AMEX Companion Ticket Absurd Restrictions
Jul 14, 2018, 11:05 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2016
Location: HSV
Programs: Bellevue Lifetime Premiere Mega Elite Supreme
Posts: 1,509
AMEX Companion Ticket Absurd Restrictions
I decided to use one of my AMEX Plat companion certs. It was the first time I’ve ever used one, and I don’t know whether they expire or not, and I’ve lost a bunch of RUCs over the past years because I never use them, so I booked HSV>LAX with my wife and burned the Amex cert.
During the course of booking and at final checkout I see all kinds of notices:
1) I have a bunch of refunds for partial flights that changed at one time or another. Some are for ~$100 and others for >$500. These are cash value, and I often forget about them, but since I was in my wallet to get the companion ticket I noticed I had the $$$ in there too, but... you cannot use those when also using a companion certificate!
OK, I can live with that, I suppose.
2) What I find most egregious is that, should I change or cancel the trip at ANY time after booking, you LOSE the certificate — even if it’s during the 24 hour “grace” period. WTH?!
Unfortunately, my schedule changes day-by-day (sometimes hourly). Now, if I have a change I lose the cert?
I guess that’s just “the way the cookie crumble” but I’ve always expected more out of AMEX, given the fees they charge (especially to the merchant!). This seems like a pretty low-rent thing to do, and I get 4 of these certificates annually— 2 AX DL Plat and 2 AX DL Reserve cards.
During the course of booking and at final checkout I see all kinds of notices:
1) I have a bunch of refunds for partial flights that changed at one time or another. Some are for ~$100 and others for >$500. These are cash value, and I often forget about them, but since I was in my wallet to get the companion ticket I noticed I had the $$$ in there too, but... you cannot use those when also using a companion certificate!
OK, I can live with that, I suppose.
2) What I find most egregious is that, should I change or cancel the trip at ANY time after booking, you LOSE the certificate — even if it’s during the 24 hour “grace” period. WTH?!
Unfortunately, my schedule changes day-by-day (sometimes hourly). Now, if I have a change I lose the cert?
I guess that’s just “the way the cookie crumble” but I’ve always expected more out of AMEX, given the fees they charge (especially to the merchant!). This seems like a pretty low-rent thing to do, and I get 4 of these certificates annually— 2 AX DL Plat and 2 AX DL Reserve cards.
Jul 14, 2018, 11:27 am
#2
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: 45° North
Programs: DL DM MM, HH Diamond
Posts: 10,196
I agree - the rules are pretty arcane. But for your #2 there are some reports of being able to change and keep the cert applied to the new reservation.
Do I Get My Amex Companion Certificate Back if I Cancel Within 24 Hours?
So while you don't get the cert back, you still get to use it. YMMV of course.
Do I Get My Amex Companion Certificate Back if I Cancel Within 24 Hours?
So while you don't get the cert back, you still get to use it. YMMV of course.
Jul 14, 2018, 2:51 pm
#3
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: PHX, SEA
Programs: Avis President's Club, Global Entry, Hilton/Marriott Gold. No more DL/AA status.
Posts: 4,422
I'm not a cardholder so I wouldn't have read the T&C firsthand, but am surprised at #2 . That's lame, they should charge a redeposit fee or subject it to a change fee (if you want to change it instead of lose it).
Jul 14, 2018, 3:15 pm
#4
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Minneapolis: DL DM charter 2.3MM
Programs: A3*Gold, SPG Plat, HyattDiamond, MarriottPP, LHW exAccess, ICI, Raffles Amb, NW PE MM, TWA Gold MM
Posts: 100,399
Does DOT allow loss of the cert if the trip is cancelled within 24 hours? It's hardly a full refund without penalty in such a case.
Jul 14, 2018, 4:21 pm
#5
Join Date: May 2017
Posts: 2,279
Also not sure if would fall under the scope of DOT, depending on how the arrangement is structured. It could be an AMEX benefit that is administered by Delta; e.g. Delta sells the ticket to AMEX, charging AMEX for a special restrictive fare on behalf of the customer. If the ticket is cancelled within 24 hours the refund would be due to AMEX (in compliance w/ DOT rules), and AMEX can still say that certificate has been used per their terms.
Last edited by Lux Flyer; Jul 14, 2018 at 4:27 pm
Jul 14, 2018, 4:56 pm
#7
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Minneapolis: DL DM charter 2.3MM
Programs: A3*Gold, SPG Plat, HyattDiamond, MarriottPP, LHW exAccess, ICI, Raffles Amb, NW PE MM, TWA Gold MM
Posts: 100,399
So the trick is to make sure that the agent processes it as a change and not a cancel followed by a new booking. That sounds a lot like what happens with GUCs/RUCs.
Jul 14, 2018, 5:00 pm
#8
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2016
Location: HSV
Programs: Bellevue Lifetime Premiere Mega Elite Supreme
Posts: 1,509
OK, so as long as there is some "wink, wink, nudge, nudge" flexibility that's fine with me. The alarm bells DL.com sends up when you're about to pull the trigger had me concerned.
Jul 14, 2018, 5:01 pm
#9
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2001
Programs: DL 1 million, AA 1 mil, HH lapsed Diamond, Marriott Plat
Posts: 28,190
Lots of discounts have restrictions. Lots of people find value in these certs.
https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/delt...ificate-2.html
https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/delt...ificate-2.html
Jul 14, 2018, 6:00 pm
#11
Join Date: Sep 2008
Posts: 7,875
Jul 15, 2018, 9:49 am
#12
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Just relocated to Phoenix, so I guess that does it for Delta for me
Programs: DL "Annual" GM 2MM, AA lifetime Gold 1MM, Hilton Gold, Hertz President's Club
Posts: 337
I've used it every year for years and never had an issue. A couple of times I cancelled within the 24-hour period and Delta connected me with an Amex rep who put the cert back into my wallet. As someone has stated, lots of different discount programs have restrictions but all in all I've saved a lot of money on the companion program.
Jul 15, 2018, 10:00 am
#13
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: NYC
Programs: DL Platinum, AA Plat Pro, Bonvoy Lifetime Platinum, JetBlue Mosaic 3, Amtrak Select
Posts: 966
Delta also doesn't return a used RUC if you have to cancel a flight and the RUC already cleared. Guess they just have a use it and lose it policy
Jul 15, 2018, 12:21 pm
#14
Join Date: Mar 2010
Programs: DL PM, Bonvoy Gold
Posts: 8,414
Despite all of the warnings, DL is actually very happy to charge you a $200 change fee + fare difference to make changes after the 24 hour mark. You just need to speak to the Promotions Desk. Of course, doing so will probably wipe away any savings from the companion cert, but if needed it can be done without buying a whole new ticket.
Also, these fares are now medallion upgrade eligible, and you can also pay with cash and sometimes miles to upgrade them in advance, again by speaking with the Promotions Desk.
Also, these fares are now medallion upgrade eligible, and you can also pay with cash and sometimes miles to upgrade them in advance, again by speaking with the Promotions Desk.