topic Re: Delta Reserve Companion Ticket in Credit Cards

Delta Reserve Companion Ticket

jbsilva21 — Tue, 06 Mar 2018 18:29:29 GMT

So DW and I fly Delta First Class about 3-5 times a year domestically. I have the Delta Gold and was wondering about upgrading once this card has reached its 1 year mark. My questions are, can I upgrade before the AF on the Gold is charged or do I have to wait 1 month past the 12 months? Also has anyone used the First Class companion ticket with the Reserve Card? Any weird restrictions? Even though the AF is $450 on that card our First Class tickets are normally around $800-$1000 depending on the trip so am I correct to assume that at least one of those flights will be around 50% off? I have a while to decide since it will not be a year old until January next year.

Re: Delta Reserve Companion Ticket

K-in-Boston — Tue, 06 Mar 2018 18:34:44 GMT

Due to the CARD Act, which prohibits raising an annual fee in the first year, you will have to wait until the 1 year mark. You’ll then need to wait another year for your anniversary for the companion certificate which should be valid on any domestic ticket. If there is an elevated Reserve signup bonus, it may be worth just outright applying for the card in your case.

Re: Delta Reserve Companion Ticket

jbsilva21 — Tue, 06 Mar 2018 18:38:55 GMT

Hmmm, I see. So you don't get that comapnion ticket out the gate then. I see you have the Platinum Delta in your sig, how does that one field?

Re: Delta Reserve Companion Ticket

NRB525 — Tue, 06 Mar 2018 19:18:52 GMT

As K notes, you are better off apping the new card. The SUB now to April 1 is the Reserve card as 40k miles plus 10k MQM. I took that in January even though I also have the Delta Platinum. Will then upgrade the DP to Reserve in Jan 2019, consider closing this Reserve in Jan.

I used the DP companion ticket for a quick planned trip where each seat was about $500, so saved $500 on the second seat in economy. When you utilize the Companion Cert, the booking options Delta shows you specify the classes available and price, easy peazy.

You may also see an upgrade offer eventually for the Delta Gold to Delta Platinum, and I do not doubt you could eventually have two Delta Reserve cards for yourself. With multiple 2x First Class domestic bookings per year, covers the AF.

The domestic companion ticket is lower 48 only, no Alaska or Hawaii as the clearest restriction.

Re: Delta Reserve Companion Ticket

K-in-Boston — Tue, 06 Mar 2018 19:23:36 GMT

Great signup bonus (70k points, 10k MQMs and $100 back) going on for Platinum, but the same case for the companion ticket... doesn't happen until the "anniversary." Also worth noting that the companion ticket for Platinum is Main Cabin only. Do you always fly First or Delta One? With your number of flights, I'm assuming you already have at least Silver Medallion status, right? Do you already have SkyClub access either by status or the Amex Platinum charge card? Having the Reserve apparently pushes you and everyone on your itinerary to the top of the queue for upgrades and standby compared to everyone else at the same Medallion status. May be worth running the numbers to see if the Reserve makes sense as a new card, then you could always transfer the credit line of the gold to it and close that card next January, and you'd only have to wait 12 months for the companion fare instead of 22.

Re: Delta Reserve Companion Ticket

K-in-Boston — Tue, 06 Mar 2018 19:49:11 GMT

@NRB525 fantastic comments! Keeping the existing Gold and product changing it to a 2nd Reserve card is BRILLIANT for someone who regularly flies 2 or more round-trips with a companion. Alternately, you could use your own referral link for DW to apply with an elevated offer and you'd get some extra SkyMiles. ~~(Although from experience it's a pain having SkyMiles in more than 1 account.)~~ Edit: not sure what I was thinking on that last part; if DW is flying revenue First, of course you've got points banking on her SM account. LOL

Re: Delta Reserve Companion Ticket

jbsilva21 — Tue, 06 Mar 2018 19:29:56 GMT

@NRB525wrote:
As K notes, you are better off apping the new card. The SUB now to April 1 is the Reserve card as 40k miles plus 10k MQM. I took that in January even though I also have the Delta Platinum. Will then upgrade the DP to Reserve in Jan 2019, consider closing this Reserve in Jan.

I used the DP companion ticket for a quick planned trip where each seat was about $500, so saved $500 on the second seat in economy. When you utilize the Companion Cert, the booking options Delta shows you specify the classes available and price, easy peazy.

You may also see an upgrade offer eventually for the Delta Gold to Delta Platinum, and I do not doubt you could eventually have two Delta Reserve cards for yourself. With multiple 2x First Class domestic bookings per year, covers the AF.

The domestic companion ticket is lower 48 only, no Alaska or Hawaii as the clearest restriction.

Thanks for the info above. The only reason that I was thinking about upgrading vs new app is I have Amex Plat, Delta Gold, BCP, and really want SPG. The thing is with the so called 4 card limit and the uncertainty of the SPG card I wanted to remove the Gold without taking a hit on by losing the 1 year history and then adding a new account and reducing AAoA if that makes sense. We stay mostly at SPG and Marriott but with the merger if Chase takes the SPG cards over then that may provide me with a way in with Chase. And if they don't combine the rewards credit card then I still have the SPG for the majority of our stays.

Re: Delta Reserve Companion Ticket

jbsilva21 — Tue, 06 Mar 2018 19:31:21 GMT

KIB and NRB525, that is kind of an intriguing idea. Holy crap, I just got goosebumps and my spine started tingling!

Re: Delta Reserve Companion Ticket

K-in-Boston — Tue, 06 Mar 2018 19:42:10 GMT

The Platinum (and other charge cards) don't factor into Amex's revolver limit. Even then, I'm going to make the assumption that you have the means where 4 or 5 cards max isn't really going to be a problem with Amex anyway. There are so many varying reports, but the max has apparently been changed to 5 before they ask to close a card. Amex themselves say that they will issue an unlimited number of revolving cards if they find the cardmember to be creditworthy enough. The SPG is of course a no-brainer as well, particularly if you stay at Marriott and/or Starwood hotels. My understanding is that the SPG will go to Chase; I'm just hoping Amex's super elite Marriott card becomes my new daily driver.

Re: Delta Reserve Companion Ticket

NRB525 — Tue, 06 Mar 2018 22:09:08 GMT

I have Delta Platinum
Hilton
SPG
EDP
PRG

Got Delta Reserve in Jan 2018 for 5 revolvers.

And really need to cut the annual fees soon, but I am sure paying all those fees helps AMEX issue more cards.

Re: Delta Reserve Companion Ticket

Shadowfactor — Tue, 06 Mar 2018 22:52:35 GMT

Out of curiosity....

How soon after upgrading or applying for the platnium or reserve will the companion ticket be available ?

Re: Delta Reserve Companion Ticket

K-in-Boston — Tue, 06 Mar 2018 23:43:15 GMT

One year.

Re: Delta Reserve Companion Ticket

Shadowfactor — Wed, 07 Mar 2018 01:57:32 GMT

So basically you have to pay the annual fee twice before you recieve the companion ticket , correct ?

Re: Delta Reserve Companion Ticket

K-in-Boston — Wed, 07 Mar 2018 03:43:33 GMT

Technically speaking, I believe it's offered at the end of each completed membership year. I've read anecdotal evidence that it appears in your SkyMiles account, and doesn't disappear if the credit card account is closed. But yes, your next annual fee would be charged around the same time. If you fly with a companion at least once a year, even discounting the other great perks like free bags it should still pay for itself unless your companion flight was something like JFK-BWI or a sale fare.

Re: Delta Reserve Companion Ticket

NRB525 — Wed, 07 Mar 2018 05:39:04 GMT

It is issued at your anniversary, valid for the coming 12 months, so yes since the AF on both Delta Plat and Delta Reserve are due on initial app, the Certificate aligns with the second AF.

Re: Delta Reserve Companion Ticket

Anonymous — Wed, 07 Mar 2018 08:19:37 GMT

Can’t wait to use mine this year.....I’m planning a good one! Going to get lei’d. 🤗

Re: Delta Reserve Companion Ticket

Anonymous — Wed, 07 Mar 2018 16:17:44 GMT

We had to change the rules while I was there so that you get it after the first year because some people were being naughty upgrading, using the certificate, and downgrading again! *tsk tsk tsk*

Re: Delta Reserve Companion Ticket

K-in-Boston — Wed, 07 Mar 2018 17:03:08 GMT

@Anonymouswrote:
We had to change the rules while I was there so that you get it after the first year because some people were being naughty upgrading, using the certificate, and downgrading again! *tsk tsk tsk*

Yeah thanks for ruining it for everyone, guys!

Certainly appreciate you chiming in! Guess it's harder to take back a certificate issued to a frequent flyer account than it is to seize Membership Rewards.

Re: Delta Reserve Companion Ticket

K-in-Boston — Wed, 07 Mar 2018 17:11:27 GMT

@Anonymouswrote:
Can’t wait to use mine this year.....I’m planning a good one! Going to get lei’d. 🤗

@Anonymous I'm 99% sure that the companion certificate doesn't work for travel to Hawaii (except for a return trip if you originate and live in HI), though. Am I missing something? Also curious, since it's not mentioned explicitly, does the Reserve companion certificate only work on regular Domestic First and not Delta One on transcon flights? Would love to be able to take a redeye to CA and sleep for a change.

Delta wrote:
Companion Certificate is valid for one round-trip First-Class, Delta Comfort+® or Main Cabin companion ticket with the payment of applicable taxes and fees detailed below and the purchase of certain adult round-trip fares on published routings within the 48 contiguous United States. Residents of Hawaii, Alaska, Puerto Rico or the United States Virgin Islands (USVI) must originate from there to the 48 contiguous United States and have an address on their SkyMiles account in Hawaii, Alaska, Puerto Rico or the USVI.

Re: Delta Reserve Companion Ticket

Anonymous — Wed, 07 Mar 2018 21:06:55 GMT

Thanks for reading the fine print for me @K-in-Boston! 😂