Welcome to a weekly feature on the Renés Points blog. Each week this series covers in a “rookie” way either a Delta or travel related theme and attempts to break down to a basic level each topic. You can read up on all the previous posts HERE. Now on to this week’s feature.
First let’s get the obvious out of the way. Yes, you can use your Delta / Amex Platinum card (personal or business) BOGO cert (buy one get one free + tax) to book two seats for yourself.
RELATED: What Are Some Rules and Tips About the Delta Amex Companion Certificates/Passes?
These four Delta Amexes offer cardholders Companion Certificates starting the second year of card membership:
- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card
- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card
- Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card
- Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card
This can’t be done online — you have to call Delta. One ticket will be in your name and one will be called EXTRA and then your last name again.
Next, why do this? There can be a number of reasons as the photo at the top of this post shows.
Say you and your +1 (a real, actual, living one) are flying somewhere and the jets you are looking at are 3-3 in coach. If you book a ticket (on another reservation) for your +1 and then you book for you two seats with the BOGO you end up with basically a European Business class product (most airlines over there use a coach seat for business and simply block the middle seat empty).
Or, say you are alone flying wherever and are on jets with 2-3 configuration. You could have two seats for yourself meaning you have one seat to sit in and one to have the tray table down for drinks and stuff and just about as much (or more) space as a business class seat. Not just that, but you could use the under-seat storage for a carry-on and still have room empty for your feet. Nice right?
I guess there are other personal reasons for burning your BOGO this way but the point is you can if you want to. But do know there are some downsides/restrictions if you choose to do this.
No Upgrades!
If you are a Medallion you normally have a chance at an upgrade to 1st class and (cough, choke) an “upgrade” to Comfort+ (we all know C+ is the same size seat as the rest of coach right?)!
However, if you are using the BOGO for these purposes, you might run into issues.
You i.e. the Medallion could upgrade but your “other self”, the free seat, does not and cannot have a Delta frequent flyer number thus your other self is blocked from any possible upgrade. It will not, however, block you and your other self from choosing preferred seats (i.e. exit rows) as they are not considered an upgrade.
Not only does the above apply to knocking you out of the upgrade option but if you are flying with your +1 with no status they have to be on the same reservation as you to have a shot at the +1 upgrade. That is not possible if you are booking them on a separate ticket to sit in the row with you with the center seat empty. Bottom line: forget about upgrades if you do this. Maybe…
I say maybe because, as with all things Delta, things are impossible until they are suddenly possible. Er, what? Delta will tell you that you cannot split a BOGO reservation into two reservations. Yes and No. Officially you cannot but maybe someone will do it anyway. Then, in say the case of just you flying on a Bogo cert with an extra seat for you, you may upgrade to 1st class but your Extra self will be stuck back empty in coach as it cannot upgrade ever.
A word of warning if you play the split reservation game. If you “upgrade” only to C+ then your Extra self, who is not eligible to upgrade to C+, will be stuck back in coach and you will not have an empty seat next to you in C+. As we know, Delta will sometimes auto upgrade you to C+ even when you have said no to this so it could be a reason to avoid splitting the reservation. I would hate to have someone else enjoy your empty seat behind you while you are stuck in a middle seat C+ “upgrade” seat! 😉
One last warning if you do get a Bogo reservation split idea. You must, for each leg, still check in both seats or the EXTRA seat reservation will cancel along the way. Yep – you will have two boarding passes and at each leg each one must be scanned when boarding even if you are in 1st class (cleared upgrade) and your extra self is back in coach.
Personally, with the change to allow your +1 to upgrade even on a coach BOGO cert, I see less appeal than before in trying the empty seat option. But I often travel with my +1 so that is me. If I were single I could see this option worth considering as a non-medallion with an Amex card cert to burn.
Lastly on this, as I know there will be questions about “what if” like bumps or points or whatever for the EXTRA seat. Keep in mind the extra seat, as already mentioned, is not a real person. They cannot have a Delta FF account. Thus they are not eligible for anything that a person would be if things go sideways during a trip (note: the Bogo flyer never earns points only the primary passenger does).
Any questions on this week’s unique topic? Fire away in the comments below. – René
To see the rates and fees for the American Express cards featured above, please visit the following links:
- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card (See Rates and Fees)
- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card (See Rates and Fees)
- Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card (See Rates and Fees)
- Delta SkyMiles Platinum Business American Express Card (See Rates and Fees)
Responses are not provided or commissioned by the bank advertiser. Responses have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by the bank advertiser. It is not the bank advertiser's responsibility to ensure all posts and/or questions are answered.
How sad and lonely 🙁
I disagree. This is a great option for low fare, long-haul flights when the cost for business-class or even the new premium-economy is too much. Even without the buy one-get one certificate, I could buy an entire row of economy-class seats and have a poor man’s business-class experience for much, much less than business-class itself.
@Nick – I did not say it was a bad idea just that for some who can upgrade it may not be the “best” choice. BTW I am not so sure (that is I do not know) if you can buy more than 1 extra seat with Delta i.e. buy a row of 3 seats total.
I can see a few issues…What happens when the walk the aisle looking for extra seats when the plane is oversold? How does that work?
Also when you have a exit row seat and someone sees it open next to you and then they try and move into it after take off that will make for a great conversation….
It is obviously better than wasting it though!
@Bryan – If oversold they can not just take your seat as you paid for it. Same goes for someone trying to move. You can ding the FA and show paid boarding pass. Now if you choose to bump they can not really compensate you for the extra seat as a bump voucher would have to go to the flyer and the flyer does not really exist ie the extra flyer. Now you yourself could bump, get the voucher for you, and then Delta could move you and the Extra you to another flight yes. Just don’t think 2x compensation is what I am saying.
@René,
If the plane is oversold, can one offer the “extra” seat, or just offer my seat for monetary compensation only and not get off the plane?
Personally, I see all sorts of potential problems here. Just like the woman a few weeks back (on a UA flight I think) who was forced to give up the seat she had paid for her young child and they made her go “infant in arms” for a toddler to give the seat to someone else.
Just have to remember that once we are on the plane we have to listen and do what the crew tells us (within reason) and if they say that they need the empty seat that we “paid for” and we refuse to give it up, we could get carried off a plane. 😉
This is hilarious!
What about drinks, meals, snacks? So many more aspects left unexplained! 😉
Seriously though, not a bad idea for a single flyer w/ a BOGO to burn.
@Bob – LOL you know I thought about that. You could order two meals and only eat the one you like (if a meal flight).
On my first call, I rebuffed by a Delta rep, who said this isn’t possible. With Rene’s encouragement, I called again and was successful! By burning my certificate and spending $65 in taxes and fees, I’ll now have an empty seat next to me in main coach on long flights from Anchorage via MSP and Omaha and back. Ah, it’s like the glorious days of the pandemic all over again (sarcasm).
Thanks Rene!
This still works. A call center rep booked RT ANC-ORD for me yesterday. Using my companion ticket and about $65, I got an empty seat for the full journey.
Thanks Rene!
@Craig – Wahooo! Enjoy!