The card that lets you bring a companion on a flight … even in first class

Travel is more fun when you get to share it with someone. But, of course, the more people you travel with, the more it costs … or, at least, that’s usually how it works.

Have you ever dreamed that you could pay for one airline ticket but still bring a friend or family member along without having to double the cost of the flight?

It may sound like a daydream, but it’s actually not as far-fetched as you might think. In fact, it’s one of the potentially underrated benefits of the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card.

Once a year (after you renew the card), you’ll get an annual Companion Certificate that allows you to buy the first Delta Air Lines ticket and then pay just the taxes and fees for a second ticket when using the certificate. That makes it possible to take off to somewhere in the U.S. or even beyond to places like Mexico, Aruba, Grand Cayman, St. Lucia, Costa Rica, Turks and Caicos, or Guatemala with your travel companion without spending a ton out of pocket.

The Companion Certificate requires payment of government-imposed taxes and fees of between $22 and $250 (for itineraries with up to four flight segments). Baggage charges and other restrictions apply.

But, if you ask me, that’s not even the best part. If you have the Delta SkyMiles Reserve Amex, this Companion Certificate is good not only in main cabin or Comfort+, but also in first class.

Basics of the Delta SkyMiles Reserve card

We’ll get back to that valuable annual Companion Certificate shortly, but that’s not the only reason why you should consider adding the Delta SkyMiles Reserve card to your wallet.

Currently, this card is offering a big welcome bonus for new cardholders.

For a limited time only (until April 2, 2025), new Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express Card holders can earn 100,000 bonus miles after spending $6,000 on purchases on the card in the first six months of having it. The Delta Reserve Amex is also one of the Delta credit cards that allow you to stretch your miles further when you redeem them, as it comes with a 15% discount for award travel on Delta flights booked on delta.com and the Fly Delta app. (Note that the discount is not applicable to partner-operated flights or taxes and fees.)

This is the most premium Delta consumer card on the market, and it’s the card you probably want if you enjoy Delta Sky Club access or are striving to earn Delta Medallion® status, as it’s the most rewarding Delta consumer Amex to help you make progress toward both of those goals.

For example, with the Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express Card, you get a head start of 2,500 Medallion Qualification Dollars each Medallion Qualification year (which is halfway to Delta Silver Medallion status) and you’ll earn 1 MQD for every $10 in purchases charged to the card.

With this card, you also get 15 Sky Club visits each year when flying with Delta and its eligible partners (unlimited visits are available until Feb. 1, 2025). You can unlock an unlimited number of visits after you spend $75,000 on purchases on your card in a calendar year.

Check out our review of the Delta SkyMiles Reserve card for even more information on all the card’s top benefits.

Save $1,000 (or more) with Delta’s annual Companion Certificate

If you’ve already started packing your bags at the notion of a companion ticket that’s good even in first class, here are the details.

First, the list of places you can fly to with Delta’s Companion Certificate has recently gotten longer. It now includes:

• All 50 U.S. states
• Puerto Rico
• U.S. Virgin Islands
• Mexico
• Antigua
• Aruba
• Bermuda
• Bonaire
• Grand Cayman
• Cuba
• Jamaica
• Bahamas
• Turks and Caicos
• Dominican Republic
• St. Kitts
• St. Maarten
• St. Lucia
• Costa Rica
• Belize
• Guatemala
• Panama
• Honduras
• El Salvador

To use this certificate, you’ll select it from the “certificates and e-credits” portion of your Delta account, search for a flight for two people and pay the regular fare for the first ticket. Then you’ll secure the second ticket in economy, Comfort+ or first class for just the cost of taxes and fees, which range from $22 to $250. (And yes, you earn both Medallion Qualification Dollars and redeemable miles on the first purchased ticket!)

The certificate is not valid on every single flight or day (certain fare classes have to be available), so your best path to success is to book in advance and have somewhat flexible dates.

Here are a couple of examples of what you can possibly save when using the card’s annual Companion Certificate.

Flying round-trip in first class to Orlando from the Big Apple

Let’s say you want a first-class flight for two from New York City to the Orlando area in September 2025. Right now, availability using the Delta Companion Certificate is excellent for that time of year, with round-trip prices for two around $800.

Paying roughly $800 for two round-trip, first-class tickets from New York to Florida is a pretty solid deal in my book and represents a savings of over $700 on that second ticket when compared to the regular cash price. This sort of use really helps make the case for the card’s $650 annual fee (see rates and fees).

Flying round-trip in first class to Honolulu from the West Coast

Now, let’s look at how this works if you want to fly to Hawaii, an awe-inspiring but notoriously tough destination to get to by way of a fantastic deal in first class (whether using cash or miles).

On an example round-trip itinerary in first class from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) to Honolulu’s Daniel K. Inouye International Airport (HNL), a cash fare on Delta for September 2025 is currently around $1,600. However, there is availability with the Companion Certificate, making it possible to get two round-trip tickets at the front of the plane for $1,668.

That’s obviously a pretty terrific deal for two first-class tickets.

Bottom line

There are lots of reasons to consider the Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express Card and see if it might be right for you. Among them is the potentially significant value you can get from the annual Companion Certificate if you like to travel with a friend or loved one.

Being able to receive a Companion Certificate redeemable for any cabin class every year after you renew this card is a great benefit for an airline credit card.

As an added benefit, the card’s welcome bonus is increased for a limited time.

If you’re considering adding the Delta SkyMiles Reserve card to your wallet, now is the time to make your move so you can earn the increased bonus of 100,000 miles and be that much closer to putting them toward an incredible trip.

Apply now: Delta SkyMiles Reserve Amex. For a limited time (until April 2, 2025), earn 100,000 bonus miles after spending $6,000 in the first six months of having the card. 

For rates and fees for the Delta SkyMiles Reserve Amex, click here.