Go Back  FlyerTalk Forums > Miles&Points > Airlines and Mileage Programs > American Airlines | AAdvantage
Reload this Page >

ARCHIVE: LUS: US Companion Certificates [use by 31 Dec 2015]

Community
Wiki Posts
Search
Old Feb 26, 2013, 12:45 pm
FlyerTalk Forums Expert How-Tos and Guides
Last edit by: JDiver
US Airways / Barclays $99.00 Companion Certificates

As indicated in post #1254 & 1255, the last date to book has been EXTENDED
to October 12, use by 31 Dec 2015, on AA.


US Airways Companion Certificate

Purchase a roundtrip ticket of $250 (before any taxes) or more with your US Airways Dividend Miles MasterCard and have up to two companions fly with you for $99 each (plus tax on the amount of the equivalent full-fare ticket).

The price of the full-fare ticket is determined by the lowest "bucket" for which two Y seats are available if you have one companion and for which three Y seats are available if you have two companions.

Systemwide blackout dates (2015):
Jan 3, 4, Feb 13, Mar 15, 20, 22, 26, 27, 29, Apr 2, 3, 6, 12, May 21, 22, Jun 25, 26, Jul 5, 6, Oct 18, Nov 20, 29, 30, Dec 18, 19, 26, 27

Additional Blackout Dates for specific cities (2015):
- Jan 15 from Dallas
- Jan 29, 30 to Phoenix
- Feb 2, 3 from Phoenix
- Feb 13 to New Orleans
- Feb 18 from New Orleans
- Apr 7 from Indianapolis
- Apr 30, May 1 to Louisville
- May 3 from Louisville

Routing:
Certificate valid for use when travel originates in the contiguous 48 United States for service to the contiguous 48 states or Canada.
Not valid for travel to Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, Caribbean, Mexico, Central/South America, or Europe. Not valid on stopovers, open jaws, open returns, or circle trips.

Valid Carrier
Valid on flights operated by US Airways and US Airways Express. Not valid on codeshare flights operated by partner airlines such as United.
Valid for travel on American flights with a departure date after October 18, 2015.

Dividend Miles Accrual and Upgrades
Travel is eligible for Dividend Miles accrual, accrual in other airline programs not permitted. Dividend Miles Preferred upgrades are permitted subject to the rules of the upgrade being used. All Dividend Miles Terms and Conditions apply.

Additional guidelines for booking
1) You must call US Airways reservations; you cannot book this type of ticket on line.
2) The certificate must be used by YOU, you cannot have someone else and two companions use it.
3) You must book you and any companions at the same time as you on the same routing and PNR as you. One companion cannot break off and go a different direction for one segment.
4) You must use your US Airways Mastercard to make the purchase.
5) You must mail in the certificate after you make the purchase. The address is printed on the certificate (US Airways office in Winston-Salem, NC). (They insist that you retain proof of mailing within 24 hours of booking)
6) There should NOT be a telephone booking fee for this as you can't book this type of fare any other way.
7) It should be possible to split the PNR after booking (this may be beneficial for those hoping for an upgrade as a preferred member, or if the card holder can no longer travel on the days originally booked) YMMV.
8) Any changes to the tickets after booking are subject to the current change fees listed on the US Airways website.
9) Ticket must be booked at least 14 days in advance of travel. (Agents may try to tell you that it needs 15 days because the day of travel is not counted. Even supervisor will insist on it. Do not buy that. Hang up and redial. You need usual 14 days advance booking)
10) You can cancel within 24 hours of booking and you will retain the certificate if you have not mailed it. But they will not make any changes to reservations even within 24 hours due to the third sentance under the Change/Refunds section in the T&C.


Contact Phone Number for post October 18 travel: The American Airlines Meeting and Group Travel Desk is handling the post-October 18, 2015 US Companion Certificates travel reservations- 1-800-433-1790

Related thread:
Benefits of US Airways MasterCard®
Print Wikipost

ARCHIVE: LUS: US Companion Certificates [use by 31 Dec 2015]

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Mar 5, 2012, 9:21 pm
  #76  
 
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: CLT
Programs: AA, UA, BA, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Gold, IHG Platinum
Posts: 2,074
Will not budge on minimum base fare

Just wanted to share my experience:

I just tried to use my companion ticket for a fare that was $247 base + $38 tax/fees = $285 total. They would not issue the companion ticket without the minimum $250 base being hit. They did find another class on the flight that had a $292 base and I purchase it and qualified for the companion ticket. Total cost for companion ticket was $119, so it doesn't seem I was charged a $25 booking fee, just the taxes that totaled $20. No fee to book by phone either.
dukerau is offline  
Old Mar 5, 2012, 9:48 pm
  #77  
 
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Indianapolis
Programs: Hilton-Diamond Lifetime Platinum AA UA, WN-CP, SPG Gold.
Posts: 7,377
Booked a companion ticket today, 134 for the 2nd ticket , sure beats 500 extra.

Wife and I both applied for the card. so we have 2 companion tickets in the work works, sure worth the 89 bucks each.

Company will kick back for the full fare ticket...no problem
satman40 is offline  
Old Mar 10, 2012, 11:04 pm
  #78  
 
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Los Angeles
Programs: AS, DL
Posts: 278
I want to use the $99 certificate for my gf. I'm US Silver. Will both of us still be eligible for complementary upgrades off my preferred status? (I'm assuming we'll both be travelling under the same reservation)

Thanks!
koopas is offline  
Old Mar 10, 2012, 11:15 pm
  #79  
 
Join Date: Jul 2011
Programs: American Airlines, Alaska Airlines, Hawaiian Airlines, Southwest
Posts: 296
Companion ticket process is too complicated

These days, it seems to me that USAirways could adopt the approach that Alaska Airlines uses for companion tickets. When your anniversary comes up, you get an online certificate. Which you can then use to search (and use) ONLINE. No phone calls, no mail the coupon in, no 'did I lose the coupon' hassle.

It seems to me that this would be very much a win-win for USAirways to implement.

I'll not even grouse here about the fact that you can't use the companion ticket for Hawaii (you can with Alaska Airlines). For me, this year I figure to make lemonade out of this -- use my USAirways companion ticket for a round trip to Portland to visit friends, use my Alaska Airlines companion ticket for round trip Portland to Kona. Heck, with Alaska Airlines, you can even use the companion ticket for a 1st class flight.
BarryAZ is offline  
Old Mar 10, 2012, 11:19 pm
  #80  
 
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: AVL
Programs: AA EXP ; Cunard Plat
Posts: 4,211
Originally Posted by koopas
...Will both of us still be eligible for complementary upgrades off my preferred status? (I'm assuming we'll both be travelling under the same reservation)
Definitely, you'd both be eligible on the same reservation for complimentary upgrades where available.
kudzu is offline  
Old Mar 11, 2012, 3:54 am
  #81  
 
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Los Angeles
Programs: AS, DL
Posts: 278
Thanks Kudzu for the quick reply.
koopas is offline  
Old Mar 11, 2012, 3:57 am
  #82  
 
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Los Angeles
Programs: AS, DL
Posts: 278
Originally Posted by BarryAZ
These days, it seems to me that USAirways could adopt the approach that Alaska Airlines uses for companion tickets. When your anniversary comes up, you get an online certificate. Which you can then use to search (and use) ONLINE. No phone calls, no mail the coupon in, no 'did I lose the coupon' hassle.

It seems to me that this would be very much a win-win for USAirways to implement.

I'll not even grouse here about the fact that you can't use the companion ticket for Hawaii (you can with Alaska Airlines). For me, this year I figure to make lemonade out of this -- use my USAirways companion ticket for a round trip to Portland to visit friends, use my Alaska Airlines companion ticket for round trip Portland to Kona. Heck, with Alaska Airlines, you can even use the companion ticket for a 1st class flight.
US companion tickets also have tons of blackout dates, advance purchase requirements, two-night stay minimum, 30-day stay max, and other restrictions. On the upside, you can take up to 2 companions instead of 1 on AS.
koopas is offline  
Old Mar 13, 2012, 2:52 pm
  #83  
Suspended
 
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: San Diego
Programs: Delta PLAT, Marriot Plat, IHG Plat, SPG Gold, A couple of other airlines - pee on
Posts: 623
Originally Posted by stefg1007
Upcharged to full fare? That sounds like BS to me. Anyways, doesnt one of the new DOT regs say airlines cant come back and charge you more after youve purchased a ticket?

You can always have US split the reservation after its purchased if travel schedules change.
Another question about this. What would be the reason to split the reservation? I want to book a reservation for Mrs. Kaaria and the two Kaaria kids, but the certificate is under my name. I have called once to get Mrs. Kaaria on instead of me and was told could not do it. If I am able to split the reservation, then I can cancel my name and purchase a ticket for Mrs. Kaaria. I read the t/c of the certificate and it indicates once used. It is deemed used even if I cancel? Or am I reading incorrectly?
kaaria is offline  
Old Mar 13, 2012, 4:35 pm
  #84  
 
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: PHL
Posts: 352
Originally Posted by kaaria
Another question about this. What would be the reason to split the reservation? I want to book a reservation for Mrs. Kaaria and the two Kaaria kids, but the certificate is under my name. I have called once to get Mrs. Kaaria on instead of me and was told could not do it. If I am able to split the reservation, then I can cancel my name and purchase a ticket for Mrs. Kaaria. I read the t/c of the certificate and it indicates once used. It is deemed used even if I cancel? Or am I reading incorrectly?

So you buy a ticket for you + 2 kids. Then you split off the two kids, if you can because if they are under a certain age they can't be on a PNR alone. Let's say you can do that.

Then you have to pay a change fee to change your ticket to your wife's name, plus whatever has happened to the fare since you did the splitting.

At best you get out with a $150 change fee. At worst you can't do it.
javacodeguy is offline  
Old Mar 14, 2012, 12:53 pm
  #85  
Suspended
 
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: San Diego
Programs: Delta PLAT, Marriot Plat, IHG Plat, SPG Gold, A couple of other airlines - pee on
Posts: 623
Originally Posted by javacodeguy
So you buy a ticket for you + 2 kids. Then you split off the two kids, if you can because if they are under a certain age they can't be on a PNR alone. Let's say you can do that.

Then you have to pay a change fee to change your ticket to your wife's name, plus whatever has happened to the fare since you did the splitting.

At best you get out with a $150 change fee. At worst you can't do it.
I was thinking of canceling the ticket within 24 hours therefore would not be paying the $150 change fee.
kaaria is offline  
Old Mar 14, 2012, 7:07 pm
  #86  
 
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: IAD
Programs: DL-Silver; BA-Bronze
Posts: 1,162
I can't imagine they would let you cancel the ticket of the card holder and keep the other two $99 companion's reservation in place. Please let us know if they do though!
bevoinva is offline  
Old Mar 16, 2012, 10:16 pm
  #87  
 
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: NYC
Programs: UA 2P, HHonors Gold
Posts: 23
Primary flyer switching to United MP # on companion itinerary?

Booked my first companion certificate a couple of weeks ago. A much better experience than I was expecting after reading some of the posts in this thread. The agent was very friendly and knowledgeable and she was able to book exactly what I found on ITA. She also specifically said that a phone booking fee would not be charged after I inquired about it.

My question is: does anybody have any experience in switching FF # to another airline's after making a companion certificate booking? The T&C says no, but I remember reading somewhere that people had experience switching the companion to another airline's FF #. What about the primary flyer (i.e. card holder)? I was able to do it on US Air's website after the booking, just not sure if it'll come back and bite me afterwards.

Last edited by UAbruin; Mar 18, 2012 at 2:32 pm Reason: typo
UAbruin is offline  
Old Mar 18, 2012, 6:53 pm
  #88  
 
Join Date: Jul 2010
Posts: 357
Certs Earn DM?

Just halted my certificate reservation when the agent told me that the certifcate fare does not earn DM. The fully priced tickets earns miles, just not the companion--according to this agent.

Is she wrong? I mean, really, really, really 100% dead wrong? Has any one flow on cert. in 2012 and had miles posted?
CHSDOC is offline  
Old Mar 18, 2012, 7:05 pm
  #89  
 
Join Date: Sep 2001
Location: charlotte NC
Programs: AA EP
Posts: 573
My companion earned miles in November 2011. The companion books into the same code. Hang up and call back!
la2clt is offline  
Old Mar 19, 2012, 11:58 am
  #90  
 
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: PHL
Programs: AA Executive Platinum; Hilton Diamond
Posts: 2,662
Originally Posted by CHSDOC
Just halted my certificate reservation when the agent told me that the certifcate fare does not earn DM. The fully priced tickets earns miles, just not the companion--according to this agent.

Is she wrong? I mean, really, really, really 100% dead wrong? Has any one flow on cert. in 2012 and had miles posted?
Yes, she is wrong unless this is a change that very recently occurred. You all will get miles and you might get upgrades (depending on your status) using the companion cert.
apeortdz is offline  


Contact Us - Manage Preferences - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service -

This site is owned, operated, and maintained by MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Designated trademarks are the property of their respective owners.