American Express Membership Rewards - MR/AF Companion Ticket for $149

I have searched through this board and cannot find info on my specific question; I apologize if it has been addressed before, but I am new to the board and still trying to figure out these mileage programs! Question is, I see on the MR site you can purchase an AF $149 Companion Ticket Certificate for 16,000 points. What's the deal? I tried to read all the restrictions but they are pretty vague. Will I have to purchase some "special" overpriced ticket to get the companion ticket? Also, could I buy 2 regular fare tickets & buy 2 of these companion tickets in order to get my family of 4 to Europe? Thanks for any clarification anyone can give... :confused:

I used a companion ticket for last year's trip to France. The special fare is not the lowest available, but if you take into account that you're only paying $149 for the second ticket it works out in your favor.

Spoke to AF today and the companion ticket was usable on a fare which priced out at just less than 25% more than the lowest fare (for dates in question fare jumped from approx. USD 875 to USD 1070, which IMO makes the companion ticket worthwhile) -

Another question for any past users - How do the taxes and extra fees pile up on the $149 ticket? Similar to an award ticket?

Edited to add: Booked ticket. Two came out to USD 1300, whereas single tix were USD 930. Tickets are transferable/giftable, but have to be bought on cert-holders credit card. Taxes and fees on the companion ticket were indeed similar to award ticket. And the big question - AF sez NEITHER ticket eligible to receive mileage credit - will see, as I'll try to accrue on the regular fare one.

This sounds like a good deal from what is posted. In 2004 I investigated using MR Points for the Free Companion Business Class ticket but at least at that time it appeared to me that I would have had to buy a business fare class that was so high that it would have qualifed me for the 2 for 1 program with a Platinum card without using MR points. If the companion ticket for $149 brings real value, then it is a good deal.

You do not/not get miles for the regular fare ticket.

You do not/not get miles for the regular fare ticket.

Thx for the info

You do not/not get miles for the regular fare ticket.


I think the above-noted statement conveys incorrect information.


I am familiar with the T & C of the free business class companion ticket offer and those state that one does not earn miles on the free ticket, but does earn miles on the paid ticket.

As the $149 fee is for essentially a free ticket, it seems more than likely that one will not earn miles on the companion ticket, as well, as per the above, but that one will earn miles for the paid ticket.

I suggest a thorough review of the AMEX rules to see what is actually the case and if it says it does earn miles, print out that rule and save it in case you do not get miles.

I know that I may get banned for such crazy talk, but unless you were hoping for Elite Qualifying miles, and not just regular miles, the loss of miles on one trip is just one trip afterall. ( Yes, I started drinking early today).

What's nice about EQM's is that West coasters can reach bottom level Elite Staus with two R.T's to Europe.

I think the true value , or best bank for the buck is in the bottom level or 25,000 EGM level.

Priority seat selection
Priority , shorter hold times on reservation numbers.
Elite First Class Security line ( Very important in this day and age)
Elite/ First class check in & Priority baggage tagging ( if not handleing ;)

Can you pay $149 and use it to buy a second discounted business class ticket, such as the advance purchase BOS-CDG-BOS business class fare that's available for $2,715, so two people would be $2,864?

Can you pay $149 and use it to buy a second discounted business class ticket, such as the advance purchase BOS-CDG-BOS business class fare that's available for $2,715, so two people would be $2,864?

Nope:

$149 Economy Class Companion ticket for travel on Air France to France (nonstop to Paris and connecting flights to Bordeaux, Lyon, Marseille, Nice, Toulouse), and connecting flights from Paris to Amsterdam, Athens, Barcelona, Berlin, Florence, Frankfurt, Geneva, Istanbul, Madrid, Milan, Munich, Rome, Venice and Zurich.

*Requires a purchase of an Economy round-trip ticket. Reward Code AF1

But for 90,000 MRs, you can get a companion business class ticket:

Business Class round-trip companion ticket for travel on Air France to France (including nonstop to Paris and connecting flights to Bordeaux, Lyon, Marseille, Nice, Toulouse) and connecting flights from Paris to Amsterdam, Athens, Barcelona, Berlin, Florence, Frankfurt, Geneva, Istanbul, Madrid, Milan, Munich, Rome, Venice and Zurich. Reward Code AF3

This does not say what class you need to book, so it reads like this would be eligible for a 2:1 off a discounted J ticket. It's not too different than 90,000 miles for a free (non-companion linked) business class ticket on AA: one could book a paid business class ticket on AA for $2,700 and use 90,000 AAdvantage miles and the two requirements aren't linked.

I think the above-noted statement conveys incorrect information.


I am familiar with the T & C of the free business class companion ticket offer and those state that one does not earn miles on the free ticket, but does earn miles on the paid ticket.

As the $149 fee is for essentially a free ticket, it seems more than likely that one will not earn miles on the companion ticket, as well, as per the above, but that one will earn miles for the paid ticket.

I suggest a thorough review of the AMEX rules to see what is actually the case and if it says it does earn miles, print out that rule and save it in case you do not get miles.

When I sued this reward two years ago both tickets earned miles in Delta SkyMiles program. The AF agent confirmed it saying that the second ticket is not free for them but paid by AmEx. And indeed miles posted to both accounts. But of course everything could change in two years...