Free Companion Airline Ticket with Delta Platinum Amex Card. How does it really work?
Jun 8th, 2006, 05:20 AM
#1
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Free Companion Airline Ticket with Delta Platinum Amex Card. How does it really work?
We just upgraded our Delta American Express card to Platinum and one of the perks is that you get a free companion airline ticket every year when you renew the card.
This sounds to good to be true, of course the annual fee alone is like $130 and there are a bunch of black out dates. But how does it really work??
This sounds to good to be true, of course the annual fee alone is like $130 and there are a bunch of black out dates. But how does it really work??
Jun 8th, 2006, 06:11 AM
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I don't know about Delta's AX Platinum card but we have just the AX Platinum and are allowed unlimited companion tickets. We have taken many trips buying one first class ticket and then for just (I think) the taxes we get the second one. No black out days.
Jun 8th, 2006, 07:55 AM
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It's different. The regular AMEX Platinum allows free companion tickets (in business class only I think) when you buy it a full fare.
The OP has a Delta Skymiles AE card. Totally different animal. I had it for a few years, but I never had a chance to use the companion coupon. I don't use it now, and just collect AE Membership Rewards points for my purchase so that I don't get miles tied up in a single airline's FF program.
The coupon should work, as long as you follow the rules and blackout dates.
The OP has a Delta Skymiles AE card. Totally different animal. I had it for a few years, but I never had a chance to use the companion coupon. I don't use it now, and just collect AE Membership Rewards points for my purchase so that I don't get miles tied up in a single airline's FF program.
The coupon should work, as long as you follow the rules and blackout dates.
Jun 8th, 2006, 10:20 AM
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The AMEX deal is a complete ripoff. They give you a free companion business class ticket, but only if you get the tickets thru the AMEX travel agency, and they charge a very very high fare for the one ticket that you do pay for. This topic has been beaten to death on many boards, and it's been found that usually if you just buy 2 business class tickets thru Orbitz or other sites it will be cheaper than the one ticket you pay for with AMEX. Avoid that program, for sure.
Jun 8th, 2006, 10:40 AM
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The OP has the PLATINUM DELTA SKYMILES CREDIT CARD not the Platinum charge card that comes with the International Airline Program. These are two COMPLETELY different products!!!
As far as I know, the coupon fare is zone based, so it's not buy one get one free using the lowest available fare you can find. The coupon fare is fixed and may or may not represent any savings. You'd have to compare it to the lowest fare you can find for two tickets on the same route.
From the Amex website:
Free Companion Tickets
You'll receive a certificate for a free domestic Coach Class companion ticket on Delta when you renew your Platinum Delta SkyMiles Credit Card.
4. Zone Fares and Companion Tickets do not include a $3.20 Federal Excise Tax which will be imposed on each flight segment in the passenger's and companion's ticketed itinerary. A flight segment is defined as a takeoff and a landing. Zone Fares and Companion Ticket do not include Passenger Facility Charge(s) of up to $18.00, depending on itinerary or September 11th Security Fee of up to $10 per round-trip. These taxes and fees are the responsibility of the passenger and must be paid at the time the primary ticket is purchased and the companion ticket is issued. Quoted fares available only from a travel agent (who may impose additional fees), fares are $10 more and companion tickets cost $10 if issued at a Delta City Ticket office or airport ticketing location, and additional taxes/fees/restrictions apply to both primary and companion tickets. Certificate terms and conditions may vary in each year of Cardmembership. Blackout dates and other restrictions apply. Blackout dates -- Jan. 2; Feb. 18, 19, 21, 26, 27; Mar. 24, 25, 26, 27; Apr. 3, 14, 15, 16, 17, 23, 24; May 27, 30; July 1, 4; Sept. 2, 5; Nov. 23, 27; Dec. 21, 22, 23, 24, 29, 30, 2005. Jan 1, 2; Feb. 17, 18, 20, 25, 26; Apr. 7, 8, 9, 14, 15, 16, 21, 22, 23; May 26, 27; June 30; July 9; Nov. 22, 25, 26; Dec. 22, 23, 26, 30, 31, 2006. For details, refer to actual certificate when it arrives 6-8 weeks after the annual renewal fee is billed. For more information, call Delta at 1-800-325-1447 and refer to offer code G*12100.
As far as I know, the coupon fare is zone based, so it's not buy one get one free using the lowest available fare you can find. The coupon fare is fixed and may or may not represent any savings. You'd have to compare it to the lowest fare you can find for two tickets on the same route.
From the Amex website:
Free Companion Tickets
You'll receive a certificate for a free domestic Coach Class companion ticket on Delta when you renew your Platinum Delta SkyMiles Credit Card.
4. Zone Fares and Companion Tickets do not include a $3.20 Federal Excise Tax which will be imposed on each flight segment in the passenger's and companion's ticketed itinerary. A flight segment is defined as a takeoff and a landing. Zone Fares and Companion Ticket do not include Passenger Facility Charge(s) of up to $18.00, depending on itinerary or September 11th Security Fee of up to $10 per round-trip. These taxes and fees are the responsibility of the passenger and must be paid at the time the primary ticket is purchased and the companion ticket is issued. Quoted fares available only from a travel agent (who may impose additional fees), fares are $10 more and companion tickets cost $10 if issued at a Delta City Ticket office or airport ticketing location, and additional taxes/fees/restrictions apply to both primary and companion tickets. Certificate terms and conditions may vary in each year of Cardmembership. Blackout dates and other restrictions apply. Blackout dates -- Jan. 2; Feb. 18, 19, 21, 26, 27; Mar. 24, 25, 26, 27; Apr. 3, 14, 15, 16, 17, 23, 24; May 27, 30; July 1, 4; Sept. 2, 5; Nov. 23, 27; Dec. 21, 22, 23, 24, 29, 30, 2005. Jan 1, 2; Feb. 17, 18, 20, 25, 26; Apr. 7, 8, 9, 14, 15, 16, 21, 22, 23; May 26, 27; June 30; July 9; Nov. 22, 25, 26; Dec. 22, 23, 26, 30, 31, 2006. For details, refer to actual certificate when it arrives 6-8 weeks after the annual renewal fee is billed. For more information, call Delta at 1-800-325-1447 and refer to offer code G*12100.
Jun 8th, 2006, 12:14 PM
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I used the companion ticket for Orlando - Los Angeles tickets to visit relatives over Christmas, working around the blackout dates (out 12/24 and back 12/27). The total including all taxes and fees was $414 for the two tickets, which I thought was a fairly good deal.
Jun 8th, 2006, 01:56 PM
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On the regular AMEX Platinum card -
I have used it for the 2-for-1 in business and first class. Sometimes it is a great deal. Capetown on Lufthansa worked out to be about $4000 per person. You do pay a higher ticket price for the first ticket but only tax on the second ticket.
I imagine that sometimes airlines have sales where the 2-for-1 price is higher but if you use it once it more then pays for the annual fee.
And my agent is not an AMEX agency. She is with Virtuoso and can still book the tickets for us.
I have used it for the 2-for-1 in business and first class. Sometimes it is a great deal. Capetown on Lufthansa worked out to be about $4000 per person. You do pay a higher ticket price for the first ticket but only tax on the second ticket.
I imagine that sometimes airlines have sales where the 2-for-1 price is higher but if you use it once it more then pays for the annual fee.
And my agent is not an AMEX agency. She is with Virtuoso and can still book the tickets for us.
Jun 8th, 2006, 02:12 PM
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Problem is this with the "free" companion tickets. Unlike in years past, today business class fares vary a whole lot depending on fare class, just like in coach. Just give you an example:
Continental Airlines EWR-LGW 8/15 - 8/22. Cheapest business class is "Z" for $2,000 roundtrip. "D" class is about $4,700, while full fare "J" is $9,100.
Now, even if AE Plat let you buy a D and get one free, you're still better off buying 2 "Z"s, in this case.
But of course, those cheap fares are not available year round and not only every flight. So, sometimes it may work, sometimes you can do better.
Continental Airlines EWR-LGW 8/15 - 8/22. Cheapest business class is "Z" for $2,000 roundtrip. "D" class is about $4,700, while full fare "J" is $9,100.
Now, even if AE Plat let you buy a D and get one free, you're still better off buying 2 "Z"s, in this case.
But of course, those cheap fares are not available year round and not only every flight. So, sometimes it may work, sometimes you can do better.
Jun 8th, 2006, 02:40 PM
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I think the Platinum IAP 2 for 1 works on routes where the difference between discounted and full fare business isn't as large (unlike US-Europe) or when you can't meet the restrictions of the discounted fare.
Jun 8th, 2006, 04:38 PM
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When we used our "free companion" ticket, we had to pay the higher fare for the first ticket. We flew Coach to a domestic location and only saved about $15, over buying 2 economy fare tickets.
Jun 9th, 2006, 04:21 AM
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I've had the Delta Skymiles card from pretty close to when it was first issued and have taken advantage of the free companion ticket every year. It has worked out wonderfully.
At the beginning, it was a free international ticket to anywhere, but has degraded over the years to only a free domestic ticket.
To make it worthwhile, there are two guidelines. First, as always, book as early as possible. There are capacity controls which tend to make availability difficult if you beeok too close in.
Second, they are most valuable on the high regular fare routes. Thus, they are not all that useful for New York to Miami. But we have used them the past two years for Gainesville to Jackson Hole and have saved hundreds.
Plus you get 5000 (or is it 10000) MQMs when you renew ... and the annual fee becomes irrelevant.
At the beginning, it was a free international ticket to anywhere, but has degraded over the years to only a free domestic ticket.
To make it worthwhile, there are two guidelines. First, as always, book as early as possible. There are capacity controls which tend to make availability difficult if you beeok too close in.
Second, they are most valuable on the high regular fare routes. Thus, they are not all that useful for New York to Miami. But we have used them the past two years for Gainesville to Jackson Hole and have saved hundreds.
Plus you get 5000 (or is it 10000) MQMs when you renew ... and the annual fee becomes irrelevant.
Jun 22nd, 2006, 02:14 PM
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I found more info on the free companion ticket coupon - https://www124.americanexpress.com/c...tBenefitDetail
Can be quite a good deal in some high fare markets provided L class seats are available. I'm thinking about using mine to BZN or JAC where fares are typically in excess of $300 from LAX but with the companion coupon would be $238 plus taxes for two.
Can be quite a good deal in some high fare markets provided L class seats are available. I'm thinking about using mine to BZN or JAC where fares are typically in excess of $300 from LAX but with the companion coupon would be $238 plus taxes for two.
Nov 29th, 2006, 04:57 AM
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Since this has bubbled up to the top ... the DELTA SkyMiles Platinum card companion fare scheme no longer works on a zone basis.
Now, when you purchase one ticket in L, U, or T class, you get a second (same itinerary) for just the taxes. There are no longer any blackout dates. The "primary" ticket can accrue SkyMiles but the companion ticket does not. All rules of the purchased fare apply.
This has been a great deal.
Also, as of a couple of weeks ago, you get 5% off Delta tickets when paid for by the Delta Amex SkyMiles Business card.
Now, when you purchase one ticket in L, U, or T class, you get a second (same itinerary) for just the taxes. There are no longer any blackout dates. The "primary" ticket can accrue SkyMiles but the companion ticket does not. All rules of the purchased fare apply.
This has been a great deal.
Also, as of a couple of weeks ago, you get 5% off Delta tickets when paid for by the Delta Amex SkyMiles Business card.
Jan 13th, 2007, 01:09 PM
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THE WHOLE MEMBERSHIP REWARDS PROGRAM IS A RIP-OFF!
I transferred almost two hundred thousand points from American Express Membership Rewards as part of a promotion that they sent me. They were supposed to give me a 20 percent in bonus points with 12 weeks for the points to transfer. I called American Express Membership Rewards and transferred the points over 15 weeks ago. No bonus. American Express blames Delta --Delta blames American Express.
Someone at Delta told me all the transfers done over the phone by American Express got screwed up.
I transferred almost two hundred thousand points from American Express Membership Rewards as part of a promotion that they sent me. They were supposed to give me a 20 percent in bonus points with 12 weeks for the points to transfer. I called American Express Membership Rewards and transferred the points over 15 weeks ago. No bonus. American Express blames Delta --Delta blames American Express.
Someone at Delta told me all the transfers done over the phone by American Express got screwed up.
Jan 15th, 2007, 11:58 AM
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I know they are different. I finally got someone good on the phone at AMEX and they dealt with the situation in an effective way, although I had to raise hell to get a result. Delta seemed to be completely useless in the situation --but then service always goes to hell when you are in bankruptcy.
