Improvements to Delta Companion Upgrades

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Delta announced a huge change a couple of days ago for companions traveling with Medallion Members. Starting April 6, they are eligible for upgrades on Award Tickets, Miles + Cash tickets, Pay with Miles tickets as well as fully paid tickets. Per the Delta News Site, “Now traveling with your companion is even better. Starting April 6, 2017, companions traveling with Medallion Members will be eligible for Complimentary Upgrades not only on paid tickets but Award Tickets, Miles + Cash tickets, and Pay with Miles tickets.”

To benefit from the new perk, you only need to know and follow the following:

Medallion Members who are traveling with a companion, are now eligible for complimentary upgrades to First Class, Business Class or Delta Comfort Plus, on Delta or Delta Connection Carriers. To qualify for the upgrade, the companion must be either a SkyMiles Member or Medallion Member within their own right, and they must be traveling on the same reservation.

You have three options to request the complimentary upgrade:

• When booking through Delta.com
• At check-in prior to departure
• Before departure on the “My Trips” section of the Delta.com site

According to Delta, you will be able to request the upgrades when booking for Pay with Miles tickets and SkyMiles Companion Certificates as of April 6. For Award Tickets and Miles + Cash tickets, the upgrade request will be available by July 1, 2017.

This is a significant benefit to any Delta/American Express co-branded credit card that offers a companion certificate such as:

• Delta SkyMiles^® Reserve Business American Express Card (Terms Apply)
• Delta SkyMiles^® Platinum Business American Express Card (Terms Apply)
• Delta SkyMiles^® Platinum American Express Card (Terms Apply)
• Delta SkyMiles^® Reserve American Express Card (Terms Apply)

Our Take

This is all positive for Medallion members and increases the value of their co-branded credit cards which offer companion certificates significantly. That said, one day of good news from Delta is bound to be had with another of bad news. Sit tight folks.

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