|
Can a CP fly if the base ticket no shows?
I am flying on as my wife's companion. If her plans change and she buys another ticket on a different day, will I be able to fly if we do not cancel her original ticket that my CP is attached to?
Thanks! |
If the Companion Pass holder is not on the plane, the Companion cannot fly for free and will be removed from the flight.
|
That's a negative, ghost rider. As per WN Companion Pass rules: "If the Companion is not traveling with the Member, the Companion will be required to pay for his/her ticket."
|
Just to clarify, I was not going to cancel the original ticket so the money paid for the original ticket will still be paid, they just would not be on the flight.
|
Originally Posted by Okcmaestro
(Post 29685936)
Just to clarify, I was not going to cancel the original ticket so the money paid for the original ticket will still be paid, they just would not be on the flight.
Both the Member and the Companion must be booked on the same flights and dates. If the Member’s ticket is cancelled, the Companion’s ticket will also be cancelled. If the Member changes his/her ticket, the Member must also change the Companion’s ticket to match the Member’s ticket changes or the Companion’s ticket will be cancelled. If the Companion is not traveling with the Member, the Companion will be required to pay for his/her ticket. The Member and the Companion must check in together |
Originally Posted by Okcmaestro
(Post 29685936)
Just to clarify, I was not going to cancel the original ticket so the money paid for the original ticket will still be paid, they just would not be on the flight.
I believe that if the companion is on the plane and the passholder isn't (a companion boarding pass is scanned and the passholder's isn't), they double check to make sure they didn't miss the passholder and then remove the companion. |
Originally Posted by Okcmaestro
(Post 29685936)
Just to clarify, I was not going to cancel the original ticket so the money paid for the original ticket will still be paid, they just would not be on the flight.
If the Companion is not traveling with the Member, the Companion will be required to pay for his/her ticket. The Member and the Companion must check in together |
The clue is in the name.... companion
|
Originally Posted by Often1
(Post 29686054)
Companion will be required to pay the then prevailing cash / RR price
|
If a “Companion” could travel without the CP holder, I could see a gigantic business opportunity.
So no, of course not. |
Here is the "be real careful" part of this whole thing. This is all against rules and laws, but...
You need YOUR boarding pass to get through security. You need ALMOST ANY boarding pass to get on the plane. So, if you were able to board with HER boarding pass, you could then log in and cancel your ticket,even though it was free. |
Originally Posted by NoStressHere
(Post 29688342)
Here is the "be real careful" part of this whole thing. This is all against rules and laws, but...
You need YOUR boarding pass to get through security. You need ALMOST ANY boarding pass to get on the plane. So, if you were able to board with HER boarding pass, you could then log in and cancel your ticket,even though it was free. |
Scenario: Companion boards first, CP holder never boards. There is no way to "remove" the companion from the flight as there are no assigned seats. What happens then?
|
Originally Posted by TortillaChip
(Post 29688434)
Scenario: Companion boards first, CP holder never boards. There is no way to "remove" the companion from the flight as there are no assigned seats. What happens then?
|
Originally Posted by TortillaChip
(Post 29688434)
Scenario: Companion boards first, CP holder never boards. There is no way to "remove" the companion from the flight as there are no assigned seats. What happens then?
|
Originally Posted by nsx
(Post 29688487)
Please try it and report your results. It's not as if Southwest could ask every passenger for an ID, then remove the companion and cancel the CP holder's Rapid Rewards account and confiscate all his points, right?
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. |
Originally Posted by smmrfld
(Post 29688522)
if this post is serious, which I doubt, may I suggest that modern aircraft have PA systems that allow for paging of PAX? And if said PAX doesn’t answer the page (typically by ringing the call button), I can only imagine what will ensue for the PAX and the CP holder. |
Originally Posted by TortillaChip
(Post 29688624)
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. 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. |
I've been in that situation before unfortunately...some parents apparently don't understand what a "lap child" is :)
|
Originally Posted by TortillaChip
(Post 29688434)
Scenario: Companion boards first, CP holder never boards. There is no way to "remove" the companion from the flight as there are no assigned seats. What happens then?
|
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. |
Originally Posted by TortillaChip
(Post 29688705)
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. 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. |
Originally Posted by smmrfld
(Post 29688397)
it’s illegal and just plain dumb. So why even post it? |
I don't understand what is so difficult about this: If a companion is on a plane, then the CP holder must have their butt in a seat on the same plane. It's as simple as that.
|
For argument's sake, why not allow this? One ticket was paid for (with points or cash) and one passenger boarded the plane. How would someone take advantage of this?
|
Originally Posted by dmbolp
(Post 29690919)
For argument's sake, why not allow this? One ticket was paid for (with points or cash) and one passenger boarded the plane. How would someone take advantage of this?
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. |
Ahh, early/cheaper purchase price vs. last minute/unexpected/high purchase price...thanks
|
Originally Posted by TortillaChip
(Post 29688705)
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. 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. |
just board with wifey’s boarding pass and be done with it |
Originally Posted by Colin
(Post 29691487)
just board with wifey’s boarding pass and be done with it 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. |
if you see an at-boarding id check occurring, then just head to the gate agent with your credit card to upfare to the walk-up rate with a simple "wifey couldn't make it" explanation.
this really isn't that complicated or risky. |
Originally Posted by Colin
(Post 29691801)
if you see an at-boarding id check occurring, then just head to the gate agent with your credit card to upfare to the walk-up rate with a simple "wifey couldn't make it" explanation.
this really isn't that complicated or risky. |
Originally Posted by smmrfld
(Post 29688397)
it’s illegal and just plain dumb. So why even post it? |
Originally Posted by ucfjoe
(Post 29691689)
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. |
All in all, this discussion is generally interesting. Pretty sure I would not put my CP at risk with this whole thing.
On a side note - I really, really dislike when threads get sidetracked with folks that want to argue semantics regarding illegal vs against the rules or contract or policy, etc. Usually everyone agrees that the current issue is some sort of violation. In most cases, it really does not matter if it is illegal, or just against an airline rule. Okay, off my soap box. |
Originally Posted by t325
(Post 29692904)
It actually seems stupidly easy to do this with mobile boarding passes. Have both of them saved as screenshots in your photos app, have the gate agent scan the CP holder's, then immediately swipe to the next photo which would be your BP.
And yes, I realize this conversation has veered wildly off track. |
Originally Posted by t325
(Post 29692904)
It actually seems stupidly easy to do this with mobile boarding passes. Have both of them saved as screenshots in your photos app, have the gate agent scan the CP holder's, then immediately swipe to the next photo which would be your BP.
If by some remote chance they didn't, then when they do the open seat count, it's going to be off by one and they are going to have to figure out why. |
For those asserting that it's OK, it's not.
It's a violation of 49 CFR 46314 to enter an aircraft in violation of security requirements. Just to make this easy, holding a valid boarding document in your own name is one of those requirements. A willful violation is a misdemeanor (up to a year in federal prison) and otherwise a civil penalty of up to $10,000. WN would also face a civil penalty of up to $10,000 if it determined that a name mismatch had occurred and failed to resolve the matter. Thus, a 20-30 minute delay would not be out of the question. Yes, people who have attempted boarding pass frauds are fined under the civil provisions. I'm not aware of the use of the criminal provision for fraud as opposed to more nefarious purposes. I don't know what the most expensive WN ticket is. But, let's say it's $750 just for sake of discussion. Most people would probably pay the $750 before risking a lot more. |
the things people choose to worry about are hilarious
if SWA airlines cared about this "fraud" (zero revenue loss from the couple & an extra seat available to monetize with a standby) then SWA would check the id and boarding pass at boarding. SWA chooses not to because it doesn't care enough to spend an extra 5 minutes boarding each plane -- and then relies on the baptists to follow the "rules" and scold others with arm-chair lawyering about being sent to Leavenworth. just hilarious. |
Originally Posted by NoStressHere
(Post 29692933)
All in all, this discussion is generally interesting. Pretty sure I would not put my CP at risk with this whole thing.
On a side note - I really, really dislike when threads get sidetracked with folks that want to argue semantics regarding illegal vs against the rules or contract or policy, etc. Usually everyone agrees that the current issue is some sort of violation. In most cases, it really does not matter if it is illegal, or just against an airline rule. Okay, off my soap box. |
| All times are GMT -6. The time now is 6:12 am. |
This site is owned, operated, and maintained by MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Designated trademarks are the property of their respective owners.