Delta annual companion ticket: How you can earn it and save money
Editor's Note
Who doesn't love a good buy one, get one deal? If you have the right credit cards, these BOGO deals even exist on airline tickets.
We keep several credit cards in our wallets because they offer some form of an airline companion certificate for when we need to buy tickets with cash and want to ensure a good deal.
For example, the lineup of Delta American Express cards includes several that come with an annual companion certificate at each renewal. These cards also offer elevated welcome bonuses, making this the perfect time to learn what they can do to help you travel more for less.
Related: Best Delta credit cards
Which Delta cards offer a companion ticket?
Delta SkyMiles Platinum and Reserve consumer and business cardholders receive an annual Delta companion ticket with each annual card renewal.
Here's the full lineup of cards and their current welcome bonuses.
| CREDIT CARD | ANNUAL FEE | WELCOME BONUS | NOTABLE PERKS |
|---|---|---|---|
$350 (see rates and fees) | Find out your offer and see if you are eligible for as high as 90,000 bonus miles after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first six months of card membership. Welcome offers vary, and you may not be eligible for an offer. |
| |
$650 (see rates and fees) | Find out your offer and see if you are eligible for as high as 100,000 bonus miles after spending $5,000 on purchases in the first six months of card membership. Welcome offers vary, and you may not be eligible for an offer. |
| |
$350 (see rates and fees) | Earn 70,000 bonus miles after spending $6,000 on purchases in the first six months of card membership. |
| |
$650 (see rates and fees) | Earn 80,000 bonus miles after spending $12,000 on purchases in the first six months of card membership. |
|
*Enrollment is required.
**Enrollment in the Hertz Gold Plus Rewards Program is required.
It's possible to earn multiple companion vouchers if you have multiple eligible Delta cards.
However, it's worth noting that these companion tickets are not granted in the first year. You must renew your card (and pay the annual fee) to get the perk.
Delta companion ticket rules
Companion tickets can only be used on select round-trip tickets within the contiguous U.S., including Alaska and Hawaii, as well as destinations in Mexico, the Caribbean and Central America.
To use the vouchers in that way, you must have an eligible address on file with Delta SkyMiles in those locations.
If you have the Delta SkyMiles Platinum Amex, the companion ticket is only eligible for Main Cabin flights, while the Reserve companion ticket can be used for first-class, Premium Select, Comfort or Main Cabin tickets.
This annual award is automatically deposited into your SkyMiles account the month you pay the card's annual fee, and it's typically valid for a year from the date it was issued. The ticket must be booked and the trip must be taken before the certificate expires. You still need to pay the taxes and fees on the second ticket, but otherwise, it's a buy one, get one flight deal.
Related: Is Delta Air Lines premium economy worth it between New York and London?
How to use the Delta companion ticket
Using a Delta companion ticket is very simple.
First, log in to your online Delta SkyMiles account, and after you select "Profile" (located as a drop-down option when you click on your name on the upper right-hand side), you'll find your companion certificates listed in the "Certificates, eCredits & Vouchers" section.
From there, you can select a certificate to use and then proceed to search for eligible Delta flights by hitting "Continue" at the bottom of the page.
You can only search for flights for the two people on the trip who are using the certificate, so any additional children or travelers may have to be booked separately. You can then have their itineraries linked to yours by calling Delta at 1-800-221-1212.
Saving hundreds with the Delta companion ticket
To show you the real value of the Delta companion ticket, let's use a real-world example of a recent national parks-focused trip to Utah.
The round-trip, nonstop flights from Houston's George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) to Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC) cost about $466 on Delta. That wasn't a great deal, but it was during a school break, so deals were hard to come by.
The Delta companion certificate was a great way to save money when prices were high. One round-trip ticket cost $466, but a second ticket could be reserved for only an additional $20 in taxes and fees when using the companion certificate.
Traveling from Houston to Salt Lake City for two passengers for $486 with the companion voucher was a much better deal than one ticket for $466. Multiply that number by two for the other two family members on the reservation (because two eligible vouchers were available at the time) to get around $900 in savings for the trip, thanks to these Delta companion vouchers from Amex cards.
If you use the Delta companion ticket in a similar manner, it can easily be worth more than the annual fee for keeping the Delta Platinum Amex in your wallet.
Know, though, that the primary (paid) ticket on the reservation using the Delta companion ticket will accrue SkyMiles, but the companion ticket won't. Therefore, the tickets are eligible for upgrades consistent with the SkyMiles program. If you cancel your itinerary after purchasing your ticket, you usually won't be able to reuse your companion certificate, so be sure of your plans before applying your companion certificate.
Related: The top credit cards for families
Bottom line
Delta's annual companion ticket, which comes with the Delta Platinum and Reserve family of SkyMiles cards, is an excellent perk that can make flying on Delta much more affordable, especially for families. If you're looking to save money when flying Delta, consider applying for one of Delta's Amex cards to take advantage of this and other benefits available to cardholders.
Apply here: Delta SkyMiles Platinum
Apply here: Delta SkyMiles Reserve
Apply here: Delta SkyMiles Platinum Business
Apply here: Delta SkyMiles Reserve Business
For rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles Platinum Amex, click here.
For rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles Reserve Amex, click here.
For rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles Platinum Business Amex, click here.
For rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles Reserve Business Amex, click here.
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| 4X | 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. |
| 4X | 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. |
| 5X | New! Earn 5X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid hotel stays booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked through AmexTravel.com, the Amex Travel App, or purchased directly from airlines. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid car rentals booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App and cruises booked and paid through AmexTravel.com. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases. |
Pros
- Valuable dining and food-related credits
- Flexible rewards with airline and hotel transfer partners
- Multiple travel and purchase protections
- No foreign transaction fees
- Access to Amex Offers for additional savings (enrollment required)
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 $8,000 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.
- New! Earn 5X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid hotel stays booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked through AmexTravel.com, the Amex Travel App, or purchased directly from airlines.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid car rentals booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App and cruises booked and paid through AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- Pay It® lets you tap in the American Express® App to quickly pay for small purchase amounts throughout the month and still earn rewards the way you usually do. Plan It® gives you the option to split up big purchases into equal monthly payments with a fixed fee. You’ll know upfront exactly how much you’ll pay.
- Updated! $120 Dining Credit: Earn up to a total of $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the Gold Card at Grubhub (including Seamless), Buffalo Wild Wings, Five Guys, The Cheesecake Factory, and Wonder. This can be an annual savings of up to $120. Enrollment required.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year at over 10,000 qualifying U.S. Resy restaurants after you pay for eligible purchases with the American Express® Gold Card. That’s up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: Earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin’ locations. Enrollment required.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Enjoy up to $120 in Uber Cash annually with your Gold Card. Just add your Card to your Uber account and you'll get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an Amex Card for your transaction.
- New! As an American Express® Gold Card Member, you can enjoy complimentary Hertz Five Star® Status. Enjoy benefits like skipping the counter at select locations, adding an additional driver at no additional cost*, and vehicle upgrades**. Benefit enrollment and Hertz Gold+ registration are required. *Additional drivers must meet standard rental qualifications and must be a spouse or domestic partner to qualify as complimentary. Other additional drivers subject to fees. **Benefits are subject to availability and vary by location. Additional Hertz program Terms and Conditions including age restrictions apply.
- Take advantage of a $100 credit towards eligible charges* at over 1,300 upscale hotels worldwide when you book The Hotel Collection through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App **. *Eligible charges vary by property. **The Hotel Collection requires a two-night minimum stay.
- Book your travel through the Amex Travel App with added peace of mind – backed by American Express® service and support. Only for American Express® Card Members.
- Whenever you need us, we're here. Our Member Services team will ensure you are taken care of. From lost Card replacement to statement questions, we are available to help 24/7.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.