Delta Companion Certificate: How It Works, Rules, and Smart Ways to Use It
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The Delta Companion Certificate: Your Ultimate Guide to Delta’s Companion Ticket
Traveling with +1 is a lot more fun, especially when the second ticket is almost free! In the world of points and miles enthusiasts, the Delta Companion Certificate (also known as a Delta Companion Ticket or even a Companion Pass, which Delta passengers get with their credit cards) is a favorite perk. It’s essentially a buy-one-get-one benefit: you buy one Delta Air Lines flight ticket and can bring a companion with you, paying only taxes and fees.
In this detailed guide, you’ll learn what a Delta Companion Pass is, how to get one, the rules for obtaining a Delta Companion Pass, and how to use the Delta Companion Pass online. We’ll also compare the Delta Companion Pass to other popular companion passes (such as the Southwest Companion Pass and Alaska Companion Fare) and share tips on how to get the most out of it. Let’s dive into the journey, friends!
What Is the Delta Companion Certificate?
The Delta Companion Certificate is an annual companion travel benefit offered to certain Delta SkyMiles American Express cardholders. This is a certificate that allows you to book a round-trip flight for two people for the price of one, with the base fare for the second person costing $0 (you only pay the applicable taxes and fees).
How do I get a Delta Companion Certificate?
It’s not something you can buy or earn by traveling on your own – it’s available if you’re a holder of certain Delta Amex co-branded credit cards.
Each year, when you renew your eligible Delta credit card (and pay the annual fee), Delta deposits one companion certificate in your SkyMiles account at delta.com. You can redeem this certificate at any time during the following year (subject to the rules we describe below) to book a companion ticket. Essentially, it’s a reward for being loyal to Delta (and Amex) through their credit card program.
Which Credit Cards Come with a Delta Companion Certificate?
Only a handful of Delta’s co-branded Amex cards offer the companion certificate perk. These are the premium Delta SkyMiles credit cards that carry higher annual fees (but also richer benefits). As of 2025, the cards that come with a Delta Companion Certificate each year upon renewal are:
- Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card (personal version) – Comes with one Main Cabin companion certificate each year. This certificate is valid for one round-trip Main Cabin (economy) companion fare.
- Delta SkyMiles Platinum Business American Express Card – Comes with the same Main Cabin companion ticket benefit as the personal Platinum above.
- Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express Card (personal version) – Comes with one companion certificate each year that can be used for First Class, Delta Comfort+®, or Main Cabin fares. In other words, the Reserve companion pass is more flexible on cabin classes (it even now covers Premium Select seats on eligible international routes).
- Delta SkyMiles Reserve Business American Express Card – Comes with the same companion certificate as the personal Reserve, valid for First, Premium Select, Comfort+, or Main Cabin travel.
Note: You receive the companion certificate after you pay your card’s renewal fee each year. For new cardholders, that means you won’t get it immediately when you first open the card – you’ll typically get the certificate at the end of your first cardmember year (upon renewing for year two). Each certificate is issued directly to your Delta SkyMiles account, and you’ll get an email with a certificate code when it’s ready to use. The certificate does not roll over if unused – you get one per year, and if you don’t use it by its expiration (one year from issuance), it’s gone. But as long as you keep the card open and in good standing, you’ll get a fresh companion ticket every year.
In summary, if you hold a Delta Platinum or Reserve (personal or business) card, you have this benefit. The Delta Gold and Blue cards do not offer companion certificates – it’s a perk reserved for the higher-tier products.
Delta Companion Certificate Rules and Restrictions
Like any good deal, the Delta companion ticket comes with rules, restrictions, and fine print. We’ll break down the key rules regarding eligible destinations, fare classes, fees, expiration, and other restrictions for Delta’s companion certificates:
Eligible Destinations (Where You Can Fly)
The Delta Companion Certificate is limited to certain destinations. It’s not a global pass that’s valid on any Delta flight around the world, but it does cover a large region.
The certificate is valid for round-trip flights within the United States (including domestic flights in all 50 states) and for some international destinations in North America on Delta.com. Specifically, you can use it to travel from the US (including Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands) to the US or to Mexico, Canada, most Caribbean and Central American islands. Popular vacation destinations as Aruba, Jamaica, Bermuda, Bahamas, Costa Rica, Panama, and others are included in the list of available destinations on the website.
However, you can’t use the certificate to travel to Europe, Asia, South America, Africa, or Oceania, as these regions are not included in the list. For example, a flight from New York to London or from Los Angeles to Tokyo would not be eligible.
The program is really focused on domestic and close international travel in the United States. The good news is that Hawaii and Alaska are included (they are within the US), and Delta has expanded the scope of the certificate in recent years to include more destinations: Mexico and the entire Caribbean.
To summarize, the Companion certificate can be used for round-trip travel from the United States, Puerto Rico or the US Virgin Islands to the following destinations:
- United States: All 50 states, including Alaska and Hawaii
- Mexico
- Caribbean: Antigua, Aruba, Bermuda, Bonaire, Grand Cayman, Cuba, Jamaica, Bahamas, Turks and Caicos, Dominican Republic, Saint Kitts, St. Maarten, St. Lucia
- Central America: Costa Rica, Belize, Guatemala, Panama, Honduras, El Salvador
Note: Travel to Cuba is subject to compliance with applicable laws.
Flights must be operated by Delta or Delta Connection (including Delta Shuttle). Codeshare flights (operated by partners under a Delta flight number) are not eligible. Therefore, you need to book routes where Delta is the carrier.
Fare Classes and Cabin Restrictions
One of the most important (and confusing) rules is that only certain fare classes can be booked with a companion certificate. Delta sells tickets in several fare buckets (each with a letter code). Companion certificates are valid only for certain fare codes, which are usually cheaper economy classes, and for the Reserve card, also for certain first class/comfort+ classes. If you try to book a flight where the available fare class does not meet the requirements, your Companion Pass will not be applied to this flight.
For Delta Platinum companion certificates (main cabin only): you can book a ticket for a companion only in the main fare classes L, U, T, X, V. Importantly, you cannot use Basic Economy fares (fare class “E”).
Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card:
- Cabin: Main Cabin
- Fare Classes: L, U, T, X, V
- Note: Not valid for Basic Economy fares.
For Delta Reserve companion certificates (First/Comfort+/Main): you get more options. Fares for the main cabin must still be in L, U, T, X, or V class. But if you want to book Delta Comfort+, a companion ticket can be applied if a Comfort+ class “W” (or “S”) fare is available in combination with the corresponding Main cabin fare. For First Class, the corresponding fare classes are “I” or “Z” (which are reduced First Class fares).
Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express Card:
- Cabins: First Class, Delta Premium Select, Delta Comfort+, Main Cabin
- Fare Classes:
- First Class: I, Z
- Delta Premium Select: A, G
- Delta Comfort+: W, S
- Main Cabin: L, U, T, X, V
- Note: Delta One cabin is excluded.
And starting in 2024, Delta Premium Select (Delta’s premium economy on certain international routes) can also be booked with a Reserve Companion Certificate – fare classes “A” or “G” are suitable for Premium Select.
Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card:
- Cabin: Main Cabin
- Fare Classes: L, U, T, X, V
- Note: Not valid for Basic Economy fares.
Delta One cabins (business class) are excluded; you cannot use the certificate to book Delta One seats.
These rules for choosing a fare class mean that you will have to book your tickets in advance and be a little flexible. The number of tickets for the respective classes (L/U/T/X/V in economy class) is limited – they are often the first to be sold out on a popular website. If you wait too long, only the highest classes (e.g. Y, B, M, etc.) may remain on the flight, and then the companion certificate will not be applicable. To avoid this, start looking for and redeeming your certificate in advance, especially for busy travel dates. Delta’s Flexible Dates search tool will help you find dates for which these lower fare classes are available.
Taxes, Fees, and Additional Costs
The certificate covers the airfare, but not government fees such as airport taxes, security fees, etc. Delta specifies that on domestic routes, these fees do not exceed USD 80 round-trip (and often much less), and on the corresponding international routes – USD 250 on the website.
- Domestic Flights: Up to $80
- International Flights: Up to $250
In practice, for a simple domestic round-trip flight within the continental United States, you will likely pay about $11 in security fees ($5.60 one way) plus a few extra dollars for local airport taxes. For example, two people flying round-trip to the US could pay about $22 in total taxes. On flights to the Caribbean or Mexico, taxes and international departure fees can add up to $100-$150 or more.
Either way, it’s a small price to pay considering that the companion ticket itself is free.
You will be shown the taxes and fees that are due before you finalize your booking.
Expiration and Validity Period
Each companion certificate has an expiration date, so you must book and complete your trip before the expiration date. This is a key point – it is not enough to just book a ticket before this date, the trip must be fully completed by this time.
Typically, a certificate expires one year after it is issued (for example, if it is issued in July 2025, it may expire on July 31, 2026, meaning that the trip must be made before that date).
There is no extension or grace period! If you do not use it, you will lose it. You won’t get two certificates next year or any benefit of a carryover – it’s a use-it-or-lose-it situation every year.
Other important restrictions
Round-trip travel only: The certificate is valid for round-trip travel only (one-way, long-distance or open-jaw travel is not eligible). You must start and end your trip in the same city. However, you can take a route with a return to a different airport in the same city (e.g., departing from NYC-JFK and returning to NYC-LGA), provided it is in the same metropolitan area.
Both travelers are on the same reservation: You must book the main passenger and the companion passenger together, at the same time, with the same booking (one confirmation code). You cannot book one ticket now and add another later. If one ticket is canceled or changed, the other ticket is automatically canceled/changed.
Payment by Delta Amex card is required: Payment for the main ticket (and taxes/fees for the companion) must be made with an eligible Delta SkyMiles credit card (the one that issued the certificate, or at least another Delta Amex card).
Not combinable with SkyMiles rewards: You cannot use a companion certificate if you are trying to book an award ticket for the main passenger. For example, you can’t use SkyMiles to pay for a ticket and then redeem the certificate for a free companion – that’s not allowed. (However, you can use Delta eCredits to pay for part of the primary ticket price – see the Tips section for more information).
Cannot be combined with other discounts/offers: Generally, you cannot combine this certificate with other promotional codes, coupons, or special discounted fares.
Advance booking requirements: Because the fare classes in question are often heavily discounted fares, normal fare rules apply – many of which require advance purchase or a minimum stay. For example, L, U, T, etc. typically require 7, 14, or even 21 days advance purchase, and sometimes Saturday and overnight stays. Delta notes that most fares require a 14-day advance booking, a minimum stay of 3 nights (or Saturday), and a maximum stay of 30 days. Thus, you’re unlikely to be able to use the airfare for a last-minute trip for a quick flight. Plan your weekend or longer trip at least two weeks in advance to get access to the lowest fares.
No miles are earned for a companion (but upgrades apply): Only the main passenger earns SkyMiles and points towards Medallion elite status. An accompanying passenger does not earn miles as their base fare is $0. However, if the main passenger has an elite Medallion status (Silver, Gold, Platinum, Diamond), both the main passenger and the companion are eligible for any complimentary upgrade (First Class or Comfort+) that a Medallion member is eligible for. This is a nice advantage: your free companion can be in First Class with you.
The certificate is (mostly) transferable: Many people don’t know that a certificate can be transferred to another person before it is used on Delta.com. The terms and conditions state that the companion certificate can be redeemed by the cardholder or anyone they choose. In practice, this means that you (the cardholder) do not have to be one of the travelers. For example, you can use your certificate to book a flight for your spouse or friend. However, as soon as the ticket is issued, the names on the tickets are fixed (the names do not change).
If you give it to someone else, you must essentially book the tickets for them or give them the certificate code and your card to pay. (Also remember that any checked baggage benefit from your credit card will not apply if you are not traveling, as this benefit requires the cardholder to be on the reservation).
Cancellations and changes: If you need to cancel a trip booked with a companion certificate, both tickets are canceled together. If neither ticket has been used (the trip hasn’t started) and you cancel, Delta will refund the original ticket according to fare rules (often in the form of an e-credit for future use) and reissue your companion certificate with the original expiration date. This is great because you get another chance to use it (if it hasn’t expired).
If you need to change flights (date/time) after booking, the flights of both passengers will be changed together and you will pay the difference in fares on the original ticket. A new certificate is not required, as the companion fare is simply transferred to the new route (if allowed by the fare rules).
It may seem like there are a lot of rules, but in practice, Delta’s booking site will help you understand most of them.
Next, we’ll show you step by step how to redeem a companion certificate online.
How to Use the Delta Companion Certificate (Companion Pass) Online
Redeeming your travel pass online is pretty easy if you know where to find your certificate. Delta offers an online redemption process that will apply the certificate to your booking. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to use your Delta Companion Certificate for online booking:
1. Find your partner certificate in your SkyMiles account
Log in to your account on the Delta website. Click on your name in the upper right corner to open the drop-down menu and select Profile. On your profile page, look at the menu on the left and select “Certificates, eCredits & Vouchers”. Here you will see a list of your available affiliate certificates (along with any e-credits or vouchers you have). The certificate ID, expiration date, and who it is valid for will be indicated here. Check the box next to your certificate, and then click the “Continue” or “Redeem” button to start booking.
2. Start searching for flights with the certificate applied
Once you click “Continue”, Delta will take you to the booking page with the companion certificate already applied. You’ll notice that the search form defaults to “Roundtrip” and “2 passengers” (since a companion ticket requires two people to travel together). To search for flights, enter the departure, destination and travel dates as usual. At the top, you can see a note confirming that the certificate code was used for this search. Continue searching for the flights you need.
Tip: If your dates are not fixed, it may be helpful to check the “My dates are flexible” box to see different options – this will increase your chances of finding flights with the appropriate fare classes. Search results usually only show flights for which partner certificates are available. If nothing shows up, try changing the dates or route.
3. Select flights and see prices
Select round-trip flights from the search results. You will see the prices for two passengers for each option (the site will take into account the companion discount). Once you have selected the flights, go to the Trip Summary/Receipt page. Here, you should check whether the companion certificate has been applied to the booking. The summary will show a breakdown for 2 passengers. The fare for the first passenger will be listed at the regular price, and the fare for the second passenger will be $0.00 (free) with a note “Companion Certificate Applied”. Taxes and fees for both tickets will be summarized in the total amount.
4. Complete the purchase
Enter the passenger information for you and your companion (names must match exactly with those on your IDs, etc.) and proceed to payment. Pay with your Delta Amex card to meet the certificate requirement. You pay the cost of the first ticket plus taxes/fees for the second. After booking, you’ll receive a confirmation email with both travelers listed. The companion’s e-ticket will show a base fare of $0.
At this point, your certificate is considered redeemed (if you log in to your profile, it will no longer be available as it has been used).
And that’s it – the process is essentially the same as booking a regular flight, except that you start by selecting a certificate, which then automatically fills in the reservation for 2 people and adjusts the price. If you run into any problems or need to book something more complicated, you can call Delta to redeem the certificate, but it’s easiest to do it online.
Tips for Maximizing the Value of Your Delta Companion Ticket
A free (or nearly free) flight is a win, but how can you get the most out of your Delta Companion Pass? Here are some helpful tips and tricks to help you get the most out of this privilege:
Use it for the most expensive trip you’d take anyway: The value of a companion certificate depends on the cost of the ticket – a free second ticket for a $300 flight will save you $300, and for a $600 flight – $600.
Tip #1. Use the certificate for one of your most expensive planned trips
Don’t spend it on a super-cheap flight that you can buy for $99 if you also have a $500 cross-country trip planned. Look at your travel plans for the year and find a trip for two with a high fare. Traveling on vacation, summer peak season, or any itinerary that is typically expensive (say, coast-to-coast flights, flights to Alaska or Hawaii, last-minute travel to attend an event) are great opportunities.
Tip #2. Start looking for the right trip as early as possible.
Don’t wait until the last minute – book in advance: As already mentioned, the Companion Certificate is subject to the availability of certain fare classes, which tend to sell out as the flight fills up. As soon as you know the dates, search with a certificate. If you can be flexible with the dates or times, even better, take advantage of available tickets when they become available.
Tip #3. Flexibility, even for a day or two, can sometimes be crucial to finding the right fare
Use Flexible Dates and the Low Fare Calendar: When booking on Delta’s website with a companion certificate, you have the option to search with flexible dates. Take advantage of it! Looking at the calendar will show you which dates have lower fares (and likely those lower fare classes). This can reveal availability for a companion that you might have missed if you were looking for just one fixed date. Also consider alternate airports if possible (for example, try San Francisco and Oakland at the same time, or LGA and JFK) – if your travel plans allow it – to find suitable flights.
Tip #4. Combine with Delta eCredits or Amex offers
Delta now allows you to redeem eCredits when using a companion certificate. If you have Delta Travel Credits from previous cancellations, you can apply up to four of them online to cover part of the original ticket price and even taxes for a companion. This can significantly reduce your out-of-pocket costs.
Speaking of your card, keep an eye out for Amex offers or other promotions on your Delta card. Sometimes, Amex has offers like “Spend $300 on Delta, get $100 back”. If you save this offer on your card, using a companion certificate (which is good for a basic Delta ticket) can result in a statement credit that can save you even more.
Tip #5. Consider an upgrade or premium cabin if you have a Reserve card
If you are a Reserve cardholder, you can use the certificate to travel with a companion in Comfort+ or First Class. To maximize the benefit, you can choose a scenario where first class tickets are very expensive. For example, a round-trip first class ticket from New York to Seattle costs $1,200 per person – if you use a Reserve Companion Certificate, you’ll pay $1,200 + taxes for both tickets (effectively ~$600 each, which is a fantastic deal for a first class flight across the country). Even if you don’t normally splurge on first class, a companion certificate can make it much more affordable. Alternatively, book economy class and hope for an upgrade if you’re elite.
A little trick: if you’re a Medallion member, both you and your companion will be on the upgrade list. By using a certificate for a class that is eligible for an upgrade (which it is), you can get into a premium cabin for free.
Tip #6. Take advantage of peak periods (if you can plan ahead)
It is best to use a certificate when ticket prices are high, but you know about it in advance. Holiday travel, summer vacations, spring breaks, major events – flights during these times can be expensive, but you often plan ahead. If you can get ahead of others when booking (or choose a less obvious departure time), you can book a trip with a companion and save a lot of money during the peak season. For example, flying two people to a family Christmas gathering can cost a fortune; with a single-passenger ticket, that amount is cut in half.
Tip #7. Keep an eye on the expiration date – don’t leave it unused
It sounds obvious, but many people forget to use their certificate before it expires. Mark your calendar a couple of months before the expiration date and make sure you book something. Even if you’re not planning a big trip, consider a spontaneous vacation or visiting friends. It’s much better to get something of value (even a free ticket for $200) than to get nothing. And if your certificate expires and you can’t travel, remember that you can share it with a friend or family member (book a trip for them using your certificate) so that it doesn’t go to waste.
By following these tips, you can get the most out of your Delta Companion and enjoyment. Many cardmembers find that one good use of a companion ticket more than justifies the annual credit card fee!
FAQ: Common Questions about the Delta Companion Certificate
Do Medallion elite benefits apply when using a companion certificate (upgrades, priority boarding, etc.)?
Can I cancel or change a booking made with the companion certificate?
Yes. If you need to cancel, Delta will cancel both tickets (the primary and the companion) together. As long as you cancel before flying, the primary ticket’s value will typically be returned to you as an eCredit (if it was a non-refundable fare) or refunded if it was refundable. The companion certificate will be reissued to your account so you can use it again, but it will keep the original expiration date.
