Southwest Airlines mistakenly tells travelers they've earned a coveted companion pass

A group of Southwest Airlines customers woke up to great news on Friday: They'd earned the airline's coveted companion pass.

The pass is Southwest's biggest frequent flyer perk, allowing free flights for a year for a designated companion. The qualifications are daunting: Rack up 100 one-way flights in a year or 110,000 Southwest frequent flyer points from flights and/or Southwest credit card purchases.

Travelers who were notified didn't reach those milestones. The notification wasn't a delayed April Fools' Day prank (Southwest is famous for them). It was sent in error, according to Southwest responses to travelers who posted about their new companion pass on Twitter.

The airline apologized and said officials in its Rapid Rewards frequent flyer program are reviewing the error.

Southwest Airlines planes are loaded at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport on Feb. 5, 2019.
Southwest Airlines planes are loaded at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport on Feb. 5, 2019.

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Travelers are taking their "revoked'' status in stride.

"I got really excited but obviously this isn't real,'' one traveler said on Twitter. "Crying forever.''

Another teased Southwest about playing jokes on her.

Southwest has not said how many Rapid Rewards members received companion pass status in error.

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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Southwest Airlines mistakenly tells travelers they've earned a coveted companion pass