Alaska's benefits are pretty simple. Eligible dependents travel free in coach with a surcharge for first class. We can either have our spouse travel or we can designate an EDG (employee designated guest) instead. The EDG gets the same benefits on Alaska (not OAL) as a spouse would. The designation must be done during the open enrollment period and can be changed yearly. We receive 20 flexible passes per year. These are used one way and can be redeemed as "guest" pass or as a "companion" pass depending on whether the employee/spouse is traveling with them or not. If redeemed as a companion pass, the applicable taxes are deducted from the employee's paycheck. If redeemed as a guest pass, the traveler takes the pass to the airport and pays what amounts to an ID90 fee for their ticket.

We can have as many companions as we like and it does not affect our boarding priority. The guests have a lower priority than employees dependents but higher than OAL employees and their boarding is based on the seniority of the employee who gave them the pass. I only give mine to close relatives, however, because their behavior can affect MY privileges going forward.