Having been a Southwest companion going on three years now, I can really appreciate the benefit of the CP program. WN's upgrade to electronic ticketing for the companion pass has nearly eliminated the need for the card. TSA has certainly never asked for it, and I've never had a gate agent ask to see it once boarding passes have been issued. (Dozens of trips, numerous airports). On a recent trip, the CP never even came out since it was in the computer system, even though there were several snafus with the ticketing. (For one - my companion entered the wrong month for the reservation. Oops. That one required a information booth detour.)

Ethically, the companion pass allows you to designate a companion, and whenever you are on board, that specific companion can travel with you. Sure you can change that companion, but you only take that companion. Anything else is fraud.

Please don't abuse the system and cause WN to add checks that will slow down the boarding process for the rest of us. (And make us dig out extra credentials.)

WN & the CP- Making the slogan "you are now free to move about the country" so true, including the free part. :-: