Companion Certificates Nearly Impossible To Use In 2022?
Jul 29, 2022, 8:15 am
#46
Join Date: Mar 2008
Posts: 1,539
It’s sort of your friend. For example if you want Z fare you also need Q fare buckets. Unfortunately it seems that expert flyer will alert you when either bucket changes. For example I have a flight I’m interested in but it only has Z buckets and no Q buckets. I get alerts all the time that Q bucket changed but every time I check it’s still Q0. But I see that the number of Z seats has changed. I think there’s something similar with AA as well where the buckets are tied. Also expert flyer will show broken fares (greater than 4 hours connecting) but you can’t book those on Delta.
Jul 29, 2022, 8:25 am
#47
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 23,132
Z fares have U/T/X/V fare basis codes (and thus require at least U to be open to book), while I fares have Q/K/L (although cert allows either Z or I fares so having I and Q open should be sufficient for cert as long as any fare rule requirements are met). Not clear if poster was trying to use certs for coach or FC. Coach requires L/U/T/X/V booking availability and it may never open for popular flight times.
In addition to EF, you can set Google Flights price alerts (can't set for a specific fare bucket, but if you are familiar with fare filings on route you can see if price point fall to point which indicates availability in fare bucket).
In addition to EF, you can set Google Flights price alerts (can't set for a specific fare bucket, but if you are familiar with fare filings on route you can see if price point fall to point which indicates availability in fare bucket).
Last edited by xliioper; Jul 29, 2022 at 8:36 am
Jul 29, 2022, 9:15 am
#48
Join Date: Aug 2003
Posts: 189
Follow up question to my post above. My certificate I'm trying to use includes the W fare bucket. I can book into W on a paid fare, but it isn't offered when I try to use the certificate. Is it more complicated than what I think it is/should be? TIA
Jul 29, 2022, 9:54 am
#49
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 1999
Location: New York, NY, USA
Posts: 12,490
Does it show at least W2? You need 2 seats in the same fare class to book companion cert.
Jul 29, 2022, 12:06 pm
#52
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: BNA and FLL
Programs: National Executive Elite, IHG Diamond Elite, Hilton Gold, SW A List, Marriott Gold
Posts: 964
I am trying to use mine for sometime around Christmas New Years period. Trying lots of different routes on Expert Flyer and it’s clear that Delta is holding out trying to sell higher fare tickets as all LUTXV fare classes are zero’d out on all flight options for so many routes.
My guess is they will open some LUTXV space at some point, but does anyone have any ideas as to when that might happen or past experience? I am wondering if it won’t be until closer to like 60 days out??
My guess is they will open some LUTXV space at some point, but does anyone have any ideas as to when that might happen or past experience? I am wondering if it won’t be until closer to like 60 days out??
Jul 29, 2022, 8:38 pm
#53
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: CVG
Programs: DL 3MM, US 972k (AA 0.0k), Marriott Lifetime Gold, Hertz G, Nurburgring in 8:29
Posts: 2,183
Used mine for an I fare for CVG-LAS-CVG without issue. Booked it 290 days in advance.
However now I need to make changes to that trip so who knows what will happen.
However now I need to make changes to that trip so who knows what will happen.
Jul 29, 2022, 9:10 pm
#54
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: NYC
Posts: 27,264
Jul 29, 2022, 10:04 pm
#55
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 23,132
There must also be availability in one of the LUTXV fare classes in order to use Companion Cert with C+ fares. Having W alone open is not sufficient. All C+ fares have an underlying coach class (first letter of fare basis code) and there is a dual inventory check when purchasing them.
Jul 29, 2022, 10:07 pm
#56
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 23,132
I am trying to use mine for sometime around Christmas New Years period. Trying lots of different routes on Expert Flyer and it’s clear that Delta is holding out trying to sell higher fare tickets as all LUTXV fare classes are zero’d out on all flight options for so many routes.
My guess is they will open some LUTXV space at some point, but does anyone have any ideas as to when that might happen or past experience? I am wondering if it won’t be until closer to like 60 days out??
My guess is they will open some LUTXV space at some point, but does anyone have any ideas as to when that might happen or past experience? I am wondering if it won’t be until closer to like 60 days out??
Last edited by xliioper; Jul 30, 2022 at 11:01 am
Jul 30, 2022, 6:05 am
#57
Join Date: Aug 2003
Posts: 189
There must also be availability in one of the LUTXV fare classes in order to use Companion Cert with C+ fares. Having W alone open is not sufficient. All C+ fares have an underlying coach class (first letter of fare basis code) and there is a dual inventory check when purchasing them.
Jul 30, 2022, 9:17 am
#58
Join Date: Mar 2008
Posts: 1,539
Z fares have U/T/X/V fare basis codes (and thus require at least U to be open to book), while I fares have Q/K/L (although cert allows either Z or I fares so having I and Q open should be sufficient for cert as long as any fare rule requirements are met). Not clear if poster was trying to use certs for coach or FC. Coach requires L/U/T/X/V booking availability and it may never open for popular flight times.
In addition to EF, you can set Google Flights price alerts (can't set for a specific fare bucket, but if you are familiar with fare filings on route you can see if price point fall to point which indicates availability in fare bucket).
In addition to EF, you can set Google Flights price alerts (can't set for a specific fare bucket, but if you are familiar with fare filings on route you can see if price point fall to point which indicates availability in fare bucket).
9/10/22 DEN - ALB:
DL712 (DEN-ATL) shows: J9 C9 D9 I9 Z8 W9 S0 Y9 B9 M9 H9 Q9 K9 L5 U0 T0 X0 V0 E9
DL2225 (ATL-ALB) shows: J9 C9 D9 I9 Z9 W9 S0 Y9 B9 M9 H9 Q9 K9 L4 U0 T0 X0 V0 E9
Delta.com won't show it as eligible for First Class (I or Z) with companion cert.
Z, I can understand if it requires UTXV since there's no UTXV available. But plenty of IQKL available.
Jul 30, 2022, 11:20 am
#59
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 23,132
Looks like not quite the case for I fares (at least my current expertflyer shows thusly):
9/10/22 DEN - ALB:
DL712 (DEN-ATL) shows: J9 C9 D9 I9 Z8 W9 S0 Y9 B9 M9 H9 Q9 K9 L5 U0 T0 X0 V0 E9
DL2225 (ATL-ALB) shows: J9 C9 D9 I9 Z9 W9 S0 Y9 B9 M9 H9 Q9 K9 L4 U0 T0 X0 V0 E9
Delta.com won't show it as eligible for First Class (I or Z) with companion cert.
Z, I can understand if it requires UTXV since there's no UTXV available. But plenty of IQKL available.
9/10/22 DEN - ALB:
DL712 (DEN-ATL) shows: J9 C9 D9 I9 Z8 W9 S0 Y9 B9 M9 H9 Q9 K9 L5 U0 T0 X0 V0 E9
DL2225 (ATL-ALB) shows: J9 C9 D9 I9 Z9 W9 S0 Y9 B9 M9 H9 Q9 K9 L4 U0 T0 X0 V0 E9
Delta.com won't show it as eligible for First Class (I or Z) with companion cert.
Z, I can understand if it requires UTXV since there's no UTXV available. But plenty of IQKL available.
Last edited by xliioper; Jul 30, 2022 at 11:50 am