The Delta SkyMiles® American Express Companion Certificate can be an incredible perk. It’s even better now than in years past, considering its list of eligible destinations grew exponentially.
But there’s something not many people realize. Yes, the Companion Cert’s terms and conditions say, “Primary ticket and Companion ticket must be purchased with your Delta SkyMiles (Amex Card) and/or eCredits.”
Nope.
Any U.S.-issued American Express card should do. So, what are the best Amex cards to use when purchasing a Companion Certificate fare, taxes, and surcharges?
(If for some reason you get an error when trying to book your Companion Certificate online, you can call and make the reservation with an agent.)
(Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Enrollment may be required for select American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more.)
Quick Primer: What is the Delta Companion Certificate?
The annual Delta Companion Certificate is a prime benefit of four Delta co-branded American Express cards:
- 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
Both Reserve cards carry annual fees of $650 annual fee each.
- For rates and fees of the Delta Reserve Card, please visit this link.
- For rates and fees of the Delta  Reserve Business Card, please visit this link.
The Platinum cards’ annual fees are each $350.
- For rates and fees of the Delta Platinum Card, please visit this link.
- For rates and fees of Delta Business Platinum Card, please visit this link.
Companion Certificates are essentially buy-one-get-one-free coupons for certain fares and trips. (Terms apply. We break down that and much more in this post.) The perk becomes available starting the second year of card membership.
Now that that’s out of the way, here are our suggestions for the best Amex card for purchasing your Companion Certificate trip.
If You Are Pursuing Delta Medallion Status Through Card Spending:
Most of the world knows Delta rocked its membership when it announced massive changes to the SkyMiles loyalty program last fall. (Bonus points for you if you made it through the phrase “SkyMiles loyalty program” without snickering.)
The big change is elite status is now earned by one metric: Medallion Qualification Dollars (MQD).
- Delta Reserve and Delta Business Reserve Amex cards each earn $1 MQD for each $10 spent on eligible purchases.
- Delta Platinum and Delta Business Platinum Amex cards each earn $1 for each $20 spent on eligible purchases.
So, every dollar spent on your Delta Amex is important if you can’t hit Medallion status solely through Delta airfare. You might as well put your Companion Certificate’s paid ticket and associated fees on a Delta Amex. If you hold a Delta Platinum and Delta Reserve (personal or business flavors), remember to use the Reserve for your purchase because it earns more MQD.
Points-wise, the Reserve and Platinum cards earn 3 SkyMiles per eligible dollar spent on Delta purchases (and hotels, for what it’s worth).
Another perk of holding the cards: the Delta Amex Reserve, Delta Amex Business Reserve, Delta Amex Platinum, and Delta Amex Business Platinum cards each give cardholders $2,500 MQD per SkyMiles year. You can hold all four and automatically get a $10,000 MQD boost toward status. (Terms apply.)
If You’re Not Chasing Status With Delta Amex Spending:
If you’re like me and don’t care about spending a zillion dollars on a Delta Amex just to reach Medallion status — or you earn elite status organically from MQD on Delta (or partner airline) trips — here are the cards we recommend for your Delta Companion Certificate airfare purchases.
The Platinum Card® from American Express
The classic The Platinum Card® from American Express is my go-to when buying paid portions of a Companion Certificate fare. It earns 5X American Express® Membership Rewards® points on flights purchased directly from airlines. (This perk is capped at $500,000 in such purchases each calendar year. Terms apply.)
Plus, it offers Amex’s best trip cancellation, delay, and interruption benefits: up to $500 per Covered Trip that is delayed for more than 6 hours; and 2 claims per Eligible Card per 12 consecutive month period. (Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG Company.)
Read our outline of the Amex Platinum card here, see this post about how I use the card’s benefits, or visit this page to learn how to apply for the card.
American Express® Gold Card
The American Express® Gold Card is another solid option. The card earns 3X Membership Rewards points per dollar on airfares purchased directly from airlines.
It also earns 4X Membership Rewards points at restaurants worldwide (including takeout and delivery in the U.S.) and 4X at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 per calendar year in purchases, then 1X). (Terms apply.) The card’s annual fee is $250. (See Rates and Fees.)
Plus, the Gold Amex Card offers trip delay insurance. (Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG Company.)
Read our outline of the AmexGold card here, see this post about how I use the card’s benefits, or visit this page to learn how to apply for the card.
American Express® Green Card
If I weren’t already way past my Amex card limit, I’d apply for the American Express® Green Card in a heartbeat.
The Amex Green Card awards 3X on travel purchases such as airfare, hotels, cruises, tours, car rentals, and more. (Information about the American Express® Green Card was collected independently by Eye of the Flyer. The card is not available through our affiliate partner. This has not been reviewed by the issuer.)
I love that 3X general travel category!
Honorable Mentions
Depending on your spending needs, habits, or goals, three cobranded hotel Amexes might be worth using when purchasing a Delta Companion Certificate.
- Hilton Honors American Express Business Card (Earn 12X Hilton Honors bonus points on eligible Hilton purchases; 5X on other purchases on the first $100,000 in purchases each calendar year; 3X points thereafter. Terms apply.)
- Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card (3X Bonvoy points on flights booked directly with airlines. Terms apply.)
- Hilton Honors American Express Card (3X Honors points on all eligible, non-bonuses purchases. Terms apply.)
Really, though, I think you might actually get more bang for your buck using one of the other cards above—even the SkyMiles Amexes.
Final Approach
The Delta Amex Companion Certificate can easily offer savings above and beyond a card’s annual fee. But it’s important to take even more advantage of the perk — and earn the most points possible on the paid ticket.
What’s your favorite Amex to use when buying a Companion Certificate reservation?
For rates and fees of The Platinum Card® from American Express, please visit this link.
For rates and fees of the American Express® Green Card, please visit this link.
For rates and fees of the American Express® Gold Card, please visit this link.
For rates and fees of the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card, please visit this link.
For rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card, please visit this link.
For rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card, please visit this link.
For rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card, please visit this link.
For rates and fees of Delta SkyMiles® Business Platinum American Express Card, please visit this link.
For rates and fees of the Hilton Honors American Express Card, please visit this link.
For rates and fees of the Hilton Honors American Express Business Card, please visit this link.
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.
Thanks for the tip! It was my understanding you had to use the Delta card associated with the Delta companion certificate.
Delta would like you to…
Honestly the biggest restriction isn’t the card, it’s the lack of dates/availability. It’s nearly impossible to fly certain routes or days of the week, even 6+ months out.
I’ve had Diamond and Platinum phone reps over the years tell me that I need to use the card that awarded the certificate. I ask them to do me a favor and try another AmEx card. They’ve always agreed and are surprised that it works.
I have a very hard time trying to use this benefit as there are so many Rules and Restrictions for booking it.It is a minor nightmare to be able to use it when and where you want to fly!!
The free companion certificate has been basically worthless to me due lack of available seats and I have had Diamond status since its inception and I have the Reserve Card. I’ve been able to use it only once in all of these years. Delta has downgraded so many perks associated with my status and card, plus inflated the miles, and outrageously upped status requirements that I’m dropping the card when it expires this year. I switched to Chase Sapphire this year. I’m sticking with my AMEX Hilton card. BTW, I have flown 2.73 million miles on Delta. With all of the changes, I doubt that I will aim for 3 million miles.
I’d like to know what you mean about exponential availability. For years I haven’t been able to find any ways to use the passes like I used to. Those fare classes just aren’t available. Has that changed?
I mentioned the list available destinations has grown exponentially. 🙂
Delta Platinum…it’s the only option aside from my Hilton Surpass. Already had the Platinum, Gold, and Green, and dumped them all.
How about spending $50K on Amex Business Plus and getting 2X points?
Another decent option. I use that card for a lot of my business expenses.