Can You Pay For Comfort Plus On Delta Companion Ticket?

Adding Comfort Plus to your Delta flight can help significantly improve your flying experience by providing more legroom, priority overhead bin space, a free alcoholic beverage, and a lot of other perks. But with Delta, the companion ticket benefit enables one to have a friend or a loved one accompany them for nearly nothing in the main cabin. The following is a common question to many Delta customers: can one pay to upgrade Delta companion tickets to Comfort Plus?

NO: Delta has some strict rules for the persons flying on companion tickets, and the option to upgrade to Comfort Plus is not available even if you are willing to pay for it. The fare that is offered to accompany a passenger is very limited, applying only to the main cabin. However, the primary ticket holder has to upgrade to Comfort Plus by paying for the fee, and the companion has to stay in the main cabin seats.

Why can’t companions get upgraded?

The primary reason why Delta does not allow a companion to upgrade to Comfort Plus or first class when using the buddy pass is to avoid misuse of the program. This is why it has been devised that the companion seats can only be used for the intended purpose—to enable the primary member to take a family or friends at a lower price set by Delta.

If companions could pay a fee to upgrade, then the companion tickets could in effect be sold to non-companies. Primary members could purchase a full-fare ticket for themselves and then include a companion for the taxes and fees; only then could the companion purchase a higher class of service for an additional cost. To stop such practices, Delta has put measures in place that limit upgrades on these fares.

However, as the main ticket holder, you can also opt to upgrade yourself to Comfort Plus and get more leg space, as well as other comforts in the flight. However, the rest of the passengers in the main cabin will have to be content with free soft drinks and even a small economy-class seat.

What If Companion Tickets Involve Elite Members? For the vast majority of Delta’s customers, having no option to upgrade a companion ticket is merely an inconvenience. But for the premium Delta fliers with Medallion status, the restriction to access upgrades is even more irritating. While it is a general rule that Medallion elite members get free upgrades to Comfort Plus depending on the status, this is not applicable if flying using a companion pass.

Therefore, for instance, if you have the privilege of a Diamond Medallion that makes you eligible for unlimited Comfort Plus upgrades for yourself, your buddy pass fare does not include your companion. In this case, the paid ticket holder would be upgraded because of his or her Diamond status, while the companion will be in the middle of the back seat.

Most frequent fliers have expressed their frustrations by stating that Delta should have a policy of offering status-based upgrades for Medallion members’ companions. However, up to this point, Delta has not ceased enforcing this regulation. Companion ticket holders are not eligible for any kind of upgrade, paid or complimentary, irrespective of the Medallion status.

But what if my companion requires the extra space? There are some complaints from Delta customers who face problems when their companion is eligible to have a Comfort Plus seat but he or she cannot upgrade due to the discounted companion ticket. This usually occurs with extended travelers who cannot fit into the narrow economy class, those with some medical conditions that require them to have extra leg space, seniors with mobility problems, and others.

In these special cases, you can always call Delta customer service after the booking explain the circumstances, and request permission to make an exception that would enable your companion to get an upgrade. This kind of request is considered by the airline on an individual basis. Hence, it is not a guarantee that you’ll get an exception, but if there is a genuine reason, and the same has been supported by medical information, there is a chance that Delta will offer you accommodation.

However, it is critical to point out that any exception would necessitate payment for one to upgrade the companion seat to Comfort Plus. While Delta may allow an exception to the upgrade restrictions, they do not simply give a free upgrade because your companion says they require additional legroom. If your request for an exception is granted, then you should be ready to meet the usual charges of an upgrade.

Maximizing Companion Tickets That being said, even given the limitations of the upgrade, the Delta companion fare is an absolute steal. It lets both ticket holders accumulate SkyMiles for the flights, the tickets can be used many times in a year, there are no black-out dates, and Medallion members get qualifying miles and MQD credit on these fares.

Here are some tips for maximizing your use of the companion passes:

If you are booking your ticket, try to opt for Delta Comfort+ so that you can get more comfort despite your companion not being able to get a seat in this category.

Take longer flights; the fees charged are equally attractive whether for short or long flights.

If you have credits, you should utilize them to offset the fees and taxes of the companion.

Purchase the tickets with a Delta SkyMiles credit card to unlock the bonus points.

It is without doubt that an inability to upgrade your companion’s seat may be an inconvenience; however, the rules of change by Delta do not allow for the hoops to be used to manipulate the program or drive up the companion fares. Never try to circumvent the policy, even though Delta seems to look the other way in some instances. By using fake companion certificates, Medallion members could potentially lose their precious status in the program.

By adhering to the said companion ticket guidelines, all parties in the cooperation can benefit from the program in a responsible manner. Being able to pay for Comfort Plus on your own when your friend cannot accompany you, there is a small price to pay to guarantee that you can continue getting one of the best airline-free companion fares today.

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