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How To Get and Use the Delta Companion Certificate

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Table of Contents

Key takeaways, what is the delta companion certificate, how to get a delta companion certificate, how to use the delta companion certificate, final thoughts.

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• Delta Companion Certificates are issued to eligible cardholders and can be used to book a second ticket for a companion, paying only taxes and fees.
• A companion certificate is issued once per year to holders of the Delta Platinum card, Delta Platinum Business card, Delta Reserve card, and Delta Reserve Business card.
• The certificate can be used for domestic, Caribbean, or Central American flights.

What’s better than getting a great deal on a plane ticket? Getting 2 plane tickets for the price of 1! Getting a 2-for-1 deal on a plane ticket is possible with a companion ticket .

Southwest Airlines’ Companion Pass is probably the most well-known companion ticket perk, but did you know that Delta also offers a companion ticket? It’s not quite the same, but it still has a lot of value.

Here’s how to get a Delta Companion Certificate and use it for maximum value!

The Delta Companion Certificate is a great perk that comes with select Delta credit cards . This perk allows you to essentially get a 2-for-1 deal on a plane ticket. When you purchase 1 ticket, you can use the Delta Companion Certificate to purchase a second ticket, and you only have to pay the taxes and fees (no more than $80 for roundtrip domestic flights and no more than $250 for roundtrip international flights (both for itineraries with up to four flight segments).

Here are a few rules from Delta to keep in mind when using your Delta Companion Certificate:

• The ticket is good for domestic, Caribbean, or Central American ticket
• Companion tickets can be transferred, so you can book for someone else. But once the ticket is issued, it’s not transferable.
• Companion tickets can’t be applied to fares that have already been purchased.
• If you cancel your reservation , your companion ticket won’t be reissued.
• The companion ticket must be for the exact same flight as the original paid ticket. You can’t use the companion ticket to purchase a fare for a friend on a different flight.
• Travel for the Companion Certificate must be booked and completed by the date on the certificate.
• The paid ticket and companion ticket are both eligible for upgrades as long as both passengers are either Delta SkyMiles members or elite members of a SkyTeam alliance partner airline. Any upgrades will be processed according to the passenger with the highest Delta status.
• Companion ticket fares may require an advance purchase of up to 14 days, a 3-night minimum stay, or a 30-day maximum stay.
• Some flights may be excluded, and stopovers and open jaws aren’t eligible for companion flights.
• Blackout dates are subject to the rules of the primary ticket fare purchased.
• The primary, paid ticket on the itinerary earns Delta SkyMiles , but the companion ticket does not.
• Delta eCredits can be applied as payment toward the cost of the primary ticket, companion ticket, and any government-imposed taxes and fees.

Bottom Line: A Delta Companion Certificate allows you to purchase a second ticket on select domestic flights for only the price of the taxes and fees on the second ticket.

You can earn a Delta Companion Certificate simply by having the right Delta credit card in your wallet.

American Express offers 4 co-branded personal Delta credit cards and 4 co-branded Delta business credit cards in total, but not all of them come with the Delta Companion Certificate.

The Delta Companion Certificate is only available with the following cards:

• Delta SkyMiles ® Platinum American Express Card
• Delta SkyMiles ® Platinum Business American Express Card
• Delta SkyMiles ® Reserve American Express Card
• Delta SkyMiles ® Reserve Business American Express Card

The companion certificate varies slightly depending on what credit card you hold.

Delta Platinum Credit Cards [Personal and Business]

Both the Delta Platinum card and Delta Platinum Business card come with the companion ticket benefit. This perk offers 1 round-trip, Main Cabin companion ticket per year after you pay your annual fee. The Companion Certificate will be available for redemption in your renewal month.

You’re responsible for paying the taxes and fees on the companion ticket. The companion ticket is valid for L, U, T, X, and V classes of service only (these letters refer to different levels of economy fares ) and may not be available on all flights or in all markets. Both the first ticket and the fees for the second ticket must be charged to your Delta card.

Delta Reserve Credit Cards [Personal and Business]

If you have either the Delta Reserve card or the Delta Reserve Business card , you’re eligible for 1 round-trip, Main Cabin, Comfort+, or first class companion ticket per year after you pay your annual fee.

You’re responsible for paying the taxes and fees on the companion ticket. The companion ticket is valid for L, U, T, X, and V classes of service ( economy ) and I and Z classes of service ( first class ). For Delta Comfort+ travel, tickets are available in W and S classes of service, but only when L, U, T, X, OR V classes of service are available in the Main Cabin.

Both the first ticket and the fees for the second ticket must be charged to your Delta card and/or eCredits.

Bottom Line: A Delta Companion Certificate is a perk that comes with the personal and business versions of the Delta Platinum card and Delta Reserve card. If you aren’t sure which of these credit cards is right for you, check out this guide to the best credit cards for Delta flyers.

Your Delta Companion Certificate can only be used on Delta.com ; it can’t be used on Delta flights that are purchased on any other website.

Once you’re logged in to your account, you’ll be able to see your companion ticket in the My Profile section. There is also a SkyMiles Quick Link for View vouchers, eCredits, & Certificates that can get you there.

From there, you can select your companion certificate and then search for flights as you normally would. The system should automatically filter out the flights that aren’t eligible for a companion certificate ticket.

There isn’t a price limit to the ticket you can purchase with your Delta Companion Certificate. So, the higher the price of the ticket, the more value you get from this perk.

Let’s say you and a friend want to travel from New York to Los Angeles for a long weekend, but the tickets are $500 each. While you might not want to spend $1,000 for this trip, with the Delta Companion Certificate, you can purchase both tickets for just $500 (plus the taxes and fees on the second ticket).

You can easily get hundreds of dollars of value from this 1 perk!

The Delta Companion Certificate is a great deal. This perk allows you to buy a second seat on a Delta flight for the price of the taxes and fees. That means you and your companion can fly for essentially the price of just 1 ticket!

The companion ticket is available as a perk on 4 Delta Amex credit cards: the Delta Platinum card , Delta Platinum Business card , Delta Reserve card , and Delta Reserve Business card .

For rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles ® Platinum American Express Card, click here . For rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles ® Platinum Business American Express Card, click here . For rates and fees of Delta SkyMiles ® Reserve American Express Card, click here . For rates and fees for the Delta SkyMiles ® Reserve Business American Express Card, click here .

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How to Use a Delta eCredit

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Table of Contents

What you need to know about Delta eCredits

How to use a delta ecredit, delta credit cards that earn skymiles, can a delta ecredit be used for someone else, if you want to use delta ecredits.

Delta eCredits usually expire after one year from date of purchase (not from the date of the original flight).

Delta has extended the expiration for eCredits during the pandemic through Dec. 31, 2023.

You can use your Delta flight credit by logging into your account and accessing them there, or by purchasing a flight and choosing to use them for payment.

If you booked travel during the pandemic, it's more likely than not that you canceled those plans. Many airlines, including Delta Air Lines, revamped their cancellation policies and made it easier to rebook a future trip without losing money.

However, these cancellations do not result in a cash refund, but rather an “eCredit” toward future travel. Here’s what you need to know about these credits.

» Learn more: The guide to the Delta Air Lines SkyMiles program

Delta eCredits are issued to those who booked a Delta flight and had to cancel it for one reason or another.

In the past, voluntarily canceling a Delta flight meant having to pay a cancellation fee of at least $200. Now, the full value of a canceled trip is available for use without any fees.

Delta eCredit rules and expirations

Do Delta eCredits expire? Yes. A Delta flight credit is valid until the original ticket expires. Usually, tickets are valid for one year from the date of purchase.

You can make changes, cancel your flight and complete new bookings online or over the phone. If you’re positive you want to cancel your flight, but can’t decide when you want to travel again, it’s best to make a cancellation first and rebook when your new travel plans solidify.

Where to find your eCredits

To locate your unused travel vouchers, create a Delta SkyMiles account, then head to www.delta.com/redeem. There, you can look up certificates and eCredits by contact info, SkyMiles account info, credit card, or your certificate or eCredit number.

Enter your desired information in the field and click Look Up.

On the next page, you’ll have to validate your eCredit by entering the first and last names of the passenger. Once you click Add, the page will reload, and your voucher value will show up under Manually Entered Certificates and eCredits.

If the reservation includes multiple passengers, you have to repeat this step for every traveler included in the booking.

Those who booked flights using their SkyMiles number shouldn’t need to hunt down their credits manually. They should already be listed under the Certificates, eCredits and Vouchers tab in the account.

Is your Delta eCredit not showing up?

If your Delta eCredit is not working, you have to call Delta customer service at 800-221-1212 to apply an unused eCredit to a new reservation. If you’re unable to locate your voucher or can’t select it when making a booking, an agent can help.

Can I use a Delta eCredit for a seat upgrade?

You can use a Delta eCredit for a seat upgrade on flights booked with cash.

Use the 'Modify Flight' tool in your SkyMiles account, select your same flight in a higher cabin and then pay the fare difference with your eCredit.

For main cabin travelers who won't ever fly in premium seating or on private aircraft, Delta's economy is the closest you'll get to a luxury experience. Complimentary snacks and drinks are pretty decent, and the seatback screens on most aircraft work well with a wide array of movies. Most aircraft even offer free Wi-Fi. You just have to become a Delta SkyMiles member to use it, though it's free to join their program.

While the value of Delta SkyMiles has varied over the years, I find the airline's seats and service to be top notch. I have redeemed Delta SkyMiles for flights to Hawaii and Ireland and saved 15% on my redemptions by holding the Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card (which also saved me from paying for checked bags). Delta Comfort+ also offers a ton of perks that I don't mind paying for on long-haul transcontinental flights, such as premium snacks and drinks and extra leg room.

Delta provides the best flying experience among U.S. airlines, even if you're in economy. I redeem SkyMiles occasionally for short-haul flights in the U.S. because those can be super cheap, less than 10,000 SkyMiles sometimes. You just have to be careful not to book basic economy with SkyMiles. It's worth it to me to pay a few extra miles to have the flexibility to change my flight and pick my seat in main cabin.

There are two ways to redeem a Delta eCredit for a flight.

1. Via your SkyMiles account

If you log in to your SkyMiles account and go to your profile, a page with your personal details will appear. On the left side, under Profile, click on Certificates, eCredits & Vouchers.

You’ll be taken to a page with all your Delta eCredits, Unused eTickets and Companion Certificates, including their monetary values and expiration dates.

Check the box of the voucher you want to apply to your new reservation and continue to book your flight. If the new flight is more expensive than what your credit is worth, you'll have to cover the difference.

If you want to apply multiple eCredits to your ticket, keep in mind that Delta limits you to three payment methods online. You can choose up to three Delta certificates per reservation. If they don’t cover the entire cost of new airfare, pick two eCredits and use a credit card to pay for the remainder.

2. Book as normal and pay with eCredits

The second option to redeem your Delta eCredit is by making a booking as you normally would from the homepage. Select your flight times, confirm passenger info and click on Use eCredits when selecting a payment method. Once your active credits appear, select the one(s) you want to redeem and finish your booking.

If you pick just one or two vouchers from a list of credits, use the ones that expire the earliest, even if they’re in a smaller amount. You don’t want them to expire before you get another chance to redeem them.

Remember that you must be signed into SkyMiles for the credits associated with your account to be available for use.

» Learn more: How to plan your next SkyMiles redemption for your dream trip

If your Delta eCredit isn't sufficient to cover your entire flight, use a Delta card to pay for the remaining balance so you earn Delta miles on the portion that you pay for using the card.

Here's a selection of Delta credit cards, along with their perks.

on American Express' website

$0 intro for the first year, then $150 .

• 2 miles per $1 on purchases made directly with Delta and at restaurants worldwide, including takeout and delivery in the U.S.

• 1 mile per $1 on all other eligible purchases.

Terms apply.

• 2 miles per $1 on purchases made directly with Delta and at U.S. supermarkets and restaurants (including takeout and delivery in the U.S.).

• 3 miles per $1 on eligible purchases made directly with Delta and on hotel purchases.

• 2 miles per $1 at U.S. supermarkets and restaurants (including takeout and delivery in the U.S.).

• 3 miles per $1 on eligible purchases made directly with Delta.

• 1 mile per $1 on other eligible purchases.

• No foreign transaction fees.

• First checked bag free.

• Priority boarding.

• Companion certificate (main cabin).

• Airport lounge access.

• Companion certificate ((first class, Delta Comfort+ or main cabin).

• Credit for application fee for TSA PreCheck or Global Entry

If a business card makes more sense for you, Delta offers three business cards to choose from: Delta SkyMiles® Gold Business American Express Card , Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card and the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card .

» Learn more: Is a Delta credit card worth it?

Any eCredit refund issued to a specific passenger must be used to book new travel for the same passenger. It can’t be used for someone else.

Unfortunately, this means you can’t use travel credits from a family or group trip for yourself or another group. You can book tickets to another destination, of course, but the individuals named on the original flight must be on the new flight.

So the answer to "Are Delta eCredits transferable?" is no.

Thanks to a flyer-friendly policy announced during the pandemic, Delta passengers have a generous window to rebook their canceled flights through the new eCredit refund system. Although it requires a bit of legwork to locate all your unused Delta credits, the ability to put the money you already paid the airline toward a new ticket will be worth it.

Make sure to keep a good record of all your canceled trips so you don’t lose any eCredits in the shuffle before they expire. And remember, you can’t use eCredits to book travel for someone who was not on the original ticket.

To view rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card , see this page .

To view rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card , see this page .

To view rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card , see this page .

To view rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card , see this page .

How to maximize your rewards

You want a travel credit card that prioritizes what’s important to you. Here are some of the best travel credit cards of 2024 :

Flexibility, point transfers and a large bonus: Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

No annual fee: Wells Fargo Autograph℠ Card

Flat-rate travel rewards: Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

Bonus travel rewards and high-end perks: Chase Sapphire Reserve®

Luxury perks: The Platinum Card® from American Express

Business travelers: Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card

on Chase's website

1x-5x 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases.

60,000 Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.

on Capital One's website

2x-5x Earn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase, every day. Earn 5X miles on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options

75,000 Enjoy a one-time bonus of 75,000 miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel.

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Can You Give Away Your Delta Amex Card’s Companion Certificate and Let Someone Else Use It?

Four Delta SkyMiles® American Express products offer cardholders a great perk: Companion Certificates (buy-one, get-one) for a Delta Air Lines US domestic flight each year, starting the second year of card membership. (Terms apply.)

But like most credit card perks, terms apply and there are always some limits and exclusions.

I recently polled some friends, family, and other readers on this question: can someone other than the Delta Amex member use the card’s Companion Certificate? Or must the cardholder travel on a Companion Certificate reservation?

Based on the incorrect answers I received, I decided to address this in a blog post. 🙂

Which Delta Amex Cards Offer Companion Certificates?

These four Delta Amexes feature Companion Certificates:

• Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card
• Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card
• Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card
• Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card

Both Reserve cards’ Companion Certificates are valid for select First Class, Premium Select, Comfort+, and Main Cabin trips with available fare classes A, G, I, Z, W, L, U, T, X, and V. Delta adds, “For Delta Comfort+ travel, tickets are available in W and S classes of service, but only when L, U, T, X, or V classes of service are available in the Main Cabin.”

The Delta Platinum cards’ Companion Certificates are valid only for select Main Cabin fares: L, U, T, X, and V.

Make sure to read our Companion Certificate deep dive here .

Yes, Someone Else Can Travel on Your Companion Certificate!

The cardholder does not need to be one of the people on a Companion Certificate reservation. The perk is transferrable. (Some maneuvering is required booking-wise. We’ll discuss that in a minute.)

What are some reasons you’d let others use your Companion Certificate? Perhaps you:

• When we travel, my wife and daughter are always on one PNR/confirmation number and I’m on a separate one. This makes it more difficult for our daughter to be split up from my wife (which would be a disaster for anyone within a five-mile radius. Trust me.)
• want to help family members or friends save money on travel
• own a company and need to send employees on a business trip
• won’t be able to use a Companion Certificate before its expiration date and want someone to enjoy the benefit

If you routinely pay for family travel, the Companion Certificate can save you a bunch of money. I know some parents who pay for family members to come to visit during holidays and other vacations. (To be clear, these travelers fly on the same itinerary: they either live together or otherwise meet up).

There were several occasions when my wife and I let others use our Companion Certificates. One instance was a neighbor’s grandkids needed to fly to Southern California ASAP because their grandfather was in poor health. My in-laws sometimes use our Reserve cards’ Companion Certificates to buy First Class seats when traveling across the country. This year, a couple of close friends and their two kids wanted to visit California. We offered two Companion Certificates to help them make their trip more affordable.

You  Might Need to Book the Companion Certificate Reservation

Here’s where you physically factor into this. The Companion Certificate holder / Delta Amex member (probably) needs to book the reservation on behalf of the travelers using the BOGO cert. (I say “probably” because a friend told me he usually gives the certificate number and its reference code to the recipient, who then add it to their Delta account.)

I log into my Delta account and visit this page (which I recommend bookmarking). Then I search for the eligible reservation and go from there. The only requirement is that the reservation’s taxes and fees, as well as the primary traveler’s paid fare, be purchased with an American Express card. The card doesn’t have to be a Delta Amex.

Make sure you have the travelers’ relevant information: full names as they appear on photo ID, addresses, phone numbers, birthdates, SkyMiles numbers (if applicable), Known Traveler Number (if applicable), etc.

Then pay with whatever Amex card you want. It can be one of yours; it can be one of theirs; or it can be a third party’s. I usually opt for The Platinum Card® from American Express because it earns 5X American Express® Membership Rewards® points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel (up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year).

You can also call Delta directly to book your Companion Certificate reservation. But given hold times to actually get through to a knowledge rep, you’ll likely die of old age before actually getting a trip purchased. So, I recommend going online.

Final Approach

The Delta SkyMiles® American Express Cards’ Companion Certificates can be a great benefit — when they’re used. But don’t worry. The cardholder doesn’t have to fly on an eligible reservation. Others can do the traveling.

To see rates and fees for The Platinum Card® from American Express , please visit this link . Terms apply.

To see rates and fees for the  Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card , please  visit this link.  Terms apply.

To see rates and fees for the  Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card , please visit this link . Terms apply.

To see rates and fees for the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card , please visit this link . Terms apply.

To see rates and fees for the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card , please visit this link . Terms apply.

Is it Worth it? Should I Slog on for Delta Air Lines 2 Million Miler Status After All?

American airlines reportedly lost an unaccompanied minor – but was it all their fault, chris carley.

Chris Carley is the owner, editor, and lead writer of Eye of the Flyer (formerly known as Rene's Points).

American Airlines Reportedly Lost an Unaccompanied Minor - But Was it All Their Fault?

Comments 15.

You mentioned D1 qualifies on reserve companion fares. – also on international routes??

Only on US domestic (i.e., LAX-JFK, JFK-SFO, etc.)

Only 48 states?

Within the main land, yes. Residents of Hawaii, Alaska, and Puerto Rico can begin their trips from those states (or territory), though.

Should be able to originate either direction, if you want friends or family to visit the certificate holder! There really is no cost difference, so why is the certificate restricted to the certificate holder state address?

Take it up with Delta. It’s their rule. 🙂

I recently got the Reserve card with the limited edition 747 card launch. Our first flight after getting it, delta upgraded my son and I (on the same PNR and 1 hour before departure) into comfort plus. My wife on a separate PNR (despite having her own Reserve card as an AU in my account) Did not clear the upgrade list until we went to the gate and advised them that she also has a the Reserve card. How often anecdotally or statistically do upgrades into comfort plus clear ? Their seems to be wide open availability up until boarding and first class fills up much earlier

Do you have any status with Delta? Also, make sure that her Reserve card is in her Delta wallet.

No status currently

I haven’t really heard a lot of stories about Reserve cardholders without status being upgraded, to be honest. First Class obviously fills up quicker because of the Medallions and fewer seats in the cabin.

I wasn’t expecting many in the way of upgrades just for having the reserve card but if we can secure upgrades into at least comfort plus 40 or 50% of the time then it may make it a keeper for us. Is there A limit of how many passengers can be upgraded on the same PNR ?

I believe it’s two — just like with Medallion upgrades.

I planned to purchase a Delta companion ticket and expected to follow Delta’s Instructions. According to Delta you can finalize everything when you go to pay. Wasted two hours trying to do this. Instead – call Delta and have them make the reservation.

You will discover that not all flights are companion approved. For example – instead of flying in at 6PM, I had to wait and come in at 9PM.

I contacted Delta to find out if I could use a companion certificate in conjunction with booking a SkyMiles rewards certificate trip. I was told by the Delta agent that I had to pay for the additional ticket rather than using SkyMiles. I thought that didn’t sound right but took their word for it. I wound up paying out of pocket for the second ticket rather than using the certificate, so I could travel with my SkyMiles. So confusing

You can use eCredits because those are derived from cash . But not SkyMiles.

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All the tips and tricks you need to use Delta Upgrade Certificates in 2022

Among the various benefits of holding elite status with an airline is receiving complimentary upgrades, both automatically and with certificates you can apply to upcoming trips.

With Delta, Upgrade Certificates are reserved for upper-tier Delta Platinum and Diamond Medallion elites . These certificates have a higher priority than Medallion Complimentary Upgrades and may be requested and potentially even cleared at booking.

Today, we will look at the different types of Upgrade Certificates, how to earn them and how to redeem them.

Let's get started.

Overview of Delta Upgrade Certificates

Delta offers two types of Upgrade Certificates: Regional Upgrade Certificates (RUCs) and Global Upgrade Certificates (GUCs).

RUCs are eligible for the same routes as Medallion Complimentary Upgrades — all Delta-operated domestic flights and select short-haul international flights. This includes all flights with First Class and domestic flights with the Delta One experience. GUCs, on the other hand, can be used for any Delta-operated flight and some partner airlines (more on that later).

Related: The ultimate guide to getting upgraded on Delta

Each Upgrade Certificate is for one-way travel. The certificate covers any stops you might have while getting from Point A to Point B, but will be considered redeemed even if your upgrade clears for just one portion of your itinerary.

In other words, if you're flying from Chicago's O'Hare International Airport (ORD) to Tokyo's Haneda Airport (HND) via Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW), and your upgrade only clears for the one-hour hop from Chicago to Detroit, your certificate will still be considered used. Thankfully, you can avoid this by asking a Delta agent to prioritize one leg of your journey .

As of February 2022, each upgrade certificate is also only valid for moving up by one class of service . This means that those booked in Main Cabin or Comfort+ will be upgraded to Premium Select — Delta's version of premium economy — on three-cabin international flights (and will be placed on a Delta One waitlist 24 hours prior to departure). So, you'll need to book Premium Select to upgrade directly to Delta One — you can't apply two Upgrade Certificates for a double upgrade. This rule applies to both Delta and partner flights.

You can apply RUCs and GUCs to paid tickets, award tickets and Miles + Cash tickets on Delta-operated flights, Pay with Miles tickets, companion tickets and tickets booked as a part of a Delta Vacations package. This makes Delta more generous than American Airlines and United, as neither allows members to apply Upgrade Certificates to award tickets.

Delta's only major restriction is that you cannot apply an upgrade to a Basic Economy (E fare) ticket regardless of your Medallion status level. All other published Main Cabin and Delta Comfort+ fares are eligible.

Related: How to save money with an annual Delta companion ticket

While these certificates are not fully transferable to others, Delta will allow you to apply your RUC or GUC to a guest's ticket so long as he or she is traveling on the same flight with you. Even if you're booked on separate reservations (e.g., your company books your economy ticket, and you book your spouse's economy ticket later), you can use your Upgrade Certificates for both passengers. Just remember that each person requires a separate upgrade certificate.

Each certificate expires at the end of the elite year. So, if you earn Global Upgrade Certificates in 2022, they are valid through Jan. 31, 2024. Certificates must be used on a flight completed by that date, not just booked. In light of the pandemic, all certificates set to expire between March 1, 2019, and Jan. 31, 2022, have been extended until Jan. 31, 2023.

How to earn Delta Upgrade Certificates

Given how powerful Delta Upgrade Certificates can be, they're fairly exclusive. The only way to get them is by picking them as your " Choice Benefits ."

Choice Benefits are offered when hitting Delta Platinum and Diamond Medallion status . Top-tier Diamond Medallion members may choose any of the following three options as one of their selected Choice Benefits:

• Four Global Upgrades.
• Eight Regional Upgrades.
• Two Global Upgrades and four Regional Upgrades.

Meanwhile, Platinum Medallion members may choose four Regional Upgrades as their single Choice Benefit.

Given that these certificates are typically valid for 12 months from the date they were issued, if you don't have an immediate use for them, you should wait as long as possible after earning Platinum or Diamond status to claim your Choice Benefits. The last possible day is always Jan. 31 of the following year.

Related: The ultimate guide to Delta Choice Benefits

Searching for upgrade availability

You can search for upgrade availability directly on Delta's website .

Log in and search for flights as you normally would. If you have Upgrade Certificates in your account, upgrade availability will be listed below the route and flight times.

If your itinerary has multiple segments, you can click on the text to check flight-specific availability.

As mentioned, certificates are now only valid for upgrading by one class of service and you can't apply two Upgrade Certificates for a double upgrade. On the flip side, those using GUCs to upgrade from Main Cabin to Premium Select have last-seat availability, which means you have access to any unsold seats.

Related: How I used a Global Upgrade Certificate to fly Delta One for the price of Premium Select

How to apply Delta Upgrade Certificates

As of now, you can't yet apply Upgrade Certificates online yourself. Rather, you'll need to call Delta or contact the airline via its iMessage chat support and request that an agent applies one to your reservation. Unfortunately, gate agents cannot apply Upgrade Certificates at the airport. If a confirmed upgrade isn't available yet, you can request to be placed on a waitlist.

You may request to use your certificate up until three hours before departure, but the earlier, the better. On itineraries with connections, ask the agent to place upgrade priority on the leg that matters most to you so you don't let a Global Upgrade Certificate go to waste on a short domestic segment.

Delta does not always notify you that your upgrade has cleared, so keep a close eye on your itinerary.

If you're on a waitlist and your upgrade doesn't clear, your certificate will be redeposited into your online wallet for use until the original expiration date.

Related: How to earn Delta elite status with credit cards

Using Delta Upgrade Certificates for partner flights

Upgrade Certificates can be used on any Delta-operated flight and select partner-operated flights with KLM, Air France, Virgin Atlantic, Korean Air and Aeromexico. However, the exact rules vary by partner.

Aside from Air France and KLM, you typically need to book your partner flight through Delta for it to be eligible. With all airlines, you can only request an upgrade if it's confirmable — you cannot wait-list on partners. As with Delta flights, upgrades are only to the next level of service (i.e., economy to premium economy).

Related: The ultimate guide to Delta partners

You can upgrade most Aeromexico-operated flights so long as Delta sells them. Delta's published fares booked in W, Y, B, M, H, Q, K, L, U, T, X or V class upgrade to Aeromexico's business class (O class).

For Air France-operated flights sold by Delta, the following coach fare classes are eligible for an upgrade to premium economy (A class): Y, B, M, H, Q, K, L, U, T, X or V. Also, the following premium economy fares can be upgraded to business class (Z class): W, S or A.

If you're purchasing your flight directly from Air France, you can upgrade the following economy fare classes: Y, B, M, K, H, L, Q, T, N, R, or V. Or, the following premium economy fare classes: W, S, or A.

Upgrade Certificates are valid on Delta-marketed, KLM-operated flights on Main Cabin fares booked in Y, B, M, H, Q, K, L, U, T, X or V class. If you're purchasing your ticket directly from KLM, you can upgrade Main Cabin fares in Y, B, M, K, H, L, Q, T, N, R, or V class.

Global Upgrades on KLM flights must be confirmed 24 hours before departure.

Upgrades are valid for a select few Korean Air-operated flights sold by Delta. Fares booked in Y or B class upgrade to Korean Air's Z business class, or booked in M class to Korean Air's O business class.

Global Upgrades on Korean Air flights must be confirmed 24 hours before departure.

Virgin Atlantic

Upgrade Certificates bump you from economy to premium economy or premium economy to Upper Class (business class) on Virgin Atlantic. Delta-marketed, Virgin Atlantic-operated flights booked in W, S, Y, B, M, H, Q, K, L, U, T, X or V class upgrade to Premium Economy (P class) while fares booked in P, A or G class upgrade to Upper Class (G class).

Global Upgrades on Virgin Atlantic flights must be confirmed 24 hours before departure.

Bottom line

Despite a recent devaluation, Delta Upgrade Certificates are still highly valuable. Specifically, a Diamond Medallion applying a Global Upgrade Certificate is at the top of any waitlist for an upgrade. It can usually count on at least one seat not being sold on a long-haul flight. While you need to call to apply them to your reservations, you can easily search for upgrade availability online.

Additional reporting by Richard Kerr.

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WHY TRAVEL PROTECTION? Your vacation is an investment of time and money. Delta Vacations, in conjunction with Trip Mate, the foremost provider of travel protection plans and travel insurance, help assure your investment, yourself, and your family are protected from the unexpected.

PLAN OPTIONS AT A GLANCE

We offer two travel protection options for you to choose from:

• Travel Protection Plan — offering basic coverage
• Travel Protection Plan PLUS  — a more extensive option — including all of the benefits with the Travel Protection Plan — PLUS a lowest-price guarantee and more convenient method of payment on your refund

Travel Protection Plan

With the Travel Protection Plan, you're provided with pre- and post-departure coverage.

Lowest price guarantee

Cancel for any reason

Refund of cancellation fees

Documentation required

Purchase period

For Complete Details go to: 

Travel Protection Plan PLUS

Received in the original form of payment 1

May be purchased any time prior to final payment 1

www.tripmate.com/wpF409N  , opens in a new window

Received in the form of a Delta Vacations voucher 2

May be purchased any time prior to final payment 2

www.tripmate.com/wpF409B , opens in a new window

1 The Cash Back refund option, coverage of pre-existing conditions and Price Protection only applies if the Travel Protection Plan Plus is purchased within seven (7) days of your initial deposit for your trip (and for pre-existing conditions, must not be disabled from travel at the time the plan is purchased). 2 The Cancel For Any Reason Waiver and coverage of pre-existing conditions applies only if the Travel Protection Plan is purchased within seven (7) days of your initial deposit for your trip, and must not be disabled from travel at the time the plan is purchased.

Cancel For Any Reason Waiver (provided by Delta Vacations)

• The standard coverage of the Travel Protection Plan protects the cost of your vacation and protects you from most cancellation penalties. Also, you can cancel for any reason, and have comfort in knowing that your travel investment is protected. You must cancel before your scheduled departure.
• The Cancel For Any Reason Waiver is provided by Delta Vacations, and is not an insurance benefit underwritten by United States Fire Insurance Company.

In addition to Pre-Departure Trip Cancellation, the plan includes other benefits to help protect you from the unexpected during your vacation, such as:

• Medical and emergency assistance — includes benefits up to $25,000 for medical expenses, emergency medical transportation and 24-hour emergency assistance service for illness or injury during the trip.
• Post-departure trip interruption — covers you up to the original cost of your trip, when you must interrupt your trip or return home early for covered reasons, such as sickness, injury or other covered reasons.
• Travel delay — pays up to $100 per day for meals and accommodations when you are delayed on your trip for 12 hours or more.
• Baggage delay — reimburses you up to $250 for clothing and personal items if your luggage is delayed more than 24 hours.
• Loss or damage to baggage or personal effects — covers up to $2,500 for loss or damage to baggage or personal effects that occur during the trip.

Please Note: 

• If purchased, everyone on the booking must purchase the Travel Protection Plan. 
• The cost of the Travel Protection Plan is only refunded for cancellations covered by the hurricane policy (or within the state required free look period).
• Refer to Delta Vacations Cancellation & Change Policy  for penalty and refund details. 
• Certain restrictions apply to groups booked with our Group Department. 
• Certain items may not be refundable, such as show or event tickets, theme park passes, etc. 

With this option, you receive all of the benefits with the Travel Protection Plan (listed in the chart above) PLUS you:

• Receive the refund of the cost of your vacation package AND cancellation fees in the form of your original payment, should you need to cancel your vacation for any reason (less the cost of the protection plan)
• Receive the lowest price guarantee

Lowest Price Guarantee (Provided by Delta Vacations)

If Delta Vacations advertises an identical vacation at a lower price, Delta Vacations will guarantee that price. The advertised vacation must be available and include the same air components (including air fare class), hotel and room category, and any other previously purchased components, including the Travel Protection Plan PLUS. Refunds for the difference in the package price will be issued in the original form of payment.

Below, you'll find information on how to request the lowest price guarantee along with lowest price guarantee terms and conditions.

To request the Lowest Price Guarantee 10 days or more before departure:

• Create a new reservation with lower price and place on hold.
• Note: Some reservations may require confirmation with a credit card.
• Contact Delta Vacations at 1-800-800-1504, 6:00 am - 11:00 pm CST.
• If the new reservation qualifies, the travelers will receive confirmation of the new reservation at the adjusted price. Previous reservation will be refunded to the original form of payment.

To request the Lowest Price Guarantee within 10 days of departure:

• Create a new reservation and confirm with credit card.

Travel Protection PLUS and Lowest Price Guarantee Terms and Conditions

• The Travel Protection Plan PLUS cannot be applied to Miles to Go or upgraded bookings.
• Lowest Price Guarantee is on the total package price, not component to component.
• All components must be available at the time of the new reservation.
• Lowest price guarantee must be on the exact same vacation package including the same dates, air components, hotel and room category, and any other previously purchased components, including the Travel Protection Plan PLUS.
• Lowest price guarantee is allowed to be used only one time per booking, and may be exercised up to the time of departure.
• Promotional codes applied to the original reservation must be valid at the time of the lowest price guarantee request to maintain promotional code discount. If the promotional code is no longer valid, a new promotional code can be applied, as long as all terms and conditions are met.
• Lowest price guarantee does not apply to group reservations.
• Lowest price guarantee cannot be purchased separately, and is only available through the Travel Protection Plan PLUS program.
• Delta Vacations is the final authority on the interpretation of these rules, and reserves the right to change these terms and conditions without prior notice.

Travel Protection Plan Travel Certificate Redemption Terms and Conditions

Redemption Instructions

• Contact Delta Vacations at 1-800-800-1504 or online at delta.com/vacations.
• Enter/provide the 12-digit travel certificate number printed on the front of the travel certificate document during the payment step.
• Provide additional form of payment, if necessary.
• Delta Vacations will issue and send your travel documents via the delivery method requested during the booking process.

Redemption Terms and Conditions

• Travel certificate is valid for the value indicated on the front of the travel certificate document when redeemed toward the purchase of any Delta Vacations air and hotel package; air, hotel and car package; hotel-only; or hotel and car or ground transportation package purchase.
• Travel certificate can be redeemed in its entirety or in increments up to the value or balance remaining on the certificate.
• If the price of the booking is more than the value of the travel certificate, an additional form of payment for the remaining balance will be necessary to complete the transaction.
• Travel documents for the redeemed travel certificate will be issued, and sent via the delivery method identified during the booking process.
• Purchases with this travel certificate will be deducted from the balance until the value reaches zero or until the expiration date is reached, whichever occurs first.
• No refunds or credits will be issued for any unused portion of the travel certificate.
• Travel certificate is not valid for use toward the purchase of Group bookings, ski bookings, gift cards or another travel certificate.
• The expiration date for this travel certificate is printed on the front of the travel certificate document; the travel certificate is valid for payments made prior to the expiration date.
• Extensions to the expiration date will not be permitted, and travel certificate is not rechargeable.
• Lost, stolen or destroyed travel certificates will not be replaced.
• Travel certificate is void if altered or sold, is nontransferable, nonrefundable, may not be redeemed for cash, has no resale value, and is valid for use only by the person(s) indicated on the front of the travel certificate document.
• Travel certificate is not retroactive, and cannot be applied as alternative payment to reservations already paid in full.
• If a booking using a travel certificate as payment is cancelled, any remaining value after applicable cancellation fees have been deducted will be refunded back to the original travel certificate, and all terms of the original travel certificate, including original expiration date, will apply.
• Travel certificate cannot be redeemed for an Delta Vacations reservation with the same origin and destination and the same departure and arrival dates as the original trip that the travel certificate was issued for.
• Must be redeemed through Delta Vacations, and is not valid for redemption through Delta Air Lines or its website, delta.com.
• Delta Vacations must issue all airline tickets and travel documents.
• Standard Terms and Conditions and cancellation policies apply, which are outlined during the booking process; other restrictions apply.
• Delta Vacations is the final authority on the interpretation of these rules, and reserves the right to change these Terms and Conditions without prior notice.
• Travel Agents: Travel certificate can be redeemed via our agent website or Reservations.

For balance and expiration date inquiries, refer to the contact information on the front of the travel certificate document.

Travel Protection Plan Travel Certificate Redemption Terms and Conditions           

• Contact Delta Vacations at 1-800-800-1504 or online at deltavacations.com.
• Travel certificate is valid for the value indicated on the front of the travel certificate document, when redeemed toward the purchase of any Delta Vacations air and hotel package; air, hotel and car package; hotel-only; or hotel and car or ground transportation package purchase.
• Standard Terms and Conditions and cancellation policies apply, which are outlined during the booking process; other restrictions apply. A $20 charge applies to new bookings made over the phone.

INFORMATION YOU NEED TO KNOW:

Benefits on this page are described on a general basis only. There are certain restrictions, exclusions (including a Pre-Existing Conditions Exclusion) and limitations that apply to all insurance coverages. This advertisement does not constitute or form any part of the Plan description or any other contract of any kind. Plan benefits, limits and provisions may vary by state jurisdiction. To review full plan details online, go to:  www.tripmate.com/wpF409B , opens in a new window for the Travel Protection Plan or www.tripmate.com/wpF409N , opens in a new window for the Travel Protection Plan Plus. Plan Payments are made up of Insurance Benefits and Non-Insurance Services.

Louisiana, Maryland, and Oklahoma residents looking to obtain additional information regarding the features and pricing of each travel plan component, please contact Trip Mate at 1-833-210-0676.

Insurance Benefits are underwritten by: United States Fire Insurance Company, 5 Christopher Way, 2nd Flr, Eatontown, NJ 07724 under Policy Form Series T210.The Cancellation Fee Waiver is not insurance underwritten by US Fire and is provided by Delta Vacations. Non-Insurance Services are not insurance benefits underwritten by United States Fire Insurance Company. One Call 24-Hour Assistance Services are provided by One Call Worldwide Travel Services Network, Global Xpi Medical Records Services are provided by Trip Mate.

Plan Administrator: Trip Mate, Inc. (in CA & UT, dba Trip Mate Insurance Agency) 9225 Ward Parkway, Suite 200, Kansas City, MO 64114, 1-833-210-0676.

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