southwest friends fly free what do you do about the person without a friend to take?

[pokeysmom]

there are seven of us going, which means i can do friends fly free for 6 of us but what do i do about the 7th, the next cheapest airfare is round $300 which pretty much takes care of the great deal, any suggestions would be appreciated.

 

[GoldenPrincess]

I love flying SWA, BUT this Friend Fly Free promo is a joke! It would cost my husband and I $677 RT to fly to Oklahoma to visit my son! I even called their customer service to complain. We can get there more directly through Delta--and have assigned seating--for $412.00! If these rates continue, it'll be bye-bye SWA. There are lots of other options.

Sorry, I don't have an answer to your question...I just had to vent about my experience with this awful non-promotion.

 

[NO1BALOO]

DEAR POKEYSMOM, ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS BUY THE SEVENTH TICKET
SEPERATE FROM THE SIX. JUST GO ON LINE AND BUY THE SIX TICKETS
AND THEN BUY ONE AT THE SINGLE PRICE...........HOPES THS HELPS!
THATS WHAT I HAD TO DO TO BUY THREE TICKES.........

 

[Sammy]

pokeysmom:

Unfortunately, there is not much you can do about that "odd" ticket. I have the same problem with a family of 5. It is a pretty good deal for the 4 of us ($448 RT which comes out to $112 each), but add that 5th ticket in at $224 and the deal goes sour.....

 

[denisenh]

Just an FYI...
I was thinking "great, I can pair up with another mom and 2 kids (I am also a mom with 2 kids)that want to fly from MHT to MCO and we could get a great deal and not have to travel alone! Well, wrong. The fare payer must be 18 years old or older. For example, 2 parents and 4 kids wouldn't work for this friends fly free. The kids would each have to have an adult "partner"
Oh well, it was a good idea, for a few minutes.

 

[Johnnie Fedora]

We lucked out and purchased 6 tickets from Chicago to Orlando for $792.00. It worked this year, but in the future we may have 5 traveling. We had planned on driving in June, but it will almost be cheaper to fly. Now if we can do something about that rental car....

 

[DMRick]

The fare payer must be 18 years old or older. For example, 2 parents and 4 kids wouldn't work for this friends fly free promo. The kids would each have to have an adult "friend"

Hmm...that is very interesting. Wouldn't you still be the fare payer..just more fares ot pay? When I made our ressies, I didn't bother to click off children..I have always just put us all in as adults. I wonder if I should call. I've always done it that way..and they have never said anything. Is that written in the "small" print?

Whew..I just got off the phone..switched my grands to children, and linked our ressies! The gal I talked to, went and spoke with her supervisor, and he said there has to be an 18 year old and up with each child (friend). He said there is going to be problems at check-in, when they ask for ID..what a mess that will be, if others like me, just put them in as adults. He said (I'll believe it when I see it..it would be such a mess) that at check-in, they will have to pay more money and get different tickets.

 

[denisenh]

DM rick....
Hi! yes, that "rule" is in the small print. I am slow today so can you please explain what the result of you phone call was?
Lets say that i am an adult with 3 kids.....6, 9, and 10 years old. Would i be able to purchase and have no problems with buying and using "friends fly free", 2 fare payers and 2 free flyers? I thought the rule meant that every "pair" had to have an 18 or older person. I am trying to decide if I should try to wing a trip next month.
Thanks in advance!

 

[Sammy]

I'd be interested in that info as well.......thanks!!

 

[chris1gill]

Denisenh, this is completely unrelated to the Friends Fly Free promotion (although I doubt they'd give you trouble at the airport) Anyways, did you ever take your vacation to Hawk's Cay Resort in the keys? Sounded like a nice place!

 

[DMRick]

I am slow today so can you please explain what the result of you phone call was?

The gal I talked to went and double checed. She said, that each "free" person must have a paying person over 18. I asked, if I was a mom with three children, could I pay for two, (myself and one child), and pay for one other child, and take the fourth child free. She said no, I would only be able to use one fo the Fly Free promotions. She said it was going to be a mess at check in, when more expensive tickets would have to be bought. I wonder if they really would hold up the line. I was actually asking for you, after it was mentioned, since we already paid for the "odd" child out and have enough adults.

 

[denisenh]

Hi Chris1gill!
Yes we did and it was so completely awesome! We loved it. It is really just as beautiful as the web site made it appear. Terrific "bend over backwards for you" staff. I highly recommend Hawks Cay as an alternate family vacation spot.
And with friends fly free, well, the price is right. (I had to make it suitable for this topic. )
And did you make your trip to Maui? Maybe that is an April trip for you....I can't remember now.
Anyway, thanks for asking!!

 

[denisenh]

Thanks DMRick...that's what I thought. Oh well, I'll keep the money in my wallet until something else comes along! I appreciate your time. (I really should stop taking trips and start doing some house stuff anyway. phooey.)

 

[chris1gill]

Hi DeniseNH,

Yes we took the trip Feb. 20-26 & it went really well... the kids were AWESOME, they are such good travelers.... all those trips to Disney has them trained!! The one thing though, American Airlines wrecked my powerchair & it's still in the shop... That was something... Anyways, we stayed at the Sheraton in Ka'anapali & the hotel was NICE... I really liked it a lot & we were upgraded to an ocean view.... Five nights were free & we had to pay for the last night.... We drove up the volcano, through the road to Hana (the rainforest area) & we did a Luau & goodness I can't remember the rest, but we all had a lot of fun.... Thanks for asking!

Hawks Cay looks SO tempting... did you do any of the activities with the Dolphins? What kind of unit did you stay in?

 

[denisenh]

Chris1gill, I PM'ed you!

 

[chris1gill]

DeniseNH PM'd you back!

 

[Minybear]

I made rsv's last night with SW and using the companion special. I purchased 2 tickets. One for me and one for my son but he is over 18. I hope I don't have any problems at checkin with these tickets. My son is also my friend.

In my opinion SW is going to have LOTS of problems with this special. Especially for moms and dads taking their young children and their children is under 18. There is going to be some very pissed off passengers at checkin.

 

[barbnbrian]

This promo worked for us. We bought two adult tickets and got my two kids' tickets for free. I really don't see what the big deal is with SWA. The prices are all the same for both the adults and children's tickets. As long as you buy more than one ticket you should get one for free no matter what the age of the buyer of the first ticket. Come on SWA, stop making things so difficult for people. There's going to be a lot of screaming and yelling going on when people go to check in.

 

[tinaluis]

I agree that there's going to be a lot of screamin' going on at check-in. I called SWA to confirm that the paying passenger had to be at least 18 and they confirmed this. They said if it was a mom with three kids, the mom and one child could take advantage of the special and the other two kids would have to be booked using a different fare/code.

 

[pokeysmom]

i just can't understand why 2 people can fly for $264 but if you have an extra person it is $300. i also think it is ridiculous to state that the paying person has to be over 18. this is a great deal but only if you have the right combination.