Delta and American Express have a suite of co-branded credit cards. These cards feature a lot of perks, and one of the primary benefits of the premium versions of the cards is the ability to earn companion certificates. In this post I wanted to take a closer look at those, and talk about the overall…
Continue reading: Is The Delta Amex Companion Certificate Worth It?
Share your questions, experiences, and thoughts below.
One of the biggest reasons I don't bother with these sorts of promotions is the veritable book of nickel-and-diming terms and conditions. The marginal cost to Delta of accommodating a companion, especially when the traveler is still paying taxes, is near zero. And yet, they still feel compelled to put a thousand restrictions and limitations. This is triply so given the exorbitant fees associated with the cards in question.
They are junks almost. You missed the most important limitation for the certificate " Tickets may not be available on all flights or markets. ". In fact, I check one route in March, only one day has availability.
Based in NY, we fly Delta regularly and I have gotten some great redemptions out of the companion pass (DL Platinum card), especially transcon. I've had the Alaska card/companion pass for years too, but I'll probably be cancelling that as every year I essentially have to go out of my way to use it, rather than having a trip set where it's easy and convenient to use, like with the Delta pass.
We’ve also had great success with the platinum companion pass being based in MPLS. Most round trip economy flights nowadays are $400-500+ per person, at least to the destinations we typically fly. Haven’t had any issues with the fare class restrictions. Sure, may not get the optimal flight times but I’m OK getting home a few hours later and saving $500. No brainer card for someone who travels frequently and is based in a Delta hub city.
Thank you for posting your actual experience using this benefit. This should be the rule for posting here. Unless you have actually tried or used something, you are not adding any value to the discussion posting unfounded opinions. Recency is also relevant. On another thread about a biz class product someone opined on the product based on a flight taken more than 10 years ago. Really helpful.
The marginal cost is only near zero if they wouldn't have sold out the flight otherwise; hence the inventory restrictions.
Being based in SJU I can use these from SJU-US48, but Delta is almost always way more expensive than other carriers; often more than than double the price negating the value of a companion ticket. The only routes it is competitive on are SJU-JFK and SJU-BOS non-stops.
I have a reserve companion ticket expiring on Feb 28 if anyone has a use for it.
Another limitation of these is that if you cancel your trip, even if due to a schedule change that makes the ticket otherwise refundable, you can't get the certificate reinstated. I believe you can make changes, but again limited to the set fare classes.
I have had companion passes for Alaska, American, British Airways, and Delta over the past 5-6 years. If I had to rank them in order of preference it would be:
1. American- Can use on almost any domestic flight. Downside is economy only (but you can get upgraded based on status) and you have to call in. But you can actually use them!
2. Alaska- A very good deal, if you can use them. I'm on the East Coast, so limited availability. I do have a daughter on the West Coast, so usually she uses them and goes somewhere with a friend. Nice that you can book completely on line.
3. BA- I know, surcharges are terrible. But we went to Singapore in 2019 and are going to South of France next month all in Business or First for a great points deal. Availability is decent. I have done open jaws, or booked right when flights open so usually need to call in, but theoretically can be done on line.
4. Delta- Nice that you can book on line, but availability is TERRIBLE! You can rarely go where you want or when you want and use these certs. Of course, it may work better if you live in a Delta hub, but for most Americans this is not a great benefit and you will have a hard time using it.
No issues with availability - Reserve 1st class (I am not in a hub city). My issue is what you are charged "extra" for using the companion e-cert on the paid ticket. On another site, the host indicated that the companion may have cause the capacity control bump to another price. My experience: First looked at the paid ticket price, say $700. Then when I go to book, clicked on companion e-cert to start, then of course would be 2 travelers, the paid ticket jumped to over $1,000. My response to the host on another site, there was no seats taken in 1st class. Absolutely none. AA does the same on award booking with no seats taken. One award = X, then two awards = 2X plus a lot more points. Again completely wide open on seats. Been there too many times. There is a companion "penalty" anyway you go about it. Now you if try two separate award tickets, you better be on another computer, especially AA. They're wise to that maneuver. Then AA capacity control will kick-in basis 1st ticket and the price is more for second ticket.
Companion tickets are a waste of money. I can never use them. Too many restrictions. They just expire and go to waste. I'm dropping my card when it renews.
Recently used companion certificates for two trips. On both trips, companion and I were flying with others. On both trips, "schedule changes" months after booking resulted in different flights for the two of us but not for the others, who flew on the originally booked flights. How were our changed flights "schedule changes" when the originally booked flights flew? And coincidence that it happened twice? Hardly. Appears Delta changed flights for revenue reasons. The changed flights generated extra costs and logistical complications for us, so the companion certificates were not quite the bargains promised. Will definitely be watching carefully the next time I decide to attempt use of another companion certificate.
In the years I have had an AmEx Delta Reserve, I don't think I have ever successfully used the companion ticket. The ticket class restrictions render it almost useless. The tickets that are available are usually very undesirable times/itineraries. The companion tickets are my biggest frustration with the card.
We use it every year to bless our children with a trip since we don’t have to be one of the passengers. The key is to book it several months in advance if possible to insure that the low fares required to make them work are still available.
I don’t think the companion tickets are worth it. I have tried multiple times to use one but have had no success with availability. I’ll keep trying but…
Companion certificates are nearly impossible to redeem. A desired flight might be 2/3 empty six months ahead of time but when I go to book it with a companion certificate it says that it’s sold out. It’s happened so many times that it’s borderline false advertising. I keep my Amex platinum so that I can upgrade my own seats when I travel but I’ve given up on the companion certificates. When the class action inevitably comes, I’ll be there to collect.
Many rules and very hard to use the companion tix... Also some airports do not have seats ever..so need to go to other airports to use them!!
I use my companion tix on the niece and nephews, or when me and the hubs wanna get away for a long weekend somewhere. I may live a charmed life as I live in Atlanta, but I have never had an issue using them.
That said, I like the fare to be more than the annual fee to make it worth it.
Two issues I have with my platinum companion passes... first is that going through the steps of saying you're going to use the pass increases the cost of the first ticket (looking at the breakdown of two tickets you expect your total to be half plus the taxes and fees, but instead it is just a bit more than that). The second issue is having to buy exactly 2 tickets. Since we are a family of three that means that we buy 2 on one confirmation number and one on another and hope that there aren't any issues (we've had issues when a flight gets canceled and one ticket gets rebooked separately from the rest).
I have been very disappointed in trying to use my companion tickets for the past several years. First concern was that they would not show up in my ‘wallet’ in the delta app. I would end up calling Delta and getting the numbers so that I could use them. I live in Hawaii and have not been able to get first class seats from here to the mainland, even though it’s part of the reserve card benefits. I can get main cabin, but not first class. This has been the case on the mainland also, only able to get comfort + seats instead of first class. A person pays a lot for the added benefits, but the benefits aren’t there.
We are enrolled in this program and we’re recently very dissatisfied. Due to Covid we had two companion certificates available when we ask a Delta representative to help us book a flight. She used the most recent one which we didn’t discover until we tried to book another flight which disclosed one had aged out. In discussions with a Delta customer support supervisor, she acknowledged what happened but said there was nothing she could do.
Every Xmas we try to use the AMX Delta Companion certificate. When you consider the $120 annual fee plus the cost of one ticket, compare to two cheap ticket, at best it is a wash. Because companion certificate are not valid with cheap tickets. The only slight advantage to have an AMX is luggage allowance and lounge access although I think a Gold would provide these at no annual fee.
I say it's not a worth it. I am single with not a bunch of friends where i just moved so I fly alone all the time.
Delta extended the expiration dates however they all expired on the same date. So I had 3 expire. Useless.
It works every time just need to book early can't wait until the last minute to book
Even without @Tim Dunn coming to the defense, I feel there is more to the story. Maybe share some more details?
When using the companion certificate, can you have different return flights if the departure is the same?
It’s an absolute waste. With a family to book for, I’m restricted to very specific dates of travel like 1000’s of other families. Sadly, these frequent flyer perks are being diluted by anyone who can get a credit card on their company’s dime or ballsy enough to try and write it off on taxes assuming they won’t get audited. Get a nice cash back rewards card, and pay yourself back. Nobody needs a lounge to travel.
Everyone raves about the Alaska companion pass, but I much prefer the Delta pass with Reserve because I can use it for first. I barely want to fly Alaska first, much less their economy, so the Alaska cert is bascially useless to me. The Delta cert can be used in first and for me therefore is a much better deal.
The biggest negative to the Delta Reserve cert -- and this wasn't even mentioned expressly in the article -- is that you can't use it for Delta One. You used to be able to use it for Delta One (and I got great deals when I did), but no more.
I fly transcon, LAX to NYC, BOS and WDC, and Delta only flies Delta One in those markets. Thus, even the Delta Reserve cert isn't useful on those itineraries.
There’s too many restrictions on using the certificates, and I’ve had to either give mine away to a friend or family member, or just let it expire. I couldn’t use it the first week in December for ANY flight to Florida, even 9 months in advance. That was the main reason I kept my upgraded AMEX card.
I have the AMEX Reserve card and have used the companion certificate three times and was able to book first class tickets. I’ve found the price for 2 people to be cheaper than a RT first class ticket for just one person. I have one certificate that expires in April and have plans to purchase first class seats with it. The annual fee is worth the cost!
WDC has daily nonstops to LAX and Delta One is available on that flight only. The consider the first class cabin on their B757 to be Delta One because the seats can lie flat into a bed. And I never can use my companion pass on that flight which is a bummer.
I cancelled my Delta AMEX. I have 4 companion tickets that I tried to use for booking a flight with my wife. Each time at each potential location I was told the companion tickets were not usable. It's like we have to go where they want us to go. These cards are not worth the fees.
Can't use them during holidays- at least that's the case for me during December the last couple of years. Depending on city pairs cost savings is minimal. Dropping down to Gold just for bag checking until I burn my miles on cheaper domestic trips. Then Adios!
It is very hard to use my Platinum companion certificate as the selection of flights to choose from is abysmal. I've seen as few as two options with either extremely early or extremely late departures.
I found companion ticket useful for our frequent trips to Miami from NYC BUT there are times there are no seats available for the companion tickets and that seems to be happening more and more these days . If this continues it may become not worth it
I don't fly that much domestically, but when I do try to use the companion certificate, I usually find that the flight I want is unavailable. My certificates end up expiring unused more often than not.
I have both a Delta REserve AMEX card and a Delta Platinum AMEX card. Due to teh restricted number of flights that are available to use these certificates, which varies greatly among routes adn times of year, I find they are hard to use. Let year, I had one expire because I could not find a workable date to travel. This year, I was able to find a use for one trip in July, but other trips (4) that I tried to book between now and the end of the year would not work using a Companion Certificate. I needed to travel on days that made no sense for me.
Unless Delta eases up on the restrictions when you can use Companion Certificates, I will drop at least one of my Delta AMEX card, perhaps both. My SkyMiles status give me most all of the other benefits of the Delta AMEX card.
I was finally able to use a companion. Certificate after being denied twice due to some obscure restriction. It was great to only have to pay taxes. It seems to me (and I could be wrong) that they only allow them if the price point of the paid fare is under a certain threshold. My paid ticket was under $300 so I was awarded the companion fare. The other two times I tried using it, the fares would have been over $400.
Not in my opinion, I'm a Diamond Medallion and watched multiple vouchers expire, could not get seats, make it complicated only used one time.
I'm flying more on AA now..won't be a diamond long.
My wife and I both receive companion tickets (she has the reserve card) but most go unused. We live in Traverse City Michigan and even though Delta has many departures every day in six years we have never found a flight that we could use any of our companion tickets on. We have to drive three hours to Detroit to use them, making them less them less of a reward and more a way for Delta to fill unwanted seats.
Delta companion certificate is great. I have never had an issue booking flights. I flew my son and his companion home for Christmas. After my brother passed, booking a flight for the next day on line did not work. Spoke with a Delta agent. She got me and my wife on a flight the next day, with the certificate. During COVID, no one was traveling, and Delta extended the certificates an additional year. At one point i had 3 certificates. This is more than worth the fee. It's great for the entire family. Whether you go to them, or they come to you. Its the only card I have. The only card I need. Auto pay your monthly bills to Amex, and take a free vacation every year with certs, and miles!!
Interesting seeing all the comments about not being able to use these companion certs. Maybe I’m an outlier- and need to level set my expectations- but I used two certs this past October for trips originating in MSP to SFO and BOS. Bother were Thursday-Sunday. Searching for future travel both summer and fall 2023 and I’m seeing plenty of availability to both coasts and the south.
I have been trying to used my companion tickets during the last 2 years and no matter what dates I tried the seats are never available. I have called and not even the Delta representative has been able to help me out with it, because there's never open seats or spots. I had tried several times for several different dates. It's very frustrated, because I paid $250 at year but i can't get that specific benefit.
Lots of “guest” comments complaining that they can’t use their certs but it’s pretty obvious people are not understanding the rules and restrictions before they get the certificate or are not putting in the time and effort to find a useable flight. Companion certs are no different than award miles. Airlines aren’t going to give away seats at peak times. A little flexibility goes a long way. I’ve never had a problem using my companion certificate. Last year I used it for travel over Christmas when fares were extremely high, leaving 12/21 and returning 12/30 for $900. It took a couple of weeks of searching to find the right fare buckets but the savings was way more than the annual fee.
Sometimes difficult to use the companion ticket with the class restrictions, book ahead of time.
Delta's coding is sometimes maddening -- if you fly into/from a hub, you have to make a stop --
A->B is class Z, B->C is class Z, but A->C is not Z. If one leg is MUCH more expensive than another leg, it makes sense to book 2 different tickets (one with companion), and you have to tell the airline to check your bags through.
Major problem is if one flight is cancelled, you have the manually cancel the other flight and rebook (my wife is platinum, so the wait time on the phone isn't too bad)
I read your article on the Delta companion tickets. We have 2 Reserve cards, myself and my wife, and are both Platinum at the moment. Unless I missed it, the big downside is the ability to use it on a specific day and specific route, although I try to reserve a booking six moths in advance. I complained to Bastian (Delta) and Squeri (AmEx) without response. Perhaps you have more leverage with these people.
On a different topic, I don't understand why SkyTeam has dropped the RTW tickets and planning system. One World and Star Alliance still have theirs, it must put SkyTeam at a competitive disadvantage. If you try to get any information, you get a rather abrupt response from both Delta and SkyTeam. I can only assume Delta are miffed because someone from Air France recently got the top job at SkyTeam
Just used a certificate for bos/den/bos and brought my son skiing. Slightly over two hundred dollars for 2. Skis and boot bags checked for free. Brand new a321 Neo. Awesome trip. Planes were only half full.
I have tried to use these for years and sadly I just had like three of them expire having never been able to redeem them. I understand all the heavier restrictions. The reality is most of my travel is international so the only opportunity I really have to use them is perhaps for a repositioning flight with a friend. Sadly most often if I'm doing that I've got tight timing requirements and of course there's no inventory available for the companion class seats on the dates that I need. It's a totally useless perk of the cards I have.
I have had a Delta Platinum Card for years and used to have little problem booking companion tickets, even flights booked relatively late. The last few years have been different, and our frustration has been growing. Not only have the annual fees gone up from about $99 a year to $250 a year, but we have either had to let some expire or spend an inordinate amount of time getting less-desired tickets. Our annual renewal is coming up in a few weeks, and at this point it seems like a no-brainer to discontinue our card. We have been using Allegiant and Southwest more recently anyway.
Delta has definitely devalued the BOGO certs over the past few years. In the past I was able to book connecting flights using the certs, though I haven’t seen where Delta has cut this off, I can’t seem to pull them up on many routes with intermediate hub stops. With the Reserve booking first I’ve also noticed that the paid ticket with the fare class limitation is typically 1.5x the cost of the cheapest first class tickets available on the route.
I've already downgraded to the Gold Card as getting the $100 voucher yearly covers the annual cost of the card and much easier to use rather than trying to find what flights are available. I wish they would change the Platinum to a voucher of some value as well as it's much more practical to use, especially as most of our flights are back and forth to Mexico, and you cannot use it outside the continental US
I could only find red eye flights into Tennessee. I'm too old for red eye. So we used air miles. Not many choices of decent hr flights to some states.
I have used companion certificates awarded thru my Delta Platinum card several times. Although it is sometimes difficult to find the booking dates, it is well worth the effort. The annual fee for the Delta Amex Platinum card is $250. My savings using my companion certificates has averaged over $500. In addition, one receives a credit for enrolling in and renewing Global Entry card fees.
Booking with the companion certificate automatically limits your flight options due to the ticket class requirement. It works pretty well if you can book your flight 3 months in advance, perhaps for a vacation. However, the closer you are to departure the more difficulty you will encounter finding two qualified seats. It's designed to take a spouse or partner on a well planned trip. It is not well suited for last minute getaways. If you cancel your flight you lose the value of the certificate and the fees are refunded to your travel companion's skymiles account and you have to ask for the credit, it won't show up in your account.
It should also be noted that if you want to use the companion ticket for your spouse/partner but want to pay full price to bring the kids, there doesn’t seem to be a way to do it. You have to book separate tickets, which of course is a problem when traveling with children.
I am rarely able to use a companion certificate because the fares required are not available. I believe in the past 6-7 years only once has it worked.
I haven't had a problem booking a flight with the companion ticket. Mind you, i don't fly first class. My travel buddy uses the companion ticket and we split the cost of my ticket so we both get a bargain
This is my exact experience as well. In last 5 years, I have only used companion ticket once and we were lucky that both of us were upgraded to first class on one flight.
I am Platinum Medallion, I also have the Amex Platinum Delta card, and I struggle to use the companion certificate because Delta is always so much more expensive, and flights are not always available for certificate use on my last three or four travel attempts. I live in the Philadelphia area, and I used to not mind connecting flights just so I could fly Delta, but now price and customer service is making it such that I've been flying alternative airline where I have no status, and where I don't have to pay a lot more just to connect - with fewer flight options I might add.
Also Delta's award miles I like some third world country exchange rate compared to airlines like American and others. I tried to book a one way award ticket from Phoenix Arizona to Philadelphia this past weekend, Delta wanted 75,000 Miles, and American awarded 16,500 for the same route.
I hope Delta would get back to what they did that made customers fell in love with them over the last 10-15 years.
They are extremely beneficial. Most do not understand how to book on Delta.com. The availability tool is golden!!! Add the certificate in the advance search, select your dates are flexible and voilà…. A full schedule of what’s available appears! Most people are oblivious to this tool!
I've experienced this and was unable to find a way around it. Essentially, it made mine worthless.
I booked a flight for my husband using the companion certificate and when I went to book mine with my delta points they told me I could not do that? This does not make sense to me
I hate theis companion ticket because it's only for round trip (rather than multi-city), and there are never seats available for the times you need to use it. Even though you can see there are many open seats on the flights you want to book! NOT WORTH the $299 fee because you usually wind up losing the companion ticket after a year of not finding ways to actually book flights.
I hate this companion ticket because it's only for round trip (rather than multi-city), and there are never seats available for the times you need to use it. Even though you can see there are many open seats on the flights you want to book! NOT WORTH the $299 fee because you usually wind up losing the companion ticket after a year of not finding ways to actually book flights.
We use the companion certificates regularly. My wife and I just flew to SLC from MSP this weekend. We discovered a problem returning. With an impending storm we decided to travel back early and were unable to rebook an earlier return ourselves with the Weather waiver. We had to fly standby. Fortunately it worked out as we got on the first flight, but only just made it. The last two standby passengers to get seats.
The problem with the companion certificate is that is only good for round-trip tickets from one place, and returning to that same place. If you have, as we have had in the past to travel to one place on a cruise for a cruise, and then return from another place at the end of the cruise, the companion certificate is totally useless. This was a real concern to us, and it involved paying a lot more than we had ever anticipated.
I have used a companion ticket from Detroit to Los Angelas. Paid $250 for use of card. The ticket is a bonus. I have 230,000 skymiles. I love to travel NonStop only. My only problem, it can't be used outside of US. Not even Mexico or Caribbean.
I have never had an issue with using the companion certificates I get through my Platinum Amex. Every year, I pick somewhere new to visit in the lower 48, and it's been awesome! My favorite redemption so far was roundtrip JFK to San Francisco for the grand total of $140 for two people! Usually, the amount of money I save in tickets with the companion certificate exceeds what I pay in annual fees. If this card continues to give me more than what I pay them, I will continue to carry it.
This article is a Delta/amex advertising.
I fly delta as much as I can, because I am a medallion member. They have a million restrictions to use the almost free tickets. Because delta's tickets are more expensive you save just a little when flying 2 people. Also, there is no reason for these tickets to expire, specially, when they make it so difficult for you to use them.
You will also have an annual fee of $200 for the card, which make that expirable companion ticket not as desirable as you think...
Delta told me I lost my ticket for being two weeks late to book it...
They suck.
I have found that the companion fares are more and more challenging to redeem and would get rid of the card if it wasn’t for my husband’s desire to keep it out of habit. (We haven’t been able to use them for the past 3 years because the designated fares never seem to be available).
I really doubt the value of companion certificates. I had them search an entire month for an available companion certificate from LAX to MIA. Nothing. This is my 4th attempt to redeem one. They are impossible to use.
It's a false benefit.
I live in Hawaii and had specific dates in June that I wanted to use my companion certificate for a trip to the continent. What ended up happening is there were ZERO dates in June and only three dates going out in July and one coming back. As I continued to look more, it seems to be the case that IF there is a date from the continent to Hawaii, there is a single date in the entire month and you need to stay on the continent for at least a week, sometimes several before you can get a flight back. This is the worst companion ticket I have ever seen and with how high the annual card fee is, it is making me question the benefits to keeping my Delta Reserve card. We got this card for the benefit of the upsale that you can fly first class, but if you can’t even find flights, what’s the use in that?
The problem I have with the companion ticket when I am ready to book a flight for myself and my husband I go online and go through all the steps for a companion ticket and I can never make a reservation with the companion ticket I then call Delta reservation and they for the past 3 years that there are no certificates seats available on the flight and I try changing the day of departure and arrival. I end up not using the companion ticket!!! I make the reservations 4 months out. They say you have to call earlier 7 months out.
So... book one adult and one kid on the companion ticket and one adult and one kid on the other itinerary? I don't see the problem.
I tried to use mine for my kids at christmas last year and THEY waited to damn long and that's when I discovered the capacity controls. However we just booked ATL-SJC (RT, non-stop) in August in First for what worked out to $500 each on the exact days and flights we were looking at. In fact it was a last minute "lets use one of our companion certificates" moment after we'd selected flights. So, I think planning ahead is the key. We picked SJC because the airport is so much more accessible for where we're heading (Paso) and so much easier to rent a car, so no idea about SFO availability. Former bay area resident who lived equidistant between the three airports tip: SFO may be the "premium" route but its a PITA. Unless you're connecting at SFO or going into the city fly to SJC. SJC is a hidden gem.
Just used it today to buy a couple of tickets I had to call because the app and website wouldn't recognize my voucher, after it was all said and done I could have bought 2 tickets for the "free" companion cost. Also one of the flights has a 5:20 am departure which is the only time offered so no choice even when I switched days. So in my opinion the cost of the Amex Plat card is not worth it.
I booked a RT flight for 2 on Delta without using the companion ticket, & the total price was cheaper! than with the "free" companion pass.
Delta increases the cost of the first ticket when you select the companion ticket which you have to do to book flights using the award of the companion "free" ticket --which already cost $250--the annual fee. It's not a reward. It's nearly a punishment! You can't use the companion pass on some days-all day. You get very early flight times (before 8AM) on others.
I don't think it's worth the $250 annual fee. You get more flight times and prices for less $ using another airline!
My annual renewal was August . Still have not received promised award certificate. Last year it was delivered on September 1, 2023. Thirteen months later is hardly a valiant effort to honor its commitment. American Express and Delta are going downhill.
I have tried repeatedly to use the companion certificate. The issue is the limited number of flights Our typical flight is SDF to SEA and return due to family living in the area. Every time I have tried to use the certificate for first class, the available flights will be "redeyes". Sorry, don't do those. For us, the certificate is worthless due to flight limitations.
One of the biggest reasons I don't bother with these sorts of promotions is the veritable book of nickel-and-diming terms and conditions. The marginal cost to Delta of accommodating a companion, especially when the traveler is still paying taxes, is near zero. And yet, they still feel compelled to put a thousand restrictions and limitations. This is triply so given the exorbitant fees associated with the cards in question.
The marginal cost is only near zero if they wouldn't have sold out the flight otherwise; hence the inventory restrictions.
They are junks almost. You missed the most important limitation for the certificate " Tickets may not be available on all flights or markets. ". In fact, I check one route in March, only one day has availability.
Based in NY, we fly Delta regularly and I have gotten some great redemptions out of the companion pass (DL Platinum card), especially transcon. I've had the Alaska card/companion pass for years too, but I'll probably be cancelling that as every year I essentially have to go out of my way to use it, rather than having a trip set where it's easy and convenient to use, like with the Delta pass.
Thank you for posting your actual experience using this benefit. This should be the rule for posting here. Unless you have actually tried or used something, you are not adding any value to the discussion posting unfounded opinions. Recency is also relevant. On another thread about a biz class product someone opined on the product based on a flight taken more than 10 years ago. Really helpful.
We’ve also had great success with the platinum companion pass being based in MPLS. Most round trip economy flights nowadays are $400-500+ per person, at least to the destinations we typically fly. Haven’t had any issues with the fare class restrictions. Sure, may not get the optimal flight times but I’m OK getting home a few hours later and saving $500. No brainer card for someone who travels frequently and is based in a Delta hub city.
Being based in SJU I can use these from SJU-US48, but Delta is almost always way more expensive than other carriers; often more than than double the price negating the value of a companion ticket. The only routes it is competitive on are SJU-JFK and SJU-BOS non-stops.
I have a reserve companion ticket expiring on Feb 28 if anyone has a use for it.
Another limitation of these is that if you cancel your trip, even if due to a schedule change that makes the ticket otherwise refundable, you can't get the certificate reinstated. I believe you can make changes, but again limited to the set fare classes.
I have had companion passes for Alaska, American, British Airways, and Delta over the past 5-6 years. If I had to rank them in order of preference it would be:
1. American- Can use on almost any domestic flight. Downside is economy only (but you can get upgraded based on status) and you have to call in. But you can actually use them!
2. Alaska- A very good deal, if you can use them. I'm on the East Coast, so limited availability. I do have a daughter on the West Coast, so usually she uses them and goes somewhere with a friend. Nice that you can book completely on line.
3. BA- I know, surcharges are terrible. But we went to Singapore in 2019 and are going to South of France next month all in Business or First for a great points deal. Availability is decent. I have done open jaws, or booked right when flights open so usually need to call in, but theoretically can be done on line.
4. Delta- Nice that you can book on line, but availability is TERRIBLE! You can rarely go where you want or when you want and use these certs. Of course, it may work better if you live in a Delta hub, but for most Americans this is not a great benefit and you will have a hard time using it.
No issues with availability - Reserve 1st class (I am not in a hub city). My issue is what you are charged "extra" for using the companion e-cert on the paid ticket. On another site, the host indicated that the companion may have cause the capacity control bump to another price. My experience: First looked at the paid ticket price, say $700. Then when I go to book, clicked on companion e-cert to start, then of course would be 2 travelers, the paid ticket jumped to over $1,000. My response to the host on another site, there was no seats taken in 1st class. Absolutely none. AA does the same on award booking with no seats taken. One award = X, then two awards = 2X plus a lot more points. Again completely wide open on seats. Been there too many times. There is a companion "penalty" anyway you go about it. Now you if try two separate award tickets, you better be on another computer, especially AA. They're wise to that maneuver. Then AA capacity control will kick-in basis 1st ticket and the price is more for second ticket.
Companion tickets are a waste of money. I can never use them. Too many restrictions. They just expire and go to waste. I'm dropping my card when it renews.
Jyff
Delta platinum card, near a hub. It's waste.
Recently used companion certificates for two trips. On both trips, companion and I were flying with others. On both trips, "schedule changes" months after booking resulted in different flights for the two of us but not for the others, who flew on the originally booked flights. How were our changed flights "schedule changes" when the originally booked flights flew? And coincidence that it happened twice? Hardly. Appears Delta changed flights for revenue reasons. The changed flights generated extra costs and logistical complications for us, so the companion certificates were not quite the bargains promised. Will definitely be watching carefully the next time I decide to attempt use of another companion certificate.
In the years I have had an AmEx Delta Reserve, I don't think I have ever successfully used the companion ticket. The ticket class restrictions render it almost useless. The tickets that are available are usually very undesirable times/itineraries. The companion tickets are my biggest frustration with the card.
We use it every year to bless our children with a trip since we don’t have to be one of the passengers. The key is to book it several months in advance if possible to insure that the low fares required to make them work are still available.
I don’t think the companion tickets are worth it. I have tried multiple times to use one but have had no success with availability. I’ll keep trying but…
Another restriction per Delta: trip must be at least 3 days.
Companion certificates are nearly impossible to redeem. A desired flight might be 2/3 empty six months ahead of time but when I go to book it with a companion certificate it says that it’s sold out. It’s happened so many times that it’s borderline false advertising. I keep my Amex platinum so that I can upgrade my own seats when I travel but I’ve given up on the companion certificates. When the class action inevitably comes, I’ll be there to collect.
Many rules and very hard to use the companion tix... Also some airports do not have seats ever..so need to go to other airports to use them!!
I use my companion tix on the niece and nephews, or when me and the hubs wanna get away for a long weekend somewhere. I may live a charmed life as I live in Atlanta, but I have never had an issue using them.
That said, I like the fare to be more than the annual fee to make it worth it.
Two issues I have with my platinum companion passes... first is that going through the steps of saying you're going to use the pass increases the cost of the first ticket (looking at the breakdown of two tickets you expect your total to be half plus the taxes and fees, but instead it is just a bit more than that). The second issue is having to buy exactly 2 tickets. Since we are a family of three that means that we buy 2 on one confirmation number and one on another and hope that there aren't any issues (we've had issues when a flight gets canceled and one ticket gets rebooked separately from the rest).