Buddy Pass
Mar 18, 2010, 9:53 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Nashville, TN USA
Posts: 111
Buddy Pass
A friend of mine is having a birthday party in Jax in late April. She has generously offered up her husband's buddy pass. (He is a pilot for SWA.)
For clarification - buddy passes are only good for standby travel and you aren't guaranteed a seat, correct?
I have to be back in town for a meeting the Monday following the party. . .so I am feeling like I should probably just book my own ticket so I don't have the stress of worrying whether I'll be able to get home in time.
Thanks. .
For clarification - buddy passes are only good for standby travel and you aren't guaranteed a seat, correct?
I have to be back in town for a meeting the Monday following the party. . .so I am feeling like I should probably just book my own ticket so I don't have the stress of worrying whether I'll be able to get home in time.
Thanks. .
Mar 18, 2010, 10:31 pm
#2
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: BNA
Posts: 234
A friend of mine is having a birthday party in Jax in late April. She has generously offered up her husband's buddy pass. (He is a pilot for SWA.)
For clarification - buddy passes are only good for standby travel and you aren't guaranteed a seat, correct?
I have to be back in town for a meeting the Monday following the party. . .so I am feeling like I should probably just book my own ticket so I don't have the stress of worrying whether I'll be able to get home in time.
Thanks. .
For clarification - buddy passes are only good for standby travel and you aren't guaranteed a seat, correct?
I have to be back in town for a meeting the Monday following the party. . .so I am feeling like I should probably just book my own ticket so I don't have the stress of worrying whether I'll be able to get home in time.
Thanks. .
Mar 19, 2010, 1:31 pm
#3
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Houston (HOU/IAH)
Programs: WN, UA, DL, AA, Chase UR, Amex MR
Posts: 2,267
What are the rules regarding use of a RR Award as a backup to a Buddy Pass? I'm assuming they're the same as using a ticket as a backup.
Mar 19, 2010, 9:30 pm
#4
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Nashville, TN USA
Posts: 111
Thanks. . .
to clarify, it was going to be an either/or proposition for me - booking a back-up seat didn't cross my mind. 
I do think that it would stress me out to no end to worry about not getting on a flight home - so, you definitely confirmed that maybe a buddy pass isn't a great thing for this particular trip!
Thanks!
I do think that it would stress me out to no end to worry about not getting on a flight home - so, you definitely confirmed that maybe a buddy pass isn't a great thing for this particular trip!
Thanks!
Mar 19, 2010, 9:49 pm
#5
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: MDW
Programs: SWA EMP (the ultimate program)
Posts: 713
If you call the 800 number on the back of the pass, you can check the load on the flight.. It'll say either good fair or bad. If it looks good, you should use the buddy pass. You'd hate to buy a ticket on a flight, get on, and realize that there's a bunch of open seats and you wasted your money.. You can keep calling and checking the loads leading up to the flight..
Also, consider buying a backup ticket on a LATER flight.. Buying a ticket on a flight that you have a nonrev listing for will void your reservation and listing (they don't want people displacing a seat with a reservation when they only intend to fly nonrev). But, I don't think there's any rule against having a ticket for a different flight later in the day.. If you get bumped or something, just get the refund or credit for a later flight.. Look at it this way,.. If you are going to get a ticket anyways, why not try to get on an earlier flight with the BP?
Also, consider buying a backup ticket on a LATER flight.. Buying a ticket on a flight that you have a nonrev listing for will void your reservation and listing (they don't want people displacing a seat with a reservation when they only intend to fly nonrev). But, I don't think there's any rule against having a ticket for a different flight later in the day.. If you get bumped or something, just get the refund or credit for a later flight.. Look at it this way,.. If you are going to get a ticket anyways, why not try to get on an earlier flight with the BP?
Mar 20, 2010, 7:29 pm
#6
Join Date: Nov 2008
Programs: WN Employee
Posts: 33
If you call the 800 number on the back of the pass, you can check the load on the flight.. It'll say either good fair or bad. If it looks good, you should use the buddy pass. You'd hate to buy a ticket on a flight, get on, and realize that there's a bunch of open seats and you wasted your money.. You can keep calling and checking the loads leading up to the flight..
Also, consider buying a backup ticket on a LATER flight.. Buying a ticket on a flight that you have a nonrev listing for will void your reservation and listing (they don't want people displacing a seat with a reservation when they only intend to fly nonrev). But, I don't think there's any rule against having a ticket for a different flight later in the day.. If you get bumped or something, just get the refund or credit for a later flight.. Look at it this way,.. If you are going to get a ticket anyways, why not try to get on an earlier flight with the BP?
Also, consider buying a backup ticket on a LATER flight.. Buying a ticket on a flight that you have a nonrev listing for will void your reservation and listing (they don't want people displacing a seat with a reservation when they only intend to fly nonrev). But, I don't think there's any rule against having a ticket for a different flight later in the day.. If you get bumped or something, just get the refund or credit for a later flight.. Look at it this way,.. If you are going to get a ticket anyways, why not try to get on an earlier flight with the BP?
Mar 22, 2010, 8:41 am
#7
In Memoriam - Company Representative - Southwest Airlines
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Dallas, TX
Programs: Southwest spokesperson
Posts: 1,201
Here is the official "word" from our Pass Guideline booklet.
If you, your guests, or eligible travelers hold reservations or have purchased tickets on any Southwest Airlines flight, you may not use space available passes on any Southwest Airlines flight in the same market or city pair (coterminals included) on the same date– even if the reservation was canceled.
If you, your guests, or eligible travelers hold reservations or have purchased tickets on any Southwest Airlines flight, you may not use space available passes on any Southwest Airlines flight in the same market or city pair (coterminals included) on the same date– even if the reservation was canceled.
Mar 23, 2010, 6:55 am
#8
Join Date: Nov 2007
Programs: DL GM, WN AL/CP, UA Silver, Marriott Lifetime Titanium
Posts: 1,483
I'm based in JAX and am a very frequent WN flyer... if you tell me which flight on which day I may be able to give you an idea of how full the flight normally is. You can PM if you're more comfortable doing so.
Jun 23, 2010, 12:15 am
#10
Join Date: Jun 2010
Posts: 4
Here is the official "word" from our Pass Guideline booklet.
If you, your guests, or eligible travelers hold reservations or have purchased tickets on any Southwest Airlines flight, you may not use space available passes on any Southwest Airlines flight in the same market or city pair (coterminals included) on the same date– even if the reservation was canceled.
If you, your guests, or eligible travelers hold reservations or have purchased tickets on any Southwest Airlines flight, you may not use space available passes on any Southwest Airlines flight in the same market or city pair (coterminals included) on the same date– even if the reservation was canceled.