It’s not just airline credit cards that help you earn frequent flyer miles. There are some that will even offer companion passes so you can bring a friend for free or at a discount.
But, these companion certificates aren’t the typical “buy one, get one” free deals. There are some that will only cover a specific cabin class or regions. Others are earned if you meet spending requirements. Plus, they might only apply to award tickets. So companion passes, if any, vary greatly from one another.
Read below for more information on the credit cards by airline that offer companion travel perks and what you need to get them.
Alaska Airlines
The Alaska Airlines Visa Signature® card offers a companion ticket benefit that’s one of the easiest to use in the industry. Every year as a cardmember, you can book a companion fare from $121 ($99 and at least $22 in taxes and fees). The certificate is valid for travel in economy and must be redeemed within 12 months of the issue date. What’s more, both travelers will earn miles for their flights.
The fine print states that the primary traveler and their companion must be on the same itinerary. It also states that you – the cardholder – need to pay for the ticket, but you’re not required to be one of the travelers.
| Welcome Bonus | 40,000 miles when you spend $2,000 within your first 90 days. |
| Earning Rate | 3x miles on Alaska purchases 1x miles on everything else |
| Other Benefits | 1 free checked bag 50% off Alaska Lounge day passes 20% credit on inflight purchases |
| Foreign Transaction Fees | None |
| Annual Fee | $75 |
American Airlines
The CitiBusiness® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® Mastercard® comes with a $99 (plus taxes) economy companion ticket when you spend $30,000 or more within a membership year and upon card renewal.
The AAdvantage Aviator Red World Elite Mastercard as well as the AAdvantage Aviator Silver Card, include companion tickets if you reach spending requirements.
Aviator Red cardmembers get a $99 (plus taxes) companion certificate for roundtrip, domestic economy fare within the lower 48 states for making your first purchase within the first 90 days. You’ll get another companion certificate if you spend at least $20,000 annually.
Aviator Silver cardholders earn two companion certificates for $20,000 in annual spend.
| Welcome Bonus | 60,000 miles + a Companion Certificate when make your first purchase within the first 90 days. |
| Earning Rate | 2x miles on AA purchases 1x miles on everything else |
| Other Benefits | 1 free checked bag Preferred boarding 25% discount on inflight purchases |
| Foreign Transaction Fees | None |
| Annual Fee | $99 |
Delta Airlines
The Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card was one of the first to offer companion ticket benefits. Cardholders get a companion certificate every year that’s valid for one roundtrip itinerary in Main Cabin. You do have to pay taxes and fees, which will be $75 or lower. Unfortunately, the companion traveler won’t accrue miles for this flight.
 The Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card offers 60,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $3,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card Members get 15% off when using miles to book Award Travel on Delta flights through delta.com and the Fly Delta app. Discount not applicable to partner-operated flights or to taxes and fees. You'll earn: • 3X Miles on Delta purchases and purchases made directly with hotels. • 2X Miles at restaurants worldwide including takeout and delivery in the U.S., and at U.S. supermarkets. • 1X Mile on all other eligible purchases. • $120 Rideshare Credit: You can earn up to $10 back in statement credits each month on U.S. rideshare purchases with select providers after you pay with your Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card. Enrollment Required. Receive a Companion Certificate on a Main Cabin round-trip flight to select destinations each year after renewal of your Card. The Companion Certificate requires payment of the government-imposed taxes and fees of between $22 and $250 (for itineraries with up to four flight segments). Baggage charges and other restrictions apply. Receive either a $120 statement credit every 4 years for a Global Entry application fee or a statement credit up to $85 every 4.5 years for a TSA PreCheck (through a TSA official enrollment provider) application fee, when charged to your Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card. Card Members approved for Global Entry will also receive access to TSA PreCheck at no additional cost. $150 Delta Stays Credit: Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card Members can earn up to $150 back annually on eligible prepaid Delta Stays bookings on delta.com. You can check your first bag free on Delta flights, saving up to $70 on a round-trip Delta flight per person. For a family of four that's a potential savings of up to $280 per round-trip flight. Want even more flexibility? Take up to $50 off the cost of your flight for every 5,000 miles you redeem with Pay with Miles when you book on delta.com. This card comes with a $350 annual fee and no foreign transaction fee. You'll also get fee credit for Global Entry or TSA Pre✓®. (See Rates & Fees). Terms Apply. |
The Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card gives cardmembers a companion certificate every year that’s good for one roundtrip itinerary in Main Cabin, Delta Comfort+ or First Class. The only thing you’ll have to pay is taxes and fees on the companion ticket, which is up to $75.
 The Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card offers 70,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $5,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express Card Members receive 15 Visits per Medallion(R) Year to the Delta Sky Club® when flying Delta and can unlock an unlimited number of Visits after spending $75,000 in purchases on your Card in a calendar year. Plus, you'll receive four One-Time Guest Passes each Medallion Year so you can share the experience with family and friends when traveling Delta together. Enjoy complimentary access to The Centurion Lounge when you book a Delta flight with your Reserve Card. Enjoy a Companion Certificate on a First Class, Delta Comfort+(R), or Main Cabin round-trip flight to select destinations each year after renewal of your Card. The Companion Certificate requires payment of government-imposed taxes and fees of between $22 and $250 (for itineraries with up to four flight segments). Baggage charges and other restrictions apply. You'll earn: • Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases. • Earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases. • $120 Rideshare Credit: Earn up to $10 back in statement credits each month after you use your Delta SkyMiles(R) Reserve American Express Card to pay for U.S. rideshare purchases with select providers. Enrollment required. • $200 Delta Stays Statement Credit: Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express Card Members can earn up to $200 back in the form of a statement credit annually on eligible prepaid Delta Stays bookings on delta.com. • Receive four Delta Sky Club One-Time Guest Passes each year when you fly together on Delta. After that, you may bring up to two guests at a per-visit rate of $50 per person, per location. • Delta SkyMiles(R) Reserve American Express Card Members get 15% off when using miles to book Award Travel on Delta flights through delta.com and the Fly Delta app. Discount not applicable to partner-operated flights or to taxes and fees. Want even more flexibility? Take up to $50 off the cost of your flight for every 5,000 miles you redeem with Pay with Miles when you book on delta.com. Enjoy your first checked bag free on Delta flights. This card does come with a $650 annual fee and no foreign transaction fees. (See Rates & Fees) Terms Apply. |
Southwest Airlines
Southwest offers an unlimited, “buy one, get one” pass on both paid and award tickets to their most loyal members. To get your hands on a Companion Pass, you’ll have to rack up 125,000 qualifying points or take 100 qualifying one-way flights within a calendar year.
The good news is that the points you earn on their credit cards will count towards Companion Pass Qualification. The credit cards that are eligible are: Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card, Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier Credit Card, and the Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus Credit Card.
 The Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card offers earn a Companion Pass good through 2/28/26 plus 30,000 points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. In addition, you'll earn 7,500 bonus points after your Cardmember anniversary each year. You'll earn: • Earn 3X points on Southwest® purchases. • Earn 2X points on local transit and commuting, including rideshare. • Earn 2X points on internet, cable, phone services, and select streaming. Some perks include $75 Southwest travel credit each year., receiving 4 Upgraded Boardings per year when available, savings of 25% back on in-flight drinks and WiFi, and more! This card carries a $149 annual fee and no foreign transaction fees. |
 The Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card offers a Companion Pass good through 2/28/26 plus 30,000 points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. In addition, you'll earn 6,000 bonus points after your Cardmember anniversary each year. You'll earn: • Earn 3X points on Southwest purchases. • Earn 2X points on local transit and commuting, including rideshare. • Earn 2X points on internet, cable, phone services, and select streaming. You're able to redeem your points for flights, hotel stays, gift cards, access to events and more. This card does carry a $99 annual fee, but there are no foreign transaction fee. |
 The Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card offers a Companion Pass good through 2/28/26 plus 30,000 points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. You'll also earn 3,000 bonus points after your Cardmember anniversary each year. You'll earn: • Earn 2X points on Southwest® purchases. • Earn 2X points on local transit and commuting, including rideshare. • Earn 2X points on internet, cable, phone services, and select streaming. You're able to redeem your your points for flights, hotel stays, gift cards, access to events & more! This card does carry a $69 annual fee. |
British Airways
If you have the British Airways Visa Signature® Card, you earn a “Travel Together” companion ticket when you spend at least $30,000 within a calendar year. This ticket is good for roundtrip travel on flights originating and ending in the United States. You can redeem it for any class of service, but there are some restrictions. Including:
- The cardholder and travel companion must be on the same flight in the same class of service.
- You will be responsible for taxes and fees on both tickets, but only mileage for one will be deducted.
- Only one Travel Together ticket can be earned in a 12-month period.
 The British Airways Visa Signature® Card offers 75,000 Avios after you spend $5,000 on purchases within the first three months of account opening. You'll earn: • 3 Avios per $1 spent on purchases with British Airways, Aer Lingus, Iberia, and LEVEL. • 2 Avios per $1 spent on hotel accommodations when purchased directly with the hotel. • 1 Avios per $1 spent on all other purchases. This card comes with a $95 annual fee and no foreign transaction fees. You'll be able to get 10% off British Airways flights starting in the US when you book through the website provided in your welcome materials. In addition, every calendar year you make $30,000 in purchases on your British Airways Visa card, you'll earn a Travel Together Ticket good for two years. |
Lufthansa
Get a companion ticket after your first purchase with the Barclaycard Lufthansa Miles & More® World Elite Mastercard®, and once every year after your card anniversary. This companion benefit only applies to economy travel departing from the United States to Europe, Africa, the Middle East and Asia. You’ll have to pay taxes and fees on both tickets, which could end up being hundreds of dollars.
| Welcome Bonus | 50,000 miles when you spend $3,000 within the first 90 months. |
| Earning Rate | 2x miles with Miles & More 1x miles on everything else |
| Other Benefits | 2 Lufthansa Business Lounge vouchers every year Status fast track 15% off Hotels & Cars |
| Foreign Transaction Fees | None |
| Annual Fee | $89 |
Virgin Atlantic
The Virgin Atlantic World Elite Mastercard recently added a new companion ticket perk. Similar to the one offered by British Airways, the Virgin Atlantic version is a spending-based, two-for-one pass. Make $25,000 in purchases within a membership year, and you’ll get a choice of a one-cabin upgrade from Economy Classic to Premium Economy on an award flight, or one matching companion fare in the same cabin class when you redeem miles for your ticket.
Cabin class is restricted based on your Flying Club tier status:
- Basic Red can only redeem for Economy tickets.
- Silver members can redeem for Economy or Premium Economy tickets.
- Gold members can redeem for Economy, Premium Economy or Upper Class.
Don’t forget, you still have to pay taxes and fees for both tickets, which can cost thousands of dollars.
| Welcome Bonus | 60,000 miles when you spend $2,000 within the first 90 months. |
| Earning Rate | 3x miles on Virgin Atlantic purchases 1.5x miles on everything else |
| Other Benefits | Status fast track |
| Foreign Transaction Fees | None |
| Annual Fee | $90 |
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Conclusion
With the welcome bonuses and travel perks, companion passes is a great reason why you should get an airline credit card. However, before you get one, be sure you read the fine print and maximize the companion travel perks. Especially, if the card restricts this feature to specific classes of service and geographical regions.
If you find a card that has companion certificate that matches your travel style, it can save you lots of money each year.
