Most airline credit cards promise you free checked bags, priority boarding and bonus miles. But a handful offer something potentially even more valuable: a companion certificate.

Depending on the airline, a companion certificate can save you a lot of money on a single trip. In general, in exchange for paying an annual fee—or sometimes meeting a spending requirement—you’ll receive a certificate that lets a second traveler fly for free or at a steep discount. But like everything in this points and miles world, it’s not quite so simple. 

Every airline has its own rules, and understanding those differences is the key to deciding whether working toward a certificate is actually worth it.

 

What Is an Airline Companion Certificate?

A companion certificate (or similar benefit, such as a companion fare, voucher or pass) lets you bring another traveler on the same itinerary for free or close to it.

In most cases, this is the process:

• You purchase your own ticket.
• Your companion pays only taxes and fees or a fixed discounted fare.
• Both travelers fly on the same reservation.

Unlike award tickets, companion certificates are generally redeemed on paid fares, though each airline has its own eligibility rules.

Here’s a look at the airline credit cards that currently offer companion benefits.

Note: While airlines use terms such as companion certificates, companion fares, companion vouchers, and companion passes, we’ll refer to them collectively as companion benefits throughout this guide.

 

Aer Lingus Visa Signature® Card (Personal)

Annual fee: $95

How you earn it: Spend $30,000 in purchases during a calendar year to earn an Economy Companion Ticket voucher, which can be redeemed for travel within 12 months of issuance.

Things to know:

• Valid when traveling on a paid economy fare.
• No taxes or fees apply to the companion ticket.
• Valid only on flights marketed and operated by Aer Lingus.
• Travel must originate in and return to the U.S. on Aer Lingus-operated flights between the U.S. and Ireland.
• The primary cardmember must travel on the reservation.
• The companion must travel on the same outbound and return itinerary as the cardmember.
• Reservations are made by emailing Aer Lingus at chasecompanionticket@aerlingus.com after receiving the voucher.
• The voucher is valid for travel within 12 months of issuance.
• The voucher is non-transferable, has no cash or Avios value, and is subject to availability.

Why it’s valuable: Travelers who regularly fly between the U.S. and Ireland can save hundreds of dollars with a single redemption. While the booking process is a bit more manual than most airline companion benefits, the fact that the companion ticket doesn’t require additional airfare, taxes or fees makes it one of the more generous companion benefits currently offered on a U.S.-issued airline credit card. 

 

Atmos™ Rewards Credit Cards (Personal & Business)

Atmos Rewards currently offers three credit cards with companion benefits. While each card has its own annual fee and eligibility requirements, all are designed around Alaska Airlines’ and Hawaiian Airlines’ combined loyalty program.

Atmos™ Rewards Ascent Visa Signature® Card

Annual fee: $95

How you earn it: Receive a $99 Companion Fare each account anniversary after spending $6,000 or more on purchases during your prior cardmember year.

Atmos™ Rewards Visa Signature® Business Card

Annual fee: $70 for the company plus $25 per card

How you earn it: Receive a $99 Companion Fare each account anniversary after spending $6,000 or more on purchases during your prior cardmember year.

Things to know (Applies to both Ascent cards):

• Your companion pays $99 plus taxes and fees (starting at $23).
• Valid on eligible award flights operated by Alaska Airlines, Hawaiian Airlines.
• Can be redeemed on one-way or round-trip Saver or Main Cabin itineraries.
• Stopovers and multicity itineraries are not permitted.
• The primary traveler must pay with the eligible Atmos Rewards card that earned the Companion Fare.
• Both travelers earn Atmos Rewards points and status points on eligible paid fares.
• Valid for economy travel.
• Certificates expire if not redeemed before their expiration date.

Why it’s valuable: The $99 Companion Fare can easily save several hundred dollars on expensive flights to Alaska, Hawaii, or across the West Coast. For many travelers, one redemption each year is enough to offset the card’s annual fee.

Atmos™ Rewards Summit Visa Infinite® Card

Annual fee: $395

How you earn it: Receive a 25,000-point Global Companion Award each account anniversary. Spend $60,000 during your cardmember year to earn an additional 100,000-point Global Companion Award.

Things to know:

• The anniversary award provides a 25,000-point discount toward a companion award booking.
• Spending $60,000 unlocks an additional 100,000-point Global Companion Award.
• Can be redeemed in any cabin, including premium cabins.
• Valid on eligible Alaska Airlines, Hawaiian Airlines, and participating partner award flights.
• Requires enough Atmos Rewards points to cover the primary award plus any portion of the companion award not covered by the Global Companion Award.
• Subject to award availability.

Why it’s valuable: Unlike the traditional $99 Companion Fare, the Global Companion Award is designed for award travelers and can unlock exceptional value on premium-cabin and international partner redemptions.

 

 

British Airways Visa Signature® Card

Annual fee: $95

How you earn it: Spend $30,000 on purchases during a calendar year to earn a Travel Together Ticket, valid for two years.

Things to know:

• Valid only on reward flights booked with Avios.
• Can be used on eligible British Airways, Iberia, and Aer Lingus reward flights, and certain flights from those airlines’ subsidiaries.
• Your companion pays no additional Avios, but you’ll still owe taxes, fees and carrier-imposed surcharges for both travelers.
• Instead of a free companion fare, solo travelers could instead choose to get a 50% discount on the Avios required for a single reward booking.
• Travel must begin before the voucher expires (generally within two years of issuance).
• Available in any cabin, subject to award availability.

Why it’s valuable: Travelers who redeem Avios for premium cabin travel can save a substantial number of points, though the often-high taxes and carrier surcharges should be factored into the overall value.

 

Delta SkyMiles® Credit Cards (Personal and Business)

Delta offers four credit cards with annual Companion Certificates—two personal cards and two business cards. While the eligible cabins vary by card, all Companion Certificates are issued after your card renewal and do not require an annual spending threshold.

Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card (Personal)

Annual fee: $350

How you earn it: Receive one Companion Certificate each year after renewing your card.

Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card (Business)

Annual fee: $350

How you earn it: Receive one Companion Certificate each year after renewing your card.

Things to know (Applies to both Platinum cards):

• Valid for round-trip travel in Delta Main Cabin.
• Companion pays government-imposed taxes and fees of up to $80 for domestic itineraries and up to $250 for international itineraries.
• Eligible for travel within the U.S., Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Mexico, the Caribbean and Central America.
• Basic Economy fares are NOT eligible.
• Both travelers must be booked on the same reservation.
• Certificates must be booked and flown before expiration.
• Companion Certificate tickets may be eligible for complimentary upgrades, subject to availability

Why it’s valuable: If you regularly purchase Delta economy tickets, a single redemption can easily offset the card’s annual fee.

Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card (Personal)

Annual fee: $650

How you earn it: Receive one Companion Certificate each year after renewing your card.

Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card (Business)

Annual fee: $650

How you earn it: Receive one Companion Certificate each year after renewing your card.

Things to know (Applies to both Reserve cards):

• Valid for round-trip travel in Delta Main Cabin, Delta Comfort+, Delta First, and Delta Premium Select.
• Companion pays government-imposed taxes and fees of up to $80 for domestic itineraries and up to $250 for international itineraries.
• Eligible for travel within the U.S., Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Mexico, the Caribbean and Central America.
• Basic Economy fares are NOT eligible.
• Both travelers must travel together on the same reservation.
• Certificates must be booked and flown before expiration.
• Companion Certificate tickets may be eligible for complimentary upgrades, subject to availability.

Why it’s valuable: Because Reserve Companion Certificates can be redeemed in premium cabins, they often provide significantly more value than economy-only certificates, especially on expensive domestic routes.

 

Citi AAdvantage® Credit Cards

American Airlines currently offers companion certificates on one personal and one business credit card. While both certificates require your companion to pay $99 plus applicable taxes and fees, the requirements to earn them differ.

Citi® / AAdvantage® Globe™ Mastercard® (Personal)

Annual fee: $350

How you earn it: Receive one Companion Certificate beginning in your second cardmembership year after renewing your card. There is no annual spending requirement.

Citi® / AAdvantage Business™ World Elite Mastercard® (Business)

Annual fee: $0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $99

How you earn it: Earn one Companion Certificate after spending $30,000 in purchases during your cardmembership year and renewing your card.

Things to know (Applies to both Citi cards):

• Your companion pays $99 plus applicable taxes and fees.
• Valid for qualifying domestic round-trip Main Cabin itineraries within the 48 contiguous states. (For residents of Alaska, Hawaii, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico, the companion certificate can be used for a round-trip flight originating in the resident’s state or territory to the lower 48 and back.)
• Both travelers must be booked on the same reservation.
• Subject to eligible fare class and availability restrictions.
• Certificates must be redeemed before the expiration date listed on the certificate.

Why it’s valuable: Whether you choose the personal or business card, a single redemption can easily offset the annual fee if you regularly purchase American Airlines tickets. The Globe card is easier for earning because it doesn’t require additional annual spending, while the Business card rewards companies that naturally put significant spending on the card.

 

Iberia Visa Signature® Card

Annual fee: $95

How you earn it: Spend $30,000 on purchases during a calendar year to earn a $1,000 flight discount voucher that can be applied toward two tickets booked on the same Iberia-operated itinerary.

Things to know:

• The voucher provides up to $1,000 off the total cost of two tickets.
• Can be applied toward eligible bookings made through Iberia, subject to the voucher’s terms.
• Both travelers must be booked on the same reservation.
• The voucher is typically valid for one year from issuance.
• If the total discount is less than $1,000, the remaining value is forfeited.

Why it’s valuable: While it isn’t a true companion certificate, the $1,000 discount can provide substantial savings for couples traveling to Spain or elsewhere on Iberia’s network.

 

Southwest Rapid Rewards® Credit Cards (Personal & Business)

Annual fees: Vary by card

How you earn it: Southwest credit cards don’t directly issue a companion certificate. Instead, spending on eligible Southwest credit cards helps you earn the Southwest Companion Pass, which is awarded after meeting the airline’s annual qualification requirements—currently 135,000 Companion Pass qualifying points or 100 qualifying one-way flights in a calendar year. Eligible credit card welcome bonuses also count toward the Companion Pass.

Things to know:

• Valid on both paid and award tickets.
• Your companion pays only applicable taxes and fees.
• Can be used an unlimited number of times while your Companion Pass is valid.
• You may change your designated companion up to three times each calendar year.
• Valid for the remainder of the year it’s earned plus the entire following calendar year.
• Available through both personal and business Southwest credit cards, along with qualifying Southwest flights.

Why it’s valuable: The Southwest Companion Pass is widely considered one of the most valuable airline companion benefits available. Frequent Southwest flyers can easily save thousands of dollars by using it repeatedly throughout its validity period.

 

 

How To Compare Airline Companion Benefits

Not all companion benefits offer the same value. Before applying for a credit card based on this perk alone, consider these factors:

Annual Spending Requirement

Some cards offer a companion benefit just by renewing your card. But others require you to spend anywhere from $6,000 to $60,000 (or more) during your cardmember year. If you wouldn’t normally be able to meet the spending requirement, the certificate may not be worth pursuing.

Out-Of-Pocket Cost

Very few companion benefits are truly “free.” Depending on the program, your companion may owe:

• A fixed fare, such as $99
• Government taxes and fees
• Carrier-imposed surcharges (particularly on international award tickets)

Make sure you understand what you’ll actually pay before assuming you’re getting a free flight.

Eligible Routes and Cabins

Restrictions vary widely by airline. Some companion certificates are valid only for domestic economy tickets, while others can be used for premium cabins or even on international itineraries.

Expiration Dates

Most companion certificates expire after one year, though some—like the British Airways Travel Together Ticket—remain valid for two years.

Award or Fare Availability

Unfortunately, just because you have a companion benefit doesn’t mean you’ll be able to use it.

Most companion certificates require you to purchase an eligible cash fare. However, there are some benefits, such as the British Airways Travel Together Ticket, that can only be used with award bookings. And the Southwest Companion Pass can be used with either award bookings or paid bookings. Others may be limited to specific fare classes or capacity-controlled inventory, making popular flights more difficult to book.

Before applying for a card, research not only how the benefit can be redeemed but also how easy it is to find eligible flights on the routes you fly most often.

 

Are Airline Companion Benefits Worth It?

For the right traveler, absolutely.

A companion benefit can easily save hundreds or even thousands of dollars on a single trip, making it one of the most valuable perks offered by an airline credit card. Whether it’s Alaska’s $99 Companion Fare, Delta’s premium cabin Companion Certificate, or the Southwest Companion Pass, the right benefit can quickly outweigh a card’s annual fee.

Of course, a companion benefit isn’t automatically valuable just because it comes with a credit card. Before applying, think about how you actually travel. Will you naturally meet any spending requirements? Do you regularly travel with the same companion? Will you fly the airline often enough to use the benefit before it expires? It’s also worth considering any restrictions on eligible routes, cabins or fare classes, along with the card’s annual fee and any taxes or fees your companion will still have to pay.

Ultimately, the best companion benefit is the one that fits the way you already travel. If you’ll consistently redeem it year after year, a companion benefit can be one of the easiest ways to offset a card’s annual fee—and maybe even save enough to start planning your next trip.

 

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