Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan - Swapping Fully-Refundable Tickets - Companion Fare

Did a quick search and looked at the relevant FAQ, but didn't see anything specific about the following... if I missed a thread or post, pls point me in the right direction.

OK, pretty simple: let's say I buy a pair of fully-refundable tickets in F. Later, we receive one of our annual companion coupons. I'd like to swap out the original tickets for exactly the same itinerary, but this time applying the companion coupon.

Oh, wait... just did a different search and found this in the FAQ, which is sort of on-point, but from another angle:

Extending a companion fare
Tickets must be booked by the expiry date but can be for travel up to 330 days in advance. So book 2 full-fare or first class tickets for travel 11 months in advance to any destination on AS. When you have decided when and where you want to go, call AS to change the tickets. Since the tickets are full-fare or first class the changes will be no charge. The tickets can be changed to a lower level ticket including hot fare and the destination can be changed as well. If the tickets are cheaper then the amount will be refunded to the same credit card.

So, if I'm reading this correctly, my little hack would work; seems almost too good to be true. Anybody out there done this lately?

It isn't a hack - it is a refund of a fully refundable fare, and then a booking of a new fare with the companion fare. I suppose you run the risk of in the few minutes of the transaction, the F inventory is snagged out from under you.

Well, that's a swell lesson in semantics (or perhaps more accurately, diction), but doesn't quite answer my question. ;)

In any case, has anyone actually done this lately? If so, is a phone call to the MVP line the way to go?

Well, that's a swell lesson in semantics (or perhaps more accurately, diction), but doesn't quite answer my question. ;)

In any case, has anyone actually done this lately? If so, is a phone call to the MVP line the way to go?

Eastbay1K did answer your question. You can't apply the companion certificate to an existing ticket. It sounds like you want to buy the tickets now so they don't sell out, but you would rather use a companion certificate to do so. Your choices are to do what Eastbay1K suggested, or just wait until you get your certificate.

Eastbay1K did answer your question. You can't apply the companion certificate to an existing ticket. It sounds like you want to buy the tickets now so they don't sell out, but you would rather use a companion certificate to do so. Your choices are to do what Eastbay1K suggested, or just wait until you get your certificate.

Yup, I get that. After reading the FAQ and Eastbay1K's response, I understood the theory/mechanics of doing this, but my underlying question was more about whether someone has done this lately, and how (online/phone call/carrier pigeon). I should have been more clear.

Anyway, thanks for taking the time to respond.

Since you would have booked a fully refundable F ticket, you could cancel it and get your credit card refund online or by phone - no issues.

However, when it's time to rebook using the companion code, that can only be done online now: See here (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/alaska-airlines-mileage-plan/1268704-changes-money-miles-companion-fare-bookings.html)

However, when it's time to rebook using the companion code, that can only be done online now: See here (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/alaska-airlines-mileage-plan/1268704-changes-money-miles-companion-fare-bookings.html)

Excellent point, and something that I wasn't aware of, as we've always done our code bookings online. Thanks v. much... looks like I'll have to ride the lightening a bit, as Eastbay1K intimated.