Southwest Rapid Rewards - Question regarding changing Companion Pass

OK, so here's my question:

Does all travel with your existing companion need to be completed before changing the designated companion?

Situation: my family is going to a football game in Nov and we want to use CP. We're also going somewhere for Christmas but want to use CP for a different person. Can I go ahead and book the Nov ticket with one companion, change the companion before starting the Nov trip, and book my Christmas trip with my new companion? Will the Nov companion flight still remain valid?

Does all travel with your existing companion need to be completed before changing the designated companion?

I don't think you can do what you want - my understanding is that changing one's designated companion removes all then-existing unflown Companion bookings (not the CP Holder's bookings for himself) from the Companion Pass Holder's account (see the Wiki here (http://www.flyerguide.com/wiki/index.php/Category:Southwest_Rapid_Rewards#Can_I_change_my_D esignated_Companion.3F)). I think you have to wait until after all flights are completed with the 1st designated companion before changing to the 2nd designated companion.

Situation: my family is going to a football game in Nov and we want to use CP. We're also going somewhere for Christmas but want to use CP for a different person. Can I go ahead and book the Nov ticket with one companion, change the companion before starting the Nov trip, and book my Christmas trip with my new companion? Will the Nov companion flight still remain valid?

Since the CP includes last seat availability, why don't you wait until after the football game in Nov. to change the Designated Companion over the phone before adding the companion on-line for the Christmas trip?

In other words:

Today - CP Holder has booked Nov. football flight for only CP Holder.

Today - CP Holder has booked Dec. Christmas flight for only CP Holder.

Today - CP Holder adds Designated Companion A to Nov. football flight.

Nov. Xth - CP Holder and Designated Companion A fly to football game.

Nov. Xth+1 (day after return) - CP Holder calls SWA and changes designated companion to Designated Companion B

Nov. Xth + 2 (upon confirmation of designated companion change) - CP Holder adds Designated Companion B to Dec. Christmas flight.

Dec. Xth - CP Holder and Designated Companion B fly for Christmas.

I don't think you can do what you want - my understanding is that changing one's designated companion removes all then-existing unflown Companion bookings (not the CP Holder's bookings for himself) from the Companion Pass Holder's account (see the Wiki here (http://www.flyerguide.com/wiki/index.php/Category:Southwest_Rapid_Rewards#Can_I_change_my_D esignated_Companion.3F)). I think you have to wait until after all flights are completed with the 1st designated companion before changing to the 2nd designated companion.



Since the CP includes last seat availability, why don't you wait until after the football game in Nov. to change the Designated Companion over the phone before adding the companion on-line for the Christmas trip?

In other words:

Today - CP Holder has booked Nov. football flight for only CP Holder.

Today - CP Holder has booked Dec. Christmas flight for only CP Holder.

Today - CP Holder adds Designated Companion A to Nov. football flight.

Nov. Xth - CP Holder and Designated Companion A fly to football game.

Nov. Xth+1 (day after return) - CP Holder calls SWA and changes designated companion to Designated Companion B

Nov. Xth + 2 (upon confirmation of designated companion change) - CP Holder adds Designated Companion B to Dec. Christmas flight.

Dec. Xth - CP Holder and Designated Companion B fly for Christmas.

Why not add this line?:

Today - CP Holder adds Designated Companion A to Dec. Christmas flight.

And move "Nov. Xth + 2" up to the phone call on "Nov. Xth+1"

That way you're guaranteed that a seat will be available.

I have a companion pass good through 12/31 2013 and understand I can change the companion 3 times. If I re qualify in say April of 2013 for a pass valid through 12/31 2014 would that then reset the amount of changes to 3 again? Would I loose any unused changes that I had left on the pass valid through 12/31/2013?

I didn't see the two replies until just now - thanks for the help! We decided to do exactly what was suggested, and will probably add in qwertyasdfghzxcvbn's suggestion as well!

I have a companion pass good through 12/31 2013 and understand I can change the companion 3 times. If I re qualify in say April of 2013 for a pass valid through 12/31 2014 would that then reset the amount of changes to 3 again? Would I loose any unused changes that I had left on the pass valid through 12/31/2013?

The Companion Pass is not transferrable. However, the Member may change his/her designated Companion and request issuance of a new Companion Pass up to three (3) times within the validity period of the Pass. Requests must be made in writing and accompanied by the current Companion Pass card, which will be cancelled, to: Southwest Airlines, Rapid Rewards, P.O. Box 36657, Dallas, TX 75235. In addition, please include the new Companion's name, address, phone number, social security number, and date of birth. Allow 21 business days for processing.

From here. (http://www.southwest.com/html/generated/help/faqs/rapid_rewards_program_terms_and_conditions_faq.htm l)

You may change up to three times within the validity period. What is the validity period? There has been no clear answer. It says that once the companion pass is issued, you get three changes before the date that ends its validity. However, read literally, this means that the counter resets when a new CP with a new validity period begins. Bottom line, I have read no definitive answer here.

Furthermore, since the change procedure is no longer valid, but still published by WN, the definition of the validity period may also have changed and this paragraph was overlooked when putting together RR 2.0

Has anyone here been denied change #4? Personally I have never changed it more than once.

the validity period is always through 12/31 of the current calendar year, afterwards if you re-earned for the next year, the counter resets.

On my 3rd change, I've always been told it was my last change for the year and asked if I'm SURE I want to do this. Friends have as well.

the validity period is always through 12/31 of the current calendar year, afterwards if you re-earned for the next year, the counter resets.

On my 3rd change, I've always been told it was my last change for the year and asked if I'm SURE I want to do this. Friends have as well.

I am still unclear.

I got mine in early 2011 and it's good until 12/31/12. Could I have had 3 changes last year and 3 more this year?

Purely academic question, as I have never changed.

I am still unclear.

I got mine in early 2011 and it's good until 12/31/12. Could I have had 3 changes last year and 3 more this year?

Purely academic question, as I have never changed.

I think it's more restrictive than that. I think what expert7700 was getting at was 12/31 of the full year after the year in which you qualified. However, if you requalified, let's say, on 08/01/12, I could definitely see one making the case that a new "validity period" has begun and thus 3 more changes would be allowed.

I think it's more restrictive than that. I think what expert7700 was getting at was 12/31 of the full year after the year in which you qualified. However, if you requalified, let's say, on 08/01/12, I could definitely see one making the case that a new "validity period" has begun and thus 3 more changes would be allowed.

My question is whether the converse is true: does the new validity period begin immediately on qualification or can you use left over changes from the year you are still in.

My question is whether the converse is true: does the new validity period begin immediately on qualification or can you use left over changes from the year you are still in.

Ya, not sure. You could probably make a case either way.

With the 3 change rule...does that mean you can designate a total of four people/instances....i.e:
CP#1: on first designation
CP#2: on 1st change
CP#3: on 2nd change
CP#4: on 3rd change

With the 3 change rule...does that mean you can designate a total of four people/instances....i.e:
CP#1: on first designation
CP#2: on 1st change
CP#3: on 2nd change
CP#4: on 3rd change

I've been wondering the same thing. That was my initial reasoning as well, but for some reason, I feel like lately I was convinced otherwise (meaning that you're 3 changes included the first companion), but I can't for the life of me remember what it was that may have changed my initial reasoning.

I've been wondering the same thing. That was my initial reasoning as well, but for some reason, I feel like lately I was convinced otherwise (meaning that you're 3 changes included the first companion), but I can't for the life of me remember what it was that may have changed my initial reasoning.

I called in to make my 2nd change for the year (thus my 3rd companion) and asked if I had one more change remaining and was told that I did. Now what I'd really like is to be able to not use my final "change" if I went back to a previous companion...wishful thinking I bet.

I called in to make my 2nd change for the year (thus my 3rd companion) and asked if I had one more change remaining and was told that I did. Now what I'd really like is to be able to not use my final "change" if I went back to a previous companion...wishful thinking I bet.

Good to know, actually. I hope others experience the same. But I think you're right - wishful thinking...

does not matter who the companion is
you can change 3 times and no more
changing back to a previous companion counts as a change

I called in to make my 2nd change for the year (thus my 3rd companion) and asked if I had one more change remaining and was told that I did. Now what I'd really like is to be able to not use my final "change" if I went back to a previous companion...wishful thinking I bet.


Is CP pass valid for multicity itinerary or only for round trip?

Is CP pass valid for multicity itinerary or only for round trip?

CP is valid as long as the CP-holder is on the plane.

With the 3 change rule...does that mean you can designate a total of four people/instances....i.e:
CP#1: on first designation
CP#2: on 1st change
CP#3: on 2nd change
CP#4: on 3rd change

Yes, I have successively designated 4 people/instances as you ask above, however I have been warned that I can not make any more changes now.