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

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

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

What Is an Airline Companion Certificate?

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

In most cases, this is the process:

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

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

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

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

Aer Lingus Visa Signature® Card (Personal)

Annual fee: $95

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

Things to know:

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

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

Atmos Rewards Credit Cards (Personal & Business)

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

Atmos Rewards Ascent Visa Signature® Card

Annual fee: $95

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

Atmos Rewards Visa Signature® Business Card

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

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

Things to know (Applies to both Ascent cards):

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

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

Atmos Rewards Summit Visa Infinite® Card

Annual fee: $395

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

Things to know:

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

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

British Airways Visa Signature® Card

Annual fee: $95

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

Things to know:

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

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

Delta SkyMiles® Credit Cards (Personal and Business)

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

Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card (Personal)

Annual fee: $350

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

What Is an Airline Companion Certificate?

Aer Lingus Visa Signature® Card (Personal)

Atmos Rewards Credit Cards (Personal & Business)

Atmos Rewards Ascent Visa Signature® Card

Atmos Rewards Visa Signature® Business Card

Atmos Rewards Summit Visa Infinite® Card

British Airways Visa Signature® Card

Delta SkyMiles® Credit Cards (Personal and Business)

Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card (Personal)

Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card (Business)<...

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