AMEX Delta Companion certificate Consolidated Thread
#2326
Suspended
Join Date: Mar 2017
Programs: Delta-pm, Hilton-Diamond, Marriott-PP
Posts: 271
You must not be very flexible. I have had Delta platinum and reserve cards, and have successfully used the certificates every year. I Just used the platinum certificate for a trip to New York in spring.
#2327
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 22,929
There must be L/U/T/X/V availability on the flights in order to use the cert. Did you check that first? You must start your search by the selecting cert (you can no longer select cert after a search has been started). If you are selecting unrestricted main you must be in the advanced search, which means you are starting in the wrong place. An unrestricted main cabin flight wouldn't be applicable for cert use anyway as it wouldn't be an L/U/T/X/V fare.
Last edited by xliioper; Dec 30, 2018 at 9:14 am
#2329
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: ATL
Programs: Delta Platinum, WN A-List Preferred, Marriott LT Titanium, Hertz President's Circle
Posts: 296
Hoping someone has some insight on this... for years have used Delta Platinum Amex. In December, upgraded to Delta Reserve to utilize the SkyClub access instead of paying for it separately as well as the upgraded companion fare ticket (booking in C+ or First). I just went to book a flight using the certificate and it's still showing my Delta Platinum card in My Wallet, and thus, only showing flights avail in Main Cabin. Any idea how or when it will change over to the Delta Reserve I now have (it's the same card number as my previous Platinum - was just an upgrade, not a new account).
Thanks for any help!
Thanks for any help!
#2330
Moderator: Hyatt; FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: WAS
Programs: :rolleyes:, DL DM, Mlife Plat, Caesars Diam, Marriott Tit, UA Gold, Hyatt Glob, invol FT beta tester
Posts: 18,819
Hoping someone has some insight on this... for years have used Delta Platinum Amex. In December, upgraded to Delta Reserve to utilize the SkyClub access instead of paying for it separately as well as the upgraded companion fare ticket (booking in C+ or First). I just went to book a flight using the certificate and it's still showing my Delta Platinum card in My Wallet, and thus, only showing flights avail in Main Cabin. Any idea how or when it will change over to the Delta Reserve I now have (it's the same card number as my previous Platinum - was just an upgrade, not a new account).
Thanks for any help!
Thanks for any help!
#2331
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: ATL
Programs: Delta Platinum, WN A-List Preferred, Marriott LT Titanium, Hertz President's Circle
Posts: 296
UGH, thanks. I had a feeling that was the case despite the Amex agent I spoke to when making the switch indicating that it WOULD magically change. Ah well. Next year
#2332
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: TYS
Programs: HH Diamond, AGR, DL tin-foil (FO)
Posts: 46
I did this for a trip last month, booked online with the second passenger EXST (lastname). A couple of the gate agents initially balked at scanning two boarding passes, and for some reason I couldn't do online check-in for my return (didn't like EXST in the exit row maybe?) but in the end it worked fine.
#2333
Why not just load up your PNR on airfrance.us and select your seats there? The seats should be always selected on the operating airline site if you want it to stick and work, doing it on dullta.com often doesn't work at all, and even when it looks like it does, there is a good chance that it doesn't really save with the operating carrier.
The one nuance is that Delta's seatmap for AM flights will show as all open, even though this is not true. You'll need to look at AM's seatmap to determine vacant seats, and then select through Delta.com
#2334
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: ATW
Programs: Delta Skymiles Diamond Medallion, Delta Amex Reserve, Marriott Rewards Silver, HH Diamond, IHG Spire
Posts: 268
Looking at using my AMEX Reserve cert and noticed that the terms haven't been updated to align with the new first class fare buckets - specifically the terms and search engine still only look for A or I class, when Z is now the lowest class. Has anyone called in and been successful in getting them to book into Z instead of I only? This increased the fare several hundred dollars versus being able to use Z (old A).
#2335
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: NYC
Programs: Delta DM, 2MM
Posts: 1,253
Looking at using my AMEX Reserve cert and noticed that the terms haven't been updated to align with the new first class fare buckets - specifically the terms and search engine still only look for A or I class, when Z is now the lowest class. Has anyone called in and been successful in getting them to book into Z instead of I only? This increased the fare several hundred dollars versus being able to use Z (old A).
#2336
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 22,929
Looking at using my AMEX Reserve cert and noticed that the terms haven't been updated to align with the new first class fare buckets - specifically the terms and search engine still only look for A or I class, when Z is now the lowest class. Has anyone called in and been successful in getting them to book into Z instead of I only? This increased the fare several hundred dollars versus being able to use Z (old A).
#2337
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: ATW
Programs: Delta Skymiles Diamond Medallion, Delta Amex Reserve, Marriott Rewards Silver, HH Diamond, IHG Spire
Posts: 268
Why would they need to make a change?? Both A and I are one-up from the lowest levels (G and Z). Nothing has changed there. You will pretty much never see a case where there is G/Z availability, but no A/I fare availability. Don't think you understand how the fare buckets work.
I am seeing Z availability for 2 people ATW-ATL on my dates I am interested in, but when doing the search it only returns I for the companion certificate. My only other thought is there is another restriction on the availability of the the Z fare with companion code, though I suspect the search engine isn't looking for Z since the terms didn't have Z in it previously and at the moment still don't. In this case it is about a $190 price difference, not insignificant if still a $535 dollar savings over buying the two tickets outright.
#2338
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 22,929
No I understand. I also saw previously where G was available but the search engine wouldn't accept it when Delta went to GAP fares, not just A/P for domestic first class. I believe it may be the same bug here now that Delta has aligned domestic first class fare buckets with business class buckets, leaving the GAP buckets for Premium Select.
I am seeing Z availability for 2 people ATW-ATL on my dates I am interested in, but when doing the search it only returns I for the companion certificate. My only other thought is there is another restriction on the availability of the the Z fare with companion code, though I suspect the search engine isn't looking for Z since the terms didn't have Z in it previously and at the moment still don't. In this case it is about a $190 price difference, not insignificant if still a $535 dollar savings over buying the two tickets outright.
I am seeing Z availability for 2 people ATW-ATL on my dates I am interested in, but when doing the search it only returns I for the companion certificate. My only other thought is there is another restriction on the availability of the the Z fare with companion code, though I suspect the search engine isn't looking for Z since the terms didn't have Z in it previously and at the moment still don't. In this case it is about a $190 price difference, not insignificant if still a $535 dollar savings over buying the two tickets outright.
Last edited by xliioper; Jan 10, 2019 at 11:27 am
#2339
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: ATW
Programs: Delta Skymiles Diamond Medallion, Delta Amex Reserve, Marriott Rewards Silver, HH Diamond, IHG Spire
Posts: 268
Yes - FPAG is the correct order; GAP was just a term used to discuss the cheaper fares I've seen used and rolls off my tongue a bit easier then PAG of FPAG.
Now, I thought after some time they did start selling G fares with the certificate even if not directly listed. I think the intent of the cert is to be forced into the lowest buckets with the most limited availability. In the case of the reserve cert they hold you to the second lowest bucket in first class and lowest 3 in coach per the terms, which may have slightly more available seating on average but also a higher ticket price which helps negate the value to the user (requires more cash outlay). This then theoretically lowers the actual cost to Delta by earning more income for a companion ticket then allowing the lowest fare bucket to be used. Now I am not saying they are required to, clearly the terms are for an I fare and can be kept that way, but it is just interesting that a perceived higher value certificate doesn't return the same value as say a Plat Cert i.e. being able to get a companion seat in the lowest buckets; not withstanding the many derivatives of YMMV and opportunity cost and so forth. In this case, I would consume 2 Z seats, driving down that inventory along with the correlating LUTXV inventory normally required for Z to be available, and driving more customers to higher cost tickets. Though, if enough people are biting in the I class, the same effect is had plus more money is in the hands of Delta so kudos to them and their data management team.
Now, I thought after some time they did start selling G fares with the certificate even if not directly listed. I think the intent of the cert is to be forced into the lowest buckets with the most limited availability. In the case of the reserve cert they hold you to the second lowest bucket in first class and lowest 3 in coach per the terms, which may have slightly more available seating on average but also a higher ticket price which helps negate the value to the user (requires more cash outlay). This then theoretically lowers the actual cost to Delta by earning more income for a companion ticket then allowing the lowest fare bucket to be used. Now I am not saying they are required to, clearly the terms are for an I fare and can be kept that way, but it is just interesting that a perceived higher value certificate doesn't return the same value as say a Plat Cert i.e. being able to get a companion seat in the lowest buckets; not withstanding the many derivatives of YMMV and opportunity cost and so forth. In this case, I would consume 2 Z seats, driving down that inventory along with the correlating LUTXV inventory normally required for Z to be available, and driving more customers to higher cost tickets. Though, if enough people are biting in the I class, the same effect is had plus more money is in the hands of Delta so kudos to them and their data management team.
#2340
Join Date: Feb 2013
Programs: Hyatt Globalist, MLife Gold, Marriott Gold, HHonors Gold, Caesars Diamond, Amex Plat
Posts: 5,891
I'm seeing ATL-CDG on AF for 66.5k points in J for many days in July. But DL award site refuses to show and AF flights. Is there any work around? Is it worth it?