Joe McConnell
Several rewards credit cards offer companion tickets as a standard benefit or as a reward for spending. Some of these companion rates are fairly easy to use, while others are more restrictive. Knowing the rules ahead of time will help you get the most out of them when you’re ready to redeem them.
Here’s how some of the most popular companion tickets work, and how to know if your companion ticket is still valid if you cancel the associated credit card.
How companion tickets work
First, Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card, Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card, Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card AND Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card Cardmembers receive an annual Delta Companion ticket with each annual card renewal.
Since this voucher benefit extends to both the consumer and small business versions of the cards, you can earn more than one companion voucher if you have more than one. However, these vouchers are not awarded in the first year, which means you must renew your card and pay the annual fee to earn them (see Delta Platinum Amex rates and fees; see Delta Platinum Business Amex rates and fees; see Delta Reserve Amex rates and fees; see Delta Reserve Business Amex rates and fees).
Under Delta’s terms and conditions for the above cards, if you close or downgrade your Delta card within 60 days of the annual fee being posted, your companion’s ticket will likely be canceled or void.
A different example would be British Airways, which offers what is known as a Travel Together Ticket, earned after making $30,000 in purchases in a calendar year on British Airways Visa Signature® Card.
This companion fare lets you book a second ticket along with a return reward flight or get a 50% discount when traveling alone. While you won’t have to cover the normal Avios requirement for the second ticket, you’ll still have to pay taxes and fees for both passengers, which can add up quickly.
Your card account must still be open and in good standing to redeem your Travel Together ticket. The terms and conditions state that only primary cardholders are eligible to receive this benefit and that you must remain eligible for the promotion at the time of travel.
I have heard of passengers whose vouchers remained active on their Executive Club accounts after their cards were canceled, but the official policy (which I have confirmed with my contacts at Chase) is that closing the account will void the Travel Together ticket.
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If your account is open, the ticket remains valid for 24 months from the date of issue.
However, these rules are somewhat inconsistent with other companion tickets. For example, Alaska Airlines’ companion fare It is generally only usable when purchasing the ticket with the Alaska Airlines Visa Signature® Credit Card OR Alaska Airlines Visa® Business Credit Card.
Some Redditors who closed their credit card accounts reported that they could still get the companion fee by using an Alaska Airlines gift card to pay for the ticket, but there’s no guarantee it will work.
In conclusion
As you can see, whether you can still use the companion ticket if you cancel the associated credit card depends greatly on the card (and companion ticket) you are trying to use.
This is just another reason why it’s important to carefully read the fine print on the credit cards in your wallet—one of the best ways to ensure you can take advantage of the card’s benefits every time without wasting a thing.
Related: Are Airline Credit Cards Still Worth It?
To learn about Delta Platinum Amex rates and fees, click here.
To learn about Delta Platinum Business Amex rates and fees, click here.
To learn about Delta Reserve Amex rates and fees, click here.
To learn about Delta Reserve Business Amex rates and fees, click here.
