Can a CP fly if the base ticket no shows?
Apr 26, 2018, 11:23 pm
#16
Join Date: Jun 2017
Posts: 15
I'll offer $20 through PayPal for anyone who can post documented proof of negative action taken as a result of their companion boarding without them, including charging the companion full fare for the flight, etc.
Apr 26, 2018, 11:24 pm
#17
Join Date: Jun 2017
Posts: 15
Please share what you imagine will happen.
Apr 26, 2018, 11:39 pm
#18
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: 21,620
Hah, quoting for posterity. Your realistic scenario is holding up an aircraft for 20 mins to check everyone's ID for a rogue companion!!
I'll offer $20 through PayPal for anyone who can post documented proof of negative action taken as a result of their companion boarding without them, including charging the companion full fare for the flight, etc.
I'll offer $20 through PayPal for anyone who can post documented proof of negative action taken as a result of their companion boarding without them, including charging the companion full fare for the flight, etc.
While it's true that the costs of a 20 minute delay exceed the immediate benefit, the long-run benefit is that fraudsters know that they can't get away with it so they don't try. It's basic game theory.
Apr 26, 2018, 11:47 pm
#20
Join Date: Jul 2012
Posts: 205
It goes like this - gate agent has passenger list that shows companion boarded, but companion pass holder never did. GA tells flight attendant. Flight attendant gets on intercom and asks companion pass holder and companion to hit their call buttons so they can identify them. CP holder obviously cannot do this, companion either a) rings call button, and gets escorted off the plane, or b) doesn't ring call button, FA realizes the scam they are trying to pull, and the real fun begins.
Apr 27, 2018, 12:08 am
#21
Join Date: Jun 2017
Posts: 15
Upping my offer to $50 for documented proof of negative action taken due to this scenario - scan of letter, email, etc, stating xyz is happening because your companion flew without you (I decided it's easier to send Amazon gift card code versus PayPal). I'll also accept video proof of companion being escorted off after FA advises them why 
Look - I get the theoretical of what could happen, WN could certainly hold up the plane and check everyone's ID to root out that rapscallion. What I'm saying is, I don't believe they will.
I also question if WN's IT system is sophisticated enough to enable the gate agent to even do this with 10 minutes to pushback.
I've had CP before it was "cool", and I would never dare risk this myself. But the fact is, the OP asked a question and people here are answering with "fake news". Comments like "I can only imagine what will happen" and "then the real fun begins". These aren't answers, this is speculation. Unless someone here has experienced first-hand or has documented proof/DP's, we should simply restate what's in the terms and conditions and don't go beyond that.
Look - I get the theoretical of what could happen, WN could certainly hold up the plane and check everyone's ID to root out that rapscallion. What I'm saying is, I don't believe they will.
I also question if WN's IT system is sophisticated enough to enable the gate agent to even do this with 10 minutes to pushback.
I've had CP before it was "cool", and I would never dare risk this myself. But the fact is, the OP asked a question and people here are answering with "fake news". Comments like "I can only imagine what will happen" and "then the real fun begins". These aren't answers, this is speculation. Unless someone here has experienced first-hand or has documented proof/DP's, we should simply restate what's in the terms and conditions and don't go beyond that.
Apr 27, 2018, 12:38 am
#22
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: RNO
Programs: AA/DL/UA
Posts: 10,770
Upping my offer to $50 for documented proof of negative action taken due to this scenario - scan of letter, email, etc, stating xyz is happening because your companion flew without you (I decided it's easier to send Amazon gift card code versus PayPal). I'll also accept video proof of companion being escorted off after FA advises them why
Look - I get the theoretical of what could happen, WN could certainly hold up the plane and check everyone's ID to root out that rapscallion. What I'm saying is, I don't believe they will.
I also question if WN's IT system is sophisticated enough to enable the gate agent to even do this with 10 minutes to pushback.
I've had CP before it was "cool", and I would never dare risk this myself. But the fact is, the OP asked a question and people here are answering with "fake news". Comments like "I can only imagine what will happen" and "then the real fun begins". These aren't answers, this is speculation. Unless someone here has experienced first-hand or has documented proof/DP's, we should simply restate what's in the terms and conditions and don't go beyond that.
Look - I get the theoretical of what could happen, WN could certainly hold up the plane and check everyone's ID to root out that rapscallion. What I'm saying is, I don't believe they will.
I also question if WN's IT system is sophisticated enough to enable the gate agent to even do this with 10 minutes to pushback.
I've had CP before it was "cool", and I would never dare risk this myself. But the fact is, the OP asked a question and people here are answering with "fake news". Comments like "I can only imagine what will happen" and "then the real fun begins". These aren't answers, this is speculation. Unless someone here has experienced first-hand or has documented proof/DP's, we should simply restate what's in the terms and conditions and don't go beyond that.
) that Southwest has no problem with people abusing the CP benefit.It's not much different than a stow-away. No airline will leave the gate with a passenger who didn't pay. Getting rid of a stow-away/CP abuser is an acceptable delay.
Apr 27, 2018, 12:47 am
#23
Join Date: Nov 2015
Location: St. Louis, MO
Programs: Southwest Companion Pass
Posts: 790
Apr 27, 2018, 2:50 pm
#26
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: 21,620
Given that points bookings are refundable and CP tickets have last-seat availability, the workaround is to book the second passenger on points. Replace the points booking with a companion booking as soon as travel plans are 100% firm.
You could say that the presence of this workaround makes it silly for Southwest not to allow the switch. You would be correct.
Apr 27, 2018, 3:32 pm
#28
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Nashville, TN
Programs: WN Nothing and spending the half million points from too many flights, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 8,043
Upping my offer to $50 for documented proof of negative action taken due to this scenario - scan of letter, email, etc, stating xyz is happening because your companion flew without you (I decided it's easier to send Amazon gift card code versus PayPal). I'll also accept video proof of companion being escorted off after FA advises them why
Look - I get the theoretical of what could happen, WN could certainly hold up the plane and check everyone's ID to root out that rapscallion. What I'm saying is, I don't believe they will.
I also question if WN's IT system is sophisticated enough to enable the gate agent to even do this with 10 minutes to pushback.
I've had CP before it was "cool", and I would never dare risk this myself. But the fact is, the OP asked a question and people here are answering with "fake news". Comments like "I can only imagine what will happen" and "then the real fun begins". These aren't answers, this is speculation. Unless someone here has experienced first-hand or has documented proof/DP's, we should simply restate what's in the terms and conditions and don't go beyond that.
Look - I get the theoretical of what could happen, WN could certainly hold up the plane and check everyone's ID to root out that rapscallion. What I'm saying is, I don't believe they will.
I also question if WN's IT system is sophisticated enough to enable the gate agent to even do this with 10 minutes to pushback.
I've had CP before it was "cool", and I would never dare risk this myself. But the fact is, the OP asked a question and people here are answering with "fake news". Comments like "I can only imagine what will happen" and "then the real fun begins". These aren't answers, this is speculation. Unless someone here has experienced first-hand or has documented proof/DP's, we should simply restate what's in the terms and conditions and don't go beyond that.
Did they have to pay for a ticket? Did they lose CP? Did they have RR account cancelled? I don't know. I just know they were removed from the plane. I saw this one time and for several years I flew over 100 flights a year.
There are other cases, 3-4 maybe, in which a person was called and removed, but I heard no one mention CP.
There could be more. I do not always pay attention to these boarding dramas.
So no proof of adverse action. However, it was evident that they were looking. That was then and this is now. It may have changed.
As for me, my companion always flew with me, they boarded when I boarded A-List and no one ever complained. YMMV. It would have created quite a problem if my companion tried to fly without me. However, I am special.
Apr 27, 2018, 7:07 pm
#30
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Sunshine State
Programs: Avis Trump. Costco Exec. SPG PLAT PREM-90. WN A+/CP. AA SLV. Nat EE..
Posts: 456
yah so someone said this was illegal and I'd like to see someone cite the law being broken there. Clearly if you get busted on this you'd both be subject to being banned from the airline and lose any accumulated but that's civil v. Criminal. Btw, I think WN/TSA is monitoring this thread because on my flight this morning out of PHL, TSA rechecked everyone's BP against ID right in front of gate agent who was tracking the process and short of some real fancy slight of hand there is no way one couldn't have pulled a switch between TSA BP check and gate scan.
I totally get why WN doesn't like this abuse as there could be some angles for abuse. Also, I will confirm that as a companion I have boarded before the other because I out A listed them with no issue but in a friendly convo with a staffer they said that it would flag me when they tried to close the flight if the other never boarded. In a way I'd love for someone to try the hide since they are unassigned seats game like another poster offered a reward but I think at best you're 50% chance of getting screwed by that as FA's and GA's seem to really hate it when you screw with them and if you ignore their call for you then that seems like a much easier way to get criminally charged.
I totally get why WN doesn't like this abuse as there could be some angles for abuse. Also, I will confirm that as a companion I have boarded before the other because I out A listed them with no issue but in a friendly convo with a staffer they said that it would flag me when they tried to close the flight if the other never boarded. In a way I'd love for someone to try the hide since they are unassigned seats game like another poster offered a reward but I think at best you're 50% chance of getting screwed by that as FA's and GA's seem to really hate it when you screw with them and if you ignore their call for you then that seems like a much easier way to get criminally charged.