Luck with Companion Pass And A-list Standby?
#16
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: SNA
Programs: Bonvoy LTTE/AMB, AmEx Plat, National EE, WN A-List, CLEAR+, Covid-19
Posts: 4,967
Has anyone tried this lately? Is it truly dead by rule, or just the"discretion" working against me this time? I've never tried it before today, so have no prior experience with it.
#17
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: Nashville -Past DL Plat, FO, WN-CP, various hotel programs
Programs: DL-MM, AA, SW w/companion,HiltonDiamond, Hyatt PLat, IHF Plat, Miles and Points Seeker
Posts: 11,073
Tried this today @LAX, companion has zero status, was told "they put an end to that about 2 months ago". Tried a "Human HUACA" at another kiosk, was told the same thing.
Has anyone tried this lately? Is it truly dead by rule, or just the"discretion" working against me this time? I've never tried it before today, so have no prior experience with it.
Has anyone tried this lately? Is it truly dead by rule, or just the"discretion" working against me this time? I've never tried it before today, so have no prior experience with it.
But - not sure what scenario your are talking about. Just an alister getting a seat or a-list with companion. And is the flight full, etc.
#18
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: SNA
Programs: Bonvoy LTTE/AMB, AmEx Plat, National EE, WN A-List, CLEAR+, Covid-19
Posts: 4,967
Best search result that came up.
Thought I was pretty clear. I'm A-L+, companion has nothing. I was trying to get a SB to an earlier flight that had seats (I could have bought 4,WGAs on the app if I'd wanted to). Both CS agents told me that "as of a couple of months ago", companions are no longer allowed to SB for free even if their A-L(+) host is eligible and I'd have to buy a ticket at price for them.
But - not sure what scenario your are talking about. Just an alister getting a seat or a-list with companion. And is the flight full, etc.
#19
Moderator: Southwest Airlines, Capital One
Join Date: Sep 1999
Location: California
Programs: WN Companion Pass, A-list preferred, Hyatt Globalist; United Club Lietime (sic) Member
Posts: 21,624
Best search result that came up.
Thought I was pretty clear. I'm A-L+, companion has nothing. I was trying to get a SB to an earlier flight that had seats (I could have bought 4,WGAs on the app if I'd wanted to). Both CS agents told me that "as of a couple of months ago", companions are no longer allowed to SB for free even if their A-L(+) host is eligible and I'd have to buy a ticket at price for them.
Thought I was pretty clear. I'm A-L+, companion has nothing. I was trying to get a SB to an earlier flight that had seats (I could have bought 4,WGAs on the app if I'd wanted to). Both CS agents told me that "as of a couple of months ago", companions are no longer allowed to SB for free even if their A-L(+) host is eligible and I'd have to buy a ticket at price for them.
I haven't tried it in 2019 that I can recall, but it worked in 2018 the couple of times I tried. Back then I could standby for a co-terminal destination which is no longer allowed unless the reserved flight is delayed.
#20
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: Nashville -Past DL Plat, FO, WN-CP, various hotel programs
Programs: DL-MM, AA, SW w/companion,HiltonDiamond, Hyatt PLat, IHF Plat, Miles and Points Seeker
Posts: 11,073
So,what about this scenario?
A-lister is on standby.
Then gets confirmed.
Assuming all standbys have cleared, and there are seats left, could the a-lister just log in and add companion?
A-lister is on standby.
Then gets confirmed.
Assuming all standbys have cleared, and there are seats left, could the a-lister just log in and add companion?
#21
Join Date: May 2014
Posts: 1,868
Edit : responded to that last without scrolling up to see possible recent changes. That would be a shame, but I think it would work fine in the early clear situation.
#22
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: SNA
Programs: Bonvoy LTTE/AMB, AmEx Plat, National EE, WN A-List, CLEAR+, Covid-19
Posts: 4,967
#23
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: LAX/SMF/PDX/HNL
Programs: Hilton-lifetime diamond, Southwest A+, companion pass
Posts: 1,748
It’s true. According to gate agent the policy changed about a month ago. For the A list plus the companion to take a standby flight, the A lister must pay full walk up fare. No notice given. I’m angry.
#25
Moderator: Southwest Airlines, Capital One
Join Date: Sep 1999
Location: California
Programs: WN Companion Pass, A-list preferred, Hyatt Globalist; United Club Lietime (sic) Member
Posts: 21,624
The official policy was always no free standby for the companion. Most gate agents used to give companions a break, as a matter of common sense and proper treatment of loyal customers. The change is that gate agents have been told "no waivers, no favors" on the official policy.
#26
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: California
Posts: 1,129
Before the policy change, I've been the victim of couples with the same surname being higher up on the standby list. I do not believe all of the couples had A-list status. At a minimum, I had to board last in a middle seat instead of A61. At worst, I sat watching the plane take off with my luggage and without me. So I fully support the "no waivers, no favors" policy and glad the overly generous previous policy is gone. I agree there is a reasonable middle ground that could be achieved, but the previous policy did not bump the companion behind all of the A-listers.
#27
Moderator: Southwest Airlines, Capital One
Join Date: Sep 1999
Location: California
Programs: WN Companion Pass, A-list preferred, Hyatt Globalist; United Club Lietime (sic) Member
Posts: 21,624
Before the policy change, I've been the victim of couples with the same surname being higher up on the standby list. I do not believe all of the couples had A-list status. At a minimum, I had to board last in a middle seat instead of A61. At worst, I sat watching the plane take off with my luggage and without me. So I fully support the "no waivers, no favors" policy and glad the overly generous previous policy is gone. I agree there is a reasonable middle ground that could be achieved, but the previous policy did not bump the companion behind all of the A-listers.
#28
Join Date: Jun 2015
Programs: VX Gold/WN Companion
Posts: 682
But the Companion policy has also been that if you are booked on a flight regardless of how and a seat is open on that flight your companion is eligible to fly...so in theory if you are cleared on standby AND other seats are open with no other standby list, your companion SHOULD be eligible to also be rebooked.
I agree that a non status companion should not get any standby priority over a status passenger but it seems the two programs are now at odds.
#29
Moderator: Southwest Airlines, Capital One
Join Date: Sep 1999
Location: California
Programs: WN Companion Pass, A-list preferred, Hyatt Globalist; United Club Lietime (sic) Member
Posts: 21,624
The official policy was always no free standby for the companion. Most gate agents used to give companions a break, as a matter of common sense and proper treatment of loyal customers. The change is that gate agents have been told "no waivers, no favors" on the official policy.
Southwest has been so kind to me over the years that I don't much mind overpaying once in a while. Airlines need our support these days, and Southwest has earned mine many times over.
Still, I believe this policy is un-Southwest. It is also at cross purposes with the recent change to sequential boarding numbers for Companions. Someone at Southwest should reconsider.
#30
Join Date: May 2014
Posts: 1,868
This policy just bit me to the tune of 6k points for an upgrade to get on a 70% empty plane with my companion. Thankfully the walk-up fares today are half what they were two years ago. I should have remembered this thread and just stayed with my original travel plans. This is a mistake you only make once.
Southwest has been so kind to me over the years that I don't much mind overpaying once in a while. Airlines need our support these days, and Southwest has earned mine many times over.
Still, I believe this policy is un-Southwest. It is also at cross purposes with the recent change to sequential boarding numbers for Companions. Someone at Southwest should reconsider.
Southwest has been so kind to me over the years that I don't much mind overpaying once in a while. Airlines need our support these days, and Southwest has earned mine many times over.
Still, I believe this policy is un-Southwest. It is also at cross purposes with the recent change to sequential boarding numbers for Companions. Someone at Southwest should reconsider.