Companion Pass Award Travel - Primary Holder Not Traveling
Feb 11, 2013, 8:53 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Austin, TX, USA
Posts: 283
Companion Pass Award Travel - Primary Holder Not Traveling
I have a unique situation. I have booked AUS-RNO on points for me & daughter with my wife added as my companion.
I now have a work commitment where I will drive and meet them in Tahoe that day. It appears that all the tickets are separately booked (i.e. separate record locators,etc.).
Since she was on a companion pass, do I need to call and change anything or can I just check everyone in that day, and I will just not fly?
I'm concerned there will be a change in points/fees or some other hassle with making these changes....
I now have a work commitment where I will drive and meet them in Tahoe that day. It appears that all the tickets are separately booked (i.e. separate record locators,etc.).
Since she was on a companion pass, do I need to call and change anything or can I just check everyone in that day, and I will just not fly?
I'm concerned there will be a change in points/fees or some other hassle with making these changes....
Feb 11, 2013, 8:58 am
#2
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: IAH
Programs: UA,AA,WN, Marriott & Hilton Gold
Posts: 169
From the T&C:
The "Rapid Rewards Member" means the CP holder, so you have to actually be on the plane with your companion. You'll need to call and make changes. If I'm right, you'll probably have to pay the fare difference to change your reservation to her name.
The Companion Pass is valid for travel only when the Companion is accompanied on his/her flight(s) by the Rapid Rewards Member.
The "Rapid Rewards Member" means the CP holder, so you have to actually be on the plane with your companion. You'll need to call and make changes. If I'm right, you'll probably have to pay the fare difference to change your reservation to her name.
Feb 11, 2013, 2:09 pm
#4
Suspended
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Alki. Seattle, WA
Programs: WN~A List Pref, CP, Hyatt-Diamond, Hilton Diamond, ANT~a Dave Matthews Addiction thing
Posts: 723
I have to ask.......does anyone have the experience of being the primary only the Companion boards(?). Do they come over the intercom and pull the companion off the flight? For giggles, I've wanted to try this....just to see how it's handled. 
Clearly I'm a bad person. 
The companion could be on board, while I'm stuck in security, many scenarios.....I don't always board at same time, or first with my companion.....
Clearly I'm a bad person. The companion could be on board, while I'm stuck in security, many scenarios.....I don't always board at same time, or first with my companion.....
Feb 11, 2013, 3:37 pm
#5
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: USA
Programs: AC SE100K, F9 100k, NK Gold, UA *S, Hyatt Glob, Bonvoy Titanium
Posts: 5,207
I've seen a passenger paged off the plane due to this. Gate agent's computer cannot close out the manifest without the companion onboard.
If crew is generous with sacrificing on-time pushback for the day, passenger might be allowed to buy full fare ticket and reboard.
The fine print says misuse of program will result in loss of CP privileges and closure of rapid reward account & accrued points/awards.
The one exception is that the CP earner & the companion can in fact be split up for irregular operations, if the gate agent notes their itinerary that one of them volunteered to give up their seat for compensation in the event of an oversale.
If crew is generous with sacrificing on-time pushback for the day, passenger might be allowed to buy full fare ticket and reboard.
The fine print says misuse of program will result in loss of CP privileges and closure of rapid reward account & accrued points/awards.
The one exception is that the CP earner & the companion can in fact be split up for irregular operations, if the gate agent notes their itinerary that one of them volunteered to give up their seat for compensation in the event of an oversale.
Feb 12, 2013, 11:42 am
#6
Join Date: Nov 1999
Location: SFO
Programs: UA 1.050MM, PersonalCar 0.275MM
Posts: 1,718
It should be clear that if Southwest were to permit that which you're asking about, the Companion Pass would be a completely free pass for as much travel as the Companion wants, which would be spectacularly unsustainable. (It's remarkable that the Companion Pass program has actually survived thus far.)
The only concession which I could imagine Southwest offering reasonably fairly would be to allow a name change on your ticket to the Companion's name. Any CP holders reading this thread who has tried that?
The only concession which I could imagine Southwest offering reasonably fairly would be to allow a name change on your ticket to the Companion's name. Any CP holders reading this thread who has tried that?
Aug 22, 2013, 1:52 pm
#7
Join Date: Jul 2010
Posts: 53
Same situation - different circumstances
Am happy to hijack this thread that I stumbled upon while trying to find an answer to my own question.
The situation is this: my partner is the CP holder - I'm the companion.
We have yet to fly our first ever WN flight, because the CP holder (my partner) has unexpectedly been transferred overseas for an assignment and cannot fly WN for the foreseeable future and duration of the CP.
Does this mean effectively that my Companion Pass is rendered as unusable ?
The situation is this: my partner is the CP holder - I'm the companion.
We have yet to fly our first ever WN flight, because the CP holder (my partner) has unexpectedly been transferred overseas for an assignment and cannot fly WN for the foreseeable future and duration of the CP.
Does this mean effectively that my Companion Pass is rendered as unusable ?
Aug 24, 2013, 10:12 am
#9
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: LAS
Posts: 1,525
I have a unique situation. I have booked AUS-RNO on points for me & daughter with my wife added as my companion.
I now have a work commitment where I will drive and meet them in Tahoe that day. It appears that all the tickets are separately booked (i.e. separate record locators,etc.).
Since she was on a companion pass, do I need to call and change anything or can I just check everyone in that day, and I will just not fly?
I'm concerned there will be a change in points/fees or some other hassle with making these changes....
I now have a work commitment where I will drive and meet them in Tahoe that day. It appears that all the tickets are separately booked (i.e. separate record locators,etc.).
Since she was on a companion pass, do I need to call and change anything or can I just check everyone in that day, and I will just not fly?
I'm concerned there will be a change in points/fees or some other hassle with making these changes....
This may smell more like a "scam" than a "unique situation" to the folks at Southwest!
Last edited by NextTrip; Aug 24, 2013 at 10:20 am
Aug 24, 2013, 10:41 am
#10
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: LAS
Posts: 1,525
I have to ask.......does anyone have the experience of being the primary only the Companion boards(?). Do they come over the intercom and pull the companion off the flight? For giggles, I've wanted to try this....just to see how it's handled. Clearly I'm a bad person.
The companion could be on board, while I'm stuck in security, many scenarios.....I don't always board at same time, or first with my companion.....
Clearly I'm a bad person. The companion could be on board, while I'm stuck in security, many scenarios.....I don't always board at same time, or first with my companion.....
Apr 2, 2015, 2:21 pm
#11
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: SXSW
Programs: DL Plat; HH Diamond; SPG & Hyatt Plat
Posts: 996
Any recent experiences?
Similar thread topic here: http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/south...ss-flight.html
Similar thread topic here: http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/south...ss-flight.html
Apr 2, 2015, 3:57 pm
#12
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Chicagoland, IL, USA
Programs: WN CP, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 14,193
Any recent experiences?
Similar thread topic here: http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/south...ss-flight.html
Similar thread topic here: http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/south...ss-flight.html
The Companion CANNOT fly without the CP holder on the same flight. Only exception is a case where WN needs a seat and the gate agent specifically overrides the computer to shift people to various flights. This situation is quite rare.
Apr 2, 2015, 6:22 pm
#13
Join Date: May 2005
Posts: 4,872
Any recent experiences?
Similar thread topic here: http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/south...ss-flight.html
Similar thread topic here: http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/south...ss-flight.html