What is an American Airlines Companion Certificate?

An American Airlines Companion Certificate is a perk that comes with select co-branded American Airlines credit cards. Once a cardholder meets a minimum spending requirement ($30,000) or renews their AAdvantage Globe card and pays the annual fee, they will earn a companion certificate, which allows them to add a companion to a domestic economy flight for $99 plus taxes.

Does American Airlines offer companion fares?

Yes, American Airlines offers companion fares through select co-branded credit cards. Cardholders will earn a companion fare certificate after meeting a minimum spending threshold of $30,000 with the AAdvantage Business card or when they renew their AAdvantage Globe card and pay the annual fee.

What credit cards offer the American Airlines Companion Certificate benefit?

Currently, there are 2 credit cards that offer a companion certificate as a benefit: AAdvantage Globe card AAdvantage Business card

Can I use the American Airlines Companion Certificate for first class tickets?

No, the American Airlines Companion Certificate can only be used for economy tickets.

Can I use the American Airlines Companion Certificate to fly to Hawaii?

No, the American Airlines Companion Certificate can only be used for travel within the contiguous 48 states. However, residents of Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands can use the certificate to fly from their home states/territories to the contiguous 48 states.

How To Get and Use the American Airlines Companion Certificate

Updated: April 25, 2026, 2:53pm CDT

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Table of Contents

Key Takeaways
What Is the American Airlines Companion Certificate?
How To Get an American Airlines Companion Certificate
How To Use the American Airlines Companion Certificate
Final Thoughts

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Key Takeaways

The American Airlines Companion Certificate is an exclusive benefit for select AAdvantage credit cardholders. It allows them to bring a companion on a domestic round-trip flight for $99 plus taxes.
The certificate is issued either at card renewal or after a certain spending threshold is met, depending on the card.
There are 2 credit cards that offer a companion certificate, such as the Citi^® / AAdvantage^® Globe™ Mastercard^®.

Saving money on airline tickets is a goal for most of us, so knowing how to utilize companion certificates is a smart piece of knowledge to acquire. While many airlines offer companion certificates, they all work a little differently.

In this post, we’ll review exactly what the American Airlines Companion Certificate is, what you need to do to get one, and how to redeem it for a companion flight.

What Is the American Airlines Companion Certificate?

The American Airlines Companion Certificate is a benefit offered on 2 American Airlines credit cards. It allows the cardholder to purchase a companion ticket for $99 plus taxes.

The Companion Certificate does have some restrictions that you’ll want to keep in mind. For starters, it’s only good on qualifying domestic economy tickets (within the 48 contiguous states) on flights marketed and operated by American Airlines or on flights marketed by American Airlines but operated by any of the following airlines:

American Eagle byEnvoy Air Inc.
Envoy Air Inc.
Mesa Airlines Inc.
Piedmont Airlines Inc.
PSA Airlines Inc.
Republic Airways Inc.
SkyWest Airlines Inc.

The companion certificate is not valid on Oneworld flights or any American Airlines codeshare flights.

For Residents of Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands

For residents of these states and territories, the companion certificate is valid on round-trip economy tickets originating in the state or territory of residence with a destination in the 48 contiguous states.

Cost of the American Airlines Companion Certificate

When you earn an American Airlines Companion Certificate, you won’t be getting a completely free ticket, or even one that you just have to pay taxes on (like the Southwest Companion Pass).

The companion ticket will cost $99 plus taxes, which range from $21.60 to $43.20.

Bottom Line: The American Airlines Companion Certificate isn’t free. It costs $99 plus taxes, so you’ll end up paying between $120.60 to $142.20 for the companion fare.

How To Get an American Airlines Companion Certificate

The American Airlines Companion Certificate can be earned by spending at least $30,000 on the Citi^® / AAdvantage^® Business™ World Elite Mastercard^® during the card membership year.

With the Citi^® / AAdvantage^® Globe™ Mastercard^®, cardholders earn a Companion Certificate starting in their second year of having the card, as long as they have renewed it — there is no minimum spend requirement.

Here’s a quick look at which credit cards come with a companion certificate:

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Credit Card	Minimum Spend Requirement	Number of Companion Certificates Available
AAdvantage Globe card	$0 / Issued yearly upon card renewal	1
AAdvantage Business card	$30,000	1

American Airlines Main Cabin — An American Airlines Companion Certificate allows you to purchase a second economy seat for $99 plus tax. Image Credit: American Airlines

In addition to the minimum spending requirements, when applicable, there are some additional things to keep in mind when earning an American Airlines Companion Certificate.

The minimum spend requirement is based on net purchases within the cardmember year (the 12-month period through your cardmember anniversary month).
Your account must remain open for a full billing cycle for the AAdvantage Globe card and AAdvantage Business card.
The certificate is valid for 1 year from the date of issue.
The certificate is only valid for qualifying round-trip domestic economy fares purchased through American Airlines Meeting Services.
After meeting the requirements, the certificate will be available for use within 8 to 10 weeks for those with the AAdvantage Globe card or AAdvantage Business card.

Bottom Line: The American Airlines Companion Certificate is only good for round-trip domestic economy tickets. Certificates earned through the AAdvantage Globe card and AAdvantage Business card specify that the economy ticket must be a Main Cabin fare.

How To Use the American Airlines Companion Certificate

American Airlines Companion Certificates are good for qualifying round-trip domestic economy flights. That means you can’t use these certificates for business class or first class tickets. In addition, the certificate earned from the AAdvantage Globe card and AAdvantage Business card specifies that it can’t be used for Basic Economy fares.

If you live in the contiguous 48 United States, the companion certificate can only be used on travel within the 48 contiguous states.

If you reside in Hawaii, Alaska, Puerto Rico, or the U.S. Virgin Islands, a domestic ticket is one that originates in your state/territory of residence and travels to the contiguous 48 states.

American Airlines Companion Certificates can be redeemed by calling American Airlines Meeting Services at 800-433-1790.

Final Thoughts

The American Airlines Companion Certificate is almost like getting a 2-for-1 deal. With this certificate, cardholders who meet the minimum spending requirement or renew their AAdvantage Globe card each year will be eligible for a $99 companion ticket (plus taxes) when they purchase a domestic economy ticket. It’s a nice perk on select American Airlines credit cards.

If the American Airlines Companion Certificate doesn’t work well for you, other airlines offer companion certificates, including Delta, Southwest, British Airways, and Alaska Airlines.