Learn How to Use Your Delta Companion Pass

Understanding the Delta Companion Pass Basics

The Delta Companion Pass is a benefit offered by Delta Air Lines that allows a cardholder to bring another passenger on flights at a reduced price. This guide provides information about how this benefit works and what you might expect when using it.

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When you hold a Delta credit card with an active Companion Pass, you can designate one companion to travel with you on domestic flights within the continental United States, Hawaii, and Puerto Rico. The companion typically pays a reduced fare—often just the taxes and fees associated with the flight, which usually range from $10 to $50 depending on the route. The primary cardholder pays the standard ticket price for their own seat.

Delta offers different types of credit cards, and the Companion Pass benefit structure may vary depending on which card you carry. Some cards provide the Companion Pass benefit as a sign-up bonus after you meet certain spending requirements within the first few months of opening the account. Other cards include an annual Companion Pass as a standing benefit that renews each year.

Understanding when and how you receive your Companion Pass is important because the timing affects your travel planning. If your pass arrives as a sign-up bonus, it typically becomes available within several weeks after you meet the spending threshold. If it comes as an annual benefit, it usually posts to your account on or near your card anniversary date.

Practical Takeaway: Review your credit card agreement or contact Delta directly to determine which type of Companion Pass benefit you have and when it becomes available for use. Note the specific dates and any conditions tied to your pass.

How to Designate Your Companion

Before you can use your Companion Pass, you need to designate who your companion will be. This is a specific person you choose to travel with, not a different person for each flight. Your companion remains the same throughout the period your pass is active.

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To designate your companion, you typically log into your Delta SkyMiles account online or through the Delta mobile application. Within your account settings, you will find an option to manage your Companion Pass benefits. You'll need to provide your companion's name exactly as it appears on their government-issued ID, their date of birth, and their SkyMiles account number if they have one. If your companion doesn't have a SkyMiles account, they can create one for free, which streamlines the process of booking and tracking their flights.

Some important details about companion designation include:

• You can change your designated companion, though the frequency of changes may be limited depending on your card type
• Your companion must be at least 21 years old (this is a Delta requirement for most companion pass benefits)
• Your companion can be a family member, friend, colleague, or anyone else you choose
• The designation typically remains in effect for the entire year or benefit period

After you've submitted your companion's information, Delta will process the designation within a few business days. You'll receive confirmation through your account, and your companion's SkyMiles account will also reflect that they've been designated as your companion.

Practical Takeaway: Gather your companion's identification information before starting the designation process, and verify that all details match their government ID exactly to avoid booking issues later.

Booking Flights with Your Companion Pass

Once your Companion Pass is active and your companion is designated, you're ready to book flights. The booking process involves several steps that differ slightly from booking regular tickets.

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When you search for flights on Delta's website or mobile app, you'll select your travel dates and number of passengers. You need to book for two passengers—yourself and your companion. During the search results, Delta's system will recognize that you have an active Companion Pass and will show you pricing that reflects the companion benefit. Your ticket will show the full price, and your companion's ticket will show the reduced companion fare.

Here's what the booking process typically looks like:

• Search for flights as you normally would, selecting two passengers
• Review the fare breakdown, which will show your full ticket price and your companion's reduced price
• Select your preferred flights and seat assignments
• Review baggage policies and other flight details
• Complete payment using your Delta credit card or other payment method
• Receive confirmation for both passengers

It's important to note that you must book both tickets together in a single transaction. You cannot book yourself separately and then add your companion's ticket later. The system is designed to process them as a package to apply the companion discount automatically.

You should also be aware that the Companion Pass typically only works for published round-trip or one-way fares on Delta's domestic network. It usually does not apply to basic economy fares, certain sale fares, or flights operated by Delta's partner airlines (though some partnerships may participate). Additionally, the pass may not be usable on flights during very busy travel periods, depending on the specific terms of your benefit.

Practical Takeaway: Always book both passengers together in one transaction and verify before completing your purchase that the companion discount appears in your fare breakdown. Save your confirmation numbers for both passengers.

Companion Pass Restrictions and Limitations

While the Companion Pass offers significant value, it comes with several restrictions you should understand before planning your travels. These limitations help you avoid disappointment and plan trips that will work with your benefit.

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One major limitation is that the Companion Pass typically works only on domestic flights within the continental United States, plus Hawaii and Puerto Rico. International flights, flights to Alaska, and flights outside these regions are not covered by the Companion Pass benefit. If you want to use the pass on flights to Hawaii or Puerto Rico, be aware that these routes may have different availability windows or restrictions compared to mainland domestic flights.

Timing restrictions also apply to most Companion Pass benefits. Airlines often restrict when the pass can be used during peak travel periods, such as:

• Holiday periods, typically from mid-December through early January
• Thanksgiving week travel periods
• Spring break weeks in March and April
• Summer peak season dates (specific dates vary by year)
• Specific high-demand routes during busy times

The Companion Pass also cannot be combined with certain other benefits or discounts. For example, if your companion is eligible for a separate promotional discount or benefit, you typically must choose one or the other, not both. Additionally, the pass cannot usually be transferred to someone else or used if you're traveling alone.

Blackout dates can be substantial in some years. It's worth checking Delta's current Companion Pass terms to see how many days throughout the year are actually available for booking. Some passes may have 50 or more blackout dates in a year, which meaningfully reduces when you can actually use the benefit.

Your companion's seat assignments may also be restricted. While you can choose your seat, your companion might not be able to select premium seating options or specific seat locations in the same way a regular ticket holder can.

Practical Takeaway: Review the specific terms and conditions of your Companion Pass, including the complete list of blackout dates and restrictions, before making travel plans. Plan trips during periods when the pass is available.

Making the Most of Your Companion Pass Value

To get the greatest value from your Companion Pass, you should think strategically about when and where to use it. The financial benefit of the pass varies considerably depending on the routes you choose and the time of year you travel.

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The companion savings are most valuable on expensive routes. For example, if you want to fly from New York to Los Angeles, a typical round-trip fare might cost $400 to $600 per person. With a Companion Pass, your companion would pay only taxes and fees—perhaps $30 to $50—while you pay the full fare. This represents a savings of $370 to $550 on that one trip. However, on a shorter route like New York to Washington D.C., where fares might be $200 to $300, the absolute savings are smaller, though still meaningful.

Consider these strategies for maximizing your pass value:

• Use