Tim in Hollywood

Just got my companion pass a few days ago. In anticipation of this, I had my flight booked long ago, but booked my wife's flight with points as a placeholder reservation (in case of a sell out)...thinking that I would be able to call in to have it switched to a companion ticket and get my points refunded.

When I called tonight...no deal. Can't do the switch. Agent would have to cancel the existing reservation, then hoping a seat is available for a companion may expose her to the possibility that she would be without any ticket. Since it's a sold out flight, that's too much risk.

Any thoughts about how to remedy this? Can the placeholder ticket/companion switch no longer be done? Flight is early morning tomorrow (Wednesday), which certainly doesn't help matters.

Thanks for any help you can offer.

-Tim

expert7700

call back.

first, they can tell you on the phone if the flight is overbooked or just booked to 137. if it's the later, cancelling WILL put the seat immediately back into sellable inventory.

"hello, I'm embarassed by this mistake but I need to ask your help fixing it, I seem to have booked my companion pass as a regular paid fare. the flight's showing sold out so I wanted to make sure a Southwest rep fixes it for me so that you can have a supervisor rebook the companion ticket even if it doesn't go back into sellable inventory."

or-
ask the gate agent to change this for you an hour or so before departure. they may or may not end up needing to call Dallas for help for you.

texashoser

Or you could ask the agent just to book your wife as a companion - don't tell them she's already booked on the flight. See if they catch it. Even if they do, go ahead and tell them book, if necessary, getting a supervisor to do it, and then when confirmed, have them cancel the fare booked with points.

If all else fails, I bet customer relations in Dallas can do this for you: 214-932-0333.

southwestgabe

Hi Tim, please be on the lookout for a direct message from me. I'll see if I can help you out.

Gabe-SWA Customer Relations

smmrfld

It can easily be done by a CSR...unfortunately, you may need to adopt the "keep calling until you get someonw who will take the action you need" strategy that previously was unnecessary with WN.

Sofakingcane

I have done this 2-3 times successfully. Hoping they fix it for you if you call back.

ftnoob

Welcome to FlyerTalk, southwestgabe!

Are you now an official SWA FT rep?

southwestgabe

@ftnoob yes I'm one of the SWA FT reps.