Two Ways Delta Could Improve Their “Have One On Us” Free Drink Coupons

Sit down and crack open a cold one. Let’s chat for a second.

Delta Air Lines Medallion elite status holders receive four complimentary “Have One on Us” (or HOOUs, as we call them) certificates each year. (I also received a couple of them from a Red Coat after volunteering for a #bumpertunity that made his night easier.)

“Have One on Us” drink coupons are redeemable for a free liquor, beer, or wine beverage on Delta-operated flights.

Late one December, I had about a half-dozen HOOUs expiring at the end of the year. During my family’s final flights, I gave printed copies to a couple of flight attendants and asked if they’d like to play Santa Claus to some passengers ordering drinks. (I also said that if the flight attendants wanted to use them for their own personal purposes, they certainly deserved it, and I’d be happy with that, too. 🙂 ) We were in Comfort+ (where adult beverages are complimentary) and didn’t need them.

Alcoholic beverages cost between $9 and $12 on Delta flights. Free drink coupons can save Medallions a few bucks every year.

They’re a nice benefit for Medallions. But is there a way to make them better?

The “Problem” with Have One On Us Certificates

Geez! Complain, complain, complain! you may say. Of course a blogger is whining about free stuff! (Though, in this case, it would be “wine-ing” 😉 )

As well-intentioned as HOOUs are, there are several reasons they may be difficult for some people to redeem. And, yes, most of these are #FirstWorldProblems.

• Not all Medallions (or other HOOU coupon holders) drink alcohol
  • I personally know Medallions who are recovering alcoholics. HOOUs in their current form aren’t exactly the best gift for them.
  • Others don’t drink alcohol for religious or personal reasons.
    • Plot twist: After years of reviewing cocktails for the blog, I indefinitely paused drinking alcohol in November 2024 to improve my overall health.
• Medallions can get upgraded to Comfort+ or First Class (well, occasionally) — where drinks are free. The coupons are worthless.
• Not every Delta flight serves alcoholic beverages 

Now, Delta may see that list, twiddle a mustache, and cackle, Yes! That’s the point! We don’t want people to use them! Mwahahahah! Or the drink tickets are genuinely a thoughtful benefit.

But it’d be great to see a little more oomph added to the HOOUs. And here are a couple of easy ways I think Delta can do that.

Allow Them to Be Used for Flight Fuel

It would be great if HOOUs could be redeemable for the Flight Fuel or Market premium snack boxes.

Making coupons redeemable for Flight Fuel or Market boxes would be a great way to acknowledge SkyMiles members who don’t drink alcohol or don’t want to during a flight.

And, in general, passengers who don’t receive meals during longer flights would probably enjoy a Flight Fuel snack. (This would be a great option for Comfort+ passengers — who receive complimentary adult beverages anyway.)

Heck, my family of three could easily burn all four of my yearly HOOUs during one roundtrip: a couple of Flight Fuel boxes for us to share and then a couple of cocktails for my wife. (If we’re in Main Cabin.)

After that, we’re paying out of pocket for premium snacks the rest of the year (well, at least until the $200 airline fee credits run out on our The Platinum Card® from American Express and The Business Platinum Card® from American Express (Enrollment required. Terms apply.). Plus, it gets a good product into customers’ hands. People are more likely to talk about the Flight Fuel boxes — and SkyMiles program.

The Flight Fuel boxes are $14 and the Market or Bistro boxes run $10. I get it if Delta doesn’t want to comp the Market boxes (we love the Fruit & Cheese Plate!). But being able to redeem the drink coupons for Bistro or Market boxes would be welcome, too.

Heck, American Airlines gives Executive Platinum members a complimentary adult beverage and a premium snack on flights when they aren’t upgraded from the economy. One would think that the “premium airline” would offer something similar to that of its elite status holders.

Make Drink Coupons Valid for THE BAR Purchases at Delta Sky Clubs

Delta is investing quite a bit of time and resources into its premium bar programs at new and remodeled Sky Clubs.

They’re creating signature cocktails and stocking bars with premium alcohol.

Three forms of payment are accepted at Delta Sky Club bars:

• Credit or debit card
• Cash
• SkyMiles

Here’s another area where Delta could further impress its Medallions (and/or other HOOU coupon holders). What about letting people redeem the free drink coupons for a premium beverage in Sky Clubs?

And here’s another potential upside for Delta: if someone burns their last coupon on a Woodford Reserve in a Sky Club, they may be inclined to buy a round after that. (It’s hard to go from Woodford Reserve to Old Forester. Or from the delicious Silver Oak cab to a house red.)

I don’t know how many Medallions have access to Delta Sky Clubs through a qualifying American Express card or Sky Club membership. But adding value to the HOOU certificates certainly gives those without Sky Club access more incentive to join the party. And it adds a bit more potential value to those Amex cards.

Final Approach

Have One On Us coupons are a cool gift from Delta. But I wish the airline would make it easier to redeem them. Making HOOUs available for Flight Fuel boxes and Sky Club bar purchases would be a #KeepClimbing move, for sure.

What do you think? Please tell us your thoughts in the below Comments section.

To see rates and fees for The Business Platinum Card® from American Express, please visit this link. Terms apply.

To see rates and fees for The Platinum Card® from American Express, please visit this link. Terms apply.