SW Companion Program...
Dec 19, 2018, 9:27 am
#46
Join Date: Jul 2013
Posts: 5,813
If you buy a ticket and then cancel it, if it's a WGA fare you get a credit from Southwest (commonly called Travel Funds) usable for up to one year from date of purchase. There is no refund to the credit card therefore no credit card activity to possibly mess up your spend for bonus points. If you purchase a BS or AT fate you have the option of getting a refund or getting a credit.
Last edited by rsteinmetz70112; Dec 19, 2018 at 9:34 am
Dec 19, 2018, 9:29 am
#47
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: ATL
Posts: 1,924
Similar to buying gift cards now for items you don't know you'll need until later, buy phantom Southwest flights well in the future to reach the credit card spend and get CP, and then into next year when you know what real travel you need to book, cancel the phantom flights and use those travel funds to book the real flights...nothing hits the credit card then.
Dec 19, 2018, 2:06 pm
#48
Join Date: Dec 2018
Posts: 12
One question on CP, can you add a companion to a flight booked prior to having the CP? If my SO books flights in may/June right now and then she qualifies for the CP in January/Feb, can she then add me to the flight she had already booked? I believe the answer to this is yes but wanted confirmation. Thanks!
Dec 19, 2018, 3:38 pm
#50
Join Date: Jul 2018
Posts: 54
Just to be sure, if I change my companion before the new year, I still have an opportunity to change it 3 times in 2019? In the Program's FAQ, it says 3 times per calendar year, but I just want to make sure I'm reading that correctly. My next flight won't be until March, but I figure i can go ahead and change the companion now to preserve an additional switch in 2019. Thanks.
Dec 19, 2018, 4:23 pm
#51
Join Date: May 2005
Posts: 4,872
Just to be sure, if I change my companion before the new year, I still have an opportunity to change it 3 times in 2019? In the Program's FAQ, it says 3 times per calendar year, but I just want to make sure I'm reading that correctly. My next flight won't be until March, but I figure i can go ahead and change the companion now to preserve an additional switch in 2019. Thanks.
Dec 19, 2018, 4:35 pm
#52
Join Date: Jul 2018
Posts: 54
it doesn’t matter. At first 2019 usage, you can either use your last 2018 companion (who remains in the WN system as your companion until you tell them otherwise) or designate a new one. Timing depends on whether you want to guarantee seats are available on your preferred flights. You get one initial companion and three changes throughout the calendar year.
Dec 19, 2018, 5:39 pm
#53
Join Date: May 2005
Posts: 4,872
Sorry, I wasn't clear. I am flying tomorrow with my daughter as the companion. My first companion flight of 2019 will probably be with my son. I should change my companion to him when I get back from my trip next week, right? It will be my only change of 2018, and it preserves one change for 2019. The reason I ask is that there is still a small chance my first 2019 flight will be with my daughter. If I can make the change next week and preserve a change for 2019 it may affect my 2019 flight choices. Thanks.
Dec 20, 2018, 9:20 am
#54
Join Date: Jul 2018
Posts: 54
That answers the question...everything resets January 1. I didn't mean preserve in the sense anything carried over, just that if there was a change I want to make, I should do it before the new year, so I would have my full 3 changes in 2019, without having to use one for a change I can make next week.