Hi I have a couple questions on the BofA Companion Certs:
(1) Do I need to purchase the tickets and fly before the companion cert's expiration date, or could I just purchase the tickets before the expiration date for flights beyond the expiration date ?
(2) If I buy the tickets before the expiration date for flights say 3 months after the expiration date, could I make changes to the tickets after the expiration date ?
My wife and I usually used up these certs before they expired, but last year was a very busy year (work) for me, and we never got a chance to use up these certz, hence the above questions before her cert expired later this month.
Yes and yes. You can buy a ticket on the cert's expiration date for travel 330 days in the future. You can also make changes to the ticket, although note that changing the names--and possibly the routing, though I'm not 100% sure about the latter--will result in the forfeiture of the cert's credit.
I'm also not sure whether changing an existing ticket to new dates beyond 330 days from the expiration date of the certificate will result in the forfeiture of the certificate (otherwise, especially if you're Gold, you could extend the certificate indefinitely!).
But if you are booking a trip to, say, HON for three months after the cert's expiration and just need to adjust your dates to the next week (but are still going to HON and with the same companion), you should be perfectly fine.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jackal
Yes and yes. You can buy a ticket on the cert's expiration date for travel 330 days in the future. You can also make changes to the ticket, although note that changing the names--and possibly the routing, though I'm not 100% sure about the latter--will result in the forfeiture of the cert's credit.
I'm also not sure whether changing an existing ticket to new dates beyond 330 days from the expiration date of the certificate will result in the forfeiture of the certificate (otherwise, especially if you're Gold, you could extend the certificate indefinitely!).
AS tickets expire one year from the original outbound date of travel so you wouldn't be able to extend the cert beyond the expiration date of the ticket no matter what. Even if you buy a fully refundable fare I believe once refunded you lose the cert. Not sure if changing the routing of a ticket would result in losing the cert or not but my guess is a name change probably would. I'm sure Missy would know and I've never changed the name on a ticket I've purchased but wouldn't a name change be like starting over with a brand new ticket?
Quote:
But if you are booking a trip to, say, HON for three months after the cert's expiration and just need to adjust your dates to the next week (but are still going to HON and with the same companion), you should be perfectly fine.
HON Huron Howes SD US [KHON]
I don't think you could use a BofA cert for this particular destination as neither AS or QX fly there.
Yes and yes. You can buy a ticket on the cert's expiration date for travel 330 days in the future. You can also make changes to the ticket, although note that changing the names--and possibly the routing, though I'm not 100% sure about the latter--will result in the forfeiture of the cert's credit.
I'm also not sure whether changing an existing ticket to new dates beyond 330 days from the expiration date of the certificate will result in the forfeiture of the certificate (otherwise, especially if you're Gold, you could extend the certificate indefinitely!).
But if you are booking a trip to, say, HON for three months after the cert's expiration and just need to adjust your dates to the next week (but are still going to HON and with the same companion), you should be perfectly fine.
If the ticket has to be reissued for any reason then the certificate credit will be lost and the additional (difference in) fare on the companion ticket would be charged.
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Did I mention........ oh no, wait, I dont think I did...
If the ticket has to be reissued for any reason then the certificate credit will be lost and the additional (difference in) fare on the companion ticket would be charged.
Thanks for the responses. I don't intend to change names on the tickets, but based on the responses can I assume I would lose the cert value if I have to re-issue the tickets ? Can I also assume that by changing dates (not detinations or routing) only there is no need to re-issue a new ticket, therefore won't void the certs ?
Thanks for the responses. I don't intend to change names on the tickets, but based on the responses can I assume I would lose the cert value if I have to re-issue the tickets ? Can I also assume that by changing dates (not detinations or routing) only there is no need to re-issue a new ticket, therefore won't void the certs ?
Thanks again !
BW
I may be wrong but I think any change generates a new ticket number. I learned of this when I had a couple flights not post and had to do mileage requests. When entering the 6 letter confirmation code it refused to accept them. When I started entering PNRs it kept telling me the E ticket had been canceled. Finally I figured out that when I changed the dates(both times) it created a new number and I had to enter the one that actually coincided with the day I flew
I am not sure either, but I think new ticket numbers were not issued for simple changes on dates and time without changes on ticket prices, but once prices changed the ticket would be re-issued with new number.
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I don't know if policies have change in the past year or so, but I have made date and location changes (on F tickets) after the expiration date of the cert without problems. I just called and had them change the ticket, I did not ask for a refund.
If the ticket has to be reissued for any reason then the certificate credit will be lost and the additional (difference in) fare on the companion ticket would be charged.
I think I have, in 2008, successfully fully cancelled a PNR for me and my companion, then rebooked a different itinerary and reused the companion certificate before the one-year ticketing window expired. But only after paying the difference in my fare and the change fee for the non-MVPG companion certificate fare. I think. But I recall it was tricky.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by BW Flyer
Hi I have a couple questions on the BofA Companion Certs:
(1) Do I need to purchase the tickets and fly before the companion cert's expiration date, or could I just purchase the tickets before the expiration date for flights beyond the expiration date ?
(2) If I buy the tickets before the expiration date for flights say 3 months after the expiration date, could I make changes to the tickets after the expiration date ?
My wife and I usually used up these certs before they expired, but last year was a very busy year (work) for me, and we never got a chance to use up these certz, hence the above questions before her cert expired later this month.
Thanks in advance for answering my questions !!
BW
(1) You just need to purchase before the expiration date.
(2) Yes. Once the tickets are purchased, they are valid for 1 year from the original outbound travel date.
Quote:
Originally Posted by kaceyellis
If the ticket has to be reissued for any reason then the certificate credit will be lost and the additional (difference in) fare on the companion ticket would be charged.
This isn't correct. Companion fares are actually quite flexible when it comes to changes. Name and routing changes are allowed as long as a) one of the travellers or the purchaser are the recipient of the certificate, and b) they are travelling together.
(1) You just need to purchase before the expiration date.
(2) Yes. Once the tickets are purchased, they are valid for 1 year from the original outbound travel date.
Quote:
Originally Posted by kaceyellis View Post
If the ticket has to be reissued for any reason then the certificate credit will be lost and the additional (difference in) fare on the companion ticket would be charged.
This isn't correct. Companion fares are actually quite flexible when it comes to changes. Name and routing changes are allowed as long as a) one of the travellers or the purchaser are the recipient of the certificate, and b) they are travelling together.
Ok perhaps I should reiterate - as its possible my posting wasnt quite clear
According to the rules of the ECRC201 (the electronic RC201) changes and refunds are allowed, yes. However, it also says that they are allowed per the applicable fare rule and that if changes are made, then it will result in the forfeiture of the Ecertificate. Simply put, this means that if you make a change that results in reissuance, the companion (the lesser paid ticket) would have the amount that was paid available towards the purchase of a different/new ticket, (as Missy said, for up to a year from the date of outbound travel) however they would only have that amount and would not be able to reuse the companion certificate to get that lesser price on the new ticket. They would have to pay the full fare of the new ticket. The full fare ticket would have the same.. the full fare amount they paid towards the purchase of a new ticket. But the two would no longer be on a 'companion' reservation, as that certificate would have been made 'null' by virtue of the change/reissue.
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Did I mention........ oh no, wait, I dont think I did...
It sounds as if you are reading the rules and I'm sure that's what they say. However, the reality is that I have done exactly what you are saying cannot be done, and have done it on multiple occasions - most recently a few weeks ago. I canceled a Hawaii trip (F with companion) and reissued for a Newark trip (also F with companion). One might think I just got lucky with a nice csr but since this has happened at least five times without hesitation or mention of any waiver of policy, we must be operating with two sets of rules.
Quote:
Originally Posted by kaceyellis
Ok perhaps I should reiterate - as its possible my posting wasnt quite clear
According to the rules of the ECRC201 (the electronic RC201) changes and refunds are allowed, yes. However, it also says that they are allowed per the applicable fare rule and that if changes are made, then it will result in the forfeiture of the Ecertificate. Simply put, this means that if you make a change that results in reissuance, the companion (the lesser paid ticket) would have the amount that was paid available towards the purchase of a different/new ticket, (as Missy said, for up to a year from the date of outbound travel) however they would only have that amount and would not be able to reuse the companion certificate to get that lesser price on the new ticket. They would have to pay the full fare of the new ticket. The full fare ticket would have the same.. the full fare amount they paid towards the purchase of a new ticket. But the two would no longer be on a 'companion' reservation, as that certificate would have been made 'null' by virtue of the change/reissue.
The rules say changes *may* result in the forfeiture of the cert, not *will* result in the forfeiture of the cert.
I have had the rules explained to me in the same manner as kaceyellis is explaining them here, but to be fair, I have not ever tried to change a companion cert reservation before and thus have no personal experience in the matter.
