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70 comments
Jason
September 17, 2019
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?
Christine Krzyszton
September 17, 2019
Hi Jason. The first ticket cannot be an award ticket secured with SkyMiles. It must be a purchased ticket with cash (credit).
Danny
April 11, 2020
Can you upgrade with miles after purchasing?
Christine Krzyszton
April 11, 2020
The tickets qualify for complimentary upgrades or you can use Global or Regional upgrade certificates, however, companion tickets not eligible for mileage upgrades.
Stephanie
October 27, 2019
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?
Jarrod West
October 27, 2019
Hi Stephanie,
You will receive the companion pass when you renew your card and pay the annual fee.
Thanks for reading!
Janine
November 07, 2019
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!
Katie Seemann
November 11, 2019
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.
wogatu
January 05, 2020
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.
Adrian
January 13, 2020
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.
Christine Krzyszton
January 14, 2020
Hi Adrian. I would not upgrade to the Delta Reserve card just for the companion cert. 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: /amex-delta-reserve-credit-card-benefits
Edward
January 21, 2020
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.
Christine Krzyszton
January 21, 2020
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.
Ken
January 22, 2020
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?
Christine Krzyszton
January 22, 2020
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.
Toby
January 30, 2020
So I can only redeem my companion ticket 14 days before my planned trip? Am I reading that right?
Katie Seemann
January 31, 2020
Hi Toby,
No, you’ll need to book your companion ticket at least 14 days ahead of time. Thanks for reading!
Breezy Covington
February 23, 2020
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
Ron Brinsk
September 23, 2021
I agree. Every time I try to use mine, same story. It’s a scam.
Julie
February 01, 2022
I followed instructions and checked the box to use my companion certificate. I booked our two seats and it appeared to work, based on the fee I saw when I charged it to my AMEX. BUT on my AMEX statement (viewed on my computer) the amount that is “pending” is the FULL cost of tickets, twice what I thought I was paying. Is there a waiting period for the other ticket to be deducted? If that’s how this works, shouldn’t Delta put on a statement that says: don’t panic when you view your credit card statement on line?
Davis
February 16, 2022
Hi Julie– how did this resolve for you? Mine is doing the exact same thing. I’m freaking out but fortunately, I’m still within the 1st 24 hours of booking, in case I need to cancel. I’d love to know if the pending charge fixed itself. Thanks so much!
Teresa Williams
March 13, 2020
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
Jarrod West
March 15, 2020
Hi Teresa,
No, you should not lose your companion certificate for canceling.
Eve
May 17, 2020
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.
Eli
May 18, 2020
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?
Jarrod West
May 19, 2020
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!
Sri Cheruk
February 02, 2021
He will. Because he won’t have delta Amex card to pay for the primary ticket.
Erik
June 14, 2020
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).
Jarrod West
June 17, 2020
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!
Maria Gamez
June 15, 2020
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.
Jarrod West
June 15, 2020
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!
Kathy
September 08, 2020
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?
Jarrod West
September 08, 2020
Hi Kathy,
You might be able to get it extended if you contact the Delta customer service team and ask.
Thanks for reading!
MK
November 14, 2020
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?
Jarrod West
November 14, 2020
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.
j johnson
June 01, 2021
What if the companion isn’t able to travel on one leg of the trip?
Jarrod West
June 01, 2021
Hi J,
Which leg of the trip would it be?
Matt
June 08, 2021
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
Jarrod West
June 08, 2021
Hi Matt,
No, you should not be penalized if you skip the return leg of the trip.
Pamela Raitt
July 11, 2021
I have two companion certificates in My Wallet. When I checked it said they were closed and I can’t book a flight. Both certificates do not expire until next year 2022. I don’t understand why it is closed. I still have and use my Delta Platinum AMEX credit card.
Marilyn and Phil Ricker
August 10, 2021
I have the same situation, 2 Companion tickets that say CLOSED. What does this mean?
Jarrod West
August 10, 2021
Hi Marilyn,
Have you already contacted Delta to ask why the status of your Companion tickets state they are closed?
craig
September 28, 2021
I am trying to book for my family on Delta (wife and daughters 5 and 9). When I choose one of my companion tickets it drops two of my family members and limits me to booking two people only. Any way to book 4 people at once and use a companion ticket for one of those bookings? It makes it easy to have all the tickets on my Delta app for Digital check-in, etc. thx.
Jarrod West
October 03, 2021
Hi Craig,
If there is such an option then I am not aware of it. I recommend you contact the Delta customer service team for assistance with this, either through their phone line or via their Twitter.
Jamie
October 12, 2021
I had the Amex personal platinum card, the Amex business platinum card, and the delta reserve card. I canceled them all a month ago. I just looked at my delta wallet and I have 6 companion certificates available (4 platinum, 2 reserve). How am I supposed to use them if I have to use my Amex card to pay for them? Can I give the codes to a friend or family member and they can just use it without me having to get involved?
Jarrod West
October 22, 2021
Hi Jamie,
In your case, since you canceled all of your cards, unfortunately, you will not be able to use the companion certificates since you need to purchase the first fare with the credit card that the certificate was issued to.
Joy
September 01, 2022
Can you use your Amex Skymiles Gold card if you downgraded from the platinum?
Jarrod West
September 01, 2022
Hi Joy,
Are you asking if you can still use the companion certificate? If so the answer is no I’m afraid, as the main fare must be purchased using the Delta Platinum card.
Bob "Fuzzy" Dagosta
October 21, 2021
I booked my companion ticket for a trip to Las Vegas in comfort +, and asked for an upgrade to first class. How likely is it that we will receive the upgrade to first class? I am Gold, American Express Reserve.
Christine Krzyszton
October 21, 2021
Hi Bob. It’s difficult to say what your chances are. It will be based on how full the flight is, how many Delta elite members who are higher than Gold will be on the flight, and the type of plane (how many first-class seats are available overall). Additionally, since the reservation is for 2, there need to be 2 seats available before it will clear. However, there is a chance and I hope you get it.
Dana
November 01, 2021
Could you tell me if or when companion tickets expire? For example, I still have a ticket from 2020 which I haven’t used, and also one for 2021. Thanks very much!
Christine Krzyszton
November 03, 2021
Hi Dana. To view the expiration dates, just log in to your Delta SkyMiles account, and under your profile you will see “certificates, eCredits, and vouchers”. You will find all of your available companion tickets and the expiration dates. I logged in and my 2020 and 2021 companion certs are set to expire 12/31/2022. Yours may be the same as Delta did extend expiration dates.
Chantel
November 10, 2021
If we have a gold card, next year if we decided to upgrade to platinum, would we automatically be eligible for the companion certificate? Or would we have to wait to be eligible until we renew the platinum card?
Jarrod West
November 11, 2021
Hi Chantel,
Yes, you would have to wait until you renew your card in order to receive the companion certificate.
Tram Welborn
December 08, 2021
Can I use my companion ticket for booking for my parents? For example, buying dad’s ticket and use companion ticket to buy mom’s.
Jarrod West
December 13, 2021
Hi Tram,
You would have to be on the reservation in order to use your companion ticket.
baby rubella
January 13, 2022
Are the value of companion tickets covered by trip insurance? For example, if frequent flyer miles are used to purchase a flight, some insurance policies will reimburse you for the cost to reinstate your miles to your account. Does the same apply to companion tickets?
Christine Krzyszton
January 14, 2022
Travel insurance normally reimburses you for the amount of your loss. The cost of the companion ticket is the amount of the taxes you paid for it so that would be the amount reimbursed should you have a covered loss. Thanks for the question.
Mike
March 01, 2022
So, there are currently no change fees, right? But companion fares are more limited. Let’s say I book a trip to LA on days when the certificates are available and the trip costs me 300 dollars round trip. But those days don’t really work for me. Am I able to then change the dates of the trip to more convenient days. Would the new days have to be companion certificate eligible? Or does that not matter anymore? What difference in fare would I then pay? Originally I paid for 1 ticket but got two. If I changed my dates would I have to pay the difference for two tickets? Does that make sense?
Thank you!
Jarrod West
March 16, 2022
Hi Mike,
Correct, there are no change fees, but the date you change to must have a flight that is companion certificate eligible. As far as pricing, if the flight you’re changing to is more expensive, you would only owe the difference in fare for 1 ticket, since the other is free as a companion benefit.
john sais
April 07, 2022
I have a platinum business card. 1) If I decide to get a reserve card and cancel the platinum card, will my medallion points transfer
to the Reserve? 2) Will I be eligible for the promo points for the reserve?
Jarrod West
April 08, 2022
Hi John,
Yes, your redeemable Delta Sky Miles, along with any qualifying miles you have will automatically stay in your Delta account no matter what card you open or close. And yes, you will be eligible for the welcome bonus on the Reserve card if you apply for it.
Paige
April 22, 2022
My mom has a companion certificate that we are looking to use for an upcoming trip together. Since she doesn’t care about earning MQM’s and I do, she was going to transfer the certificate to me so I could book as the primary and her as my free companion. The question is, if the certificate was originally in her name/SkyMiles account, would her transferring it somehow void her from being able to be the companion used on the certificate?
Jarrod West
April 25, 2022
Hi Paige,
Delta companion certificates are not transaferable.
Debbie
May 30, 2022
Are the companion certificates deleted from your account at booking or when you actually take the trip?
Christine Krzyszton
May 31, 2022
Hi Debbie. Normally, the certificates are marked CLOSED once they have been applied to your reservation. However, I have had a situation where the certificates weren’t marked closed until several days later.
Jack
October 04, 2022
I have companion flights booked this week. Can 1 person go same day standby earlier in the day and the companion stays on the original flight?
Jarrod West
October 06, 2022
Hi Jack,
Unfortunately not, the companion must travel on the same flight as the primary member.
Zhander P'ng
May 01, 2023
If I am the primary Delta Reserve Credit Card holder and my spouse has an additional card, can we both each bring a companion when we travel together since we paid for two card membership?
Katie Seemann
May 02, 2023
Hi Zhander,
No, the companion ticket benefit is limited to the primary card holder. Authorized users don’t get an additional certificate.
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