Delta/AMEX $99 Companion Certificate--NOT!
Jun 10, 2007, 7:48 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2007
Posts: 6
Delta/AMEX $99 Companion Certificate--NOT!
As a "reward" for being holders of Gold Delta/Amex credit cards, my spouse and I each received $99 Companion Fare Certificates. Guess what----they are worthless, as they can only be used if the companion full fare ticket is booked in "L, U or T" class, which we've found is impossible to find.
We've tried numerous itineraries to different cities at different times and can't find a single intinerary that would allow us to use these certificates.
Any suggestions or hints on how to use these?
If I'm right that it is virtually impossible to use these, then I will report this to our state's consumer protection agency, as I believe it implicates consumer protection/fraud issues.
We've tried numerous itineraries to different cities at different times and can't find a single intinerary that would allow us to use these certificates.
Any suggestions or hints on how to use these?
If I'm right that it is virtually impossible to use these, then I will report this to our state's consumer protection agency, as I believe it implicates consumer protection/fraud issues.
Jun 10, 2007, 8:00 am
#2
Join Date: Aug 2005
Posts: 375
Those are typically the lower class fares and sometimes can't be found a few months or weeks out. Check every day on delta.com and eventually you will find something. It helps if you live in a city where Delta has a lot of competition because T fares (sometimes U or L) are used to match competitors. There is plenty of availability on those fare classes from ATL for instance. What airport do you fly out of?
Last edited by NCLSEA123; Jun 10, 2007 at 8:12 am
Jun 10, 2007, 8:12 am
#3
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2007
Posts: 6
Delta/AMEX ---- NOT!
We fly out of PDX. I've been trying this now for 3 weeks, for travel as far out as September, and so far these certificates have been worthless.
Thanks for your info, though.
Thanks for your info, though.
Jun 10, 2007, 8:14 am
#4
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2000
Programs: DL FO, Marriott Gold, SPG Gold
Posts: 12,003
On DL's site make sure that you click on "full search options" and they under "Preferences" pick fare class. Under fare class you can search for "Coach T or higher". This should help you locate LUT fares.
Jun 10, 2007, 8:50 am
#5
Join Date: Aug 2005
Posts: 375
Where do you want to go and when? I found many L and U fares from PDX to many major cities throughout the U.S.
Jun 10, 2007, 3:06 pm
#6
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Ireland, UnderH20, AUA, Brooklyn
Programs: Delta Charter KM, DM180, RW, DM, SC, SkyBonus; HH Diamond, IHG Plt Amb, Global Ent, TWIC
Posts: 2,191
I have used them whenever possible and have never found LUT to be an issue where I fly to or from. All depends on your particular intinerary.
Jun 10, 2007, 3:32 pm
#7
Join Date: May 2007
Location: WAS
Programs: UA 1K, AA EXP, WN A+, Hyatt Glob, Marriott Amb, Hertz PC
Posts: 1,126
I fly from pdx, and almost all of my past flights this year have been t-class. Just book a bit in advance and it shouldn't be too hard.
Jun 10, 2007, 3:33 pm
#8
Join Date: Sep 2004
Posts: 859
OP, please give us more info and we can easily find out what the problem is.
Jun 10, 2007, 4:26 pm
#9
Join Date: Jan 2005
Posts: 53
L/u/t
This may be the case with the PDX market for this time of the year, but ex YUL there tends to be quite substantial L and U inventory on most days and flights since it is L and U inventory assigned for consolidators contract fares. So, might be more the case of the destination or dates desired, not a systemwide problem with redemption.
Jun 10, 2007, 4:36 pm
#10
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Los Angeles
Posts: 4,677
What markets are you trying to book? I just ran several searches with flights leaving PDX on a Friday and returning on a Sunday. These would seem to me to be the flights least likely to have L/U/T fares still available. On each search I was able to find L/U?t tickets. This was for travel a 2-4 weeks from now.
L, U & T fares are very common. There is no consumer fraud here.
L, U & T fares are very common. There is no consumer fraud here.
Jun 10, 2007, 5:15 pm
#11
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: PDX
Programs: AS MVPG
Posts: 2,956
LUTs are everywhere
LUTs are everywhere. I have rarely ever purchased anything higher, in fact the most expensive ($370) domestic ticket I have purchased in recent memory was a U fare.
Aug 1, 2007, 3:11 pm
#12
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Cincinnati, OH
Programs: Starwood Gold, HiltonHHonors Silver, Marriott Silver, Delta SkyMiles
Posts: 1,775
I used my certificate successfully today to book 2 RT flights from Dayton to Phoenix 11/7-11/11 for $442.00, taxes included. Delta.com was pricing the same flights for $560.
I called the AMEX Platinum 2-for-1 program and they offered the same price ($442 for 2) but they could only offer via American Airlines. I'm not a member of AA so I declined.
All in all, I saved a little over $100 off retail plus I get to pocket the SkyMiles for one pax (me). Plus, unlike the companion certificate, I didn't have to go to a Delta ticketing agent to complete the purchase. ^
I called the AMEX Platinum 2-for-1 program and they offered the same price ($442 for 2) but they could only offer via American Airlines. I'm not a member of AA so I declined.
All in all, I saved a little over $100 off retail plus I get to pocket the SkyMiles for one pax (me). Plus, unlike the companion certificate, I didn't have to go to a Delta ticketing agent to complete the purchase. ^
Aug 1, 2007, 3:16 pm
#13
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Hopefully on a plane...
Posts: 6,580
Who got these 2 for 1's? Delta Gold AMEX or AMEX Gold?
Aug 1, 2007, 3:51 pm
#14
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Kingdom of the Sun
Programs: DL GM/MM
Posts: 3,708
Aug 1, 2007, 4:50 pm
#15
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Cincinnati, OH
Programs: Starwood Gold, HiltonHHonors Silver, Marriott Silver, Delta SkyMiles
Posts: 1,775
And AMEX has a platinum card (annual fee $450) that will give you four 2-for-1 tickets on one of 6 major airlines, contiguous US and Honolulu/Anchorage only with a minimum fare of $299 for the former and $899 for the latter. You can't pick your airline a lot of times, but you do accumulate miles on both tickets. It's saved a few hundred bucks for some people who fly enough to overcome the $450 fee. (You get other benefits, too, such as complimentary Starwood gold, free towing, consumer protection, upgrades on fine hotels, and Crown Room Club access.