miraclebear2003

Used two last year and two this year. Sometimes A and I weren't available on all segments and you can either keep checking or take coach for the short segments since upgrades are now allowed.

guitarguy19

What's the difference between an upsell and a reissue? The amount of miles accrued by the primary passenger?

Bummer that it can't be done with miles tho.

guitarguy19

Question: How far in advance should one be looking to book when using the Amex DL Plat companion cert? What is a "safe" window.

I'm looking at using my cert for 2018 on the Jul 4 week vacation...I know...it could potentially be a peak time. Our dates are flexible but only by 1-2 days unfortunately.

One plus is we're not sure where we're going yet...DTW to LGA/JFK-MSY-SFO-BOS-SEA...our plans are still wide open. Throw out a suggestion! ha. We just know we're probably going to get away, and would like to burn this cert.

I applied for and was approved for my DL Plat Amex on 10/25/16...so I assume my cert will be avail on 10/25/17.

GENERALLY...is 7-8 months out reasonable to expect a L, U, T, X, V fare to be available?

rylan

I'd start looking as soon as you have the cert. DL may have low fare buckets available, however they seem to be not opening up lower inventory until 3-6 months before the flight since they don't know how it is selling yet... it really depends on the route and demand. Best advise is to start watching.

gooselee

+1

Several months out, Nonstop from a hub, moderate flexibility on dates/times/location...you'll be able to use these every time. The most "flexibility" I've had to deal with when using my certs out of ATL is maybe choosing a flight a couple hours before or after my first preference. But on leisure trips, I'd do that anyway if there was a >$50 fare difference.

I have had no problems with either the Plat or Reserve cert and continue holding both cards as a result. Several years using the Plat, and two years using Reserve.

FlightNurse

When it comes to using BOGO people need to remember to get the lowest fare you need not try and travel on a holiday weekend. There are blackout dates too one needs to remember. I've used my BOGO without a problem, but then again, I never try and travel during a holiday weekend.

WidgetTravels

There aren't blackout days per se, though the fare classes you need tend to not be as prevalent around busy times. Also, individual fares may have blackout dates, though those aren't as common domestically.

ATOBTTR

Companion cents are upgrade eligible now. I just booked exactly what you talked about with my companion certificate. I'm in FC for part of it and economy for two segments. The segments in economy have already cleared into C+ and we have the request for complimentary FC upgrade showing in the itinerary.

guitarguy19

Does booking further out help this at all?

This wouldn't be a *weekend* but the week surrounding the date. Jul 4 falls on a Wed. I will be off work that week and would like to get away. If it doesn't work I'm sure we can use the cert for something else...but just wondering if it will be impossible to use during busy times or not.

gooselee

You have flexibility in time, date (to some extent), and location, and you are booking well in advance (even with the holiday). All very big things that most debbie downers of this cert often do not. I wouldn't overthink this or worry about it too much.

I just did a search with my cert and found four eligible flights DTW-LGA on 6/30, and 4 eligible flights returning LGA-DTW on 7/7.

If you fly outbound 7/3 or 7/4 itself, there are NINE available flights LGA-DTW.

Pricing on all dates starts at $324, which at a quick look seems equal to (or actually slightly lower than) the going cash price for "T" fares both ways.

Didn't have time to search the other destinations, but again, I literally had no issue finding anything within your very flexible parameters on the first try.

guitarguy19

I've found the same. Might be deciding to go DTW-DEN. Lots of available flights that meet the fare criteria.

Here's a question though: when *exactly* does the cert become available?? Couldn't seem to find a concrete answer to this.

It says "on your card anniversary" but does that mean the date you applied / were approved for the card? Or the date of your first statement, such as when the fee posts? What gives?

If it's the date of the statement on which the fee posts...that would SUCK! That means I'll have to wait until mid/late November...another month closer to when we want to travel. I applied (and was instantly approved) for the card on 10/26. When can I expect the cert to show up in my DL wallet??

EDIT: I actually see it says "it will be available in your renewal month." Is that going to be my Oct statement then? That would be cool...

ATLawyer

I've used two in the past two months over holiday weekends. One ATL-MIA over the 4th weekend booked about 3 weeks in advance. Another for this upcoming (Labor day) weekend ATL-CHI booked 2 weeks in advance. Had absolutely zero problems booking either.

crazygrow

Been successful every year that I've had the card (~10 years).

gooselee

How do you mean you've found the same?

In my post, I did a search using the actual BOGO cert currently sitting in my SkyMiles account. This is slightly different from just searching and looking for 2 matching LUTXV fares available for sale, since there are some reports that not all LUTXV fares are eligible (though in my experience there hasn't actually been a difference, so YMMV).

My certs have always posted right about when Amex posts the renewal fee to my account. This is not necessarily when the statement closes..usually sometime in the month leading up to that statement.

mnbp

I'm not sure the exact anniversary date for my DL Amex Plat card - I've held the card for several years. However, two data points which might be helpful.

My renewal annual fee posted to my Amex account on April 23 this year, as it did the year before.

My Amex Companion cert posted to my DL Skymiles account on April 3. Last year, my companion cert posted on April 4.

What date did your first annual fee post? Based on my experience, you might expect to see your companion cert post to your DL.com wallet about 19-20 calendar days prior to the posting date for the next annual fee.

Hope this helps.