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Whether you want to take a first class flight with your spouse to Hawaii or a quick economy flight with a friend for a weekend getaway, a companion ticket allows you to essentially purchase a buy-one-get-one or discounted plane ticket. You’ll still have to pay taxes and fees for the second ticket, which might be as low as $5.60 one-way for a domestic flight or as much as $250 for an international flight.
In the points and miles world, these are less common than you might think. There are only a select few cards that offer this benefit, and they previously came with hefty restrictions. Delta famously offered cardholders of the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card and Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card companion tickets each year, but they were only able to be used within the continental U.S. — meaning Hawaii and Alaska were excluded.
However, when Delta revamped the cards in 2023, they expanded the eligible destinations to include the Caribbean, Central America, Mexico, Alaska, and Hawaii. Here are our picks for the best credit cards that offer companion tickets.
How we evaluate products
To develop our list of the best credit cards that offer companion tickets, we analyzed a variety of factors, such as destination restrictions, cost of taxes and fees, whether the companion ticket was complimentary or earned, and other cardholder benefits. We did not evaluate all credit cards in the category. We used our editorial judgment and expertise to determine which cards were best for different types of people and situations.
Airline Cards That Offer Companion Tickets
Some cards offer complimentary companion tickets, while others offer a path to earning a companion ticket with a minimum spending requirement.
Top Credit Cards That Offer Complimentary Companion Tickets
- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card
- Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card
- Lufthansa Miles & More® World Elite Mastercard®
Top Credit Cards That Offer A Path To Companion Tickets
- Alaska Airlines Visa Signature® Credit Card
- AAdvantage® Aviator® Red World Elite Mastercard®
- British Airways Visa Signature® Card
Credit Cards That Offer Complimentary Companion Tickets
Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card
The Delta SkyMiles Reserve Amex has a whopping $650 annual fee, but with so many benefits for Delta loyalists, it’s more than worth it.
Cardmembers receive complimentary Delta Sky Club (effective February 1, 2025, cardholders get up to 15 free visits annually unless spending with the card exceeds $75,000 in the previous calendar year, in which case the cardholder gets unlimited visits) and Centurion Lounge access. You’ll also receive a path to Delta medallion status, a discount on award redemptions, statement credits for Resy, rideshare, and Delta Stays purchases, and Hertz President’s Circle Status. The SkyMiles Reserve provides many premium features for the most loyal Delta travelers.
How the companion ticket works
Receive a First Class, Delta Comfort+, or Main Cabin domestic, Caribbean, or Central American round-trip companion certificate each year when you renew your card. You will have to pay up to $80 (roundtrip domestic) or $250 (round trip international) for the taxes and fees on your companion fare. If you hold this card, you should try to always redeem your companion certificate for a first class flight. If not, you’re better off with the SkyMiles Platinum card.
Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card
The Delta SkyMiles Platinum Amex is a solid offer for those who still want a Delta companion ticket but can’t justify the $650 annual fee of the SkyMiles Reserve. Cardholders receive a suite of benefits, like 15% off award redemptions, a fast track toward Delta medallion status, and statement credits for Delta Stays, rideshares, and Resy purchases.
You’ll also receive some standard benefits like a free checked bag, Hertz Five Star status, and a fee credit for the application fee for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck. If you take full advantage of the cardholder benefits, you can easily squeeze more value than the $350 annual fee.
How the companion ticket works
Receive a Main Cabin domestic, Caribbean, or Central American round-trip companion certificate each year when you renew your card. You would have to pay no more than $80 (roundtrip domestic) or $250 (round trip international) for the taxes and fees on your companion fare. If you don’t mind flying in economy, this is one of the most affordable ways to get an international companion ticket.
Lufthansa Miles & More® World Elite Mastercard®
The Lufthansa Miles & More World Elite Mastercard is one of the best offerings on this list. With an annual fee of just $89, you’ll get two complimentary Lufthansa Business Lounge vouchers after each account anniversary and a companion certificate. However, Lufthansa doesn’t serve the U.S. in the same way a domestic carrier like Delta does, so this card is ideal for a small segment of travelers.
How the companion ticket works
Receive an economy companion ticket after each account anniversary, paying any relevant taxes and fees. It’s more difficult to redeem than the Delta companion tickets. You have to call the Miles & More companion ticket service to redeem. It must be on a ticket departing the U.S. to Europe/Middle East/Africa and Far East. Even though it might be more difficult to redeem, this is still a fantastic deal, as there’s no spending requirement, and it can take you and a loved one all the way across the world.
Credit Cards That Offer A Path To A Companion Ticket
Alaska Airlines Visa Signature® Credit Card
The Alaska Airlines Visa Signature offers some basic benefits like a free checked bag, priority boarding, and a discount on an Alaska Lounge+ Membership. However, the real benefit is the companion ticket, which can be a great option for travelers who frequently visit The Last Frontier state.
How the companion ticket works
Cardholders who spend at least $6,000 on their card throughout the year can earn a $99 Companion Fare, plus taxes and fees from $23. Although you’ll still have to spend a bit on your ticket, the spending requirement is easily attainable at just $500 per month. Considering flights to Alaska can be very expensive, this is a great deal.
AAdvantage® Aviator® Red World Elite Mastercard®
The AAdvantage Aviator Red World Elite Mastercard is a solid option for American Airlines frequent flyers. The card comes with standard benefits, like up to $25 in statement credits on in-flight Wi-Fi each anniversary year, preferred boarding, a free checked bag, and 25% off in-flight purchases. You’ll likely want to work towards the companion ticket to justify the annual fee.
How the companion ticket works
Spend $20,000 on your card each anniversary year to earn a domestic economy companion certificate at $99 plus taxes and fees. This spending requirement is fairly high, considering you’ll still need to spend $99 on the ticket, which is valid for a domestic economy flight. Account must remain open for at least 45 days after your anniversary date to be eligible for this benefit.
British Airways Visa Signature® Card
The British Airways Visa Signature Card packs a lot into a low annual fee credit card. One of the major benefits British Airways loyalists can enjoy is a 10% discount on British Airways flights originating in the U.S. If you’re traveling between the U.S. and England a few times a year, those savings can quickly add up.
Taxes and fees on award redemptions on flights to the United Kingdom are notoriously high. However, with the British Airways Visa Signature, you can receive statement credits of $100 for Economy and Premium Economy tickets or $200 for Business and First Class, up to three times per year. That’s a total of anywhere from $300 to $600 in savings for the taxes and fees when you book an award redemption using your card.
How the companion ticket works
Spend $30,000 on your card in a calendar year and earn a Travel Together Ticket that remains valid for two years. You can use this companion pass when you book an award ticket with British Airways for a flight departing and returning to the U.S. The companion ticket gets the same cabin as the reward booking, and you will only have to pay the taxes, fees, and surcharges. Note that this companion ticket is only for award redemptions, which differs from other cards on this list.
The best part is the benefit for solo travelers. If you travel alone, you can use the companion ticket to get a 50% discount on the Avios price.
FAQs
Are companion passes round trip?
It depends on the terms and conditions of the companion pass, but most credit cards that offer a companion fare allow you to use the benefit for a round-trip or one-way flight.
Is a companion pass good for any fare class?
Whether a companion pass is good for any fare class depends on your specific companion pass benefit. For example, the Delta SkyMiles Reserve allows you to use your pass in first class, while the SkyMiles Platinum limits you to the main cabin.
Can you use a companion pass on international flights?
Certain companion passes can be used on international flights, whereas others can only be used on domestic flights. For instance, the Delta companion pass can be used on international flights to the Caribbean, Mexico, and Central America. Any international flights beyond those destinations are excluded. Be sure to read the terms and conditions of your specific companion pass to understand the limitations.
Bottom line
If you’re a solo traveler like myself, you might not get much use out of a companion ticket. This is the reason I downgraded my Delta SkyMiles Platinum to the Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card — I never found an opportunity to utilize this major benefit of the card. However, if you often travel with a loved one, having a companion ticket can provide significant value and make a dream trip even more accessible.
Benefits
Card Details
- $0 annual fee
- Simple, flat-rate rewards
- Flexible redemption options
- Up to 75% preferred Rewards bonus potential
- Apply Now
- Earn unlimited 1.5 points per $1 spent on all purchases, with no annual fee and no foreign transaction fees and your points don't expire as long as your account remains open.
- 25,000 online bonus points after you make at least $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening - that can be a $250 statement credit toward travel purchases.
- Use your card to book your trip how and where you want - you're not limited to specific websites with blackout dates or restrictions.
- Redeem points for a statement credit to pay for travel or dining purchases, such as flights, hotel stays, car and vacation rentals, baggage fees, and also at restaurants including takeout.
- 0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for purchases, and for any balance transfers made in the first 60 days. After the Intro APR offer ends, a Variable APR that’s currently 18.74% - 28.74% will apply. A 3% Intro balance transfer fee will apply for the first 60 days your account is open. After the Intro balance transfer fee offer ends, the fee for future balance transfers is 4%.
- If you're a Bank of America Preferred Rewards® member, you can earn 25%-75% more points on every purchase. That means instead of earning an unlimited 1.5 points for every $1, you could earn 1.87-2.62 points for every $1 you spend on purchases.
- Contactless Cards - The security of a chip card, with the convenience of a tap.
- This online only offer may not be available if you leave this page or if you visit a Bank of America financial center. You can take advantage of this offer when you apply now.
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Intro Offer
Earn 25,000 online bonus points after you make at least $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening - that can be a $250 statement credit toward travel purchases
Annual Fee
$0
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