I don't often fly Southwest these days, but I flew a R/T a couple of weeks ago, and as a result was given a "companion pass" valid from Jan. 6 through Feb 28. I tried to use it today, to book a long weekend for my wife and myself in Florida in late January. But turns out it does not work that way. I can buy my ticket now but cannot book my wife as the "free companion" until after January 6, when the free companion pass has been "activated."

So what happens if I buy my nonrefundable ticket now, and then by the time my companion pass is "activated" on January 6, the flights I am on are sold out, so there's no room for my companion/wife? I assume the answer is that I am SOL -- I am stuck with a nonrefundable ticket and my "companion pass" cannot be used. Is there some strategy I am not thinking about to avoid this outcome? I guess I could wait to buy my ticket on January 6 and then buy mine and get companion seat at the same time. The downside of that is my ticket would be much more expensive, I am guessing, at that time, three weeks in advance of the flight, to a popular destination (PBI) for a weekend in high season. (Or I could buy a refundable ticket for myself now, so if I cannot take my companion I can refund my ticket. But that also significantly increases the cost)

Am I worrying about something that is very unlikely? I mean, I don't likely it is that Friday - Monday flight to PBI would be sold out three weeks in advance, when my companion pass is activated?

Thanks for any advice.