How We Fly for Half the Price: Using Two Delta American Express Cards for a Family of Four

If you travel with your family, you know airfare can be the single biggest expense of any trip. But what if I told you there’s a way to get four seats for the price of two, and it’s perfectly legitimate, straightforward, and repeatable every year?

The secret? Two Delta American Express Cards, specifically the Platinum Delta SkyMiles® American Express Card or the Delta Reserve® American Express Card, and a little thing called the Companion Pass.

What is the Delta Companion Pass?

The Companion Pass is one of the most valuable perks offered on these cards. Once you’ve had the card for a year and paid your annual fee, you’ll receive a certificate good for a free round-trip domestic flight for one companion (plus taxes and fees).

Here’s the kicker: this benefit is annual, you get it every year you keep the card. And it works for both Main Cabin (Platinum) and First Class/Comfort+ (Reserve).

The Buy Two, Get Two Free Strategy

The trick is simple: if you and your partner (or another trusted travel companion) each have your own Delta Platinum or Reserve Card, you each receive your own Companion Pass every year.

Here’s how you make it work for a family of four:

1. Cardholder #1 books a paid ticket for themselves, adds Child #1 as the free companion.

2. Cardholder #2 books a paid ticket for themselves, adds Child #2 as the free companion.

The result? You pay for two tickets instead of four, saving you 50% on airfare for the entire family.

Example Trip Savings

Let’s say you’re planning a trip from Atlanta to Seattle:

• Average Main Cabin ticket: $450 per person

• Four tickets: $1,800 total

With two Companion Passes:

• Two paid tickets: $900

• Two free tickets: $0 (just taxes/fees, usually under $80 per ticket)

Total cost: $1,060 instead of $1,800, savings of $740 on a single trip.

Do that every year? You’re potentially saving thousands.

Which Card Should You Choose?

Both the Platinum and Reserve versions offer the Companion Pass, but here’s the difference:

• Platinum Delta SkyMiles® Amex: Companion Pass valid for Main Cabin only

• Delta Reserve® Amex: Companion Pass valid for First Class, Comfort+, or Main Cabin

If you usually fly Main Cabin, the Platinum card is the better value with its lower annual fee. If you want to splurge on First Class for those long trips, the Reserve might be worth it.

Things to Keep in Mind

• Book early: Companion Pass seats are capacity-controlled.

• Domestic only: Including Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

• Annual fees apply: Platinum ($350), Reserve ($650).

• Separate bookings: Since each Companion Pass is tied to a different account, you’ll make two separate reservations.

Final Thoughts

If you’re a family of four who flies Delta even once a year, having two Delta American Express cards could easily pay for themselves many times over. It’s one of the few strategies that’s not about complicated points redemptions, it’s just straight buy two, get two free.

It’s simple. It’s predictable. And it makes those family vacations a whole lot easier on the wallet.