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Delta Companion Certificate: What’s the Best Amex Card to Buy the Paid Ticket? [2023]

Chris Carley by Chris Carley
March 22, 2023
in Credit Cards
6
A model Delta Air Lines jet positioned atop American Express cards.
Eye of the Flyer, a division of Chatterbox Entertainment, Inc. has partnered with CardRatings for our coverage of credit card products. Eye of the Flyer and CardRatings may receive a commission from card issuers. Opinions, reviews, analyses & recommendations are the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, endorsed or approved by any of these entities.


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:

  • card_name
  • card_name
  • card_name
  • card_name

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
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.) The card’s current welcome offer: bonus_miles_full. Read more about the card and learn here how to 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.

card_name
The Amex Business® Gold Card awards 4X in the top two select categories where your business spent the most each month (capped at $150,000 in annual combined purchases). Airfare purchased directly through airlines is one of those select categories. Terms apply.

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.

card_name
The card earns you 3X Membership Rewards points per dollar spent on airfares purchased directly from airlines (Terms apply.) Plus, it 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.) Current welcome offer: bonus_miles_full (Terms apply.) Read more about the card and learn here how to apply.

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 Cards

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)
Eye of the Flyer, a division of Chatterbox Entertainment, Inc. has partnered with CardRatings for our coverage of credit card products. Eye of the Flyer and CardRatings may receive a commission from card issuers. Opinions, reviews, analyses & recommendations are the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, endorsed or approved by any of these entities.


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.

Related

Tags: American Express Business CardsAmerican Express Consumer CardsCRDelta Air LinesDelta SkyMiles
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Should Airlines End Lap Children Policies?

Chris Carley

Chris Carley

Chris Carley is the owner, editor, and lead writer of Eye of the Flyer (formerly known as Rene's Points).

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Father holding baby daughter during flight on airplane going on vacations. Baby girl drinking formula milk from bottle. Air travel with baby, child and family concept. Tired man traveling with kids

Should Airlines End Lap Children Policies?

Comments 6

  1. DDiamond says:
    2 years ago

    Thanks for the tip! It was my understanding you had to use the Delta card associated with the Delta companion certificate.

    Reply
    • Chris Carley says:
      2 years ago

      Delta would like you to…

      Reply
  2. Martin says:
    1 year ago

    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.

    Reply
  3. DLPTATL says:
    2 months ago

    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.

    Reply
  4. dee says:
    2 months ago

    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!!

    Reply
  5. Frequent flyer says:
    2 months ago

    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.

    Reply

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