Southwest brought back a sweet promotion that lets you earn a promotional Companion Pass after just one round trip instead of the usual 100 qualifying flights or 135,000 qualifying points in a year. Register first, then book a qualifying flight by Thursday, Aug. 6, with cash, points, or a mix. Complete the trip by Nov. 18 to unlock unlimited companion flights from Jan. 5 through March 3, 2027. Your companion only pays the required taxes and fees, which are typically just $5.60 each way on domestic flights. You can change your designated companion up to three times during the promotional period.

As of today, Delta and Starbucks updated how their mileage partnership works. Once your accounts are linked, you'll earn one SkyMile for every dollar spent at Starbucks, and you no longer need to preload a Starbucks gift card. The catch is a new requirement to have flown Delta within the past 12 months (or will fly in the next 60 days) to keep earning, though a grace period through Oct. 5 covers everyone for now. If you fly Delta regularly, you should link your accounts today. It's also worth checking your inbox for a targeted $50 Starbucks gift card offer tied to that deadline.

Harrah's Resort Southern California is running a 48-hour flash sale starting Thursday, Aug. 6, where a second night costs just $10 with code MK10S for eligible Monday through Thursday stays through Dec. 22. Also, award availability at the Andaz Peninsula Papagayo in Costa Rica is wide open through November for up to 35,000 World of Hyatt points per night.

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There’s a free flight waiting for whoever you’d want sitting next to you on your next trip, and you’ve got about 24 hours to claim it.

This is Departure Digest, your five-minute morning travel briefing. The voice memo your savviest friend would send.

Southwest just brought back its promotional Companion Pass, and it’s one of the easiest ways to earn one.

A Companion Pass lets you designate one person to join you on every Southwest flight, they just cover their own taxes and fees, which usually runs about $5.60 each way domestically.

Normally, earning one takes 100 qualifying flights or 135,000 qualifying points in a single year.

This version just needs one round trip, or two one-way flights. Register first, then book your qualifying flight by tomorrow, Thursday, Aug. 6. Flights booked with cash, points, or a mix of both all qualify.

Heads up, this isn’t the full year-long Companion Pass, but rather a shorter promotional version. Complete your trip by Nov. 18, and your companion flies free with you from Jan. 5 through March 3, which conveniently covers both MLK weekend and Presidents Day weekend. You can even switch who your companion is up to three times during that window.

And your companion doesn’t have to be family. It can be your partner, your bestie, whoever you’d actually want sitting next to you.

If you’ve got any trip on your radar for early next year, even a maybe, register today. Worst case, you don’t end up using it. Best case, you just found a free flight for someone you love. We’ll drop the link to register below.

Okay, next. Your coffee order is about to start paying you back too.

Starting today, Delta and Starbucks are back to how their partnership used to work. Link your accounts, and you can earn one SkyMile for every dollar you spend at Starbucks, so you don’t have to preload a Starbucks gift card anymore, like the old rules made you do.

However, there’s a new requirement. You now need to have flown a qualifying Delta flight within the past 12 months to keep earning.

Don’t panic if that’s not you. There’s a grace period through Oct. 5 where everyone linked keeps earning regardless. Fly Delta anytime before then, and that resets your eligibility for another 12 months.

Delta’s also sending some people an offer for a $50 Starbucks gift card. It appears to be targeted at people who haven’t flown Delta recently. Enroll, book, and fly before Oct. 5 to earn it.

Full disclosure, I got that email myself, which is basically Delta’s polite way of saying that I need to get on a plane.

It’s worth checking your inbox for that one.

Oh, and there’s a secret menu drink too, made to taste like Delta’s iconic Biscoff cookies. Order a grande iced brown sugar oatmilk shaken espresso, ask them to line the cup with caramel, add a pump of chai, and top it with extra cinnamon.

So, if you’re a Delta flyer, link your accounts today, it’s free miles for a habit you already have. We’ll drop the link to connect your accounts below.

Next, and this one doesn’t involve any miles or points at all.

Harrah’s Resort Southern California is running a 48-hour flash sale starting Thursday, Aug. 6, at 8 a.m. Pacific time. Book two nights, and your second night is just $10.

It only works for Monday through Thursday stays between Sept. 2 and Dec. 22, and you’ll need the code MK10S at checkout.

This is technically a casino resort, but you don’t need to gamble to have a good time here. There’s also a lazy river, a swim-up bar, and it’s an easy drive from San Diego or L.A. Weeknights here normally start around $120, so this basically cuts your stay in half. And you already know a lazy river fixes everything.

Set an alarm for Thursday morning, Aug. 6, if a midweek pool day sounds appealing.

Speaking of hotel deals, the Andaz Peninsula Papagayo in Costa Rica has wide open award space right now. Most nights through November are going for 35,000 World of Hyatt points, that’s a big drop from the 75,000 points a night this place can sometimes cost. Cash rates usually run between $500 and $700 a night, so the value is real. Just know September and October are usually the rainiest months there. Short on points? [A major bank’s rewards program] and Bilt Rewards both transfer over.

That’s your Wednesday. The fine print today actually worked in your favor, for once.

Go register for that Southwest promotion, or at least go treat yourself to that secret Starbucks drink. We’ll be back to chat more on Friday!