Southwest Name Change for a Minor

[cbsnyber1]

I researched this in the threads and I believe I know the answer to my situation, but I wanted the experts here to chime in.

Booked flights for November 2016 on SW from Pittsburgh. We are leaving Thanksgiving evening, returning November 30. We are a party of nine, and I booked all nine flights using points.

One of the party is a minor, 16 YO female. Unfortunately, just last week she had a seizure and was diagnosed with a form of epilepsy. The doctor, told of our trip, told her to avoid sudden changes in directions (motion rides), flashing lights (many attractions), strobe lights (shows) - in other words, don't go on this trip.

She was crushed, of course, and we did our best to comfort her, but now I am stuck with a SW ticket in her name (we know of another similar aged female that can go in her place). Is it possible to change the name on the ticket? Or does it even matter - what if another sixteen year old female went as her, since she wont't have to show an ID?

Normally I would cancel the ticket and re-book it for the replacement person, but a problem here: since I booked those flights (the day they changed the schedule) the points cost of the flights has more than doubled. I don't have enough remaining points to re book with points even after receiving the credit back for the cancelled flight.

Any thoughts/suggestions?

 

[DisDadDVC]

While it is possible you can get away with this, I would not do it. It is against the law. And I doubt SW will allow you to change the ticket to another person. I think you are going to have to cancel/rebook at a higher rate. There is a chance you might get a sympathetic CSR but I wouldn't bet on it.

ETA: I am 95% sure the prices on those flights will go back down.

 

[NotUrsula]

Nope, you can't change the name, and trying to do so will definitely alert the airline that you are wanting to use it for someone else. However, you'll get your money back if you cancel, because points are refundable.

Can you use it for another young lady? Well, theoretically you can get away with it, but unless the kid is a really good liar I wouldn't try it. TSO's always ask minors their names, and if she gets it wrong, you all risk getting your tickets canceled by the airline (who also might void your points account for that kind of stunt; if you read the fine print you'll see that they contractually are allowed to do that.)

Better to just reduce the size of your party by one, get your points back and leave it at that.

 

[SouthFayetteFan]

Fortunately you are booked on points and at least will get them back. As DisDadDVC said there is a high likelihood that those prices may come down. November is a long way out and you might see some relief on the prices in July or August in that 3-4 month window. I'd keep checking back daily. You could also just book one leg of the trip with your remaining points for now and pay for the other leg (or wait for the prices to come down before booking the other leg). At least that way you'd have one of the flights locked in.

ETA: I would definitely put a call in to at least try. If you explain the situation they may have some way to rebook you at the same fare but don't be surprised if they flat out say no.

 

[ColinBlair]

I researched this in the threads and I believe I know the answer to my situation, but I wanted the experts here to chime in.

Booked flights for November 2016 on SW from Pittsburgh. We are leaving Thanksgiving evening, returning November 30. We are a party of nine, and I booked all nine flights using points.

One of the party is a minor, 16 YO female. Unfortunately, just last week she had a seizure and was diagnosed with a form of epilepsy. The doctor, told of our trip, told her to avoid sudden changes in directions (motion rides), flashing lights (many attractions), strobe lights (shows) - in other words, don't go on this trip.

She was crushed, of course, and we did our best to comfort her, but now I am stuck with a SW ticket in her name (we know of another similar aged female that can go in her place). Is it possible to change the name on the ticket? Or does it even matter - what if another sixteen year old female went as her, since she wont't have to show an ID?

Normally I would cancel the ticket and re-book it for the replacement person, but a problem here: since I booked those flights (the day they changed the schedule) the points cost of the flights has more than doubled. I don't have enough remaining points to re book with points even after receiving the credit back for the cancelled flight.

Any thoughts/suggestions?

The big fall sale should be next Tuesday-Thursday, I wouldn't worry too much about it until you see what happens with the prices for your flights during that sale. Southwest's 45th anniversary will be the following week and there will probably be something big happening sometime that week.