AMEX Delta Companion certificate Consolidated Thread
Jan 25, 2012, 3:33 pm
#121
Join Date: May 2008
Location: SFO
Posts: 851
You can use the certificate and book both the paying ticket and companion for 2 different travelers. I believe you must pay with your AMEX card.
I bought my wife and her Dad tickets using my companion certificate.
And contrary to a lot of what's been in this thread, I found it simple to find low fare class and use the certificate.
I bought my wife and her Dad tickets using my companion certificate.
And contrary to a lot of what's been in this thread, I found it simple to find low fare class and use the certificate.
Jan 25, 2012, 4:09 pm
#122
Join Date: May 2007
Location: SEA
Programs: Delta Platinum Medallion, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 624
I think using them for other (non-status) family members is a good way to use these since they don't qualify for upgrades anyway.
Jan 25, 2012, 5:28 pm
#123
FlyerTalk Evangelist & Ambassador: China
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: DEN
Programs: DL DM/MM, UA 1K, AA Exp, HH Dia, WOH Glob, IHG Plat, Marriott Gold, NA EE, Hertz PC
Posts: 17,423
Trade 'em on coupon connection to someone who can make use of them. I haven't been so much fortunate, as purposeful with my redemptions. I've used them for two-hop RJ itineraries that include a smaller market. Even the qualifying fares still tend to run $350-$450. I lose the miles for my companion, but saving the ~$400 is worth it, and upgrades aren't an issue on the RJs.
Jan 25, 2012, 6:21 pm
#124
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2000
Location: Winter Garden, FL
Programs: Delta DM-3MM United Gold-MM Marriott Lifetime Titanium Hertz President's Circle
Posts: 13,498
Bruce
Feb 10, 2012, 6:49 pm
#125
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: SEA
Programs: DL PM
Posts: 31
While I know the OP had the DL Plat Amex, I just wanted to chime in regarding the DL Reserve Cert. I just used mine last week, A fare DCA-LAS. Worked like a charm. The Reserve Cert is a little less restrictive than the others. It was very easy to use. Log in, select the cert and then begin searching for flights. It showed me only flights that my Cert would work on.
This is the second one of these I've used and I've never run into problems.
This is the second one of these I've used and I've never run into problems.
After editing my travel window to leave a day earlier I was able to bag the SEA-BNA Mother's Day trip for just over 800 in FC. Seems reasonable to me and easier to work with than the current fiasco known as Award Ticket Reservations.
Last edited by unweird; Feb 16, 2012 at 9:25 pm Reason: further efforts results
Feb 11, 2012, 1:15 pm
#126
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2000
Location: Winter Garden, FL
Programs: Delta DM-3MM United Gold-MM Marriott Lifetime Titanium Hertz President's Circle
Posts: 13,498
We've explained this already. Delta has multiple A fares, and only certain A fares are eligible for use with the companion certificate. This is a very big problem. I can cite countless examples where the sum of two "regular" A fares is only a few dollars more than the sum of one "certificate-eligible" A fare plus the taxes on the companion ticket. Thus, the certificate is providing very little value, certainly far less than what a customer could expect based on the terms and conditions.
Bruce
Bruce
Feb 12, 2012, 11:29 am
#127
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: BZN
Programs: AA:LT Platinum DL:LT Gold UA:1P MAR:LT Titanium
Posts: 8,291
If you seek that specific use and are affected, then sure. However, many other uses can provide immense value. I tend to use them for RJ-heavy domestic routes and small markets, and with ease I've saved ~$400/year using them. Not everyone has the same needs and interests, but you certainly can't paint them as having no value broadly.
Feb 12, 2012, 11:42 am
#128
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: WAS
Programs: AA EXP2M, DL 1MM DM ext, UA PP <=> HH G/Marr PE/Hyatt G/IHG P FT RA ( Recovering Addict)
Posts: 4,596
Seriously, this companion thing is the worst, most misleading promotion of all time. No restrictions or blackouts, (yet there ARE), NO flights available 6 -8 weeks out from SEA to DTW (I can't imagine there is a mid DEC to mid JAN rush on people wanting to be in beautiful resort city of DETROIT) and even with massive flexibility, "I'm sorry, there are no flights in the classes L, U, or T available for any of those dates). This happened last year when I paid $988 each for 2 tickets and NOT ABLE to use companion fare because all seats in those classes were GONE. How many are available per flight, if even all flights? 1? 2? They won't tell you that, but I CAN tell you this. Last DEC when they had "No flights in that class" we counted 13 EMPTY Seats, all in the middle from front to back of plane (certainly the worst seats) and DELTA was fine with letting those seats go unsold, rather than to provide them for companion fares. It's a huge scam and much in this string seems like Delta Sky Miles "online reputation team" is just answering as if there is no problem. It's a BIG problem and I'm ready to go to BBB and FTC with this one for a class action lawsuit. BEWARE of the Delta Sky Miles AMEX card.
Did you open this new FT account just to slam AMEX? Are you a regular FT member with another screen name? If so, doesn’t seem right to hide behind a one-time-use name to slam a product…and to do so (at least IMO) unfairly.
The terms and conditions for these certificates are pretty straightforward. Using them may take some effort, but many posters here on FT have used them quite successfully.
The terms and conditions for these certificates are pretty straightforward. Using them may take some effort, but many posters here on FT have used them quite successfully.
This thread seems to bring them out of the woodwork all right.
Anybody having trouble using them PM me and I will use them for my next few family trips. Thanks. They have real value, if used right.
Feb 14, 2012, 10:08 pm
#129
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: DTW
Programs: AA EXP, DL FO
Posts: 1,719
I'm finding these companion certificates to be extremely valuable. They're great for booking travel with or for those who don't care about MQMs.
I just booked tickets using two.
1) DTW-PDX. Primary ticket was $360 and companion ticket $100 + $40 taxes. Total savings = $220
2) DTW-PDX. Primary ticket $360 and companion ticket $0 + $40 taxes. Total savings = $320.
I might even have the GF and myself get more DL Amex cards. She's a non-status flyer, and we never fly on anything higher than a LUT fare, so these make perfect sense for us. I get miles as the primary and she flies as the companion. Upgrades don't matter because I never get upgraded with her on my PNRs anyways.
I just booked tickets using two.
1) DTW-PDX. Primary ticket was $360 and companion ticket $100 + $40 taxes. Total savings = $220
2) DTW-PDX. Primary ticket $360 and companion ticket $0 + $40 taxes. Total savings = $320.
I might even have the GF and myself get more DL Amex cards. She's a non-status flyer, and we never fly on anything higher than a LUT fare, so these make perfect sense for us. I get miles as the primary and she flies as the companion. Upgrades don't matter because I never get upgraded with her on my PNRs anyways.
Feb 14, 2012, 11:47 pm
#130
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: BZN
Programs: AA:LT Platinum DL:LT Gold UA:1P MAR:LT Titanium
Posts: 8,291
I'm finding these companion certificates to be extremely valuable. They're great for booking travel with or for those who don't care about MQMs.
I just booked tickets using two.
1) DTW-PDX. Primary ticket was $360 and companion ticket $100 + $40 taxes. Total savings = $220
2) DTW-PDX. Primary ticket $360 and companion ticket $0 + $40 taxes. Total savings = $320.
I might even have the GF and myself get more DL Amex cards. She's a non-status flyer, and we never fly on anything higher than a LUT fare, so these make perfect sense for us. I get miles as the primary and she flies as the companion. Upgrades don't matter because I never get upgraded with her on my PNRs anyways.
I just booked tickets using two.
1) DTW-PDX. Primary ticket was $360 and companion ticket $100 + $40 taxes. Total savings = $220
2) DTW-PDX. Primary ticket $360 and companion ticket $0 + $40 taxes. Total savings = $320.
I might even have the GF and myself get more DL Amex cards. She's a non-status flyer, and we never fly on anything higher than a LUT fare, so these make perfect sense for us. I get miles as the primary and she flies as the companion. Upgrades don't matter because I never get upgraded with her on my PNRs anyways.
Feb 15, 2012, 5:59 am
#131
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: BOS
Programs: DL DM 2MM, Marriott LT Titanium, Hertz PC, Avis PC
Posts: 15,207
For the A fares, it seems that a lot of the time, the system is pulling the "refundable" pricing for a coach ticket and then making that the A fare price... for all of those who keep having problems with the Reserve companion A cert, keep writing and complaining to both Amex and Delta.
Feb 15, 2012, 6:31 am
#132
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2000
Location: Winter Garden, FL
Programs: Delta DM-3MM United Gold-MM Marriott Lifetime Titanium Hertz President's Circle
Posts: 13,498
Feb 15, 2012, 6:34 am
#133
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2000
Location: Winter Garden, FL
Programs: Delta DM-3MM United Gold-MM Marriott Lifetime Titanium Hertz President's Circle
Posts: 13,498
If you seek that specific use and are affected, then sure. However, many other uses can provide immense value. I tend to use them for RJ-heavy domestic routes and small markets, and with ease I've saved ~$400/year using them. Not everyone has the same needs and interests, but you certainly can't paint them as having no value broadly.
Bruce
Feb 15, 2012, 7:33 am
#134
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: SoCal
Posts: 676
+1. I saved $500 this year on a companion coach ticket, paying only the $50 tax. That pays for the card, and the other card benefits are pretty nice, too!
Feb 15, 2012, 8:32 am
#135
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Washington, DC
Programs: Delta PM, Delta Reserve, Amex Plat, Bonvoy Gold, Hilton Diamond, Starbucks Gold ;)
Posts: 1,776
I managed to use my companion certificate for a coach ticket and saved a couple hundred dollars. I'm not going to complain about that. But I have never successfully found a first-class companion fare that resulted in any significant savings, on any route, any time. That aspect of the offer is a scam, in my opinion.
Bruce
Bruce
DL.com didn't seem to restrict which fares I chose. Also, after I booked one of my flights changes significantly. When I called the PM desk they were able to change my flights without any problem and re-issue my tickets. If the certs are very restricted I have not experienced that issue yet.