Updated October 2026. Free, no signup, nothing leaves your browser.
A Delta companion certificate is worth the second ticket’s fare minus the taxes and fees the companion still pays, which Delta caps at $80 on a domestic round trip and $250 on an international one. On a $420 Main Cabin round trip that is $340 to $398, within $10 of the $350 Platinum fee or above it, from 1 trip. Put your actual fare in and see what it returns.
The Platinum certificate books Main Cabin only. Picking a premium cabin with the Platinum selected will flag it, because the certificate will not attach to that fare.
How to read the output
The saving is the companion fare minus the taxes and fees you pay for them. That is the honest number, and it is always lower than the headline fare because the companion is never entirely free.
The figure against the annual fee is what tells you whether the card earned its keep this year. A certificate that saves $380 on a $350 card has paid for the fee on its own. One that saves $180 has covered about half, and the rest has to come from the lounge access, the checked bags, and the earn rate.
Taxes and fees run from about $22 on a domestic nonstop round trip up to Delta’s caps of $80 domestic and $250 international, for itineraries of up to 4 segments, as documented in the companion certificate guide. Connections add segment fees, so they eat a little of the value. Confirm the exact amount at Delta at booking, since it depends on the specific routing.
One thing the tool cannot price: the certificate only attaches to specific fare classes. If you cannot find an eligible fare, the certificate is worth nothing that year regardless of what this calculator says. The method for finding eligible fares covers that problem.
Break-even fare by card
The certificate pays for the card when the companion’s fare minus taxes reaches the annual fee. The fare you need, per traveler:
| Card | Annual fee | Break-even fare, $22 taxes | Break-even fare, $80 taxes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Delta SkyMiles Platinum | $350 | $372 | $430 |
| Delta SkyMiles Reserve | $650 | $672 | $730 |
4 rules shape the number. You get 1 certificate per eligible card at each renewal, so the first year’s fee buys none. Price the fare in an eligible class, because Basic Economy and Delta One never qualify. The companion ticket earns no miles or MQDs, while your own ticket earns as usual. And the certificate expires 1 year after it is issued, so a fare you never book is worth $0. Fees and rules checked on the American Express Delta card pages and Delta’s companion certificate page, October 22, 2026.
FAQ
How much is the Delta companion certificate worth?
The companion fare minus the taxes and fees you pay for them. On a $420 domestic round trip with $80 in taxes that is $340, all but $10 of the $350 Platinum fee; with $22 in taxes it is $398.
Does the companion fly free?
No. The companion pays government-imposed taxes and fees: about $22 on a domestic nonstop round trip, capped at $80 domestic and $250 international (Delta, October 2026).
Can the Platinum certificate book First Class?
No. The Platinum certificate covers Main Cabin only. The Reserve certificate adds Delta Comfort, Premium Select, and First, though never Delta One.
Is the Delta Reserve worth it just for the certificate?
Only if you will book a premium cabin for two. In Main Cabin both certificates behave identically, so the extra $300 buys lounge access rather than certificate value.
How many Delta companion certificates do you get a year?
1 per eligible card, issued after each renewal. Someone holding both a personal and a business Platinum gets 2. There is none in the first card year.
What fare do I need for the certificate to cover the annual fee?
About $372 on a $350 Platinum with $22 in companion taxes, or $430 if taxes hit the $80 domestic cap. On the $650 Reserve, $672 to $730.