Southwest Rapid Rewards - Companion Pass question: Can primary booking use anyone's points?

Hello, I did some searches on this and was unable to come up with anything.

I am going to have my companion pass in the next 2 weeks or so.

I have some previously booked travel for me that is booked using points through another account that isn't in my name. The booking does have my rapid rewards number attached to it though.

Would this reservation still qualify for me to add a companion once I obtain my pass or does the reservation have to be made under my RR account using my points to qualify for adding a companion?

Also, once the final required points are deposited into my RR account, how long will it take for my CP to become active?

Thanks for your help! :D

it will generally take 24-48 hours after you see the points hit before the companion pass shows active. then you will need to designate a companion which you can do online. you may be able to speed this up by calling the long distance Dallas 214-number for SWA Rapid Rewards listed in the wiki

CP bookings online require the travel itinerary to show up in your 'upcoming travel' under southwest. there you will see an 'add a companion' link under each flight. It does not matter if you are flying for $, flying using your or someone elses reward, or flying under your or someone elses points.

You can also book the CP ticket over the phone provided you give the agent your flight information (confirmation #).

Would this reservation still qualify for me to add a companion once I obtain my pass or does the reservation have to be made under my RR account using my points to qualify for adding a companion?

Yes, and no. You are good to go as soon as the CP becomes active.

CP bookings online require the travel itinerary to show up in your 'upcoming travel' under southwest.

Not true.

If I have 2 CP holders in my family can I do something like this? #1 CP holder nominates #2 CP holder as his companion. Then #2 CP holder nominates #3 flyer as his companion. Then I book a reservation for #1 CP holder, #2 CP holder I book as Companion of #1 holder. Then I book #3 flyer as a Companion of #2 CPM holder. So, after buying 1 ticket I get 2 tickets free. Will it work?

If I have 2 CP holders in my family can I do something like this? #1 CP holder nominates #2 CP holder as his companion. Then #2 CP holder nominates #3 flyer as his companion. Then I book a reservation for #1 CP holder, #2 CP holder I book as Companion of #1 holder. Then I book #3 flyer as a Companion of #2 CPM holder. So, after buying 1 ticket I get 2 tickets free. Will it work?

No. I'm pretty sure this is stated in the Wiki FAQ, since it has been thought of so very many times over the years.

No. I'm pretty sure this is stated in the Wiki FAQ, since it has been thought of so very many times over the years.

Seems not to be covered in WIKI.

Thanks for all the info everyone, I really appreciate it.

If I have 2 CP holders in my family can I do something like this? #1 CP holder nominates #2 CP holder as his companion. Then #2 CP holder nominates #3 flyer as his companion. Then I book a reservation for #1 CP holder, #2 CP holder I book as Companion of #1 holder. Then I book #3 flyer as a Companion of #2 CPM holder. So, after buying 1 ticket I get 2 tickets free. Will it work?

No. From here. (http://www.southwest.com/html/generated/help/faqs/rapid_rewards_program_terms_and_conditions_faq.htm l)

The Member's designated Companion must be an individual. An individual may not travel as both a Member and a Companion on the same flight, except in Customer of Size instances. Corporations and other entities cannot be designated as Companions. A Member who is a Customer of Size and earns a Companion Pass can use his/her Companion declaration for an extra seat. To declare the extra seat as the Companion, the Member must contact Customer Relations.

Thanks for all the info everyone, I really appreciate it.

Thanks so much for checking. I added this to the Wiki.

I was perusing my local Craigslist and noticed someone was selling a Southwest Airlines Green Pass (aka "Must Ride") Pass. Does anyone know if this works in conjunction with my companion pass that I have?

For example, let's say he sells this to me for $200. But I want to take a $500 flight from somewhere on the west coast to New York City. I buy the pass from him, book the flight over the phone and then add my companion over the web.

Is there any flaw in my logic here? It seems like a really good opportunity to save some cash money.

Thanks in advance for the replies.

No. From here. (http://www.southwest.com/html/generated/help/faqs/rapid_rewards_program_terms_and_conditions_faq.htm l)The Member's designated Companion must be an individual. An individual may not travel as both a Member and a Companion on the same flight, except in Customer of Size instances. Corporations and other entities cannot be designated as Companions. A Member who is a Customer of Size and earns a Companion Pass can use his/her Companion declaration for an extra seat. To declare the extra seat as the Companion, the Member must contact Customer Relations.

Can we interprete it as "both a Member and a Companion" on the same pass?

Does anyone know if this works in conjunction with my companion pass that I have?

Yes, except that selling Green Passes is not allowed. There is some risk that Southwest will deny you (and thus also your companion) boarding if Southwest knows that this particular Green Pass was sold. For example, it might have been stolen and blacklisted.

You could always call Southwest and ask them "I'm about to buy a Green Pass with ticket number 123456789. Can you tell me if it has been blacklisted?" They will say "Yes, because you just reported that it has been offered for sale!"

Just kidding with that last paragraph. The bottom line is the same as for any buyer of awards or passes or even concert tickets: Do you feel lucky?

Yes, except that selling Green Passes is not allowed.

Thanks for the information nsx. I had no idea they were not allowed to be sold. The ad mentioned it was good only until 8/1, which would have been too short of notice for me as it were. But an interesting proposition nonetheless.

Thanks again.

I'm not sure if the original question was ever answered. The way I read it was this (and I have wondered the same question too):

If I have a companion pass, but I have a friend that books me a flight using his reward points. Does my companion still fly for free?

I'm not sure if the original question was ever answered. The way I read it was this (and I have wondered the same question too):

If I have a companion pass, but I have a friend that books me a flight using his reward points. Does my companion still fly for free?

nsx answered it very succinctly in post #3.

I'm not sure if the original question was ever answered. The way I read it was this (and I have wondered the same question too):

If I have a companion pass, but I have a friend that books me a flight using his reward points. Does my companion still fly for free?

If you are a ticketed passenger, your companion can fly with you. The source of the "funds" to purchase the ticket do not matter as long as it was through WN channels such as the web site or over the phone. The funds can be cash, Luv Vouchers, gift cards, TTF's in your name, points or RR 1.0 credits. As long as the PRN is in your name and is linked to your RR account, your companion can ride with you if there is a seat available at the time of the CP reservation.

If there is an exception, I do not know what it is.

Can we interprete it as "both a Member and a Companion" on the same pass?

It is exactly as it says. There is no interpretation necessary.

The Member's designated Companion must be an individual. An individual may not travel as both a Member and a Companion on the same flight, except in Customer of Size instances. Corporations and other entities cannot be designated as Companions. A Member who is a Customer of Size and earns a Companion Pass can use his/her Companion declaration for an extra seat. To declare the extra seat as the Companion, the Member must contact Customer Relations.

RR MEMBER A has designated COMPANION B. B also happens to be a MEMBER that has designated COMPANION C.

If on the same flight, B flies as A's companion, A is the Member, B is the Companion. If C flies as the Companion of Member B, then B becomes both a Member and a Companion on the same flight which is not allowed.

If you are a ticketed passenger, your companion can fly with you. The source of the "funds" to purchase the ticket do not matter as long as it was through WN channels such as the web site or over the phone. The funds can be cash, Luv Vouchers, gift cards, TTF's in your name, points or RR 1.0 credits. As long as the PRN is in your name and is linked to your RR account, your companion can ride with you if there is a seat available at the time of the CP reservation.

If there is an exception, I do not know what it is.

I have an exception to be aware of. I cannot use my own leftover TTF to pay for the fees associated with the procurement of a ticket for my Companion. Attempting to do so yields an error message that the fund cannot be applied as it is not in the same name as the name on the ticket.

IIRC, the inability to use TTF for anyone other than yourself is a relatively recent devaluation from WN, but it seems just a bit over the top for that restriction to apply to one's Companion as well.

I have an exception to be aware of. I cannot use my own leftover TTF to pay for the fees associated with the procurement of a ticket for my Companion. Attempting to do so yields an error message that the fund cannot be applied as it is not in the same name as the name on the ticket.

IIRC, the inability to use TTF for anyone other than yourself is a relatively recent devaluation from WN, but it seems just a bit over the top for that restriction to apply to one's Companion as well.

Not only that, but leftover fees for a cancelled CP reservation can only be used by the companion. It is even true for me and I am my own companion.

I cannot use my own leftover TTF to pay for the fees associated with the procurement of a ticket for my Companion.

Quite true, however the lead in:
I have an exception to be aware of. is inaccurate or at least misleading. The issue that you correctly note is not really related to the topic under discussion. I'm not meaning to be critical, just trying to keep the record straight for current and future readers of the thread.