At Continental you may designate a spouse or travel companion. A travel companion can still be designated even if you have a spouse. They receive the same benefits as a spouse except for travel on other airlines. Travel charges are the same as it cost the employee and they are eligible to use the employees vacation passes. I don't know of any other airline that will allow a travel companion travel benefits except for the airline your are listed under. Normally parents, spouse and children are allowed to travel on almost all airlines that they have a ticketing agreement with.