In case you’ve been looking for a technique to get probably the most bang to your buck in your subsequent huge journey, probably the greatest methods to take action is with airline bank card companion tickets.
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 convey a companion alongside free of charge.
These aren’t your common BOGO offers, although. Some companion tickets are restricted to sure areas or cabin courses, whereas others are based mostly on bank card spending or are solely good for award tickets.
This is a take a look at the airline bank cards that supply companion tickets as a profit and what you will have to do to earn and maximize them to your travels.
Associated: Are airline bank cards value it anymore?
Alaska Airways
Alaska Airways gives a companion ticket via its cobranded bank cards. The non-public and enterprise variations include a Companion Fare, which begins from $122 ($99 fare, plus taxes and charges from $23) and is reissued yearly after spending a minimum of $6,000 throughout the prior anniversary 12 months.
Generally, Alaska gives an extra Companion Fare as a part of a welcome bonus on the Alaska Airways Visa Signature® bank card.
Alaska Airways Visa Signature bank card
Welcome bonus: Earn 70,000 bonus miles plus Alaska’s Well-known Companion Fare ($99 fare plus taxes and charges from $23) after making $3,000 or extra in purchases throughout the first 90 days of opening your account.
Annual payment: $95
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Companion ticket profit: The Alaska Airways Visa Signature bank card comes with a companion ticket profit that is one of many best to grasp and use. Yearly you carry this card and spend $6,000 throughout the prior anniversary 12 months, you might be entitled to an annual companion fare from $122 ($99 fare plus taxes and charges, often about $23).
The foundations stipulate that the first traveler and their companion have to be booked on the identical itinerary. Whereas the cardholder doesn’t should be one of many vacationers, you will need to pay for the tickets utilizing the corresponding Alaska Visa card.
The companion fare is legitimate for journey in economic system solely, and it have to be redeemed inside 12 months of the problem 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 you probably have Alaska elite standing or wish to use a pair of the provider’s Gold Visitor Upgrades.
Different advantages: This card earns a substantial 3 miles per greenback spent on eligible Alaska Airways purchases, 2 miles per greenback on eligible gasoline, electrical automobile charging station, cable, streaming companies, and native transit (together with ride-hailing buy) and 1 mile per greenback spent on all the things else.
It has no overseas transaction charges and offers a free checked bag on Alaska flights for the cardholder and as much as six different company on the identical reservation.
Try our full assessment of the Alaska Airways Visa for extra particulars.
Apply right here: Alaska Airways Visa
Alaska Airways Visa Enterprise card
Welcome bonus: Earn 50,000 bonus miles and Alaska’s Well-known Companion Fare ($99 fare plus taxes and charges from $23) after you make $3,000 or extra in purchases throughout the first 90 days of opening your account.
Annual payment: $70 for the corporate and $25 per extra card
Companion ticket profit: The Alaska Airways Visa® Enterprise card gives an similar companion ticket profit: Spend $6,000 throughout the prior anniversary 12 months and you may obtain an annual companion fare from $122 ($99 fare plus taxes and charges, often about $23).
Different advantages: Earn 3 miles per greenback spent on eligible Alaska Airways purchases, 2 miles per greenback on eligible gasoline, EV charging stations, delivery and native transit (together with ride-hailing purchases) and 1 mile per greenback spent on all the things else. Obtain a free checked bag for you and as much as six companions.
Try our full assessment of the Alaska Airways Visa Enterprise card for extra particulars.
Apply right here: Alaska Airways Visa Enterprise card
American Airways
Barclays gives two completely different American Airways companion tickets via its cobranded playing cards: AAdvantage® Aviator® Pink World Elite Mastercard® and the AAdvantage® Aviator® World Elite Silver Mastercard®.
AAdvantage Aviator Pink World Elite Mastercard and AAdvantage Aviator Silver World Elite Mastercard
Welcome bonus: The Silver is barely accessible via a product change. The Aviator Pink is at present providing 70,000 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; $199 for the Aviator Silver
Companion ticket profit: Each account anniversary, Aviator Pink cardholders who spend $20,000 in a 12 months will obtain a $99 (plus taxes and charges) Companion Certificates for a round-trip home economic system fare throughout 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.
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 things else. The Aviator Silver card earns 3 miles per greenback on American Airways purchases, 2 miles per greenback on resorts and automotive leases and 1 mile per greenback on all the things 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.
The data for the AAdvantage Aviator Silver and the AAdvantage Aviator Pink has been collected independently by The Factors Man. The cardboard particulars on this web page haven’t been reviewed or offered by the cardboard issuer.
Study extra: AAdvantage Aviator Pink full assessment
Study extra: AAdvantage Aviator Silver full assessment
Delta
Delta offers a companion ticket profit on a number of of its cobranded playing cards for cardholders to make the most of on journeys. These embrace the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Categorical Card and the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Categorical Card, in addition to the enterprise variations of every respective card.
Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Categorical Card
Welcome bonus: Earn 60,000 bonus miles after spending $3,000 in eligible purchases within the first six months of card membership.
Annual payment: $350 (see charges and charges)
Companion ticket profit: The Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Categorical Card has supplied one of many longest-standing companion ticket advantages, and it is nonetheless probably the greatest choices on the market. It may be used for journey to all 50 U.S. states (together with Hawaii and Alaska), Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean every year after renewal of your card.
It’s essential to pay taxes and charges, although they’re capped at $80 for round-trip home flights and $250 for round-trip worldwide flights.
Different advantages: This card earns 3 miles per greenback spent on Delta purchases and purchases made straight with resorts. Cardholders additionally earn 2 miles per greenback spent at eating places (together with takeout and supply within the U.S.) 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 Precedence Boarding on Delta flights.
Yow will discover extra particulars on the cardboard in our full assessment of the Delta SkyMiles Platinum Amex.
Apply right here: Delta SkyMiles Platinum Amex
Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Categorical Card
Welcome bonus: Earn 70,000 bonus miles after spending $5,000 in eligible purchases in your first six months of card membership.
Annual payment: $650 (see charges and charges)
Companion ticket profit: With its a lot larger annual payment, you possibly can anticipate a greater companion ticket profit with the Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Categorical Card. Annually you renew, you will obtain a companion certificates good for one round-trip itinerary in firstclass, Delta Consolation+ or Most important Cabin and Premium Choose on choose eligible routes.
You will solely be liable for taxes and charges on the second ticket, as much as $80 for round-trip home flights and $250 for round-trip worldwide flights.
Different advantages: This card’s most important profit is that it gives Delta Sky Membership entry when touring on flights marketed or operated by Delta. You additionally obtain 4 one-time visitor passes every year and may convey two company for $50 every.
The cardboard’s different advantages are largely in keeping with these of the Platinum model. Nevertheless, it additionally offers complimentary entry to American Categorical Centurion Lounges when flying Delta with a ticket bought on the cardboard.
For extra particulars, learn our full assessment of the Delta SkyMiles Reserve Amex.
Efficient Feb. 1, 2025, Reserve cardmembers will obtain 15 visits per 12 months to the Delta Sky Membership; to earn a vast variety of visits every year beginning on Feb. 1, 2025, the entire eligible purchases on the cardboard should equal $75,000 or extra between Jan.1, 2024 and Dec. 31, 2024, and every calendar 12 months thereafter.
Apply right here: Delta SkyMiles Reserve Amex
Delta enterprise bank cards
Be aware that Delta gives 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 you probably have a small enterprise, both may very well be a good choice for touring with a companion.
Associated: Finest Delta bank cards
Frontier Airways
Frontier introduced it could start providing a companion go to elite standing members in its Frontier Miles program beginning in mid-2025.
Frontier Miles members on the high two ranges of standing with this system, Elite Platinum or Elite Diamond, will earn the power to convey a companion on board any flight free of charge as soon as the perk is launched.
This provides prompt worth to holding Frontier standing, because the companion go might be bookable for no additional value (apart from commonplace taxes and charges paid on a typical award ticket) so long as there is a seat accessible on the flight.
To earn Frontier Elite Platinum standing, you need to accumulate 50,000 elite standing factors. You will earn 10 standing factors per greenback spent with Frontier, or you possibly can earn elite standing factors outdoors of Frontier purchases in the event you maintain the Frontier Airways World Mastercard®.
Frontier Airways World Mastercard
Welcome bonus: Earn 50,000 miles while you spend $500 on purchases and pay the annual payment in full inside 90 days of account opening.
Annual payment: $99
Companion ticket profit: Whereas there is not a companion ticket profit supplied by the Frontier Airways World Mastercard outright, you possibly can fast-track your technique to elite standing (thus, the companion profit) by spending with the cardboard. You will earn 1 elite standing level for each greenback spent on the cardboard, which will help you climb up towards Elite Platinum tier.
Plus, you obtain prompt Frontier Miles Elite Gold standing with the cardboard, which is one tier under Elite Platinum — the extent you have to earn the companion go.
Different advantages: This card earns 5 miles on eligible purchases with FlyFrontier.com, 3 miles on eligible restaurant purchases and 1 mile on all different purchases.
You will additionally obtain a $100 flight voucher on each account anniversary in the event you spend $2,500 or extra on purchases along with your card in the course of the card membership 12 months.
You will additionally obtain two free checked luggage on Frontier flights and precedence boarding. The cardboard doesn’t cost overseas transaction charges.
The data for the Frontier Airways World Mastercard has been collected independently by The Factors Man. The cardboard particulars on this web page haven’t been reviewed or offered by the cardboard issuer.
Study extra: Frontier Airways World Mastercard full assessment
Hawaiian Airways
Whereas not probably the most profitable companion profit on this listing, the Hawaiian Airways® World Elite Mastercard® does provide a one-time {discount} on companion fare that could be helpful if leveraged strategically.
Hawaiian Airways World Elite Mastercard
Welcome bonus: Earn 70,000 bonus miles after spending $2,000 on purchases within the first 90 days.
Annual payment: $99
Companion ticket profit: The Hawaiian Airways World Elite Mastercard gives 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 number 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.
Different advantages: This card earns 3 miles per greenback spent on eligible Hawaiian Airways purchases, 2 miles per greenback spent on gasoline, eating and grocery retailer spending and 1 mile per greenback on all different purchases.
Cardholders additionally get two free checked luggage on flights operated by Hawaiian Airways.
Moreover, cardholders pay no overseas transaction charges overseas and may share miles with family and friends and not using a payment.
The data 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 offered by the cardboard issuer.
Study extra: Hawaiian Airways World Elite Mastercard full assessment
Southwest
Southwest’s fashionable Companion Cross is made simpler to earn while you maintain one among its three client playing cards: the Southwest Speedy Rewards® Plus Credit score Card, the Southwest Speedy Rewards® Premier Credit score Card or the Southwest Speedy Rewards® Precedence Credit score Card.
Welcome bonus: All three client Southwest bank cards provide an similar welcome bonus: Earn 40,000 bonus factors and a $400 assertion credit score after spending $3,000 on purchases within the first 4 months from account opening.
Annual payment: $69 (Plus), $99 (Premier) and $149 (Precedence)
Companion ticket profit: Southwest’s famed Companion Cross is basically a vast two-for-one go on each paid and award tickets. It is legitimate for the calendar 12 months you earn it, plus the next one. You’ll be able to obtain it by racking up 135,000 qualifying factors or taking 100 qualifying one-way flights in a calendar 12 months.
The excellent news is that welcome bonuses and factors earned by spending on Southwest’s cobranded bank cards rely towards this qualification threshold. Some savvy spending can get you the Southwest Companion Cross sooner than you suppose.
Different advantages: Regardless of their completely different annual charges, these three playing cards provide an identical 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 based mostly on spending (1,500 for every $5,000 spent yearly) and waive overseas transaction charges.
All three provide anniversary bonuses starting from 3,000 factors with the Plus to 7,500 with the Precedence. This is a useful comparability of all three.
Small companies may earn factors towards this perk. Factors earned on the Southwest® Speedy Rewards® Premier Enterprise Credit score Card and the Southwest® Speedy Rewards® Efficiency Enterprise Credit score Card additionally rely towards the provider’s Companion Cross.
The data for the Southwest Speedy Rewards Premier has been collected independently by The Factors Man. The cardboard particulars on this web page haven’t been reviewed or offered by the cardboard issuer.
Apply right here: Southwest Speedy Rewards Plus
Apply right here: Southwest Speedy Rewards Precedence
Study extra: Southwest Speedy Rewards Premier full assessment
Worldwide airways
In fact, companion tickets aren’t simply awarded to these with bank cards from U.S.-based airways. Some worldwide carriers provide playing cards with related perks accessible to U.S. candidates. These may go a good distance towards offsetting the prices of your subsequent journey abroad.
British Airways Visa Signature
Welcome bonus: Earn 75,000 Avios after spending $5,000 on purchases throughout the first three months of account opening.
Annual payment: $95
Companion ticket profit: Vacationers who maintain the British Airways Visa Signature® Card can earn the provider’s “Journey Collectively” companion ticket each calendar 12 months during which they spend $30,000 or extra on purchases. This ticket is mainly 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 may be liable for taxes and charges on each tickets, however solely mileage for one might be deducted. The bank card account should even be open and in good standing while you redeem it.
Although this is usually a nice deal for saving on premium awards, keep in mind that taxes and charges on British Airways tickets can add up. Fortunately, cardholders are eligible for assertion credit to offset these charges: $100 for economic system and premium economic system and $200 for enterprise and first-class seats. These credit could be claimed as much as 3 times per calendar 12 months.
Different advantages: Along with the same old advantages, like no overseas transaction charges, the cardboard gives contactless pay and the everyday Visa Signature journey protections.
Apply right here: British Airways Visa
Lufthansa
Welcome bonus: Earn 50,000 miles after spending $3,000 in purchases and paying the annual payment throughout the first 90 days.
Annual payment: $89
Companion ticket profit: The Miles & Extra® World Elite Mastercard® additionally gives a companion profit — and the nice factor is that you’re eligible for it after your first buy and routinely yearly after your account anniversary.
That mentioned, it is solely eligible for economic system journey from the U.S. to Europe, Africa, the Center East and the Far East. It applies solely to H, M, Y or B fare codes. These are non-discount economic system fares, which could be dearer than the lowest-priced choice. Cardholders should additionally pay all taxes and charges on each tickets, which could be a whole lot of {dollars}.
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 things else and carries no overseas 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, major 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 data for the 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 offered by the cardboard issuer.
Backside line
Along with welcome bonuses and journey perks, companion certificates is usually a compelling motive to use for an airline bank card. Earlier than you do, although, assessment the phrases and situations fastidiously to just remember to will be capable of maximize this profit’s worth.
Many companion certificates are restricted to particular courses of service, geographical areas and time constraints, which may all restrict their usefulness.
Nevertheless, in the event you discover one which matches your wants, a bank card companion certificates can prevent a whole lot and even hundreds of {dollars} on airline journey every year and could be effectively value it.
Associated: How one can save a whole lot on flights with the Alaska Airways Companion Fare
For charges and charges of the Delta SkyMiles Platinum Amex, click on right here.
For charges and charges of the Delta SkyMiles Reserve Amex, click on right here.
