Southwest Companion Pass ?

[Alexle2007]

DH is working on getting enough points to earn the SW companion pass. If I book a flight now for AZ in Late March, will he be able to add me later as his companion? I was planning to book DH and DS and pay for the tickets and then book my ticket using points now and then cancel when the companion pass is earned.

 

[hollypoast]

DH is working on getting enough points to earn the SW companion pass. If I book a flight now for AZ in Late March, will he be able to add me later as his companion? I was planning to book DH and DS and pay for the tickets and then book my ticket using points now and then cancel when the companion pass is earned.

I believe if there is an open seat you can have it but hopefully someone with experience will jump in. We had a companion pass that just expired in December but I usually booked all of our travel at the same time.

 

[marsh0013]

That should be fine, especially if you book your flight on points with the intention of canceling once the companion pass is earned.

 

[hsmamato2]

that should be fine....

 

[Marionnette]

DH is working on getting enough points to earn the SW companion pass. If I book a flight now for AZ in Late March, will he be able to add me later as his companion? I was planning to book DH and DS and pay for the tickets and then book my ticket using points now and then cancel when the companion pass is earned.

Just don't purchase EBCI for yourself when you book with the points. You will lose those funds when you cancel. And make sure that when you cancel the flight that you booked with points, you elect to have your 9/11 fee refunded instead of having it issued as a credit.

 

[buzzandzurg]

Never had an issue booking later except once when I went to check in and realized I hadn't already added my companion. Had a very stressful 4 hours as the flight was completely booked and couldn't add my companion. After several calls, a few seats actually opened up and was able to book. Whew! I have added a companion the day prior with no issues prior to that.

 

[KKB]

Yes, you can add a companion at any time as long as there are seats.
I tended to wait until about a month before--if you change your flight (better prices, cancel or change for any reason) you must cancel the companion pass by phone first. Therefore, I wait since I watch prices closely. Simplifies things immensely.

 

[marsh0013]

Yes, you can add a companion at any time as long as there are seats.
I tended to wait until about a month before--if you change your flight (better prices, cancel or change for any reason) you must cancel the companion pass by phone first. Therefore, I wait since I watch prices closely. Simplifies things immensely.

I had no problem cancelling my companion online when I needed to make changes due to lower prices or schedule changes. The only time I had to call to do it was when I had already paid for EBCI for us already, in order to keep the EBCI with the changes. But normally I wait a while to add the companion to begin with just so I don't have to worry about it if/when I need to make changes.

 

[KKB]

I had no problem cancelling my companion online when I needed to make changes due to lower prices or schedule changes. The only time I had to call to do it was when I had already paid for EBCI for us already, in order to keep the EBCI with the changes. But normally I wait a while to add the companion to begin with just so I don't have to worry about it if/when I need to make changes.

Interesting...when I tried to change the companion pass online I always got a message to call to change it. (is EBCI the taxes?)
But I learned quickly how to avoid that...perhaps they changed it in the last 1.5 years?

 

[marsh0013]

Interesting...when I tried to change the companion pass online I always got a message to call to change it. (is EBCI the taxes?)
But I learned quickly how to avoid that...perhaps they changed it in the last 1.5 years?

EBCI is early bird check in. I was able to do it online for at least the majority of 2015, I can't remember back to 2014. So maybe they changed it. My companion pass expired at the end of 2015, and we're currently working on getting my fiance's for this year and next year.

 

[KKB]

EBCI--DUH! I was racking my brain...could not come up with it!!

 

[jimandami]

Interesting...when I tried to change the companion pass online I always got a message to call to change it. (is EBCI the taxes?)
But I learned quickly how to avoid that...perhaps they changed it in the last 1.5 years?

I have always had to call to change my flight (ex: booking at lower rate) if I have a companion booked as well.

 

[cherrybomb11]

You don't have to do that anymore. I often cancel and rebook flights when I find lower prices, and it's all online. Just cancel the companion's ticket first, then cancel your own.

 

[jimandami]

It sounds crazy but I don't do the cancel thing because I don't like to deal with the credit (for the $5.60 fee) or getting out my credit card again...so I just call.

 

[KKB]

You don't have to deal with the credit. You have the option to simply have it credited back to your credit card.

 

[Alexle2007]

Thanks, everyone! DH can name DS8 as his companion, correct? I have a credit under my name so I need to use it in the next 11 months so it seemed like it would be better for DS to be the free companion and I pay for my ticket to get this credit used.

 

[adudeinblue]

Thanks, everyone! DH can name DS8 as his companion, correct? I have a credit under my name so I need to use it in the next 11 months so it seemed like it would be better for DS to be the free companion and I pay for my ticket to get this credit used.

I think if the SW CC is under your name, only you get the Companion Pass. So you would need to name your companion? I don't think the points can be transfer between spouses.

 

[Shelly F - Ohio]

Yes points can be used between spouses and even for people who are not related to you. You can use you points to book flights for anyone you want to. I have used my HD points to book a flight for me and vise versa no issues or extra fee's. Just sign into your spouses RR acct and then list your name on the ticket info section.

 

[Alexle2007]

Sorry, I wasn't clear. Can a minor be listed as the person assigned as the companion on the companion pass. So DH would be the passholder and DS8 would be the companion.

 

[supersnoop]

Sorry, I wasn't clear. Can a minor be listed as the person assigned as the companion on the companion pass. So DH would be the passholder and DS8 would be the companion.

Yes, my twelve year old is listed as my companion.