chance to earn 100,000 points<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

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I earned the Southwest Companion Pass before lunch<\/h2>\n

As a Florida resident, I knew that my home airport, PBI, operates daily Southwest flights to and from MCO. Plus, since the airports are only about 170 miles from one another, I knew it would be a very<\/em> short flight.<\/p>\n

First, I had to check if the flight times lined up to meet my personal needs. As a mom, I needed to be home in time to pick my son up from day care (my partner could do the drop off). Thankfully, they did.<\/p>\n

Southwest operates daily routes between the two airports, so I found a 6:40 a.m. flight leaving from PBI and landing in MCO at approximately 7:40 a.m., then the return departing MCO at 10:50 a.m. and arriving back in PBI at 11:50 a.m.<\/p>\n

Using Southwest’s calendar search tool, I booked a flight for a random Wednesday in September, which was the cheapest option (at the time), costing $249.35. Plus, as a Rapid Rewards member, I’d earn 1,254 points on this round-trip flight.<\/p>\n

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GABRIELLE BERNARDINI\/THE POINTS GUY<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

So, after paying $8 to park and using about $10 worth of gas to drive to and from the airport, this promotional Companion Pass cost me about $267 to earn \u2014 and I was back in my home office before 1 p.m.<\/p>\n

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How I plan to use my limited-time promotional Southwest Companion Pass<\/h2>\n

Note that prices were accurate at the time of writing.<\/em><\/p>\n

As I mentioned, I plan to book a ski-centric trip to a resort in Colorado this winter. Though PBI is my home airport, I also fly out of Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL) and MCO if the fares are cheaper and\/or the routes are direct. Right now, there is a round-trip flight from FLL to Denver International Airport (DEN) for $442.96 in January.<\/p>\n

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\"Skiers<\/div>
Skiers in the Colorado Rocky Mountains in winter at the resort of Arapahoe Basin. SBOICE\/GETTY IMAGES<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

With this pass, I can book my flight and my partner’s flight for an additional $59.37. Calculating what I paid to earn the Companion Pass plus the taxes and fees I’d pay for this flight, I’ll save about $116.<\/p>\n