dlaue

This is my advice to new companion pass holders. It is based on experience booking at least ~75 companion pass bookings per year for at least 16 years---->

1) The computer system for the companion pass bookings (on this board referred to as "CP") is very ancient and flaky. Expect anything.
THE COMPANION PASS SYSTEM HAS IMPROVED, BUT STILL REQUIRES SOME PATIENCE.

2) Your companion will NOT have his/her global entry or other trusted traveler number stored in his/her record. You must enter it each time you make a reservation.
THIS HAS BEEN FIXED

3) If you need to change or cancel your reservation, you must first cancel (cannot change) your companion's reservation and wait. Wait at least 15 minutes. Sometimes a 1/2 hour. ONLY THEN can you cancel/change your reservation.
THIS IS STILL THE CASE. THE IDEAL SYSTEM WOULD TREAT YOUR + YOUR COMPANION'S RESERVATIONS AS JUST TWO SEATS ON THE SAME RESERVATION NUMBER. THIS WOULD ALLOW YOU TO MAKE CHANGES TO THE BOOKING EASILY.

4) While you are waiting for your companion's reservation to be cancelled, ignore any responses from the Southwest system to your attempts to modify your reservation. You will get this message:

"Oops!This form has the following errors
Your reservation has been cancelled. (SW301001-EZ8hZTIwTnCbvVy1GIXkBA)":
WITH THE IMPROVEMENTS, THE FREQUENCY OF THIS BUG HAS DIMINISHED.

Your reservation has NOT been cancelled. Your reservation still exists. You must cancel or change your reservation after waiting for your companion's to be flushed from the ancient system.
STILL TRUE

5) After you have waited and have made the change to your reservation, then you must wait again until your new reservation has posted before you can add back your companion. Your companion will be assigned a new reservation number.
THIS HAS BEEN VASTLY IMPROVED. THE SYSTEM UPDATES YOUR "PENDING TRIPS" LIST VERY QUICKLY NOW....MOST OF THE TIME.

6) NEVER check the box "hold these funds for future use" for a companion reservation, unless you are an accountant who loves to keep track of stuff.
Instead, check the box "apply for a refund" for the taxes. I have never had an "application" for refund be denied.

THIS IS STILL TRUE.

7) Any time the Southwest booking system is having problems, the first system to be shut off, it appears, is the Companion Pass booking system.

THIS IS STILL TRUE

Any others?

See my edits above.