The Delta Amex Companion Certificate can be a wonderful perk.
But there’s something not a lot of people realize. Yes, the Companion Cert’s terms & conditions say, “Primary Ticket and Companion ticket must be purchased with your Delta SkyMiles Credit Card from American Express.”
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?
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:
It’s essentially a buy-one-get-one-free coupon for certain fares and trips. (We break down that and much more in this post.) The perk becomes available starting the second year of card membership.
Now with that out the way, these are our top suggestions for the best Amex card to use when purchasing your Companion Certificate trip:
The Platinum Card® from American Express: 5X Membership Rewards Points
card_name is generally my personal go-to when purchasing 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.)
card_name: 4X Membership Rewards Points
There’s the potential to earn 4X Membership Rewards points by using your card_name to purchase the paid side of a Companion Certificate.
So if airfares are one of your two “main” spending categories when you purchase a Companion Certificate trip, the Amex Business Gold Card might be a great way to go.
The card_name also 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.)
The card_name: 3X Membership Rewards Points
The card_name is another solid option.
American Express® Green Card: 3X Membership Rewards Points
The American Express® Green Card awards 3X on travel purchases — including 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.)
Delta American Express Reserve Cards: 3X SkyMiles
The card_name and card_name both earn 3X SkyMiles on purchases made directly with Delta Air Lines.
But one quality sets the Reserve apart from its SkyMiles Platinum cousin: the Reserve offers bettertrip cancellation, delay, and interruption coverage: 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. The Platinums offer up to $300 per Covered Trip that is delayed for more than 12 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.)
Delta American Express Platinum Cards: 3X SkyMiles
The card_name and card_name earn 3X SkyMiles on purchases made directly with Delta Air Lines.
Both cards offer 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.)
Honorable Mentions
Depending on your spending needs, habits, or goals, three cobranded hotel Amexes might be worth using when purchasing a Delta Companion Certificate:
- card_name (6X Honors points on select travel purchases. Terms apply.)
- card_name (3X Bonvoy points on flights booked directly with airlines. Terms apply.)
- card_name (3X Honors points on flights booked directly with airlines. Terms apply.)
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?
To see the rates and fees for the American Express cards featured above, please visit the following links:
- Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant™ American Express® Card (See Rates and Fees)
- 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)
- Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card (See Rates and Fees)
- Delta SkyMiles Gold Business American Express Card (See Rates and Fees)
- The Platinum Card® from American Express (See Rates and Fees)
- Hilton Honors American Express Card (See Rates and Fees)
- Hilton Honors American Express Business Card (See Rates and Fees)
- American Express® Gold Card (See Rates and Fees)
- American Express Business Gold Card (See Rates and Fees)
- American Express® Green 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.
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.