AMEX/DELTA "Free" companion ticket worthless
I have used the annual companion ticket that comes with my AMEX Delta platinum card fairly successfully in past years. However, this year, it is worthless. I have pled my case to both AMEX and Delta with no luck. Recent example: A round-trip first-class ticket, class "A," from SLC to BOS costs about $1,150. However, when you use the "Free" companion ticket, the cost skyrockets to $2,250. I fly mainly out of Salt Lake and no matter where I have tried to use it, it has been absolutely worthless for first-class fare - at least out of SLC.
So if you are purchasing the AMEX/DELTA platinum credit card with the idea of re-couping some of the card's annual fee by using the "free" companion first-class fare, you may want to only sign up for the card for other reasons. |
FYI, Delta "A" fares are technically coach fares that are automatically upgraded for first. The reason for the price increase that you're seeing is probably due to the fact that a true F seat on Delta is a lot more expensive than an A fare.
For more info on this, see the dozen plus threads in the Delta forum. |
The AMEX Platinum Skymiles card does not offer a free First Class companion ticket. You have to have the Delta Reserve card for that.
I have never had a problem using my coach companion ticket I get each year with my Platinum Skymiles card. |
I've had very good luck using the Reserve card first class companion certificate. It's very easy to use - online and it works. It's flexible - it's transferable for someone else to use (family members). It's a HUGE bargain - I've saved a ton of money using them over the years. I'm still trying to figure out any negative about this credit card perk. I don't see any other than it does limit you to the lower fares, but those are readily available.
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BTW, Welcome to Flyertalk since this was your first post :cool:
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Some of it depends on where and when you are flying from/to. Years past I was never able to use mine. I could always find 2 sale fares cheaper than the required base fare for the cert.
This year I was determined to use it to fly my daughter & husband over Labor Day weekend to our family reunion. I kept checking back for weeks on end and finally the flights I wanted popped up in the usable fare bucket about 4-5 weeks out. I have had better luck using the Reserve card certs for F travel. But still, you have to just keep checking back, just like we all do for award travel. |
Thanks
Yes, first timer poster, so thanks for the replies.
And yes, I should have clarified, I do have the Delta Platinum "reserve" card. However, there just never seems to be a first class ticket which makes sense to use the "free" companion fare on. I have used them in the past and they have been great, but this year, I have yet to see a round trip first-class ticket out of SLC that it really gives you any kind of savings on - that's all I am saying - so for me, it is worthless. |
There is not a Delta Platinum Reserve Card.. There is a Delta Skymiles Platinum Card, and a Delta Skymiles Reserve Card. Two separate cards.
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Originally Posted by cottonpatch
(Post 17117188)
I've had very good luck using the Reserve card first class companion certificate. It's very easy to use - online and it works. It's flexible - it's transferable for someone else to use (family members). It's a HUGE bargain - I've saved a ton of money using them over the years. I'm still trying to figure out any negative about this credit card perk. I don't see any other than it does limit you to the lower fares, but those are readily available.
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Card types
Sorry, should have looked closer at which card was attached to the certificate. I have several AMEX for personal and business. The "free" companion fare comes with each year's renewal on my Delta Reserve AMEX I believe.
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Well, I feel the concern of the OP, but I can't think of a single "companion certificate" that is truly easy to redeem. Are there other airlines or credit card companies that have have a seamless process for redeeming? And I'm not talking about the AMEX Platinum and the stupid business/first class restriction.
But I will say that if you get a credit card simply for the companion certificate, you should rethink your cc decision. |
I use the companion certificate for coach fares. Great deal, and definitely not "worthless."
Open question - why do so many posters use hyperbole and gross exaggeration in thread titles? |
I will stick up for the OP in saying that the Reserve companion cert has recently significantly lost its value for me. In the past, as long as there was an A fare -- any A fare -- I have been able to book it using the cert.
Now that it is all through the system, you can go to book the A fare, yet when you indicate you are using the cert, the fare (still in A bucket) skyrockets and it no longer is worth trying to use the cert at all. I have tried it in numerous markets. Eventually you are able to find one where the A fare without the cert is not much lower than with, but that is rare. I agree that the cert has very little value to me whatsoever. FWIW, I have never tried to use it to fly in Y, and wouldn't. |
Originally Posted by mtflyr
(Post 17116980)
Recent example: A round-trip first-class ticket, class "A," from SLC to BOS costs about $1,150. However, when you use the "Free" companion ticket, the cost skyrockets to $2,250.
FWIW, I find the best deals for the certificate are on the L, U or Ts to high cost destinations. |
Originally Posted by rionio77
(Post 17127867)
Well, I feel the concern of the OP, but I can't think of a single "companion certificate" that is truly easy to redeem. Are there other airlines or credit card companies that have have a seamless process for redeeming? And I'm not talking about the AMEX Platinum and the stupid business/first class restriction.
But I will say that if you get a credit card simply for the companion certificate, you should rethink your cc decision. A few years ago when it was "free" or even $50, it was well worth the $75 annual credit card fee by itself. At $99 it may not be worth getting the credit card only for that unless you're using it for F tix, although you could make a pretty good case for getting it to use on a trans con SEA/PDX-EWR/BOS in Y. |
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