With vacation and 2024 journey proper across the nook, you most likely need to make sure you’re benefiting from your cash in your subsequent large journey. Among the finest methods to take action is with airline bank card companion tickets.
Primarily, along with serving to vacationers earn free flights by racking up frequent flyer miles, some airline bank cards provide companion certificates or reductions so cardholders can carry a companion alongside without cost.
These aren’t your common BOGO offers, although. Some companion tickets are restricted to sure areas or cabin lessons, whereas others are primarily based on bank card spending or are solely good for award tickets. What sort of companion ticket you could have will rely utterly on the bank card you carry.
So, let’s take a look at the airline bank cards that provide this as a profit and what you will must do to earn it and maximize it to your travels.
Alaska Airways
Alaska Airways affords a companion ticket by way of its cobranded bank cards. The private and enterprise variations include a Companion Fare, which begins from $122 ($99 fare, plus taxes and costs from $23) and is reissued yearly after spending not less than $6,000 inside the prior anniversary yr. Generally they will provide a further Companion Fare as a part of a welcome provide.
Alaska Airways Visa® bank card
Companion ticket profit: The Alaska Airways Visa bank card comes with a companion ticket profit that is one of many best to know and use. Yearly you carry this card and spend $6,000 inside the prior anniversary yr, you’re entitled to an annual companion fare from $122 ($99 fare plus taxes and costs, normally about $23).
The principles stipulate that the first traveler and their companion have to be booked on the identical itinerary. Whereas the cardholder doesn’t have to be one of many vacationers, you have to pay for the tickets utilizing the corresponding Alaska Visa.
The companion fare is legitimate for journey in financial system solely, and it have to be redeemed inside 12 months of the difficulty date, however journey can happen afterward.
What’s nice about this profit is that each the first traveler and the companion will earn full mileage credit score for his or her flights. As well as, each tickets are eligible for upgrades when you’ve got Alaska elite standing or need to use a pair of the provider’s Gold Visitor Upgrades.
Each day E-newsletter
Reward your inbox with the TPG Each day e-newsletter
Be part of over 700,000 readers for breaking information, in-depth guides and unique offers from TPG’s consultants
Welcome bonus: Earn 60,000 bonus miles plus Alaska’s Well-known Companion Fare™ ($99 fare plus taxes and costs from $23) with this provide. To qualify, make $3,000 or extra in purchases inside the first 90 days of opening your account.
Annual payment: $95
Different advantages: This card earns a substantial 3 miles per greenback spent on eligible Alaska Airways purchases, 2 miles per greenback on eligible fuel, EV charging station, cable, streaming providers, and native transit (together with ride-hailing buy), and 1 mile per greenback spent on all the pieces else. It has no international transaction charges and supplies a free checked bag on Alaska flights for the cardholder and as much as six different company on the identical reservation. Here is our full card overview.
Official software hyperlink: Alaska Airways Visa
Alaska Airways Visa® Enterprise card
Companion ticket profit: The Alaska Airways Visa Enterprise bank card affords an similar companion ticket profit: Spend $6,000 inside the prior anniversary yr and you will obtain an annual companion fare from $122 ($99 fare plus taxes and costs, normally about $23).
Welcome bonus: Earn 50,000 bonus miles and Alaska’s Well-known Companion Fare; ($99 fare plus taxes and costs from $23) after you make $3,000 or extra in purchases inside the first 90 days of opening your account.
Annual payment: $70 for the corporate and $25 per card
Different advantages: Earn 3 miles per greenback spent on eligible Alaska Airways purchases, 2 miles per greenback on eligible fuel, EV charging stations, transport and native transit, (together with ride-hailing purchases) and 1 mile per greenback on all the pieces else. Obtain a free checked bag for you and as much as six companions. Here is our full card overview.
Official software hyperlink: Alaska Airways Visa Enterprise
American Airways
Barclays affords two completely different American Airways companion tickets by way of its cobranded playing cards.
Barclaycard AAdvantage Aviator Pink World Elite Mastercard and AAdvantage Aviator Silver World Elite Mastercard
Companion ticket profit: Each account anniversary, Aviator Pink cardholders who spend $20,000 in a yr will obtain a $99 (plus taxes and costs) Companion Certificates for a round-trip home financial system fare inside the 48 contiguous United States. (Alaska and Hawaii residents can journey from their dwelling state to the 48 contiguous states.)
In the meantime, Silver cardholders can earn two of those certificates with $20,000 annual spending.
In both case, your account should stay open for 45 days after your anniversary date to qualify for the Companion Certificates.
Welcome bonus: The Silver is just not out there to new candidates. The Aviator Pink is providing 60,000 bonus miles after you make your first buy and pay the $99 annual payment in full inside 90 days.
Annual payment: $99 for the Aviator Pink card; $195 for the Aviator Silver
Different advantages: The Aviator Pink card earns 2 miles per greenback spent on American Airways purchases and 1 mile per greenback spent on all the pieces else. The Aviator Silver card earns 3 miles per greenback on American Airways purchases, 2 miles per greenback on motels and automotive leases and 1 mile per greenback on all the pieces else.
Each playing cards provide a primary free checked bag on home flights, precedence boarding, inflight Wi-Fi credit and reductions on different inflight purchases. For extra particulars on every and the way they examine, take a look at this submit.
The knowledge for the Barclaycard AAdvantage Aviator Silver and the Barclaycard AAdvantage Aviator Pink has been collected independently by The Factors Man. The cardboard particulars on this web page haven’t been reviewed or supplied by the cardboard issuer.
Delta
Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Categorical Card
Companion ticket profit: The Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Categorical Card has supplied one of many longest-standing companion ticket advantages, and it is nonetheless among the finest choices on the market. Every year, cardholders are entitled to a companion certificates for one round-trip itinerary inside the 48 contiguous United States (or from Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico or the U.S. Virgin Islands to the 48 states) in the primary cabin.
It’s essential to pay taxes and costs, although they’re capped at $75. Among the many restrictions are that this ticket is just legitimate on airfares bought within the L, U, T, X or V lessons of service (so no Fundamental Financial system “E” fares) and solely the first traveler accrues miles.
Welcome bonus: Earn 50,000 bonus miles after you spend $3,000 in purchases in your new card in your first six months of card membership.
Annual payment: $250 (see charges and costs)
Different advantages: This card earns 3 miles per greenback spent on Delta purchases and purchases made straight with motels. Cardholders additionally earn 2 miles per greenback spent at eating places and U.S. supermarkets and 1 mile per greenback on all different eligible purchases.
Cardholders get a free checked bag for themselves and as much as eight companions on the identical Delta flight reservation, plus 20% financial savings on inflight purchases and Foremost Cabin 1 Precedence Boarding on Delta flights.
You will discover extra particulars on the cardboard in our full overview.
Official software hyperlink: Delta SkyMiles Platinum Amex
Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Categorical Card
Companion ticket profit: With its a lot greater annual payment, cardholders can count on a greater companion ticket profit with the Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Categorical Card. Every year they renew, cardholders will obtain a companion certificates good for one round-trip itinerary inside the 48 contiguous United States (with the identical dispensations for folk in Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, or the U.S. Virgin Islands) in Foremost Cabin, Delta Consolation+ or top notch. They will solely be chargeable for taxes and costs on the second ticket, as much as $75.
Welcome bonus: Earn 60,000 bonus miles after you spend $5,000 in purchases in your new card in your first six months of card membership.
Annual payment: $550 (see charges and costs)
Different advantages: This card’s essential profit is that it affords Delta Sky Membership entry when touring on flights marketed or operated by Delta. (The entry guidelines change on Feb. 1, 2025.) You additionally obtain two one-time visitor passes every year and may carry two company for $50 every.
The cardboard’s different advantages are principally in keeping with these of the Platinum model. Nonetheless, it additionally supplies complimentary entry to American Categorical Centurion Lounges when flying Delta with a ticket bought on the cardboard. For extra particulars, learn our full overview.
Official software hyperlink: Delta SkyMiles Reserve Amex
Delta enterprise bank cards
Notice that Delta affords enterprise variations of the 2 private playing cards listed above: the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Enterprise American Categorical Card and the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Enterprise American Categorical Card. The companion ticket advantages on these playing cards are similar to their respective private counterparts above, so when you’ve got a small enterprise, both may very well be a very good possibility for touring with a companion.
Associated: Greatest Delta bank cards
Hawaiian Airways
Hawaiian Airways® World Elite Mastercard®
Companion ticket profit: The Hawaiian Airways World Elite Mastercard affords a one-time 50% companion {discount} to new cardholders. The companion {discount} is sweet for a full coach round-trip fare for a companion touring on the identical itinerary between Hawaii and North America.
Though this 50% off companion {discount} is not as nice as a few of the companion fares listed right here, it nonetheless represents substantial financial savings for 2 individuals touring collectively. Along with this one-time 50% companion {discount}, cardholders are eligible for an annual $100 companion {discount} for round-trip journey between Hawaii and North America on Hawaiian Airways.
Welcome bonus: Earn 60,000 bonus miles after spending $2,000 on purchases within the first 90 days.
Annual payment: $99
Different advantages: This card earns 3 miles per greenback spent on eligible Hawaiian Airways purchases, 2 miles per greenback spent on fuel, eating and grocery retailer spending and 1 mile per greenback on all different purchases.
Cardholders get a free checked bag on flights operated by Hawaiian Airways and discounted award flights.
Moreover, cardholders pay no international transaction charges overseas and may share miles with family and friends with no payment.
For extra info, take a look at our full overview.
The knowledge for the Hawaiian Airways World Elite Mastercard has been collected independently by The Factors Man. The cardboard particulars on this web page haven’t been reviewed or supplied by the cardboard issuer.
Southwest
Companion ticket profit: Southwest’s famed Companion Go is actually an infinite two-for-one cross on each paid and award tickets. It is legitimate for the calendar yr you earn it, plus the next one. You may obtain it by racking up 135,000 qualifying factors or taking 100 qualifying one-way flights in a calendar yr.
The excellent news is that sign-up bonuses and factors earned by spending on Southwest’s cobranded bank cards depend towards this qualification threshold. Some savvy spending can get you the Southwest Companion Go sooner than you assume.
Welcome bonus: All three Southwest bank cards provide an similar sign-up bonus: Earn 75,000 bonus factors after spending $3,000 on purchases within the first three months from account opening:
Annual payment: $69 (Plus), $99 (Premier) and $149 (Precedence)
Different advantages: Regardless of their completely different annual charges, these three playing cards provide the same suite of advantages.
The Precedence comes with a $75 annual Southwest journey credit score. The Premier and Precedence playing cards provide the chance to earn Tier Qualification Factors primarily based on spending (1,500 for every $10,000 spent yearly, decreasing to every $5,000 from Jan. 1, 2024) and waive international transaction charges.
All three provide anniversary bonuses starting from 3,000 factors with the Plus to 7,500 with the Precedence. Here is a useful comparability of all three.
Small companies can even earn factors towards this perk. Factors earned on the Southwest Fast Rewards Premier Enterprise Credit score Card and the Southwest Fast Rewards Efficiency Enterprise Credit score Card additionally depend towards the provider’s Companion Go.
Worldwide airways
After all, companion tickets aren’t simply awarded to these with bank cards from U.S.-based airways. Some worldwide carriers provide playing cards with comparable perks out there to U.S. candidates. These may go a good distance towards offsetting the prices of your subsequent journey abroad.
British Airways
Companion ticket profit: Vacationers who maintain the British Airways Visa Signature® Credit score Card can earn the provider’s “Journey Collectively” companion ticket each calendar yr by which they spend $30,000 or extra on purchases. This ticket is principally a two-for-one award ticket for round-trip journey on British Airways, Iberia or Aer Lingus flights originating and ending anyplace these airways fly. It may be redeemed for any class of service, although there are some restrictions.
Just one voucher could be earned per 12-month interval. The cardholder and their companion have to be on the identical flight in the identical class of service. You can be chargeable for taxes and costs on each tickets, however solely mileage for one will probably be deducted. The bank card account should even be open and in good standing whenever you redeem it.
Although this generally is a nice deal for saving on premium awards, keep in mind that taxes and costs on British Airways tickets can add up. Fortunately, cardholders are eligible for assertion credit to offset these charges: $100 for financial system and premium financial system, $200 for business- and first-class seats. These credit could be claimed as much as 3 times per yr.
Welcome bonus: Earn 75,000 Avios after you spend $5,000 on purchases inside the first three months from account opening.
Annual payment: $95
Different advantages: Apart from the same old advantages like having no international transaction charges, the cardboard affords contactless pay and the everyday Visa Signature journey protections.
Official software hyperlink: British Airways Visa
Lufthansa
Companion ticket profit: The Barclaycard Lufthansa Miles & Extra World Elite Mastercard additionally affords a companion profit — and the good factor is that you’re eligible for it after your first buy and robotically yearly after your account anniversary.
That stated, it is solely eligible for financial system journey from the U.S. to Europe, Africa, the Center East and Asia. It applies solely to H, M, Y or B fare codes. These are non-discount financial system fares, which could be costlier than the lowest-priced possibility. Cardholders should additionally pay all taxes and costs on each tickets, which could be a whole bunch of {dollars}.
Welcome bonus: Earn 100,000 award miles if you happen to spend $3,000 in purchases and pay the annual payment, each inside the first 90 days.
Annual payment: $89
Different advantages: This card earns 2 miles per greenback spent on tickets bought from airways that take part within the Miles & Extra program, like Lufthansa, Swiss and Austrian Airways. It earns 1 mile per greenback spent on all the pieces else and carries no international transaction charges.
Cardholders obtain two, one-time Lufthansa Enterprise Lounge vouchers upon first buy, plus each account anniversary after the annual payment cost. In case you’re going for Miles & Extra elite standing, main cardholders are eligible to transform award miles into standing miles at a ratio of 5:1 for a most of 25,000 award miles.
The knowledge for Barclaycard Lufthansa Miles & Extra World Elite Mastercard has been collected independently by The Factors Man. The cardboard particulars on this web page haven’t been reviewed or supplied by the cardboard issuer.
Backside line
Along with welcome bonuses and journey perks, companion certificates generally is a compelling purpose to use for an airline bank card. Earlier than you do, although, overview the phrases and circumstances rigorously to just remember to will be capable to maximize this profit’s worth. Many companion certificates are restricted to particular lessons of service, geographical areas and time constraints, which might all restrict their usefulness.
Nonetheless, if you happen to discover one which matches your wants, a bank card companion certificates can prevent a whole bunch and even 1000’s of {dollars} on airline journey every year and could be properly value it.
Learn extra: Tips on how to save a whole bunch on flights with the Alaska Airways Companion Fare
For charges and costs of the Delta SkyMiles Platinum Amex, click on right here.
For charges and costs of the Delta SkyMiles Reserve Amex, click on right here.
