Originally Posted by
ursine1
Book your flight now, use points if possible. It's unlikely the flight will sell out; you only need one available seat in any fare category in order to add the companion. If you have enough points, you can book her a placeholder for now -- If you don't have enough points you can book her on a fully refundable fare. Then once the CP is active on January 6 (approximately) just add her CP booking to your itinerary, then cancel the points booking. .
Thanks, all, for the advice. I went ahead and bought my ticket. (Points one way and nonrefundable Wanna Get Away the other; I did not have enough points for RT). Then I bought wife a refundable ticket on the same flights. I will replace that, assuming I am able to do so, when the companion pass is activated.
One question: I had thought the only SW fares that were fully refundable (in cash, rather than credit for future flights) were Business Select. But it looked from the fare rules like Anytime fares are also fully refundable to the original form of payment, so I bought the Anytime fare for my wife. Did I read the fare rules correctly -- that Anytime fares are fully refundable to the original form of payment (credit card refund rather than credit for future flights..)?