How to Get and Use the Delta Companion Certificate
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What’s better than getting a great deal on a plane ticket? Getting 2 plane tickets for the price of 1! Getting a 2-for-1 deal on a plane ticket is possible with a companion ticket.
Southwest Airline’s Companion Pass is probably the most well-known companion ticket perk, but did you know that Delta also offers a companion ticket? It’s not quite the same as the Southwest Companion Pass, but still has a lot of value.
Here’s how to get a Delta Companion Certificate and use it for maximum value!
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Table of Contents
What is the Delta Companion Certificate?
The Delta Companion Certificate is a great perk that comes with select Delta credit cards. This perk allows you to essentially get a 2-for-1 deal on a plane ticket.
So, when you purchase 1 ticket, you can use the Delta Companion Certificate to purchase a second ticket and you only have to pay the taxes and fees on that second ticket.
Here are a few rules from Delta to keep in mind when using your Delta Companion Certificate:
- The ticket is good for travel within the continental U.S.; however, if you’re a resident of Hawaii, Alaska, Puerto Rico, or the U.S. Virgin Islands, your ticket can originate from one of those destinations. You still must travel to one of the 48 contiguous states, and the address in your Delta account must be from one of those areas.
- Companion tickets can be transferred, so you can book for someone else, but once the ticket is issued, it’s not transferable.
- Companion tickets can’t be applied to fares that have already been purchased.
- If you cancel your reservation, your companion ticket won’t be re-issued.
- The companion ticket must be for the exact same flight as the original paid ticket. You can’t use the companion ticket to purchase a fare for a friend on a different flight.
- The paid ticket and companion ticket are both eligible for upgrades as long as both passengers are either a Delta SkyMiles member, Medallion member, or SkyTeam Alliance partner airline elite member. Any upgrades will be processed according to the passenger with the highest Delta status.
- Companion ticket fares may require an advance purchase of up to 14 days, a 3-night minimum stay, and a 30-day maximum stay.
- Some flights may be excluded, and stopovers and open jaws aren’t eligible for companion flights.
- The primary, paid ticket on the itinerary will earn Delta SkyMiles, but the companion ticket will not.
Bottom Line: A Delta Companion Certificate allows you to purchase a second ticket on select domestic flights for only the price of the taxes and fees on the second ticket.
How to Get a Delta Companion Certificate
You can earn a Delta Companion Certificate simply by having the right credit card in your wallet.
American Express offers 4 co-branded personal Delta credit cards and 4 co-branded Delta business credit cards in total, but not all of them come with the companion pass perk.
The Delta Companion Certificate is only available on the Platinum Delta SkyMiles® and Delta Reserve credit cards:
- Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card
- Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card
- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card
- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card
The companion pass varies slightly depending on what credit card you hold.
Delta Platinum Credit Cards [Personal and Business]
Both the Delta Platinum card and Delta Platinum Business card come with the companion ticket benefit. This perk offers 1 round-trip, Main Cabin companion ticket per year after you pay your annual fee.
You’re responsible for paying the taxes and fees on the companion ticket. The companion ticket is valid for L, U, T, X, and V classes of service only (these letters refer to different levels of economy fares). Both the first ticket and the fees for the second ticket must be charged to your Delta SkyMiles card.
Delta Reserve Credit Cards [Personal and Business]
If you have either of the Delta Reserve card or the Delta Reserve Business card, you’re eligible for 1 round-trip, Main Cabin, Comfort+, or First Class companion ticket per year after you pay your annual fee.
You’re responsible for paying the taxes and fees on the companion ticket. The companion ticket is valid for L, U, T, X, and V classes of service (economy), I and Z classes of service (first class), and W class (Delta Comfort+ ).
Both the first ticket and the fees for the second ticket must be charged to your Delta Reserve American Express card.
Bottom Line: A Delta Companion Certificate is a perk that comes with the personal and business versions of the Delta Platinum card and Delta Reserve card. If you aren’t sure which of these credit cards is right for you, check out this guide to the best credit cards for Delta flyers.
How to Use the Delta Companion Certificate
Your Delta Companion Certificate can only be used on Delta.com; it can’t be used on Delta flights that are purchased on any other website.
Once you’re logged in to your account, you’ll be able to see your companion ticket in the My Wallet section.
From there, you can select your companion pass then search for flights as you normally would. The system should automatically filter out the flights that aren’t eligible for a companion pass ticket.
There isn’t a price limit to the ticket you can purchase with your Delta companion certificate. So, the higher the price of the ticket, the more value you get from this perk.
Let’s say you and a friend want to travel from New York to Los Angeles for a long weekend, but the tickets are $500 each. While you might not want to spend $1,000 for this trip, with the Delta Companion Certificate, you can purchase both tickets for just $500 (plus the taxes and fees on the second ticket).
You can easily get hundreds of dollars of value from this 1 perk!
Hot Tip: On any itinerary, the primary, paid ticket is eligible to earn Delta SkyMiles, but the companion ticket is not.
Final Thoughts
The Delta Companion Certificate is a great deal. This perk allows you to buy a second seat on a Delta flight for the price of the taxes and fees. That means you and your companion can fly for essentially the price of just 1 ticket!
The companion ticket is available as a perk on 4 Delta Amex credit cards: the Delta Platinum card, Delta Platinum Business card, Delta Reserve card, and Delta Reserve Business card.
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Does the delta ticket have to be paid for with cash to use the companion ticket? Or can I purchase an award ticket using SkyMiles to get the first ticket and then use the companion ticket?
Hi Jason. The first ticket cannot be an award ticket secured with SkyMiles. It must be a purchased ticket with cash (credit).
Can you upgrade with miles after purchasing?
The tickets qualify for complimentary upgrades or you can use Global or Regional upgrade certificates, however, companion tickets not eligible for mileage upgrades.
Do you get the companion ticket during your first year having the card? Or only after your first renewal, technically in your second year having the card?
Hi Stephanie,
You will receive the companion pass when you renew your card and pay the annual fee.
Thanks for reading!
Hello,
My hubby is 6’6″, and we always have to go for extra legroom seats.
Is it possible to upgrade to extra legroom seats when trying to take advantage of the companion ticket benefit?
Do I have to pay the additional extra legroom fee with the companion ticket or is that waived?
Thank you!
Hi Janine,
First off, my husband is 6’6″ too so we are also always in search of extra legroom!
The type of ticket you can get with your Companion Certificate will depend on the credit card you have.
With Platinum Delta SkyMiles Credit Card, you’ll receive a domestic Main Cabin Companion Certificate each year upon renewal.
With the Delta Reserve Credit Card, you’ll receive a domestic First Class, Delta Comfort+® or Main Cabin Companion Certificate each year upon renewal.
Once purchased both tickets are eligible for upgrades as long as both passengers are either a Delta SkyMiles member, Medallion member, or SkyTeam Alliance partner airline elite member. Any upgrades will be processed according to the passenger with the highest Delta status.
It’s basically impossible to redeem though. Every flight to every destination says sold out when you try to use the companion certificate. Delta platinum Amex is a scam.
I have the same issue with Delta Platinum. Should I upgrade to the Delta Reserve? I am afraid I will pay more and will not be able to redeem.
Hi Adrian. I would not upgrade to the Delta Reserve card for that reason alone. I have used my companion certificate for 5 years in a row now with no issues but routes are subject to availability. If you can use the worldwide lounge access and other benefits that come with the card, it may be worth it to you. Here’s our article on the benefits of the Delta Reserve card: https://upgradedpoints.com/amex-delta-reserve-credit-card-benefits
Christine, can you give some examples of dates and itineraries where you were successful using the companion pass? How many times does it work for you for dates you want to travel vs. times it doesn’t work out?
I’ve been invited to upgrade my Gold Amex Delta card to Platinum and was interested in the companion pass for my wife, though my understanding is we wouldn’t be able to use it until renewing the card next year, anyway.
Hi Edward. I personally haven’t had any problem using the certificate, ever, but I can’t predict what your experience might be. I can share that I have used the companion certificate for a trip from TVC to New Orleans via DTW in January 2019, TVC via DTW to Buffalo, New York in October 2018, and TVC to Las Vegas October 2017. In previous years I have used it to position to cities where there was an inexpensive European fare and the fare price to that positioning city was especially high so I still received good value.
My wife and I are going to FLA. I have a coworker that has a companion certificate he is willing to give us. Will I be able to book my flight with my credit card and use the companion ticket for my wife?
Hi Ken. According to the terms and conditions on Delta’s web site, the certificate is transferable but the tickets must be purchased using the Delta SkyMiles card. Here is the exact wording: “The Companion Certificate is transferable, Primary ticket and Companion ticket are not transferable once issued. Companion Certificate may not be bartered or sold. Primary Ticket and Companion ticket must be purchased with your Delta SkyMiles Credit Card from American Express.” Here is the number to call for further information on the certificate: 1-855-551-2113.
So I can only redeem my companion ticket 14 days before my planned trip? Am I reading that right?
Hi Toby,
No, you’ll need to book your companion ticket at least 14 days ahead of time. Thanks for reading!
I’ve tried to use my companion certificate 8 times in the last two months. Every time they say the routes are sold out. If I try to book and not use my companion certificate there are plenty of seats. I’ve tried calling delta and they say only certain seats on certain flights are available for the companion certificate but they can’t tell me what those are. It’s a total scam. I’ve tried from SLC (a delta hub) to New York – dates flexible. SLC to Atlanta. SLC to Portland. It’s a joke
My friend and I were planning a trip in a few weeks to DC for Cherry Blossom Festival. I purchased the tickets and one was of them was my redeemed companion ticket. However, due to the Corona Virus most museums, tours and such are closed. In reviewing Delta’s website, I know under normal circumstances if you cancelled a trip you would lose the companion certificate. However, because the Corona Virus does anyone know if exceptions are being made for the companion certificates
Hi Teresa,
No, you should not lose your companion certificate for canceling.
I was hoping when I first read about the reward perk, I could use the companion certificate for my Chihuahua I regularly fly with. I pay a whopping $125 each flight for her. That’s 250.00 bucks round trip! I hope American Express and Delta see my remark and reconsider the terms regarding using the certificate for pets. For many people, their pets are the only companions they fly with.
So my first certificate last year got extended till end of 2020, got my second certificate that wont expire until may of next year.
If I cancel my Delta Plat card, am I going to loose my certificates?
Hi Eli,
No, if the certificates have already been credited to your Delta account then you will not lose them if you cancel your Delta Platinum card.
Thanks for reading!
He will. Because he won’t have delta Amex card to pay for the primary ticket.
I’m looking ahead about 10 months to plan a trip and I cannot find any flights to Los Angeles that include any of those fare classes. Does Delta open up those fare classes as the dates get closer or is it possible they do not have any to some places? Is there a way to contact Delta for help in finding flights to use the certificates? I actually want to plan the trip for May 2021 (not a holiday), but as of June 2020, I can only look in April. I don’t think there is any issue with days I’m looking at (flying there on a Thursday and back on a Sunday).
Hi Erik,
The correct fare types that are eligible for Delta Companion Certificates can be notoriously difficult to find sometimes. If you contact a Delta representative they might be able to assist you, otherwise you really just have to keep checking back for different flight options as their schedules change.
I hope you find something that works for your schedule! Thanks for reading!
What does it mean that the companion certificate is transferrable? I mean, can I fully transfer, like primary and companion ticket to someone else? As in I do not need to travel? and 2 other people can use it? Because I read you need to use your AMEX card to book it.
Hi Maria,
You can use your companion ticket to book on behalf of someone else, as well as including the booking details for a companion that will be traveling with that person. So you do not need to travel. If you contact a Delta customer service representative they can help arrange this for you.
Thanks for reading!
My companion ticket expires this month but because of Covid and travel being limited I have not been able to used it the last 6 months. Can the ticket expiration date be extended?
Hi Kathy,
You might be able to get it extended if you contact the Delta customer service team and ask.
Thanks for reading!
I now have 2 companion tickets in my wallet due to covid, will I be able to redeem them for 2 companions traveling on my same flight?
Hi MK,
Do you mean it’d be you, plus two companions traveling? If that is the case you would not be able to use two, as each companion certificate requires one purchased ticket.
What if the companion isn’t able to travel on one leg of the trip?
Hi J,
Which leg of the trip would it be?
Will I be penalized if we skip/cancel the return leg of the ticket after already flying the initial leg of the trip? The round trip ticket (split in 2) is cheaper than us buying one way tickets and we will already be at the destination by other means which is why I’d want to skip the return to begin with.
Thanks
Hi Matt,
No, you should not be penalized if you skip the return leg of the trip.