One of the perks of Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card and Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card as well as the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card and Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card is the yearly companion certificate or BOGO “Buy One Get One” free* cert (*second passenger only pays taxes and fees).
A nice benefit of these certs is that they are fully transferable, that is, you can book two seats for anyone you want with these (think mom, dad or friends., etc). They can even pay for them with anyone’s Amex card, that is, it does not have to be paid with the Amex card that you earned the cert from.
You can even, if you want to, book two seats for yourself with these certs and fly with an empty seat next to you (you must check-in both boarding passes each flight fyi).
During COVID Delta has done the right thing by extending the expiration of the certs over and over again so that now you have until the end of January 2023 to book and fly them (eCredits are extended till the end of 2023 and able to be flown till end 2024).
These certs are nice but far from perfect. Finding open space to use them is one of the biggest issues most readers complain about. Plus, the fact that only the primary flyer earns any frequent flyer rewards when flying on the cert.
Another negative about these certs has been that you have to use pay in full with an Amex card. That has now quietly been changed. Take a look:
As you can see from the screenshot from Delta.com, Delta now will now allow you to combine the cert, and officially, up to 4 more eCredits toward the ticket and then pay whatever is leftover with your Amex card if there is anything left over to pay. I say officially by the way because there are a number of reports that reps can combine an almost unlimited amount of credits if you have lots of them but the catch is they all have to be in your name.
While this is not a massive program change it is a positive one and give Delta credit where credit is due and this is one we can applaud them for. – René
To see the rates and fees for the American Express cards featured above, please visit the following links:
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- 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.
Now this is truly good news. Unlike the schedule change Saturday that cost me both my flights in the A359 ‘first’ cabin ATL-LAX-ATL and the new cost is 350k skymiles to switch back. I think I’ll pass on that.
My extended companion certificates show travel must be completed by January 31, 2023, but in your article you state travel must be booked by the end of 2023 and travel completed by end of 2024. Am I overlooking some sort of extension that gives me until the end of 2023 to book?
@Kyle – You are correct. The BOGOs are buy AND fly by end of January 2023. eCredits are buy by end of 2023 and fly by end of 2024. I have corrected the post. Thanks!
Thanks, Rene! I was hoping I had more time to use! 🙂
@Kyle – I would not be shocked to see them extend them yet again but who knows with numbers so strong currently.
I look forward to a time, hopefully soon, when the numbers that are counted exclude non serious cases. That’s the only way we are going to get out of this yoyo syndrome.
That is good news. Any chance they will allow delta electronic gift certificates? I have a whole bunch of those leftover from when I used to be able to get them free from the Amex Platinum annual perk.
Lately, both my companion & I have been automatically upgraded from coach to C+ during booking when using a companion cert. Something new?
Mine too. I think they’re eligible for upgrade following the primary ticketholder’s medallion status.
All 4 of my companion certs still say I must book travel by Jan. 31/23. No mention of any deadline to fly but 330 days from Jan. 31/23 is Dec. 27/23.
Are these really valid for travel through 2023? Terms and conditions on mine issues before this year all specify travel must be COMPLETED by 01/3/23. And even the one issues upon renewal this year states travel must be completed by 04/2023.
The certs that were extended are good through January 2023. Thanks for pointing that one out. We were missing a “January” and amended the post.
I applied for and was accepted for an Amex Platinum card. Twice they confirmed that item had been delivered when it wasn’t. Is this common?
@Nana Jan – It will / should show up in your Delta.com account year two and onward when your Delta Amex card fee is billed that is you do NOT get it year one.
@Nana Jan, companion certificates are a benefit of the Amex Delta Platinum card, not the Amex Platinum card. (Two different products.) Assuming that’s what you mean, but wanted to be sure.
The restriction on upgrades with companion certificates went away a few years ago. The biggest drawbacks IMO are the perceived lack of availability and the lack of flexibility for changes for cancelation. But I’m still a huge fan of the certificates and always find a good way to use a few every year.
Thanks for catching that. And, yes, finding flights you actually want to take can be a bit of an exercise in frustration!
I am Platinum and have always been able to book Comfort seats once the main cabin certificate flight is booked. I am usually able to do it on line when choosing seats although sometimes I have to resort to a chat or phone call.
This is huge. There have been times when I have wanted to do this.
It would be nice if you could use these for international flights too although I can see that would be too expensive for Delta
@Barry – Just adding Hawaii and Caribbean would thrill me.
And Alaska would be nice too!
I had actually considered using one to go to Alaska with my wife. Too bad.
I have never been able to meet all of the booking conditions to use any of our companion certificates–even with spending lots of phone time to do so…
You really have me confused now Rene – you state in an answer above “@Kyle – You are correct. The BOGOs are buy AND fly by end of 2023” Companion certificates are the same as BOGO, correct? Companion certificates MUST be used by Jan 31 2023 – read the redemption notes under the terms and conditions.
It’s the end of January 2023.
@Benjamin – What Chris said. I will edit my comment as I left out the word January!
Yes that’s my point – thanks!