Update 4/15/21: It looks like this issue might only be on certain routes such as LAX-JFK and SFO-JFK. For example, Greg was able to find availability from SAN-JFK:
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Delta has been making a number of improvements recently from earning status on award flights to extending expiration dates of some Delta credit card benefits through June 30, 2022 to being able to redeem upgrade certificates on award and Miles + Cash flights and more.
With all those genuine enhancements comes a potential devaluation in the usefulness of the companion certificates that come with Delta Reserve cards.
Renés Points has noticed that it seems to no longer be possible to redeem the Reserve card’s companion certificate for Delta One flights. When looking up flights, Chris noticed that only Main Cabin and Comfort+ seats were bookable with the certificate, but when deselecting the certificate there was plenty of availability in Delta One with the I fare class which, in theory, is meant to be eligible.
Chris notes in that post that he’s been able to redeem the companion certificates for Delta One flights in the past, so it certainly looks like this is a devaluation of sorts. However, this might just be Delta fixing a glitch in their booking system rather than a change in policy per se.
The reason why is that Delta’s website states that Delta Reserve companion certificates can be redeemed for the following:
As a Delta SkyMiles Reserve Amex Card Member, you’ll receive a domestic First Class, Delta Comfort+ or Main Cabin Companion Certificate each year after renewal.
Note that Delta One isn’t listed in there and is a different product to First Class. When taking a look on the Wayback Machine to see if Delta One was listed in the past, the earliest copy of that page I could find was from September 21, 2020 and that had the same wording. Greg’s post back in 2019 about Delta’s companion certificates didn’t reference Delta One as being an option and Delta One itself was only launched on April 1, 2018.
That makes me wonder if Delta One flights were never meant to be bookable with companion certificates, but that it had previously been possible nonetheless. If so, the fact that it’s no longer bookable is simply the closure of a loophole rather than Delta taking away something that was explicitly allowed in the past. Still, it’ll be disappointing if that’s how you were planning on using your companion certificates, but you can still redeem the certificates for First Class flights.
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Delta Platinum keeps giving me an invalid code for my companion certificate.
I’m seeing this problem ONLY on LAX-JFK and SFO-JFK routes. Anyone else find another route showing this problem? Rene’s Points’ post found the problem on LAX-JFK
Not all companion certs/benefits are the same. We know how Southwest works. Easy. Alaska. Easy. Delta (standard cert w platinum card): works…sometimes. No go on Certain fare classes, other restrictions…etc. YMMV but I have had more of those expire than I was able to use, which is why my platinum card is now blue
I was able to use my companion certificate for Delta One on ATL-LAS round trip tickets for my wife and I last week for flights next month.
I did book through the Diamond Desk, though.
so I don’t get this part. On Rene’s post, I mentioned that I was able to redeem companion certificates on Delta One (I) flight between SEA-JFK as of today if I wanted to (09/20 – 9/30 example) and there was separate First class option too next to it. and yes it’s clearly a D1 flight with lie flat seats on 757-200 non stop to JFK and complimentary access to lounge but was told that D1 is not marketed between SEA-JFK where as in LAX-JFK, it’s 100% D1. so D1 between SEA-JFK doesn’t count?
@ tjp74 — I am not able to reproduce your results. Note if you modify your search in any way, the cert is dropped, so you might not actually be getting seeing Delta One results with the certificate still attached.
interesting… may be it depends when the cert was issued? may be they changed it for newer cert? However mine isn’t that old, being issued early this year. anyways I still can reproduce it as of this moment, SEA-JFK, 9/20-9/30. Delta One (I) class outbound DL668 and Delta One (Z) inbound DL845, both on B757-200 lie flat with total amount due $1139.60 USD for 2 passengers. I can get to the final confirmation page and able to select seats too..
Trip Total2 Passengers
Flights $1,006.51
(Companion Certificate Applied)
Taxes, Fees & Charges $133.09
Amount Due $1,139.60 USD
It’s only been two weeks since a Delta devaluation, so I guess they got antsy.