Can You Use A Delta Companion Ticket For International Travel?
Passenger’s Guide: Can You Use A Delta Companion Ticket For International Travel?
The companion tickets are one of the most sought-after benefits of both Delta Airlines’ Delta SkyMiles credit cards; they enable the card owner to purchase a companion ticket for the mere cost of fees and taxes. This makes flights much cheaper compared to the usual rates, especially for couples and families. A logical follow-up question is if these companion tickets can also be applicable for flights to other countries.
Delta companion tickets: what are they?
Let me first, however, give a brief explanation of what Delta companion tickets are. There are certain types of Delta SkyMiles credit cards: the Gold, Platinum, and Reserve ones; in this case, you get a Delta companion certificate as a renewal gift. This is a certificate or what people call the ‘companion pass,’ where for a fee of taxes only, you can have a friend or a loved one accompany you on a Delta flight. Depending on the flight, it can be much cheaper than buying two separate tickets, which may amount to hundreds of savings.
The companion can be anyone that you choose—friend, family member, spouse, etc.—except that the primary traveler and the companion must be on the same itinerary for the same routes and flights to and from the same point of origin and destination.
Delta Companion Tickets Domestically
It is important to note that the above companion passes are only acceptable within the 48 states that constitute the United States of America. In some areas, like domestic areas such as Los Angeles, Chicago, New York, and the like, you can comfortably use a Delta companion ticket without any complications. Taxes and fees also range between $0 and $150 round trip depending on the destination, which is relatively cheaper as compared to other fares.
What About International Destinations?
However, for Delta International flights, the good news is that the Delta credit card companion passes cannot be applied. You are only allowed to fly within the United States, including Alaska and Hawaii. Delta regards these as ‘domestic’ for companion tickets.
Unfortunately, you cannot use a companion ticket for a flight to Cancun, London, Paris, or any other international destination. The passes include the airport’s companions, and even Mexico, Canada, Bermuda, and the Caribbean islands are considered international for Delta.
Why can’t Companion Tickets be used internationally?
The company may well prevent companion passes from being used for international travel only as a means of protecting itself against exposure. Promoting two-for-one tickets to exotic locations would probably harm their profits more than help them. International flights also tend to be pricier because of taxes and fees, so if Delta is allowing cardholders to purchase these sorts of flights at a steep discount, it would be taking a significant loss.
Since companion tickets can only be purchased for 48 LUS, Delta can keep the much-beloved benefit while maintaining relatively modest losses for the allure of enticing and lock-in SkyMiles credit card consumers. It satisfies the customers while at the same time saving their money.
What About Codeshare Flights?
Occasionally, if you are booking through Delta, some of the flights in your connection may be provided by other carriers in the Delta Connection. These codeshare flights have Delta’s flight numbers, and Delta has sold the tickets, but the aircraft and in-flight service are operated by the partner airline.
Unfortunately, Delta companion certificates cannot be used if any of the flights have Delta codeshare flight numbers but are operated by a different airline. Each segment must be numbered, and this flight number must begin with the letters DL and must be operated by Delta. It means that no leg of the itinerary can be on a partner airline.
This applies to codeshare arrangements within the domestic and international markets. For example, even if you booked a domestic flight from one city within the United States to another city and Delta is your main carrier, but the segments are operated by WestJet or Aeromexico, your companion pass is not valid. Every segment was required to be a Delta-branded and Delta-controlled flight to be included.
Exceptions and Workarounds
While the standard Delta credit card companion certificates are only valid on domestic routes, there are some exceptions and workarounds to consider that can reduce costs for international flights: While the standard Delta credit card companion certificates are only valid on domestic routes, there are some exceptions and workarounds to consider that can reduce costs for international flights:
- Delta One Companion Certificates However, if you have the Delta Reserve card, which is Delta’s highest level of credit card, the companion pass benefit is transferable for Delta One international flights. Delta One is the upper class of travel offered by Delta, where the business class is provided. The taxes and fees are a bit more compared to the normal domestic flights but they still are cheaper.
- Miles and Pay With Points Delta let you use SkyMiles to book award flights and then pay some of the taxes/fees with the Membership Rewards points from Amex cards. This can sometimes make business-class international award tickets a lot cheaper.
- Promotional Offers Delta occasionally offers international or other enhanced promotion companion pass certificates to SkyMiles members through email. Watch out, as you might get one of these!
The Bottom Line
The regular travel companion tickets, which can be obtained through Delta credit cards, however, cannot be used on any international route. This rules out any location that is outside the 48 Contiguous United States, including Canada, Mexico, Caribbean islands, Europe, and so on.
If you are planning on having a travel buddy when you go around the world, then you are going to have to get a conventionally priced ticket. However, for traveling within the United States, the Delta companion passes provide such a unique advantage that taking a friend along does not cost much.
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