the buy 1 get 1 free coupons airfare coupons?

If so, what's the catch? Or are there more blackoutdays than useable days?

I tried to use one several years ago. I received the "buy one, get one free" certificate after redeeming some points in my credit card rewards program.

To use it, I had to call a toll-free number that was printed on the certificate--I couldn't go to any of the major travel websites and redeem it directly there. But when I called the toll-free number, the price I was quoted for my ticket was more than double the price I could get on Expedia/Travelocity for the same flights. So it was cheaper for me to just toss the certificate and book the two tickets myself on Expedia/Travelocity.

Needless to say, I won't be redeeming any reward points for any more "buy one, get one free" airline deals.

Anyway, that was my experience. Maybe somebody else had better luck with this type of deal.

The real catch with these is that you have to buy a relatively expensive fare in order to use the coupon (if it's one issued by the airline itself). So you can almost always book two advance-purchase economy tickets for less than the "buy one get one free" price. If they are not issued by the airline, then they are usually not a good deal, and I'd avoid them.

I have redeemed amex points thru Swiss air for the buy one, get one free and it worked out well for us; I did check the prices prior, and it was a good deal for us. I booked thru Swiss Air directly, rec'd the certificate thru the mail and then confirmed via mail.

I have never used them directly with an airline though, only by redeeming amex points.

I sort of agree with the Fodor's editor, but it greatly depends on what your market is--and how diligently you shop. We have redeemed MANY of them. This past year is the first time we haven't been able to save significant money.
Actually, I have to amend this--ours are buy one, get a companion fare for $99 for up to two more.
Ours come with or USAIR CC card each year. There is usually a minimum fare that is matched--usually around $350, but this year is was even less, as I recall.
I usually saved them (and they do expire and have a time limit on the return, etc.) until I HAD to travel and couldn't get a good fare. One year it was to FL for son's wedding and high season. That current fare was $4-500 so we got ours and grandson's for about $6-700. That is a significant saving.
So, of course, the bottom line is to shop for the time you need and the fares available from every source. But we have saved money.
We do have to go to the airline counter to get the tickets and sometimes that has been an adventure--they don't do it much and have often had trouble working it out.

Gretchen, you are right, you jogged my memory - it was the one free with a $99 companion that I used on Swiss Air last year, not a buy one get one free -
but when I compared rates, at that point in time, it saved us money. I agree you still have to do the comparison shopping.