Credit Cards that Offer Companion Tickets
Companion tickets can be very valuable for those who can take advantage of the benefit that comes with the credit card. Companion tickets are always associated with credit cards that have an annual fee. The companion ticket is a benefit associated with the credit card that helps justify the annual fee.
Below is a list of credit cards that gives a companion ticket. I have ranked them by the highest annual fee to the lowest.
American Express Platinum Card
- $699 annual fee
- Receive a complimentary and discounted companion tickets and upgrades
To receive the complimentary companion ticket, the cardmember must purchase an eligible ticket in first class or business class on a participating airline. There does not seem to be a limit on the number of companion tickets that you will receive, but it could take a little research to determine what qualifies or not. The American Express website does not provide much information, so you would definitely want to speak with customer service to get more details
American Express AeroplanPlus Platinum Card
- $499 annual fee
- Receive a 2-for-1 short-haul flight reward when you redeem 15,000 Aeroplan points
This one is more straightforward. When the cardmember redeems 15,000 Aeroplan points for a short-haul round-trip ClassicFlight Reward Ticket in economy class, the cardmember will receive a Partner Ticket for the same itinerary. Though this benefit is only once per year, so be sure to take advantage of it if you can.
TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Privilege Card
- $399 annual fee
- Earn 1 annual 50% discount on companion tickets for eligible business class fares on Air Canada flights
Unfortunately this is only for business class travellers, and it is only a 50% discount, though the annual fee is not too steep, so it can still be worth it if you plan on flying business class anyway.
RBC British Airways Visa Infinite
- $165 annual fee
- Receive 1 complimentary “Companion Award Ticket/eVoucher” when you spend $30,000 or more during a calendar year
However, cardmembers are responsible for paying the taxes, fees and carrier charges related to the Reward flight and Companion ticket. It may not be easy for everyone to reach $30,000 in spending a year, so this is definitely a tough one to take advantage of.
RBC WestJet World Elite MasterCard
- $99 annual fee
- Pay $99 for a companion flight to anywhere in Canada or the United States (excluding Hawaii and Puerto Rico)
Depending on where you go, $99 for a companion flight is fairly cheap and easily justifies the $99 annual fee.
MBNA Alaska Airlines MasterCard
- $75 annual fee
- Earn 1 annual coach Companion Fare
The coach Companion Fare is given annual from $121 USD (of which $99 base fare, plus taxes and fees from $22). This definitely helps to justify the $75 annual fee.
Great info! Though, I think it is Puerto Rico not “Puerto Rice” 🙂
Fixed. Thanks!
Just a few points about the companion tickets.
The AMEX business class or first class tickets are usually from the absolute full fare business or first which generally cost over double the price of a discounted first or business class fare. In my experience I have yet to find a full fare ticket that is eligible for the companion ticket that isn’t over double the price. So have yet to be able to use that ticket.
The RBC avion ticket is interesting but hard to use. If you are looking at flying out of YVR, there rarely is 2 seats available. I think there currently is only a single departure date with 2 seats avaialble (I think it is on some Wednesday in May.. And the RBC ticket must depart AND return to Canada. So its a tough ticket to use.
The Alaska companion ticket is the real gem here. It is valid on ANY coach fare. So really you are just paying the taxes of about $150 in most of my cases. So on ANY operated Alaska flight you can get a companion for $150 (+anual fee) So a companion can go for often an amount of $250 This can be great if you are flying to California or Mexico where AS has many flights.
Appreciate the tips, thanks for sharing your thoughts!