Eric Rosen is a freelance journalist who lives in Los Angeles. He writes about travel, food, wine, personal finance, and credit cards for publications that include Forbes Advisor, AFAR, Bloomberg, Condé Nast Traveler, National Geographic Traveler, an.
Eric Rosen ContributorEric Rosen is a freelance journalist who lives in Los Angeles. He writes about travel, food, wine, personal finance, and credit cards for publications that include Forbes Advisor, AFAR, Bloomberg, Condé Nast Traveler, National Geographic Traveler, an.
Written By Eric Rosen ContributorEric Rosen is a freelance journalist who lives in Los Angeles. He writes about travel, food, wine, personal finance, and credit cards for publications that include Forbes Advisor, AFAR, Bloomberg, Condé Nast Traveler, National Geographic Traveler, an.
Eric Rosen ContributorEric Rosen is a freelance journalist who lives in Los Angeles. He writes about travel, food, wine, personal finance, and credit cards for publications that include Forbes Advisor, AFAR, Bloomberg, Condé Nast Traveler, National Geographic Traveler, an.
Contributor Dylan Pearl Credit Cards EditorOver a decade of editorial experience across a number of publications and more than 60 countries visited have given Dylan Pearl a wealth of travel knowledge, and the tools to effectively communicate that knowledge to others. Dylan has made it his mis.
Dylan Pearl Credit Cards EditorOver a decade of editorial experience across a number of publications and more than 60 countries visited have given Dylan Pearl a wealth of travel knowledge, and the tools to effectively communicate that knowledge to others. Dylan has made it his mis.
Dylan Pearl Credit Cards EditorOver a decade of editorial experience across a number of publications and more than 60 countries visited have given Dylan Pearl a wealth of travel knowledge, and the tools to effectively communicate that knowledge to others. Dylan has made it his mis.
Dylan Pearl Credit Cards EditorOver a decade of editorial experience across a number of publications and more than 60 countries visited have given Dylan Pearl a wealth of travel knowledge, and the tools to effectively communicate that knowledge to others. Dylan has made it his mis.
| Credit Cards Editor
Updated: Jul 17, 2024, 11:36am
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One of the most valuable benefits an airline credit card can offer is the chance to earn a companion ticket. These certificates allow the cardholder to bring a second person along on a trip nearly for free. Like with any credit card benefit, companion tickets come with terms and conditions and no two function exactly the same, but those who put in the effort to learn how to use them can get great value from these certificates.
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Earn unlimited 3 miles for every $1 spent on eligible Alaska Airlines purchases, 2 miles for every $1 spent on Read More
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Editorial ReviewFor West Coast frequent fliers, the Alaska Airlines card is worth a serious look. You’ll snag the prized annual Companion Fare when you spend $6,000 in the prior anniversary year, plus a free checked bag, Visa Signature benefits and other perks, which easily offset the annual fee.
Pros & ConsEarn 50,000 bonus miles plus buy one ticket, get one for just the taxes and fees ($0 fare plus taxes and fees from $23) with this offer. To qualify, make $3,000 or more in purchases within the first 90 days of opening your account.
Credit Score ranges are based on FICO® credit scoring. This is just one scoring method and a credit card issuer may use another method when considering your application. These are provided as guidelines only and approval is not guaranteed.
An airline companion ticket is basically a two-for-one voucher. If you have one, you can book a ticket for yourself and then apply the companion certificate to a second ticket on your same trip. With several stipulations to be aware of, that is.
Most companion tickets require you to pay the taxes and fees on the second ticket, but save you on the base airfare—so your companion’s seat isn’t quite free. Some companion tickets are only applicable to certain routes and classes of service, or even specific fare codes, like domestic economy flights. Others only apply to award travel (the kind you book using your airline miles or points).
While they might sound complicated, companion certificates are meant to be used. So you don’t typically have to jump through too many hoops in order to maximize the benefit.
Several airline credit cards offer some type of companion ticket as part of their perks packages. In some cases, you can score a companion ticket as part of a welcome bonus. Others are activated after each account anniversary (and after you’ve paid the annual fee). Still others are earned after you spend a certain amount on purchases with your credit card each year.
In short, airline companion tickets can vary from airline to airline, and credit card to credit card within the same family of products. So if you carry an airline credit card that offers a companion ticket benefit, or are thinking of opening a new account, go over all the provisions carefully to ensure you will actually be able to put the benefit to use.
Here’s a handy guide to some of the best airline credit cards that offer companion tickets (or a comparable perk, such as a statement credit toward airfare). As mentioned above, companion tickets come in a few different flavors, from welcome offers to anniversary gifts and spending-based incentives to award-ticket discounts. Be sure you understand the terms and conditions offered by any card you might be interested in before committing to any applications or spending requirements.
Alaska Airlines Visa Signature® credit card: Cardholders receive an annual companion fare starting at $122 ($99 fare plus taxes and fees from $23) after you spend $6,000 or more on purchases within the prior anniversary year.
Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card (terms apply): Each year you renew your card membership, you’ll receive a Delta Companion Certificate in your SkyMiles account which can be used to book a companion flight in Main Cabin on domestic, Caribbean or Central American round-trip flights for only the cost of taxes and fees. Taxes and fees will total no more than $80 for round-trip domestic flights and $250 for round-trip international flights. Baggage fees still apply.
Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card (terms apply): Card members receive an annual Companion Certificate good for a buy-one-get-one domestic, Caribbean, or Central American flight in the following cabins: Main Cabin, Delta Comfort+ or First Class. The certificate is available to you every year you renew your account and pay the annual fee. You still have to pay taxes and fees for the companion, which will total no more than $80 for round-trip domestic flights and $250 for round-trip international flights. Baggage fees still apply.
AAdvantage® Aviator® Red World Elite Mastercard® * : The card grants the opportunity to earn a $99 companion certificate after spending $20,000 on purchases and renewing your card. To earn the certificate, your account must remain open for 45 days after your anniversary date.
Hawaiian Airlines® World Elite Mastercard® * : Earn a 50% one-time companion discount for flights between Hawaii and North America and a $100 annual companion discount.
British Airways Visa Signature® Card: Earn a Travel Together Ticket every calendar year you spend $30,000 on the card in a calendar year. Valid for two years after issuance, this ticket provides an additional seat on the same flight and cabin when booking a reward ticket on British Airways, Iberia or Aer Lingus flights originating anywhere in the world. You can also redeem the ticket for a 50% discount on an award ticket if you’ll be traveling alone.
