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Can I Still Use My Companion Ticket If I Cancel My Credit Card?

June 07, 2017
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4 min read
British Airways A380 First IAD - LHR
Can I Still Use My Companion Ticket If I Cancel My Credit Card?
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"Reader Questions" are answered three days a week — Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays — by TPG Senior Writer Julian Mark Kheel.

It's a good time to apply for the British Airways Visa Signature Card since it currently comes with an up to 120,000-point sign-up bonus. But TPG reader Nathaniel has a question about one of the features of the card...

[pullquote source="TPG Reader Nathaniel"]If I cancel my British Airways Visa, will I lose the unused Travel Together ticket on my account?[/pullquote]

The Travel Together Ticket is a perk you can earn after spending at least $30,000 on the British Airways Visa in a calendar year. It allows you to redeem a round-trip award ticket on British Airways and bring a companion with you for free, even in a premium class.

However, there are a few catches that can make this benefit rather difficult to use. The round-trip must originate in and return to the US and be on British Airways itself instead of a partner. But you'll also be on the hook for the airline's carrier-imposed surcharges, which on British Airways can be substantial... as in well over $1,000 per person.

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This last-minute British Airways first-class round-trip itinerary costs $16,000 per person.

You might ask what's the point of a "free" ticket that costs $1,000, and it's a valid question. But it might make sense to use a Travel Together Ticket in first class where a last-minute paid British Airways airfare can run upwards of $16,000 per person. Granted, that's an extreme case, but even $4,000-$5,000 is pretty common. So if you can get two seats which together would normally cost $10,000 for just 119,000 Avios plus roughly $2,000 in total during off-peak dates, that's effectively a redemption value of over 6 cents per Avios, which is pretty solid.

But what about Nathaniel's question — if he cancels the card after spending $30,000 and getting his Travel Together Ticket, will he then lose it if he cancels the card? The answer is a little tricky. If we look at the terms and conditions of the Travel Together Ticket, it states:



Members must remain eligible for this promotion at the time of travel. BA and Chase reserve the right to withdraw any vouchers in the event that the Member is in breach of the terms of the BA/Chase Credit Card or the BA Executive Club Terms and Conditions.

That would indicate Chase at least technically has the right to withdraw the Travel Together Ticket if you're not a cardmember when you want to use it, and if you ask Chase, that's the issuer's official policy on the matter. But that being said, we've seen a number of data points on this question and no one has reported having their Travel Together Ticket taken away after canceling the card.

The Travel Together Ticket itself is valid for 24 months after you earn it, so in all likelihood you're probably okay to cancel the card in the meantime, Nathaniel. But if you want to be 100% completely safe, hang onto it until after your flight. Thanks for the question, and if you're a TPG reader who'd like us to answer a question of your own, tweet us at @thepointsguy, message us on Facebook or email us at info@thepointsguy.com.

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Why We Chose It

There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)

Pros

  • 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
  • 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
  • Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
  • Solid welcome bonus

Cons

  • Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
  • Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
  • You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
  • Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
  • Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
  • Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
  • Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
  • Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
  • $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
  • $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
  • $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
  • $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
  • Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
  • No Foreign Transaction Fees.
  • Annual Fee is $325.
  • Terms Apply.