companion travel voucher

Changes to British Airways American Express Companion Vouchers

Upcoming changes to you Companion Voucher:

From 1 November 2024, your required spend to qualify for a Companion Voucher within your membership year will increase as follows:

British Airways American Express® Credit Card – from £12,000 to £15,000
British Airways American Express® Premium Plus Card - £10,000 to £15,000

This change will be relevant to the Amex Cardmembership year applicable on 1 November 2024 and thereafter.

Until 31 October 2024, existing Cardmembers can obtain their Companion Voucher by reaching the current spend target of £12,000 (British Airways American Express Credit Card) or £10,000 (British Airways American Express Premium Plus Card). From 1 November 2024, Cardmembers will need to reach the new £15,000 target, regardless of which Card type is held, before their membership year ends to earn their Companion Voucher. Purchases already made in the current membership year count towards the new spend target.

The British Airways American Express Companion Voucher entitles you to receive a second seat for a companion on the same flight as you when you make a Reward Flight booking on British Airways, Iberia or Aer Lingus through the British Airways Executive Club channels set out in Clause 22 (‘Selected Airlines’), including their subsidiaries, as detailed in Clause 19 of the Terms and Conditions below subject to availability. All you’ll have to pay are the Taxes, Fees and Charges for you and your companion’s tickets.

Alternatively, for Companion Vouchers earned from 1 September 2021 onwards, you can choose to use your Companion Voucher to make a solo Reward Flight booking whereby you will be entitled to a 50% discount on the Avios fare for your journey.

Taxes, Fees and Charges for you will still be payable in full for you (if travelling solo) or for you and your companion’s tickets (if travelling with a companion). You can only receive a Companion Voucher if you are a Member of the British Airways Executive Club and are the main Account holder within a British Airways American Express ® Card Account (a “Cardmember”).

When booking a Reward flight with a Companion Voucher earned from 1 September 2021, you can choose to make a full Avios redemption or from other Avios & Money price options (subject to the Cardmember’s payment of the Taxes, Fees and Charges for each seat).

Companion Voucher Terms and Conditions depend on when your voucher was received and with what British Airways American Express product.

Please read the full Terms and Conditions below for Companion Vouchers earned from 1 September 2021 onwards.

Please read the full Terms and Conditions of Companion Vouchers earned before 1 September 2021.

Please view frequently asked questions for all Companion Vouchers.

British Airways American Express Companion Voucher - Terms and Conditions for Companion Vouchers earned from 1 September 2021 onwards

These Terms and Conditions apply to the following British Airways American Express Companion Vouchers which have been earned from 1 September 2021 onwards :

British Airways American Express Credit Card Companion Voucher
British Airways American Express Premium Plus Companion Voucher

Earning a Companion Voucher

1. You can only receive a Companion Voucher if you are a Member of the British Airways Executive Club and are the main Account holder within a British Airways American Express Card Account (a “Cardmember”).

2. Holders of Supplementary (additional) Cards to the main Account holder’s British Airways American Express Card Account are not eligible to receive a Companion Voucher. Any amount spent on any Supplementary Card(s) will count towards the main Account holder's spend target.

3. To be entitled to receive a Companion Voucher the Cardmember must have reached their required spend target within a 12 month period ending each year on the anniversary of their Card Account start date (e.g. if a Cardmember opens a Card Account on 1 September 2021 then they must have reached their spend target by 31 August 2022 so that they can begin earning towards their next Voucher on 1 September 2022). Anniversary date details can be found on the Card Account statements, or online by logging in at americanexpress.co.uk or by calling the number on the back of the Card. The spend target varies depending on which British Airways American Express Card the Member has:

British Airways American Express ® Credit Card - £12,000*
British Airways American Express ® Premium Plus Card - £10,000*

*From 1st November 2024 the spend target is increasing to £15,000 across both British Airways American Express Cards.

Please note that qualifying spend does not include Cash Withdrawals, Interest, Balance Transfers and Fees.

4. Only one Companion Voucher can be earned in any 12-month period. If the Cardmember reaches their spend target within 12 months of their Card Account start date then further spend will not accumulate towards another Companion Voucher. Cardmembers can begin earning towards their next Companion Voucher after their 12-month Card anniversary date. When the Cardmember has reached their spend target an e-voucher (“Companion Voucher”) will be added to their British Airways Executive Club account. The Companion Voucher will be valid from the date on which it appears on the Cardmember's Executive Club account and will be valid for:

British Airways American Express Credit Card – 12 Months
British Airways American Express Premium Plus Card – 24 Months

Using the Voucher

British airways american express credit cardmember.

5. The Companion Voucher allows the main British Airways American Express Card Account holder, when making a Reward Flight booking with British Airways or Selected Airlines, to either:

Book another economy (World Traveller) seat on the journey for a Companion on the same flight without having to pay the Avios flight price for that Companion; or
Book an economy (World Traveller) seat as a solo traveller and pay 50% of the Avios fare for your journey. Taxes, Fees and Charges will still be payable in full for you (if travelling solo) or for you and your companion’s tickets (if travelling with a companion).

6. The Companion Voucher can be used to book a seat for a companion in economy (World Traveller) only on the same flight as the main British Airways American Express Card Account holder. If booking as a solo traveller, the Companion Voucher can be used to receive a 50% discount on the Avios element of the fare for a Reward flight booking in economy (World Traveller) only.

7. The Companion Voucher will be issued in the name of the main British Airways American Express Card Account holder, who must travel on any Companion Voucher booking.

8. Companion Vouchers may only be used for bookings subject to availability and British Airways offers no guarantee that Cardmembers will be able to book a seat for themselves or for a Companion on any specific flight with British Airways or the Selected Airlines.

9. A maximum of two Companion Vouchers can be redeemed at any one time on the same booking e.g. 2 Avios reward fares plus 2 Companion Voucher tickets.

10. Only Companion Vouchers of the same type can be combined and redeemed on one Reward Flight booking (e.g. If a Cardmember holds a British Airways American Express Companion Voucher earned before 1 September 2021 and a British Airways American Express Credit Card Companion Voucher earned after 1 September 2021 they will need to be redeemed on separate bookings. If a Cardmember holds two Companion Vouchers of the same type e.g. two British Airways American Express Credit Card Companion Vouchers earned after 1 September 2021 they can be combined and redeemed as part of the same Reward Flight booking).

British Airways American Express Premium Plus Cardmember

11. The Companion Voucher allows the main British Airways American Express Card Account holder, when making a Reward Flight booking with British Airways or the Selected Airlines, to either:

Book another seat in the same cabin (any cabin) on the same flight for a Companion without having to pay the Avios flight price for that Companion; or
Book a Reward seat as a solo traveller and pay 50% of the Avios fare for your journey. Taxes, Fees and Charges will still be payable in full for you (if travelling solo) or for you and your Companion’s tickets (if travelling with a Companion).

12. For Reward Flight bookings on British Airways, enhanced access to Reward Flight seats within British Airways Club World (long haul business cabins) is available for British Airways American Express Premium Plus Companion Vouchers.

13. The Companion Voucher will be issued in the name of the main British Airways American Express Card Account holder, who must travel on any Companion Voucher booking.

14. Companion Vouchers may only be used for bookings subject to availability and British Airways offers no guarantee that Cardmembers will be able to book a seat for themselves or for a Companion on any specific flight with British Airways or the Selected Airlines.

15. A maximum of two Companion Vouchers can be redeemed at any one time on the same booking e.g. 2 Avios reward fares plus 2 Companion Voucher tickets.

16. Only Companion Vouchers of the same type can be combined and redeemed on one Reward Flight booking. (e.g. If a Cardmember holds a British Airways American Express Companion Voucher earned pre 1 September 2021 and a British Airways American Express Premium Plus Companion Voucher earned after 1 September 2021 they will need to be redeemed on separate bookings. If a Cardmember holds two Companion Vouchers of the same type e.g. two British Airways American Express Premium Plus Companion Vouchers earned after 1 September 2021 they can be combined and redeemed as part of the same flight booking.

Rules and Restrictions

All british airways american express cardmembers.

17. The Cardmember is responsible for paying any Taxes, Fees and Charges relating to their Companion Voucher booking. Taxes, Fees and Charges apply per person. All Taxes, Fees and Charges must be paid for using an American Express Card.

18. Companion Vouchers can be used for travel on any route as long as the Cardmember has sufficient Avios to complete the booking for their desired journey.

19. Reward Flight bookings made with Companion Vouchers can only be used on British Airways and its subsidiary CityFlyer; Iberia and its subsidiaries Iberia Express and Air Nostrum; Aer Lingus and its subsidiaries Aer Lingus U.K. and Emerald Airlines. This excludes any flights operated by British Airways’ franchise partner Sunair.

20. The Cardmember and their Companions must travel together at all times, therefore must be booked onto the same flight and cabin class when travelling using a Companion Voucher.

21. Bookings for Companions must be made at the same time as the Cardmember makes their booking.

22. Reward Flight bookings made with Companion Vouchers can only be redeemed online through the British Airways Executive Club Avios Reward Flight booking page and British Airways Executive Club app or through British Airways Contact Centres, and Companion Vouchers must be applied at the time of booking through your British Airways Executive Club account.

23. Cardmembers can choose to take anyone as a Companion on their Companion Voucher booking.

24. If the Cardmember has a British Airways Executive Club Household Account, Companions do not have to be people who are named within this Household Account, however they will need to be within the Cardmember’s British Airways Executive Club Friends and Family list (a list which allows Household Account members to redeem for individuals who they do not live with). To find out more about Household accounts visit here .

25. Outbound travel must take place before the expiry date of the Companion Voucher however inbound travel can take place after the expiry date of the Companion Voucher, provided it is booked at the same time as the outbound travel.

26. Companion Vouchers are non-extendable and non-transferable.

27. Once travel using the Companion Voucher has been booked no name changes are allowed.

28. A 50% solo traveller Reward flight discount can be accessed either by solo travellers; or by one single adult travelling with an infant under two years of age. When booking with an infant, usual Avios redemption rules will apply.

29. If travel using a Companion Voucher is cancelled less than 24 hours prior to departure, then the Companion Voucher will not be re-issued to the Cardmember's Executive Club account.

30. If travel using a Companion Voucher is cancelled more than 24 hours before departure then the Companion Voucher will be re-issued to the Cardmembers Executive Club account for the remainder of its original validity period which is 12 months from the date of issue for Credit Cardmember's and 24 months from date of issue for Premium Plus Cardmembers.

31. The Terms and Conditions relating to Companion Vouchers may be changed by British Airways at any time, on giving Cardmembers 3 months’ notice. Any changes will not affect the validity of any Companion Vouchers which have already been issued.

32. Cardmembers must remain eligible for use of the Companion Voucher in accordance with these Terms and Conditions and the British Airways Executive Club Terms and Conditions at the time of travel. British Airways and American Express reserve the right to refuse to issue or honour any Companion Voucher or cancel Reward Flights booked using a Companion Voucher in the event that the Cardmember is in breach of the terms of the British Airways American Express Card or the British Airways Executive Club Membership (including, without limitation, events of Fraud and/or Misconduct).

33. Any use of the Companion Voucher and/or use of Avios must be in accordance with the British Airways Executive Club Terms and Conditions. Please visit ba.com for more information.

34. Cardmembers and their Companion(s) will be carried by British Airways and Selected Airlines in accordance with the relevant airlines’ notice and Conditions of Contract (as stated on each ticket) and such airlines’ general conditions of carriage for passengers and baggage (copies available on request).

35. A maximum of two Companion Vouchers can be redeemed at any one time on the same booking e.g. 2 Avios reward fares plus 2 Companion Voucher tickets.

36. If you wish to change your Reward Flight booking booked using your Companion Voucher to another Reward Flight, with a Selected Carrier that is different from your original booking, this amendment to your booking will require you to cancel the original Reward Flight and re-book onto the new carrier.

British Airways American Express Companion Voucher - Terms and Conditions for Companion Vouchers earned before 1 September 2021

3. To be entitled to receive a Companion Voucher the Cardmember must have reached their required spend target within a 12 month period ending each year on the anniversary of their Card Account start date (e.g. if a Cardmember opens a Card Account on 20 June 2021 then they must have reached their spend target by 19 June 2022 so that they can begin earning towards their next Voucher on 20 June 2022). Anniversary date details can be found on the Card Account statements, or online by logging in at americanexpress.co.uk or by calling the number on the back of the Card. The spend target varies depending on which British Airways American Express Card the Member has:

Classic - £20,000
Premium - £15,000
Premium Plus - £10,000

4. Only one Companion Voucher can be earned in any 12 month period. If the Cardmember reaches their spend target within 12 months of their Card Account start date then further spend will not accumulate towards another Companion Voucher. Cardmembers can begin earning towards their next Companion Voucher after their 12 month Card anniversary date.

5. When the Cardmember has reached their spend target an e-voucher (“Companion Voucher”) will be added to their British Airways Executive Club account. The Companion Voucher will be valid from the date on which it appears on the Cardmembers Executive Club account and will be valid for:

Classic – 12 Months
Premium – 12 Months
Premium Plus – 24 Months

British Airways American Express Credit and Premium Cardmembers

6. The Companion Voucher allows the main British Airways American Express Card Account holder, when making a flight booking using Avios, to book another seat on the journey for a Companion without having to pay the Avios flight price for that Companion.

8. Only one Companion Voucher can be redeemed at any one time.

British Airways American Express Premium Plus Cardmembers

9. The Companion Voucher allows the main British Airways American Express Card Account holder, when making a Reward Flight booking using Avios, to book another seat on the journey for a Companion without having to pay the Avios flight price for that Companion.

10. The Companion Voucher will be issued in the name of the main British Airways American Express Card Account holder, who must travel on any Companion Voucher booking.

11. Companion Vouchers may only be used for bookings subject to availability and British Airways offers no guarantee that Cardmembers will be able to book for a Companion on any specific flight.

12. If the Cardmember has two valid Companion Vouchers on their account they have the option to redeem both together for one flight booking allowing the Cardmember to travel with 3 companions and pay the Avios flight price for only 2 people travelling on the booking.

13. The main British Airways American Express Account holder must travel on any Companion Voucher booking.

14. A maximum of two Companion Vouchers can be redeemed at any one time.

All British Airways American Express Cards

15. The Cardmember is responsible for paying any Taxes, Fees and Charges relating to their Companion Voucher booking. All Taxes, Fees and Charges must be paid for using an American Express Card.

16. Companion Vouchers can be used for travel on any route in any cabin class as long as the Cardmember has sufficient Avios to complete the booking for their desired journey.

17. Avios and Companion Vouchers can only be used on British Airways mainline flights, where ‘BA’ is specified at the beginning of the flight number (e.g. BA1324). This includes CityFlyer where flight numbers begin 'BA', but excludes flights operated by our franchise partner Sunair.

18. The Cardmember and their Companions must travel together at all times therefore must be booked onto the same flight and cabin class when travelling using a Companion Voucher.

19. Bookings for Companions must be made at the same time as the Cardmember makes their booking.

20. Companions do not have to be named within a British Airways Executive Club Household Account. Cardmembers can choose to take anyone as a Companion on their Companion Voucher booking.

21. All Companion Voucher bookings must originate and return to the UK.

22. Outbound travel must take place before the expiry date on the Companion Voucher however inbound travel can take place after the expiry date of the Companion Voucher.

23. Companion Vouchers are non extendable and non transferable.

24. Once travel using the Companion Voucher has been booked no name changes are allowed.

25. If travel using a Companion Voucher is cancelled within 24 hours of travel then the Companion Voucher will not be re-issued to the Cardmembers Executive Club account.

26. If travel using a Companion Voucher is cancelled more than 24 hours before departure then the Companion Voucher will be re-issued to the Cardmembers Executive Club account for the remainder of its original validity period which is 12 months from the date of issue for Classic and Premium Cardmembers, and 24 months from date of issue for Premium Plus Cardmembers.

27. The Terms and Conditions relating to the Companion Vouchers may be changed by British Airways at any time, on giving Cardmembers 3 months notice. Any changes will not affect the validity of any Companion Vouchers which have already been issued.

28. Cardmembers must remain eligible for this promotion at the time of travel. British Airways and American Express reserve the right to refuse to issue or honour any Companion Voucher in the event that the Cardmember is in breach of the terms of the British Airways American Express Card or the British Airways Executive Club membership.

29. Companion Vouchers cannot be used in conjunction with any other offer or promotion, including Priority Reward (Gold Executive Club membership benefit). For more information on Priority Reward please visit ba.com .

30. Any use of the Companion Voucher and/or use of Avios must be in accordance with the British Airways Executive Club Terms and Conditions. Please visit ba.com for more information.

31. Cardmembers and their Companion(s) will be carried by British Airways in accordance with its notice and Conditions of Contract (as stated on each ticket) and its general conditions of carriage for passengers and baggage (copies available on request).

Frequently asked questions

The British Airways American Express ® Companion Voucher entitles you to receive a second seat for a companion on the same flight as you when you make a Reward Flight booking on a British Airways, Iberia or Aer Lingus flight (‘Selected Airlines’), including their subsidiaries, as detailed in Clause 19 of the Terms and Conditions above, subject to availability.

Taxes, Fees and Charges will still be payable in full for you (if travelling solo) or for you and your companion’s tickets (if travelling with a companion).

You can earn one Companion Voucher each year.

These frequently asked questions apply to the following British Airways American Express Companion Vouchers:

To qualify, you must reach the required spend threshold for your Card, as shown below, within a 12-month period ending on the anniversary of the date of issue of your British Airways American Express Card (excluding Cash Withdrawals, Interest, Balance Transfers or Fees):

British Airways American Express ® Credit Card: £12,000
British Airways American Express ® Premium Plus Card: £10,000

Required spend collected in one 12-month period cannot be carried over into the next 12-month period.

Your Companion Voucher terms depend on which product you hold. If you earned your Companion Voucher before 1 September 2021, you will have earned a British Airways American Express Companion Voucher. You can view full Terms and Conditions that apply to your Companion Voucher above.

If you earned your Companion Voucher after 1 September 2021, you will have earned a British Airways American Express Credit Card Companion Voucher or a British Airways American Express Premium Plus Companion Voucher depending on which product you hold. You can view full Terms and Conditions that apply to your Companion Voucher above.

You can visit the my eVouchers page within the Executive Club homepage to see which voucher you currently hold.

Only Companion Vouchers of the same type can be combined and redeemed on one Reward Flight booking.

You can combine a maximum of 2 Companion Vouchers of the same type which will allow a maximum of 4 passengers to travel (excluding infants under the age of 2 years old). If using a Companion Voucher as a solo traveller, no other Companion Vouchers can be used in conjunction with the solo traveller Voucher.

You cannot combine two different types of Companion Voucher. (e.g. If a you hold a British Airways American Express Companion Voucher (earned before 1 September 2021) and a British Airways American Express Premium Plus Companion Voucher (earned after 1 September 2021) you will need to redeem these on separate bookings).

If you wish to redeem your Companion Voucher on a Reward Flight where you are the only passenger travelling, simply select 1 adult and the Companion Voucher you wish to redeem when you search Reward Flights. Please note that the Companion Voucher holder must travel on the booking.

Your Companion Voucher will be posted to your British Airways Executive Club account automatically once American Express has let us know that you have reached the required spend. Your Companion Voucher will normally reach your account within 10-15 working days.

Once you have earned your Companion Voucher it will be valid from the date on which it appears on your Executive Club account and will be valid for:

British Airways American Express ® Credit Card – 12 Months
British Airways American Express ® Premium Plus Card – 24 Months

You can view and compare all the benefits of the British Airways American Express Credit Card Companion Voucher and the British Airways American Express Premium Plus Companion Voucher at ba.com/companionvoucher .

The Voucher will be issued in the name of the main Account holder, regardless of who spends the most on the Card.

Be flexible with your dates and destinations. Have a list of preferences and book in advance for our most popular routes and travel periods. Reward seats could be made available at any time so keep checking.

As the Companion Voucher holder, you can choose whoever you want to take as a Companion on your Companion Voucher booking. If you are part of a British Airways Executive Club Household Account, your companion will need to be part of your Household account or on your Friends and Family list. You can find more information on Household Accounts . However, should you wish to travel alone, you can instead use your Companion Voucher (if earned from 1 September 2021) to receive a 50% discount on the Avios fare of your solo booking.

Redeeming your voucher

As soon as you can. Start to make a rough plan of your preferred destinations and dates of travel before your Companion Voucher is issued. Your ideal destination, dates and times may not always be available so being flexible reduces disappointment. Outbound travel must be taken before the expiry date of the Voucher, which is 12 months from the date of issue for Credit Card and 24 months from the date of issue for Premium Plus Cardmembers.

Although Reward Flight seats are available throughout the year, you may benefit from planning your trip during quieter times, such as midweek and during school terms.

Our busiest times are during the school holidays and at weekends, so avoiding these peak travel periods will give you more flexibility and choice.

Your outbound journey must be completed before the Voucher expires, but you are free to return any time afterwards. However, you must book your return flight at the same time you make your outbound reservation.

Unfortunately, this is not possible, but with over 125 different destinations you are sure to find one that’s right for you.

Any Companion Vouchers earned before 1 September 2021 can been used to book a seat within any cabin (subject to availability).

A British Airways American Express Credit Card Companion Voucher (earned after 1 September 2021) can be used to book a seat for a companion in economy (Euro Traveller or World Traveller) only on the same flight as the British Airways American Express Card Account Holder (subject to availability).

A British Airways American Express Premium Plus Companion Voucher (earned after 1 September 2021) can be used to book a seat in any cabin for a companion on the same flight as you (the British Airways American Express Card Account Holder) and in the same cabin. British Airways American Express Premium Plus Companion Voucher holders have access to additional Reward Flight seats within business (Club World) subject to availability.

Yes, for Companion Vouchers earned from 1 September 2021.

Yes, you can redeem and manage your Companion Voucher online. Simply log in to ba.com using your membership number and pin. You can also redeem your Companion Voucher by calling the British Airways Contact Centres on 0844 493 0750. Please note there is an offline service fee per passenger for booking via phone. You will find your Companion Voucher under the my eVouchers section of your Executive Club homepage.

No, the booking must be made directly with British Airways.

With Companion Vouchers earned after 1 September 2021 you no longer have only one Avios option when you redeem your Voucher. You will be able to choose from all ‘Avios and Money’ and ‘Reward Flight Saver’ payment options when making a Reward flight.

Using your BA Companion Voucher

Have you got a British Airways Companion Voucher but aren't sure how to use it?

Or have you heard about these wonderful 2-4-1 vouchers and are wondering how they work and how to get one?

Then you’re in the right place!

What is a BA companion voucher?

A British Airways Companion Voucher - sometimes known as a “two for one” or “2-4-1” voucher - allows you to “buy one get one free” when you redeem Avios for two round trip tickets on British Airways (BA).

Let's say you wanted to travel with your partner from London to Cape Town and back in First. Usually that would cost up to 400,000 Avios plus taxes. With a companion voucher you’d pay just 200,000 Avios plus taxes for both tickets. You save 50% in points!

Now, this is where it can get a little confusing. If you want to use a Companion Voucher for solo travel, you can do that too - getting 50% off the Avios cost of your ticket.

Using the same route as an example, travelling solo to London to Cape Town and back in Business Class will typically cost you up to 200,000 Avios, plus taxes. With a companion voucher you’d pay just 100,000 Avios plus taxes for your ticket. Another 50% discount in points!

That sounds great. How do I get one?

The only way to earn a BA companion voucher is with a British Airways American Express credit card linked to a British Airways Executive Club account.

American Express refers to its cardholders as members. Your membership year will start on the date your card application is approved. To qualify for a companion voucher, you will need to spend a minimum amount, on your British Airways credit card, within your membership year.

There are two types of cards available

British Airways American Express Credit Card

To earn a 2-4-1 voucher, with the fee-free blue card, you need to spend £15,000 on it within a Membership year. Your voucher will only be valid for a year and can only be redeemed for Economy class flights. As for Avios earning potential - you’ll earn 1 Avios point per £1 spent on your card.

It does come with some other valuable benefits. If You spend £1000 in the first 3 months of your Membership, you’ll get a bonus of 5,000 Avios points. You can also earn an extra 4,000 Avios if you refer a friend who then gets approved for an eligible American Express

British Airways Premium Plus American Express Credit Card

The black Premium Plus card comes with a £300 annual fee. You will receive your companion voucher if you spend £15,000 within a membership year. Your voucher will remain valid for two years and can be redeemed for a companion ticket in any cabin class. You’ll earn 1.5 Avios points per £1 spent on your card.

If you spend £3000 in the first 3 months of your membership, you’ll get a bonus of 25,000 Avios points. You can also earn an extra 9,000 Avios if you refer a friend who then gets approved for an eligible American Express card. But that’s not all, with the premium card you’ll get 3,000 extra Avios when you add the first Supplementary Card to your Account, and an exclusive earn-rate of 3 Avios for every £1 spent with BA Holidays.

Will I need a British Airways Executive Club account?

Yes, the British Airways Executive Club is BA’s loyalty programme. It’s free to join and you will earn loyalty points called Avios, when you fly on BA and its partner airlines. You can also earn Avios when you buy things from a range of partners. Anything you buy using your British Airways American Express Credit Card will earn you Avios too.

Your Executive Club account acts as your Avios wallet, so you will need to link it to your credit card account.

When you reach the qualifying spend for a Companion Voucher it will automatically be added to your British Airways Executive Club account within a few days. Once you have earned enough Avios to exchange for a flight ticket, you can use your Companion Voucher to get a 50% Avios discount if you’re a solo traveller, or another free ticket for a companion too, excluding taxes. BA calls tickets that have been bought by redeeming Avios “Reward Flights”.

Which card offers the best value?

For most Reward Flight Finder members the Premium Plus card is likely to offer the best value. In fact the companion voucher offered with this card is one of the most valuable credit card perks in the UK.

If you think of Avios as money, redeeming them for long-haul business class flights will get you the best exchange rate. The difference in Avios points and taxes, between economy class and business class flights, is typically less than the difference in the cash ticket prices. When you are getting two tickets, for same number of Avios as one, the maths is compelling.

Using a companion voucher for a flight to New York in business class will save you 100,000 Avios on off-peak flight redemptions and 120,000 at peak times. Typically each Avios you redeem on a long-haul business class ticket is worth around 1 pence. So that’s a potential saving of £1,200 for a £300 annual fee. Vouchers earned with the free blue card can only be redeemed for economy class flights. They offer a far lower Avios-to-cash value exchange rate and you need to spend more to earn a voucher in the first place, that will expire in a year.

Of course, it depends on your circumstances and you should only apply for these cards if you can afford to pay your credit card bill each month. You will also need to be able to earn enough Avios to redeem for at least one flight, otherwise the companion voucher isn’t worth it.

So is the blue BA Amex a waste of time?

Not necessarily. The companion voucher you get with the free card may not be as valuable, in fact you will probably get a better cash return by converting your Avios into Nectar points to spend at Sainsburys. However the free British Airways American Express credit card is still a great way to earn Avios to redeem for reward flights.

If you are a solo traveller or won’t spend enough to qualify for a companion voucher, the free card is almost certainly a better choice. You will earn 1 Avios for every £1 spent on the card.

The Premium Plus card offers 1.5 Avios for every £1 but has a £250 annual fee. So, unless you are likely to spend over £50,000 a year on it, the fee-free card is the best choice for anyone planning on flying solo.

How many companion vouchers can I earn each year?

You can only earn one BA Companion Voucher, per credit card account, per year, regardless of how much you spend on it.

If you plan to travel with a partner or friend you can each apply for your own BA credit card to earn a pair of 2-4-1 vouchers. But it’s only worth it if you’ll also earn enough Avios to make use of both vouchers. Don’t overspend on your American Express cards just to get a voucher each.

If your collective spend is sufficient to earn two vouchers, you can each afford to pay the credit card bill off each month and you each earn plenty of Avios, then opening two accounts might make sense.

Can I use my companion voucher on other Oneworld airlines?

No. Whilst British Airways does let you redeem Avios for reward flights on its Oneworld partner airlines you can’t use a companion voucher for these bookings. Your voucher can only be used for BA operated flights. It can’t be used on franchise or codeshare services either.

So you can’t use your voucher to book flights on American Airlines, Finnair, Qatar Airways, JAL, Cathay Pacific or other airlines in the Oneworld alliance. Even BA flights operated by another airline, such as the ones Comair operate under BA colours in South Africa, are ruled out.

Can I book one-way or open-jaw tickets?

A BA Companion Voucher can be used for one-way flight bookings. Vouchers issued after 1st September 2021 can be used to book one-way flights in either direction. Older vouchers can only be used for one-way flights departing from the UK, which has higher air taxes than many other countries.

An open-jaw booking is one where your outbound flight flies to one airport, but your return flight leaves from an airport in a different city. BA doesn’t let you redeem a companion voucher for an open-jaw booking on its website. But it IS possible.

Once you’ve chosen your flights, call British Airways and let them make the booking for you. They will be able to make an open-jaw booking for you and apply your companion voucher to it.

A few tips:

Call Executive Club customer services, rather than the main BA reservations number.

If you are in the Bronze, Silver or Gold tiers, call your dedicated number, which you can find on your card or when you are logged into your BA account. Agents handling premium customers are generally more used to handling companion voucher enquiries, in our experience.

Make sure you tell the agent, at the start of the call, that you want to use your British Airways companion voucher for your open jaw reservation.

Can I use my companion voucher for tickets in two different classes?

You and your companion have to fly together, in the same cabin class, on the same flights.

So you can’t fly in First and book your companion a cheaper seat at the back of the aircraft, using the excuse that there was only one reward seat available in First.

Can I combine or share vouchers with my friends and family?

The golden rule is that the British Airways American Express cardholder has to be be one of the two travellers named on the reservation when you book with a companion voucher. So you can’t gift your companion vouchers to friends and family for them to go on a trip without the cardholder.

Many families pool their Avios in a Household Account. If you have one of these accounts, the second person you book, using your companion voucher, has to be named within your Household Account or on your ‘Friends and Family’ list. You can however use Avios that one household member has earned to spend on flights for another member of the Household Account.

But there is a useful loophole for groups of up to four people. If you have two vouchers to use, issued to the same person, they can be combined for the BA Amex cardholder and up to three other people. This situation might occur if you earned your voucher for the next card year before using a valid voucher earnt previously.

It’s important to note that BA changed its voucher scheme from 1 September 2021. So it doesn’t allow you to combine any valid vouchers issued before that date with newer ones to accommodate a group of four.

Can I use a companion voucher with a Reward Flight Saver deal?

When you book any reward flight with British Airways you have to pay the taxes. Unfortunately the UK has among the highest air passenger duty taxes of any European country, which apply to any flight booking that starts in the UK. (Companion vouchers issued before 1 September 2021 require that you begin your journey in the UK.) Whilst a companion voucher halves the Avios required for two people to travel together it doesn’t halve the taxes due for two flight tickets.

BA does offer deals called Reward Flight Savers on some flights. Traditionally you paid a £35 flat fee per person and an allocation of Avios for your ticket, with no further taxes owed. Recently BA has let travellers pay more Avios and reduce the fee, in lieu of taxes, down to as low as £1.

However, if you book with a companion voucher, you can only choose the £35 option on a Reward Flight Saver. That’s not a bad thing on a long haul flight though, as if you aren’t using a voucher BA ask for a lot of Avios to reduce the fee below £35. Clearly, particularly if you are flying short-haul economy, you should check if the taxes or fees on a reward flight are higher than the lowest available cash prices. With long haul flights, in premium cabins a reward flight plus taxes will almost always be significantly cheaper than the cash fare, particularly when you use a Companion Voucher.

How can I reduce the taxes I have to pay?

There are three options you could consider if you want to reduce your taxes, particularly for flights which don’t offer Reward Flight Saver deals.

The first is to start your journey from Jersey. Jersey is outside the UK tax-zone but BA counts Jersey as a UK airport. So you can fly from Jersey to BA’s London hubs and save on taxes. Be careful though, you need to arrive from Jersey to the mainland UK and depart again within 24 hours, otherwise UK taxes will apply. Starting your flight from Inverness in Scotland avoids tax too, because highland airports are exempt from UK Air Passenger Duty (APD). But, unless you live nearby one of these airports, starting your trip far away from where you live is a hassle and you have to factor in the cost of getting there.

When working out your tax saving, don’t forget to deduct the cost of getting to your departure airport. You could also decide to use your companion voucher for a one way redemption, on your return flight to the the UK, from overseas. However you should do the maths on whether the overall saving is worthwhile compared to booking a return flight using points plus a voucher, but paying the extra tax.

What else should I know??

You need to book and fly the outbound leg booked with a 2-4-1 voucher before its expiry date but you can fly back whenever you like.

You must use an American Express card to pay your taxes on a companion voucher booking, though it doesn’t actually have to be a BA Amex card.

If you need to cancel a flight booked with a companion voucher, you will get the voucher back. However, the original expiry date will remain the same.

You can’t split your payment for a BA Companion Voucher flight with cash and Avios. “Part-pay with Avios” bookings are ineligible, it has to be a reward flight booking where the full price of the flight ticket is covered by an Avios redemption, minus taxes and fees.

You aren’t allowed to change the name of the second traveller after making a booking. To do so, you have to cancel the whole booking, but there is no guarantee that reward flight seats will still be available when you rebook.

BA won’t let you use a companion voucher to get a refund of half your points on flights for two that you have already booked using Avios.

You can combine ‘Gold Upgrade For Two’ vouchers (earned when you reach 2,500 BA Executive Club Tier Points) with a companion voucher.

British Airways will not extend the expiry date of companion vouchers, however they may offer some flexibility on the flights you booked with it, depending on the ticket type or during exceptional circumstances, such as during the coronavirus pandemic. (During the pandemic you could artificially extend your voucher by booking 2-4-1 flights then cancelling them to receive a future travel voucher with a longer expiry date.)

If BA cancel your flight you are still entitled to both be rebooked onto new flights or to receive a refund of your voucher and Avios.

You will not earn new Avios or BA Tier Points on the flight booked with your companion voucher.

You can add an infant under 2 to your booking for two adults, the cost will be 10% of the Avios and taxes required for an adult ticket.

Your flights will not be cancelled if you cancel your BA Amex card after making your companion voucher booking.

If you earn the voucher, then cancel your card, the voucher will still be valid but you will need some form of Amex card to pay the taxes when you redeem it.

If you earn the Premium Plus voucher, it will still be valid for two years, even if you then downgrade to the fee-free BA Amex card.

What's the catch?

Just because you can book a seat with cash through a travel agent or the BA website doesn't mean you can use your voucher. British Airways only offers a small number of seats on each flight for Avios redemptions.

To be able to use your companion voucher, you'll need to find two reward seats on the same flights.

But limited availability means it isn't as easy as it sounds.

What's the solution?

Reward Flight Finder can help you track down those hard to find reward seats. We're rated 9/10 on Trustpilot and have been featured by top publications including Business Traveller and The Times.

The site makes using your companion voucher easy, whether you know exactly where you want to go or if you're open-minded.

I already know where I want to go What's next?

Enter where you want to fly from and to and what cabin you want to travel in. Make sure you choose two passengers.

See all of the available dates on one page. If the date(s) you want are available, then you can use your voucher. Just head to the BA site to book.

If they aren’t available you’ll want to set up an Availability Alert.

We'll check availability for you and notify you when seats become available.

What should I do if I'm unsure where I want to go?

Just enter where you're flying from, what cabin you want to travel in and the dates you wish to travel, and we'll show you all of the available routes on a map. You can head to the BA site to book in one click. You can head to the BA Companion Voucher site to book in one click.

This feature is exclusive to Silver and Gold members.

Try Reward Flight Finder for yourself

Please note we don't currently support the extra Business class availability that's made available when using an American Express Premium Plus Companion Voucher issued after 1st September 2021.

FRAN & JAY

Travelling the world

Nov 6, 2023

Smart Travel: Best Ways to Use a British Airways Companion Voucher

Updated: Nov 8, 2023

British Airways Boeing 777-336 on the Sydney runway

Ever felt like a high-roller, stepping onto the tarmac with your plus-one, ready to jet off on an Avios reward flight? Well, you're not far from it. We're going to discuss the best ways to use a British Airways Companion Voucher.

Imagine entering a swanky eatery and being told that, for each luxurious steak dinner you order, another one will be gifted to you!

The British Airways Companion Voucher is just that - but for flights! It lets two people fly together on Avios redemption reward flights while paying Avios points for only one seat.

Ready for more? Let's explore the best ways to use a BA Companion Voucher, whatever your preference. Whether you prefer travelling alone or in a group, whether long-haul luxury cabins tickle your fancy or short European trips are more your thing – we've got all bases covered.

Understanding the british airways companion voucher, the basics of the companion voucher, solo travel with the companion voucher, earning through ba amex card, redeeming for group or family travel, booking avios seats with the voucher, using the voucher for long-haul premium cabins, intra-european flights and cash flights, real examples of how the ba companion voucher works, restrictions and expiry of the companion voucher, expiry dates of the voucher, route restrictions: what can & can’t you do, taxes and charges still apply, ideal users of the companion voucher, ba executive club members, making your spend count more, strategic planning for best returns, faqs about the best ways to use a ba companion voucher, how do i get the best out of my companion voucher, what is the best use of a companion ticket, can i use my companion voucher for something else, are british airways companion vouchers worth it.

The British Airways Companion Voucher is a golden ticket for savvy travellers. Think of it as an invite to bring along your favourite travel partner on Avios redemption flights without shelling out more Avios points.

If you're into globetrotting, this voucher lets you do just that, but with a twist. It allows 2-for-1 travel on reward flights booked using Avios. So when you book your seat using Avios, you can bring someone else along at no extra cost in terms of air miles.

You might be wondering how this works exactly. Well, say you've got enough Avios points to get yourself a round trip from London to New York in business class - fantastic news.

This is where our trusty companion voucher comes into play; it simply doubles up the fun and cuts down costs by letting another person fly with you on those same dates and flights for zero additional Avio points. Yes mate, two posh seats for one set price.

Check out our YouTube video where we show you our experience on a business class seat from London to Cape Town.

Fran and Jay getting off a British Airways flight at Cape Town International Airport

Even solo flyers can make use of this nifty little bonus. A single traveller pays only 50% of the required number of Avios rewards program. Imagine flying halfway across the world alone and saving half your hard-earned loyalty points - sounds like music to my ears.

But before you start packing your bags, remember to keep an eye on the availability of redemption seats.

The Companion Voucher lets two people fly for the price of one on Avios redemption flights.

Solo travellers can also benefit from this by redeeming only 50% of the required Avios points.

Adequate planning is needed due to limited reward seat availability.

To sum it up, making use of a British Airways Companion Voucher feels like the best of both worlds. It's not just about flying; it's an experience that gives you more.

Obtaining a Companion Voucher is easier than expected. All it takes is spending the required spend of £10,000 in one card year on your British Airways American Express Premium Plus Card. That's right - just use your credit card for everyday purchases and watch those spending levels rise.

This might seem like quite an ask but consider the fact that this includes all sorts of spending – from weekly grocery shopping to filling up your car or even booking holidays. You'd be surprised at how quickly it adds up.

British Airways American Express Credit Cards

A common question we hear is "Can I use two vouchers together?" Yes, absolutely! If both travellers have earned a voucher each, they can book four people into one itinerary. This means big savings when planning group outings or family trips.

Note though, if more than two adults are travelling then additional adult passengers would need to pay the full Avios fare. Still not bad when you've already got half the crew flying free.

Redeeming these vouchers online couldn’t be simpler; once logged into ‘My Executive Club’, click ‘Book with Avios’ and select the option to use a Companion Voucher.

Keep in mind that voucher availability matches up with reward flight seat availability, so you’ll need to be quick off the mark when booking popular routes. The key is flexibility; consider travelling during less busy periods or on less popular routes for best results.

The BA Companion Voucher isn’t just for round-trip bookings either - one-way flights are also fair game. So whether it's an impromptu weekend away or planning your next big adventure, these vouchers offer fantastic value.

Maximising Value from the Companion Voucher

The BA Companion Voucher, when used smartly, can let you squeeze out more value than a fresh lemon in a Mojito. To get the most out of your voucher, it's essential to know how and where to use it.

You might feel like Jack Sparrow finding hidden treasure when using your voucher for long-haul premium cabins. Here's why: You get two seats while parting with Avios just for one. Now that's what I call a cracking deal.

A cheeky little example here: A return flight to New York in First Class usually costs around 180k Avios points plus taxes per person. But hold onto your hats - with this golden ticket of yours (the companion voucher), you're getting two posh first-class tickets at the cost of one.

Moving closer home, using vouchers on intra-European flights or ones you were planning to pay cash can also yield great savings.

We recently flew from Heathrow to Dusseldorf for a grand total of £0.50 per person. For both of us, our return flights came to £2.00! That's less than buying a cup of tea. And we had access to the business class lounges in both airports. Fabulous!

While it might not sound as grandiose as the transatlantic example, remember every penny saved is a penny earned. Or in this case, Avios earned.

Bear in mind, there's always a snag. BA Companion Vouchers are only valid for specific uses.

Let’s dive into some real-world examples of how this works.

First, though, some things to keep in mind.

All flight costs are one-way only. For a return, double the cash cost.

Flights are based on off-peak dates. Peak dates will cost more (if there are reward seats available).

Flight tiers are based on miles covered by the flight.

When using the Amex Companion Voucher, the cash price doubles but the Avios costs stay the same.

A table of various flights and their Avios and cash prices.

From expiry dates to restrictions on routes, let’s dig into what you need to be aware of.

A crucial detail about the BA Companion Voucher is that it comes with an expiration date. You've got 24 months from when you earn your voucher until it expires. But remember - outbound travel must take place before this deadline.

If you’re thinking ‘what if I want to travel after my voucher has expired?’, don’t worry. If there are seats available in the Avios reward flight inventory, then they can be booked for return flights even if those fall beyond the voucher’s validity period.

This approach lets you squeeze out a bit more value from your companion pass but do make sure not to cut things too close – airline schedules change and last-minute surprises can occur.

Your dreams might be filled with visions of using this magic ticket anywhere around the globe...but hold onto your horses. The reality is a little less rosy as some restrictions apply.

You're allowed only one route per booking which means no multi-city adventures.

Additionally, both passengers must fly together on all legs of their trip - no splitting up mid-journey or taking separate connecting flights. So pick wisely who gets that golden second seat next to yours.

We hate being party poopers but we have another heads-up: taxes and carrier charges still apply when redeeming a companion voucher (though they usually come at a reduced rate). So while you're getting two seats for the price of one in terms of Avios, you'll still need to cough up some cash.

The charges can vary depending on your destination. It's always worth doing a bit of homework before deciding where to jet off with your voucher – BA’s website gives more information about this so do give it a peek.

Ever wondered who gets the most out of a BA Companion Voucher? Let's talk about that. The ideal users are typically BA Executive Club Members. But why is that?

The answer lies in how you earn these vouchers. As an executive club member, when you spend significantly on your BA branded credit card, it lets you get one.

You see, for every pound spent using this card, Avios points rack up. Reach a specific threshold and bingo - hello companion voucher. This scheme makes it highly attractive to those already spending big on their BA cards.

This isn't just beneficial for frequent flyers though. Families planning vacations can also benefit greatly from having an executive club membership and associated credit card because they'll likely hit that spend mark over time too.

A word here about making sure your spending earns as much reward as possible; not all purchases offer equal returns when it comes down to earning Avios points towards your next Companion Voucher. Certain types of expenditure give more bang for your buck than others.

Purchases directly from British Airways like flights or BA holidays tend to give a higher return on Avios points.

Similarly, foreign transactions can earn more points than domestic ones. This makes the card an excellent companion for international travellers or businesses with overseas expenditures.

This way, every pound you spend not only brings you closer to your next trip but also increases your chances of earning another Companion Voucher.

It's important to plan strategically when using these vouchers. They're valid for travel completed within 24 months from the date they were earned. Therefore, make sure that big-ticket purchases coincide well with potential travel plans in mind - ensuring maximum value extraction.

To maximise your companion voucher, use it for long-haul premium cabin flights. Also, consider combining two vouchers for group travel.

The best use of a companion ticket is on expensive or international routes where you'll save the most. It's also great for solo travellers as they can redeem 50% of Avios points.

No, BA Companion Vouchers are specifically designed to let you bring someone along on an Avios redemption flight without needing extra Avios points.

Absolutely. If used wisely - think high-value flights and large groups - these vouchers can help make big savings on your travels with British Airways.

That's it, folks! We've covered the best ways to use a BA Companion Voucher. A game-changer for travel lovers and savvy spenders alike.

We used our voucher to fly from London to Cape Town , business class. It was a game-changer. Being able to sleep horizontally and have all that space meant we were both fresh and relaxed when we landed to explore without the need for a power nap.

If you want to join in the flying fun, get your BA American Express Credit Card. Terms and conditions apply.

EXPLAINED – British Airways Companion Voucher

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The British Airways Companion Voucher, also known as the Companion Voucher, is one of , if not the most, beneficial perks of the reward card with the potential for massive savings.

Benefits Of The British Airways Companion Voucher

The benefit of the voucher is that it entitles you to book two Avios redemption seats on any return ticket from theUK for the price of one. While taxes and other surcharges still have to be paid for both tickets, you can instantly see the savings available here. In fact, you can save up to a maximum of 400,000 in the unlikely event you were able to find two First Class return seats to Australia. On the other end of the spectrum, you can still save 8,000 Avios by getting a return off-peak economy ticket to Paris.

In reality, most people use them for long haul redemptions in Club World, typically something to North American or Asia where you can save around 100,000 to 150,000 Avios on an off-peak return. Assuming you value an Avios point at 1p, the companion voucher would be worth £1,000 to £1,500 for such a trip.

How is it Earned?

The voucher can only be gained through having, and reaching, a qualifying spend target with an American Express British Airways reward credit card. You need to spend either £20,000 (on the British Airways American Express card) or £10,000 (on the British Airways Premium Plus American Express card) on qualifying purchases within a card year (this excludes cash withdrawal and advances). Note this is ‘card year’ and not calendar year. Your card year runs from the date you are approved.

The voucher on the free credit card is valid for one year while the voucher on the Premium Plus card is valid for two years. As explained below , the key thing to know is that, whilst both cards offer a companion voucher, it makes no sense to earn the voucher on the free British Airways card.

The voucher will be automatically posted to your BAEC account in 10 to 15 working days once you have reached the required spend.

British Airways American Express Credit Card Annual Fee: £0 Spend Target: £20,000 Validity: 12 months

British Airways American Express Premium Plus Card Annual Fee: £195 Spend Target: £10,000 Validity: 24 months

British Airways Companion Voucher Small Print

While people buy into the potential savings on the companion voucher, most people become stuck when placing a booking as there are a significant number of limitations to be able to use the voucher.

General Flight Booking Rules

The BA 2-4-1 Companion Voucher only be used on British Airways services . Unlike regular Avios bookings, you are only able to book flights which are marked with the BA prefix and operated by British Airways.
You are unable to Part-Pay with Avios . Unlike a regular Avios booking, you are unable to part pay the journey with cash. In other words, the Journey must be booked 100% using Avios.
It cannot be used on franchise services . This means you are unable to use the service on either Commair in Africa or Sun Air from the Scandinavia.
The Amex voucher holder MUST be one of the travellers . There is no way to avoid this rule – the primary cardholder must be a traveller. Issues can arise if you are part of a BA Household Account as the companion must then also be in the household or part of the accounts Family and Friends List .
It CAN be used on one-way flights, but only for flights which depart the UK. You cannot book a one-way flight TO the UK with the voucher .
There is no requirement to have to be in the same travel class for both legs . This means you are able to book a ticket in First Class on one leg and Business Class on the return. However, both travellers must fly in the same class.
You must fly the outbound leg before the voucher expires . However, you can return at any time so long as there is availability.
The voucher allows for Open-Jaw Bookings . However, this cannot be done online and a call to BA is required. Standard Open-Jaw rules apply.
BA’s ‘Gold Upgrade For Two’ and ‘Jokers’ Can be used in Conjunction . If you are lucky enough to reach 2,500 Tier Points – you are able to combine the Gold Upgrade for Two with the Companion Voucher.
No Avios or tier points are accrued . This is in line with regular Avios redemptions.
No guarantee of availability when cancelling and rebooking . Cancelling a redemption booking does not guarantee the seat(s) will be released back into the award inventory.
Tickets are flexible (to a degree) when booking reward seats. If the booking is cancelled at least 24 hours before the first flight, the Avios, taxes and fees will be refunded, plus the companion voucher. Generally, the voucher and Avios will be refunded quite quickly, with the monetary components taking a few days longer. A cancellation fee will apply unless you are a BAEC GGL card holder

Redemption Rules

To redeem a voucher, you must find 2 reward seats available on a route at time of booking . You are unable to book your seat first and then the second later. This has the implication that if you want to book a First Class redemption you are unable to until two seats are available.
You cannot change the name of the second traveller after booking meaning you must know who you will be flying with at the time of booking. if for any reason your companion cannot travel with you, the whole booking will need to be cancelled
You must travel with the companion at all times While there are reports that the holder can travel without the companion, the companion cannot travel without the voucher holder.
Using 2 vouchers at the same time . For Premium Plus Cardmembers who have two or more valid vouchers in their account, combining two vouchers within a single booking is permitted, subject to redemption availability. This allows the travelling Cardmember to take three travel companions, paying the Avios price for two passengers. Taxes, fees and charges must be paid for all four passengers.
You retrospectively cannot convert an Avios booking to a voucher booking . To make the conversion, the original booking must be cancelled and a new booking created
Taxes, fees and surcharges to apply . Only the Avios element is ‘free’ on the second ticket. Taxes, fees and surcharges apply to both the companion and the travelling Cardmember. The card holder will pay the cash supplement assessed for themselves and all others in the booking,
An Amex Card must be used to pay for the taxes of the flight . However the payment does not need to be on the Amex card the voucher is on, neither does it have to be in the voucher holders name so long as it is an Amex card.
You must travel with your companion at all times . While there are reports that the holder can travel without the companion, the companion cannot travel without the voucher holder.
It is not possible to make changes to a booking once the travel has commenced. No changes in any way shape or form are possible including adding on a return leg if only an outbound was originally booked.

Voucher Validity

There are no instances which you can extend your voucher . This is a hard rule and is ALWAYS enforced by British Airways.
Depending on which Amex card you have it is possible to hold 2 vouchers at one time . If you are able to use two vouchers they can be used at the same time to redeem travel for up to 3 people PLUS the voucher holder
If you no longer have your BA Amex the Voucher is still Valid . You are able to use your Voucher regardless if you have the Amex the voucher was earned on.

Reward Flight Saver Prices

Recently, British Airways has been experimenting with ‘no taxes’ redemptions on short-haul flights as well as some select long-haul economy flights too .The problem is with this is that this impacts on the number of Avios you are required to pay.

Historically, a return economy flight to Paris was 8,000 Avios + £35 in taxes and charges, using ‘ Reward Flight Saver ’ on off-peak dates. Under the new trial, there is a band of prices. The lowest cash option is now 17,000 Avios + £1 return.

However, when using a companion voucher, you will pay the regular price. There is no flexibility in this.This isn’t a problem as the new £1-in-tax pricing option is generally a bad deal and should be avoided.

Getting The Seats You Want

There are certain routes that are very tricky to get First class seats on. Cape Town, Sydney, Singapore and Los Angeles to name but a few. If you want to go for one of these you need to be organised.

Seats become Available Midnight GMT 355 days in advance. British Airways releases 2 Club World/Europe (Business Class) seats and 4 Euro/World Traveller seats for every flight on this day. There are usually no First Class or World Traveller Plus seats released at this time.

More reward seats do tend to be made available closer to the date of travel depending on the route – but if you absolutely must travel on a certain day and know it is a popular route then you should definitely be planning to book 355 days out. For a booking 355 days out, you should book your outbound flight on the day they become available , there is no need to wait until the return flights come up. In fact, British Airways allows you to book the outbound leg first – BA sees it as a booking where an element is beyond the available booking range and therefore there should be no charge to add your return flight when it becomes available.

A general trick (if you can call it that) is for people to call an open BA call centre, usually in the US or Japan, on the stroke of UK midnight (or 1am during British Summer Time) . Unlike doing it online, a call centre agent can hold a ticket ahead of someone booking online; this is because until you submit your credit card details online, a call centre agent can take the visible seats and hold them during the transaction and effectively ‘steal’ the seats from under you.

This is a reason why the voucher on the Premium Plus is FAR more valuable than the voucher on the free card is that you are able to plan and book far in advance. Without this, you are on a ticking clock the moment you get your vouchers to book a ticket.

How Do I Get a First Class Ticket?

As a First class ticket does not appear 355 days in advance, the usual strategy is to book a redemption for Business Class ticket upon its release, and as two First Class seats become available, simply make a call a BA call centre and the ticket can be amended and the difference in Avios settled. There is a £35 change fee per person unless you are a BAEC Gold Guest List (GGL) member.

Can You Reduce the Ammount Of Tax Payable

There are no real tricks to reduce the taxes paid on your redemption ticket as all trips must start from the UK. All charges are set by governments, airports and British Airways is known to charge extortionate fuel surcharges (which is partly why the taxes are so high) so there is not much flexibility there.

The only possible thing to reduce your bill is to reduce the Air Passenger Duty . Air Passenger Duty is payable for flights starting from UK airports, excluding Northern Ireland and the Scottish Highlands and Islands region. This realistically measns starting from Belfast, Jersey or Inverness.

However you have to weigh up the costs from doing so as you may not be saving very much (or at all) with checked luggage fares.

There is also no APD out of Newquay. With British Airways due to start flights from Newquay in July 2020, this gives you a new option .

Update : In light of the ruling by the UK Advertising Standards that the phrase “2-for-1” in promotions was misleading , references to British Airways 2-for-1 have been replaced with British Airways companion voucher instead.

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How do I get a Companion Voucher?

The Companion Voucher you hold will depend on the Card product you earned it with. See below for details of the benefits of each Companion Voucher type, as well as the latest updates that will allow you to get away, your way. Please note that the below applies to Companion Vouchers earned after 1 September 2021. For information relating to Companion Vouchers earned before 1 September 2021, please visit here . British Airways American Express(r) Credit Card Get a British Airways American Express Credit Card Companion Voucher when you spend £12,000 each membership year on the Card. Companion Vouchers can be used when you redeem Avios for a British Airways Reward Flight in Euro Traveller or World Traveller (Economy) cabins. Reward Flights and Companion Voucher bookings are subject to availability and taxes, fees, carrier charges apply per person. The British Airways American Express Credit Card Companion Voucher is valid for 12 months from issuance. 1. Ways you can redeem your Companion Voucher Travel with a companion The British Airways American Express Credit Card Companion Voucher entitles you to receive a second economy class seat for a companion travelling on the same flight as you for no additional Avios when you make a Reward Flight booking on a British Airways flight. OR Choose to fly solo You can use your Companion Voucher as a solo adult travelling on a Reward Flight booking in Euro Traveller or World Traveller (Economy) cabins and receive a 50% discount on the Avios price for the flight.

Now more valuable than ever: How to maximize the British Airways Travel Together Ticket

Editor's Note

Airline credit cards typically offer standard benefits, like bonus miles on airfare purchases, free checked bags and priority boarding. But one of the most valuable perks any airline credit card can offer is a companion ticket that can cut your cost of travel in half.

Thanks to its high welcome bonuses, earning structure and airfare discounts , the British Airways Visa Signature Card has long been considered one of the best credit cards from a foreign airline offered in the U.S., especially when you consider British Airways' extensive U.S. route network. But it also comes with one of the most interesting companion travel benefits: the Travel Together Ticket.

The rules around redeeming this perk have recently been improved, and it is now easier to use and more valuable than ever.

Here are the details on this companion deal and how to maximize it.

How to earn the British Airways Travel Together Ticket

U.S.-based British Airways Visa Signature Card cardholders who spend $30,000 on their card in a calendar year can earn a Travel Together Ticket (posted within 4-6 weeks). The voucher is valid for outbound travel up to 24 months from the issue date (the return flight can be after that).

The British Airways Visa Signature Card offers 85,000 Avios after spending $5,000 in the first three months and exclusive offers when flying the carrier, such as a 10% discount on British Airways flights originating in the U.S., up to $600 in statement credits for award flight taxes and fees every year and earns 3 Avios per $1 spent with British Airways, Aer Lingus, Iberia and Level. The annual fee is $95.

Only the main cardholder with a registered address in the U.S. is eligible to earn the Travel Together Ticket; additional cardholders are not. Only one voucher can be earned each calendar year, even if the cardholder spends more than $30,000 on the card.

Rules for redeeming The Travel Together Ticket

The Travel Together Ticket comes with several conditions worth considering when it comes time to redeem it , some of which are positive and some negative.

Previously, these vouchers could only be applied to award bookings using British Airways Avios and on British Airways-operated flights . However, this rule has recently been relaxed, so they can now be redeemed on flights operated by Aer Lingus and Iberia, though note you must still book your flight(s) through British Airways Executive Club.

The Travel Together Ticket differs from other companion tickets, which are more like a two-for-one paid deal. In this case, you're getting a two-for-one award redemption but are still responsible for the taxes and other carrier-imposed charges on your ticket (which can be substantial). This also means you've got to find two awards open on the same itinerary in the same cabin. If you wish to travel in first class, two award seats on the same flight can be tough to come by.

For solo travel, you can redeem it for 50% of the Avios required for one passenger, which is a handy perk if you would rather travel alone and save Avios.

Previously, the voucher could only be used on round-trip itineraries originating in the United States. However, this rule has also recently been relaxed, so voucher holders can now commence their itinerary anywhere in the world that British Airways, Iberia or Aer Lingus operates from (provided there is Avios availability).

Your companion must be booked in the same cabin on your itinerary (unless you redeem it for solo travel). So if you book a business-class award for yourself, you must find a second one for your companion on the same itinerary. Stopovers are allowed.

Though the terms are not explicit, you should plan to have your card open and in good standing at the time your want to use your Travel Together Ticket.

Related: How to avoid fuel surcharges on award travel

When it makes sense to redeem the Travel Together Ticket

Now we come to the real question: Is it worth using the Travel Together Ticket? The answer depends on how you plan to redeem it.

British Airways awards are notorious for high taxes and surcharges on flights through London. While this generally makes economy awards a bad value, it can still be worth paying less than $2,000 per person to fly in business or first class as part of an award ticket compared to shelling out the cash fare, which will be many thousands of dollars, especially with premium fares across the Atlantic as high as they currently are.

BA introduced a new option in 2022 called Reward Flight Saver to use more Avios to reduce the cost of the taxes and surcharges on Avios redemptions.

British Airways award availability between the U.S. and Europe tends to be much better than what U.S. and other European carriers make available. So if you want to book an award, your chances of finding it are good.

The other key benefit is that British Airways has retained an award chart, so you can be confident of how many Avios you will need on any day — no 400,000 points per flight pricing with this program.

Related: Dynamic pricing vs. fuel surcharges — which is the lesser of two evils for your next redemption?

Now, let's take four scenarios and compare the cost of using the Travel Together Ticket compared to purchasing airfare to determine whether this is a good deal.

To make things simpler, we'll look at a single route from Atlanta (ATL) to London Heathrow (LHR) over a single set of dates in November since award availability was open across all four cabins offered by BA on these flights (these are off-peak dates). The taxes and fees are typical examples of what you would expect to pay, both for two people traveling together and solo travelers, given the ticket can also be redeemed for solo travel.

First up, economy. A round-trip award on this itinerary for two people using the lowest surcharge Reward Flight Saver option would cost 120,000 Avios plus 300 British pounds ($393) in taxes/fees.

If you were using this as a Travel Together Ticket, you'd still be paying 60,000 Avios plus $393 for two tickets. This is because you would only be charged the Avios for one passenger but the fees, taxes and surcharges for both. Compare that to the regular economy fare on the same dates of around $1,000 per person for non-stop flights and this would be a great way to use Avios to save hundreds of dollars.

If you are a solo traveler, you can redeem the Travel Together Ticket for 30,000 Avios plus $196 in fees, taxes and surcharges, saving over $800 on the cash fares for the same flight.

Related: A review of British Airways' A350 in economy from London to Dubai

Now for premium economy. Here's a sample award from the same week that would cost 190,000 Avios plus 660 British pounds ($864) for two passengers.

A paid fare on the same dates would be $1,813 per person, so $3,626 for two passengers. With a Travel Together Ticket for two passengers, you would be charged 95,000 Avios plus $864, saving you thousands off the cash ticket.

Solo travelers could redeem 45,000 Avios plus pay $432 in taxes and surcharges, another excellent way to save big on the $1,813 cash fare.

Related: Is British Airways premium economy worth it on the Boeing 777-300ER?

In business class, British Airways will charge 360,000 Avios plus 900 British pounds ($1,179) in taxes and surcharges for two passengers at the Reward Flight Saver rate.

With the 50% reduction in Avios with the Travel Together Ticker, you would still be charged a huge 180,000 Avios plus the full $1,179 co-payment. However, with cash fares on these dates close to $4,000 each roundtrip in business class, you would still save thousands of dollars using the voucher.

For solo travelers, just 90,000 Avios plus under $600 in taxes and fees saves versus $4,000 for a cash ticket is a great deal.

Related: British Airways' Club Suites don't disappoint: On board a retrofitted 777 from London to New York

Reward Flight Savers are not offered in first class, so while you'll only need marginally more Avios than the business class rates above, you must pay the full fees, taxes and surcharges. For two passengers using a Travel Together Ticket this would be 170,000 Avios roundtrip plus an eye-watering 3,263 British pounds ($4,279).

While this would represent a decent saving on the cash fares of almost $6,000 per person, given the thousands of dollars of surcharges you must pay for a first class redemption, using the voucher for business class instead would be a much better deal.

How to earn Avios

If you want to use a Travel Together Ticket but don't have enough British Airways Avios in your Executive Club account, British Airways is a transfer partner of Capital One, Chase Ultimate Rewards , American Express Membership Rewards , Bilt Rewards and Marriott Bonvoy , making Avios one of the easiest currencies to earn .

Points transfer from Chase, Bilt and Amex at a 1:1 ratio (in addition to occasional transfer bonuses of up to 40%), while Marriott points transfer to Avios at a 3:1 ratio. Plus, you'll get a 5,000-Avios bonus for every 60,000 Marriott points transferred.

The following cards all currently offer strong welcome bonuses that you could easily convert to Avios:

American Express® Gold Card : Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards points after you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first six months of card membership. Terms apply.
The Platinum Card® from American Express : Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards points after you spend $8,000 on purchases within the first six months of card membership. Check to see if you're targeted for an up to 125,000-point welcome offer through CardMatch (offer subject to change at any time). Terms apply.
Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card : (see rates and fees ) Earn 75,000 bonus miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within the first three months from account opening.
Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card : (see rates and fees ) Earn 75,000 bonus miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within the first three months from account opening.
Chase Sapphire Preferred Card : Earn 75,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.
Chase Sapphire Reserve : Earn 75,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.
Ink Business Preferred Credit Card : Earn 100,000 bonus points after you spend $8,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.

Bottom line

The British Airways Visa Signature Card 's Travel Together Ticket can save you thousands of dollars on British Airways, Iberia or Aer Lingus flights from anywhere in the world by allowing two passengers to travel together, in any cabin with award availability and only pay the Avios required for one passenger. The spending requirement to earn the perk is high, though.

Following last years Reward Flight Saver rollout to allow passengers to reduce the notorious BA carrier-imposed surcharges by paying more Avios, this voucher is a valuable credit card perk for economy, premium economy and business class flights. However, the savings are less in first class as the Reward Flight Saver option is not available.

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Certificates, eCredits, & Gift Cards

In-page links.

Certificates & eCredits , Go to footer note
Gift Cards , Go to footer note
Companion Certificates , Go to footer note

Certificates & eCredits

Whether they're printed on paper or sent to you electronically, Delta Certificates and eCredits give you a number of ways to save big on your upcoming trips.

What types of Certificates and eCredits are there? , Go to footer note
Can I see a list of the Certificates and eCredits I already have? , Go to footer note
How many Certificates or eCredits can I redeem toward my ticket? , Go to footer note
How do I redeem an individual Certificate or eCredit? , Go to footer note
Can I combine the Certificates and eCredits I already have? , Go to footer note
If my eCredit covers the cost of my ticket, why do I need to provide credit card information? , Go to footer note
What happens when I use a Certificate and eCredit and need to cancel my flight? , Go to footer note

What types of Certificates and eCredits are there?

Delta eCerts can be redeemed for a variety of money-saving offers on eligible flights, including:

A specific dollar amount off the cost of an eligible fare
A specific percentage off the cost of an eligible fare
A specific percentage off the number of miles required to purchase an Award ticket
A travel certificate that covers the cost of a ticket and requires the customer to only pay applicable taxes and fees
A complimentary upgrade to the First or Business Class cabin
Companion Certificates are good for one eligible round-trip flight - upon renewing your eligible Delta SkyMiles® American Express Card and can be combined with available eCredits. Learn more about SkyMiles Companion Certificates .

eCredits are a specific monetary value that can be applied as payment toward the cost of a Delta ticket and any government-imposed taxes and fees. Examples of an eCredit include:

Unused or partially used tickets
Remaining value of an unused post-purchase seat upgrade or Preferred Seat
Delta Travel Voucher received when a ticket exchange results in residual (remaining) value
Delta Dollars received for denied boarding compensation from an oversold flight
Transportation Credit Voucher received as compensation for a service issue
Miscellaneous Charge Order generally received when an ticket exchange results in residual value and the original form of payment for the ticket was other than a credit card
eGift Certificates

Currently, eCredits may only be applied toward future Delta ticket purchases, but this is the first step in the direction of offering you more flexibility with eCredits in the future. When you redeem Certificates or eCredits at delta.com there is no transaction fee. You can also redeem them at any Delta ticketing location, but additional fees may apply. Most Certificates and eCredits cannot be redeemed at travel agencies, other airlines or other travel websites, please refer to the terms and conditions for details.

Can I see a list of the Certificates and eCredits I already have?

Certificates and eCredits associated with your SkyMiles number can be viewed by logging in to My Profile on delta.com and navigating to Certificates, eCredits and Vouchers. Only Certificates or eCredits that were associated to your SkyMiles number when it was issued will be displayed.

If you wish to view Certificates or eCredits not associated with your SkyMiles number visit delta.com/redeem and enter your Certificate or eCredit number. You can view up to six individual numbers at one time.

How many Certificates or eCredits/Gifts can I redeem toward my ticket?

Maximum allowances eCredits:

The maximum number of combinable eCredits allowed with the initial purchase is 5 per ticket.

The maximum number of combinable eCredits allowed with a ticket change is 2 per ticket.

How do I redeem a Certificate?

Redeeming a Certificate: (American Express Companion certificate/Complimentary travel certificates/dollars off eCert/percent off eCert)

Certificates must be selected or entered prior to shopping for your flights.
Click the Redeem a Certificate link below.
Enter your Certificate number along with any other required information.
When using a Certificate, your eligible flight options will be identified as "Certificate applied".

Redeem a Certificate

Can I combine the eCredits and Certificates I already have?

You can combine an eCredit with a SkyMiles Companion Certificate, available through the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve or Platinum American Express Card. If you wish to combine your Companion Certificate and eCredits, you must first select your Companion Certificate and then add your eCredits at check out.

If my eCredit covers the cost of my ticket, why do I need to provide credit card information?

Credit card information is required for all flight purchases.

What happens when I use a Certificate and eCredit and need to cancel my flight?

If the primary ticket or the Companion ticket is canceled, both tickets will be canceled and the Companion ticket will not be reissued.

If you are using an eCredit to pay for a ticket and government-imposed taxes and fees, an eCredit will be reissued if the ticket is canceled (after any deduction of any applicable cancellation fees or charges).

Whether they're purchased online or at a store, Delta Gift Cards can help you save big on upcoming trips.

For original bookings, the maximum number of Delta Gift Cards allowed on the initial purchase from www.delta.com is 5. If you need to redeem more than 5 Gift Cards please contact our Reservations team. The maximum allowed is 5 per ticket when booking over the phone.

When making ticket changes, the maximum number of Delta Gift Cards allowed on www.delta.com is 5 per booking. If you need to redeem more than 5 Delta Gift Cards please contact our Reservations team. The maximum allowed is 5 per ticket when booking over the phone.

Please refer to the Terms and Conditions , Go to footer note of the Delta Gift for additional details.

How do I redeem a Delta Gift Card?

Redeeming a Delta Gift Card

Delta Gift Cards can be selected/entered prior to shopping or on the payment page.
Click the Redeem a Delta Gift Card link below to get started.
Enter your Delta Gift Cards number along with any other required information.
Delta Gift Cards will be applied as a form of payment at time of purchase.

Redeem a Delta Gift Card

Purchase a Gift Card

Terms & Conditions

Companion Certificates

To learn more about SkyMiles Companion Certificate, click here.

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$119 annual fee
450 WestJet dollars when you spend $5,000 in the first 3 months
Earn 2% back in WestJet dollars on WestJet flights or WestJet Vacations packages
Earn 1.5% back on all other purchases
Receive a round-trip companion voucher – every year – for any WestJet destination starting from $119 (plus taxes, fees, charges and other ATC)
Get free first checked bags for the primary cardholder and up to 8 guests on the same reservation

Besides the compassion voucher, you also get your first checked bag free for up to 8 people on the same itinerary. Remember, it costs $30 each way to check a bag within North America now so a family of 4 could save $240 on every flight. The included free Boingo Wi-Fi may not seem like a big deal, but remember, most airplanes offer paid WiFi via Boingo Wi-Fi. In other words, you can browse the internet for free whenever you fly with this card. Read my WestJet RBC World Elite Mastercard review now for the full details.

The only other way to get a WestJet companion voucher is with the WestJet RBC Mastercard . Since this is a lower tier card, the voucher works a bit differently You only get access to an annual round-trip companion voucher within Canada, and it costs $199 plus taxes, fees, and charges. Although it’s not as generous as the companion voucher that comes with the World Elite Card, it’s still pretty good considering the credit card has an annual fee of just $39. Let’s take a quick look at the current welcome bonus and earn rate.

WestJet RBC Mastercard

$39 annual fee
Earn 50 WestJet dollars after your first purchase
Earn an additional 50 WestJet dollars when you spend $1,000 in the first 3 months
Earn 1.5% back in WestJet dollars on WestJet flights or WestJet Vacations packages
Earn 1% back in WestJet dollars on all other purchases
Annual companion voucher

You’ll notice that this card doesn’t come with free checked bags. That should be expected since this is a lower tier card compared to the World Elite version. That said, the WestJet RBC Mastercard doesn’t have a high personal or household income requirement to qualify for the card, so it’s still a good option for people who want a companion voucher but don’t have a high salary.

WestJet companion voucher cost

The WestJet companion voucher is given to you free every year if you hold the WestJet RBC Mastercard or the WestJet RBC World Elite MasterCard but there are a few fees you need to pay on top of the fare for the first ticket purchased.

$119 for round-trip travel in Canada and the continental U.S.
$199 for round-trip travel within Canada (WestJet RBC Mastercard version)
$399 for round-trip travel to/from the rest of the WestJet network
Taxes, fees and charges

WestJet companion voucher conditions

Now that you understand the fees, there are a few other conditions and restrictions that come with the WestJet companion voucher that you should be aware of:

No blackout dates
New bookings only
Valid for one round-trip flight for the primary cardholder and a companion of their choice travelling on the same itinerary
You can’t use it for WestJet vacation packages
Reservations must be made before the date shown on your voucher but travel can happen after that date
It’s only valid on new reservations
Valid on all published Basic, Econo, EconoFlex, Premium, and PremiumFlex fares wholly marketed and operated by WestJet, including seat sales
Not eligible for Business Class or Member Exclusive fares
The same fare type must be booked for the primary cardholder and companion
You can’t use the companion voucher when making a reservation through a travel agent or third-party online booking site
You can’t transfer the voucher
Unused vouchers will automatically be cancelled when your WestJet RBC World EliteMastercard account is closed

To be clear, the companion voucher can only be used when the primary cardholder is travelling. Even if there’s an authorized user on the account, that person can’t use the voucher with another passenger.

One-way trips are allowed with the companion voucher, but the full base fare applies.

At the time of booking, you can select to use your voucher before you start searching real-time pricing for flight availability. Once you find the flights you like, the voucher will automatically be applied so there’s nothing else to do during the booking flow.

Occasionally, WestJet will allow you to exchange your voucher for a one-time use lounge access pass. There is no cash exchange value with the voucher.

How much you’ll save with a WestJet companion voucher

The amount of money you’ll save depends on the cost of your ticket. The most important thing to remember is that you still need to pay for any taxes, fees and surcharges so the value comes from redeeming a ticket with a high full base fare or Air Transportation Charges (ATC) as WestJet likes to call it. Let’s take a look at this flight to Florida below as an example.

As you can see, the ATC charges are $727.97 and the taxes are $162.55 which gives you a total ticket cost of $890.52. The primary cardholder would pay that, but the second passenger would only pay $119 + $162.55 for a total of $281.55. That works out to a savings of $608.97. Mind you, this is summer pricing on a popular route which is why there’s a potential for such big savings.

Since the voucher only discounts the ATC, you need to always check to see if it’s valuable to use your WestJet companion ticket. If you’re flying to Europe, quite often the ATC is not much more than the $399 you need to pay to use your companion voucher so it may make more sense to hold onto your voucher for WestJet flights in the future.

The nice thing about the WestJet companion voucher is that it’ll tell you online if it’s cheaper to simply just book a regular price ticket as opposed to using your voucher. This has only happened to me a handful of times when I’m booking international flights where the companion voucher cost starts at $399. That said, on those same flights, if I booked premium instead of economy, I would have saved $1,000+. In other words, the WestJet companion voucher is a great deal when you’re looking for seats in premium.

What is the expiry date of the voucher?

The WestJet companion voucher expiry date is one year from the time you receive the voucher. That said, end dates are up to one year past the expiry date. That means you can book flights, including one-way travel up to one year after the formal expiry date of your voucher.

WestJet companion voucher pros and cons

Let’s be real for a second, the WestJet companion voucher is obviously good since it’s a free benefit. That said, if you don’t have a WestJet credit card yet, you probably want to know if there are any drawbacks. Here are the pros and cons of the WestJet companion voucher.

Annual benefit – As long as you have a WestJet credit card, you’ll get a companion voucher every year, including the year you sign up.
Easy to obtain – You get a companion voucher regardless of which WestJet Mastercard you hold. That said, the companion voucher that comes with the Westjet RBC Mastercard has a higher fee
No blackout dates – You can use your companion voucher on any seat during any date.
Can be used to any destination – As long as WestJet flies to a destination, including Mexico, you can use your voucher.
Can be expensive – The cost of your companion voucher when used outside of Canada and the continental U.S. can be pricey at $399.
Fewer flight options: – This benefit is restricted to WestJet flights, so you have fewer choices compared to Air Canada.
Does not work on partner airlines – WestJet has a few partner airlines, but the voucher is only valid on WestJet operated flights.
May not benefit those that require connections – Since WestJet doesn’t have a huge network of planes, the voucher won’t be as valuable for those that fly out of airports with limited WestJet flights.

How the WestJet companion voucher compares to others

For the longest time, the WestJet companion voucher had no real competition. but that all changed when Air Canada introduced the Buddy Pass with some of their select Aeroplan credit cards. The most obvious difference is that the Buddy Pass can only be used on Air Canada flights, whereas the WestJet companion voucher is used on WestJet flights. Air Canada gets the advantage here since they fly to different destinations.

Where WestJet wins is the fact that their companion voucher is an annual benefit. You get one every year including the year you sign up. With the Buddy Pass, you only get it once since it’s part of the welcome bonus. That said, you could apply for a new qualifying Aeroplan credit card every 12 months to get another Buddy Pass, but most people won’t do that.

As for costs, they’re similar and different. The Buddy Pass has a $0 base fare, you just pay the taxes and third-party fees. With WestJet, your companion voucher starts at $119. The advantage here may seem to lean towards Air Canada, but there are a few things to consider. The Buddy Pass is only good for flights within North America which happen to include Hawaii and the Caribbean. With the WestJet companion voucher, you can use it for flights to Europe. It’s worth noting that WestJet has recently been testing a new companion voucher for new sign ups which essentially mimics the cost and location of the Buddy Pass. I would not be surprised if a permanent change happens in the future.

It’s really a coin toss here when debating which companion voucher is better. If you fly WestJet on a regular basis and don’t want to apply for a new credit card every year, then getting a WestJet credit card is better. If you’re looking for something high value such as a flight to the Caribbean or Hawaii, then the Buddy Pass will appeal to you.

Save even more with the WestJet credit card

What many people forget is that the RBC WestJet World Elite Mastercard also gives you free checked baggage. For flights within North America, that’s a savings of $30 each way. Let’s say you have a family of four and you plan on taking a flight to Orlando. Based on my itinerary above, you would save $261.55 if you had a companion voucher. However, if each parent got the WestJet credit card, then you’d have two vouchers which end up saving you $523.10.

Of course, we also need to factor in checked baggage. Let’s assume you’re checking 4 bags, that’s another $240 you’re saving by having the WestJet credit card which brings your total saved up to $763.10. Oh wait, we also need to include the $250 welcome bonus that comes with the card, that’s another $500 you’d be saving. All-in, you would save $1,263.10 which is a lot more than the $238 you’d be paying in annual fees for the credit card. In the end, you’d come out ahead by $1,025.10.

It’s easy to see why the WestJet RBC World Elite Mastercard is on my list of the best travel credit cards in Canada . The benefits you get are simply incredible which makes it a must-have card for anyone who flies WestJet on a regular basis.

Final thoughts

The WestJet companion voucher is something that can be used to your advantage since it’s deposited into your account after your first statement as long as you’ve made one purchase. Since you know what the cost of the voucher is, you can easily search for flights and see how much the voucher will save you. If it works to your benefit, you might well apply since you also get a welcome bonus and free checked bags. WestJet Rewards is one of the best travel loyalty programs and if you fly WestJet on a regular basis or even once a year, applying for their credit card is worth it.

About Barry Choi

Barry Choi is a Toronto-based personal finance and travel expert who frequently makes media appearances. His blog Money We Have is one of Canada’s most trusted sources when it comes to money and travel. You can find him on Twitter: @barrychoi

142 Comments

[…] easily offsets the $39 fee. Another benefit that’s just been introduced is the annual round-trip companion voucher within Canada for $199 plus taxes, fees, and charges. This is incredible since it allows a pair […]

Can you combine a west jet gold companion voucher and a westjet elite companion ticket in the same booking ?

I believe you can only use one on the same booking so you’d have to make multiple reservations if you have more than one voucher.

You forgot some very important facts about the companion voucher. You can only use it for DIRECT FLIGHTS ON WESTJET. If you do not live in one of their main hub cities this card is not worth it. Calgary and Vancouver are their main hubs. If you live east of Calgary good luck. Im in Ottawa and even if I get myself to Toronto , Im limited on flights I can use this. And I have the Elite one. It is costing me more to fly and use this companion from Ottawa to Vancouver than it would be a direct flight on Air Canada. LOL Worse thing I ever subscribed to. Too many restrictions and costs. Obviously this guy writing this post must either have not tried to book or lives in Vancouver or Calgary. Good to see the Florida example, but that is about it out of Toronto too. LOL

Finally, an answer as to why my voucher is getting rejected for an upcoming family trip to Oslo, Norway. There is no direct flight with WestJet, only with stopovers. So, the companion voucher is no good to me. I cannot find ANYWHERE in their Terms and Conditions or anywhere on their web site that this is identified as a restriction. Yours is the ONLY reference I have found about it needing to be a non-stop, direct flight.

HI Loreen The Westjet RBC Elite is very limited to Europe too. So Im not sure why Barry who wrote this article is so keen on it. Here’s the way I would keep the card-1 flying across Canada or to USA if and only if a- there is a direct flight from your departure city (as for Ottawa Im extremely limited all year) and b) you plan on going when Westjet flys direct to those designations. For example: The companion voucher is great for Ottawa to Vancouver as long as I want to go there between May and October. I wanted to see my MOM at Christmas and I would be doing a stopovers along the way. It would take me on Air Canada direct 5 hrs, on Westjet stop overs maybe 2 days. LOL So you have to look at WHERE you want to go to use the Campion voucher and WHEN you want to go, BUT FIRST- WHICH CITY IS YOUR HUB OUT OF CANADA- if it is not Toronto ,Calgary or Vancouver. And you don’t want to use it for Canada or Orlando- I would look at the Aeroplan car. Im going too.

Now I must say 1 thing: The online customer service at WESTJET IS OUTSTANDING!!! Every women I talked to at reservations was patient and empathic to my struggles finding a fight to somewhere we wanted to go to use our voucher before it expired. THIS IS ONE PLACE WESTJET HAS IT RIGHT. We are going to Barbados in March.

However, Im still confused about the FREE LUGGAGE. I have the ELITE card which gives me free luggage, but when I booked I also wanted free cancellation,. To get free cancellation I had to book at a level that gives me free luggage. I don’t get a credit back because my free luggage at $30 a bag was included in my Elite status/voucher. So it’s really a gimmick on this one.

Here is what you do: Book the lowest , get the free bag, just remember it’s a fee or no cancellation policy. Take the risk.

With Trudeau up and down and in and out on the pandemic/covid mandatory shots, mandatory checks and all that other *^(&)**)*Q#E we decided to book the highest level for free cancellation and changes.

Hope that helps. My card comes up for renewal in March and Im seriously looking at the Aeroplan for a years.

The way I look at it. You can cancel and change it up as many times as you want.

MY BEST CARDS EVER: SCOTIA AMEX TRAVEL- and RBC AVION TRAVEL They have a few. Check them out.

I’ve been able to use my companion voucher with a stopover in the past. For example, Toronto to Vancouver to Hawaii. That said, I believe you’re right, if there’s any non-WestJet flight on your itinerary, then you wouldn’t be able to use the voucher.

This review was written before WestJet started pulling out of eastern Canada and certainly needs an update.

In the end, the companion voucher is still excellent (if you can use it) and it comes as a standard benefit with the credit card. There’s no denying the value (again, if you can use it).

Important to know that extra fees are added when one uses the companion fare – for example when booking 2 tickets to Puerto Vallarta “Other ATC” charges are $40 more than when just booking 2 tickets – so this is basically a F*you for using your companion far add on tax. If you call westjet you get a run around and no good explanation why this exists – just that it does. What is “other” atc in the first place? It is not listed under taxes and yet both the first ticket and the companion fare pay it (plus extra for the companion fare). Lacks transparency so I don’t like it on that principal alone. I am using the one I have to Puerto Vallarta which ends up being about $300 cheaper than just booking two tickets on the same flight, but I will not be signing up for this credit card again as they savings are only realized when restricted to flying with this airline and the savings are not significant enough to make this restriction worth it.

Also note that one cannot use WestJet dollars toward “other ATC” – only towards the base fare.

Hey Leanne,

I have noticed this a few times too.

can a westjet companion voucher be extended beyond the expiry date?

No, but you can use it for travel booked past the expiration date. E.g. if your voucher expires in May, you can make a reservation before then with the travel taking place later.

THE VOUCHER IS ONLY GOOD FOR 1 YEAR.

Does the 399 voucher include Australia?

No, as WestJet does not fly to Australia.

Cruises often leave from one port and a end at another. Can you use your companion flight if you are not returning from same airport?

As long as WestJet flies to the the two destinations with their planes, you can use it.

If my husband and I fly Calgary to Toronto on same date, but the return date is different for me (i.e. I would stay an extra 2 weeks in Toronto) can i still use the companion voucher…or do we both have to return on the same date as well?

You need to return on the same date

Why are there two different charges for the companion fare within Canada? 99.00 and 199.0

If you have the WestJet RBC World Elite Mastercard, the companion voucher starts at $99. If you have the basic WestJet RBC Mastercard, it’s $199.

Is Alaska included in Continental US? Also, when a companion voucher is issued, how long before it expires?

Yes, Alaska should count. Your companion voucher lasts one year.

do you get free checked baggage when flying to Mexico with the elite mastercard?

I received an email awhile ago saying that the companion fare could be transferred to family, and you didn’t have to travel with them ?

That was an exception during COVID-19. You’d have to check the email for the terms or call WestJet.

It no longer applies to new companion vouchers.

Can I use campion voucher on one way flights?

I’m assuming you can, but I’m not 100% sure.

Hey Barry, do you know where WestJet flies that has a high value ATC to tax ratio? As you mentioned European trips might not be worthwhile. Thanks!

I only really looked into Europe. I should play around with destinations to see what gives you a good value.

Can you use the companion voucher for travel one way only?

I believe it’s for return flights only

What would be the cost for a companion voucher for a premium economy booking within Canada with the World Elite Card?

The companion voucher is $99 plus taxes on Basic, Econo, EconoFlex, Premium, and PremiumFlex fares wholly marketed and operated by WestJet for round-trip travel in Canada and the continental U.S.

Thanks for this information.

Can one person with the world elite use the voucher on another person with another world elite card and vice versa? Say a couple using the vouchers on each other? Thanks.

You can use the voucher on whoever you want as long as the primary passenger is the person who holds the Companion voucher.

You can’t use the multi city booking feature when using the Companion Flight. My concern is what happens to my Companion Flight if we have to change or cancel our Econo Flex (changes allowed without a fee on regular ticketing)?

I’ve heard that you lose your companion voucher if you cancel a flight where you used it. I haven’t personally confirmed that though.

You will not loose the companion voucher if you cancel your flight. I canceled my Hawaii trip and the voucher became available again

Ahh good to know, I was under the impression that you lose it.

I did not use my companion fare so it expired. When is my new companion fare given?

It usually appears in your account a few weeks after your anniversary date.

can I book flights for my two friends with companion fare? I will not be flying this year however I know they will be does it matter that the names wont match the card?

Hi Rebecca,

My earlier comment was wrong so I deleted it. I looked at the terms and conditions and it states the following: Valid for one (1) round-trip for the primary cardholder and a companion of their choice travelling on the same itinerary; these vouchers are non-transferable.

I am under the impression that You had to be flying with your travelling companion when using your companion flight reward

You’re right, I just looked at the terms and conditions and it clearly states the following: Valid for one (1) round-trip for the primary cardholder and a companion of their choice travelling on the same itinerary; these vouchers are non-transferable.

I understand the vouchers can’t be used for multi-city travel, but if I wanted to fly Toronto-Calgary-Vancouver-Toronto, could I use the companion fare to go Toronto -> Calgary and then return flight of Vancouver->Toronto, and book separately for Calgary -> Vancouver?

That’s a multi-city ticket so you can’t use your companion voucher.

You can use a companion voucher multi-city but you have to phone in to it. In August my wife and I flew from Toronto to San Francisco, then we toured around for a week or so by car and flew back Los Angeles to Toronto. I paid regular price for my ticket and $99 plus taxes for her ticket.

I had no idea, thanks for letting me know!

Barry , you can use your voucher on a multi-city trip; you just have to pay a slight surcharge.

Another reader pointed that out to me, thanks for confirming. I’m going to update my article.

can I use multiple vouchers for the same trip ?

Not unless it’s two different people with vouchers.

E.g. a family of 4. Each parent could use a voucher if they each have a credit card and an available voucher.

Do you have to wait a year after you get your credit card before you get your first companion voucher?

No, you get it 8-10 weeks after opening your account.

If I am booking a one way flight can I use my companion voucher?

What is the minimum amount I have to spend annually, on my credit card to qualify for a companion flights?

There is no minimum spend required to get the companion voucher.

Hi Barry, How long does it take for the westjet dollar credit to appear? Can I pay with the westjet credit card before I receive the dollars and then call RBC to have my card credited?

The sign up bonus typically posts after your first statement assuming you’ve made a purchase. You can not redeem WestJet dollars after the fact. You must have the dollars in your account to use them.

How long after getting the credit card until the companion fare is added to your account?

It takes about 4-6 weeks for the voucher to post

So when it expires (companion voucher) does it take 4-6 for the new to show up on your account ?

The companion voucher expires 12 months after you get it. That said, you can use your voucher for a travel date after your voucher expires and it would still work. I honestly am not sure when your anniversary companion voucher shows up in your account as I’m still in my first year of having the card.

Can the voucher be used for an all inclusive trip through WestJet vacations?

Do we have to book through WestJet vacations to use the companion voucher if we are wanting to go to an all inclusive in Mexico? Also are there travel agents we can call to help book this through WestJet?

The companion voucher is not valid for vacation packages.

I received my first annual voucher when I applied and paid my annual due. The expiration on my World Elite R bank Westjet is 11/22. When do I receive my second voucher? When do I pay my annual due? I have received nothing in November nor December.. I don’t understand why I have not. Thank you

Your companion voucher is deposited 30 days after your card renewal date each year.

Do you know if you can pay for the amount of the companion voucher using Westjet Dollars or a Westjet Travel bank?

Yes, you can use your WJD to pay for your companion voucher.

If travelling with kids, their ticket fare is less than adult fare. Can I use the companion voucher for my spouse (adult fare) or would the companion voucher have to be applied to the lowest priced fare on the reservation (one of the children)?

As far as I know, WestJet doesn’t charge lower fares for children so it wouldn’t matter.

Hi Barry, I am thinking travel in October and considering changing my current credit card provider. Is there a way to check a specific itinerary to see what the cost could be if i had a companion voucher? Thanks in advance!

Since the companion voucher just covers the base ticket fare, you can actually just do the math yourself to see how much you would save. The voucher costs the following:

$99 for round-trip travel in Canada and the continental U.S. $299 for round-trip travel to/from Mexico, Central America, the Caribbean and Hawaii $399 for round-trip travel to/from the rest of the WestJet network

So say you’re looking to fly within Canada or the continental U.S. and the base fare is $400. Subtract the companion voucher cost of $99 and you’re saving $301. There will be times where it’s cheaper to simply pay regular price. If that’s the case, WestJet automatically withdraws your voucher so you don’t waste it.

Hello, I am a single traveller so my companion voucher usually goes to waste. Do you of any way to get some compensation for it?

The companion voucher has no monetary value.

If there are 2 people on the credit card- both my husband and I, does the primary card holder have to go on the trip to use the companion voucher or can the secondary card holder go with a companion?

The primary cardholder must be travelling for you to use the companion voucher.

Does the free 1st checked baggage when using my W Jet Elite card still apply when booking a companion ticket?

Yes as the companion would be on the same itinerary as the primary cardholder. The primary cardholder gets their first bag checked free just for having the card.

If I book a premium ticket (aka fully refundable) for the primary and use the voucher to purchase a regular flight for my guest, can I then: a). Cancel or change the flight for the primary traveler only (receiving refund or credit) and b). maintain the ‘companion’ guest’s flight original booking / date (e.g. the ‘companion’ travels on his own as per original itinerary without the primary)

* let’s say in the case where the primary must cancel or change his flight BUT the companion must stay on the original flight as he doesn’t have the option to change

You can only buy the same class of fare when using the companion voucher so you can’t buy a refundable ticket for the primary cardholder and a regular one for the companion.

Hi Barry- thanks for being so quick. Ok, so same question but with same class of ticket for both.

Unfortunately, I don’t know the answer to that question.

Can I use the westjet companion discount if the flight is charged to a different credit card?

Yes, you can pay with any credit card when using your companion voucher.

Am using elite card to fly Calgary Barcelona on primary class and wife will be on companion pass. We r taking cruise from Barcelona to Montreal and must fly Montreal to Calgary. Do we have to treat this leg as new booking using another companion pass? OR Being as reservation for both legs done same time can first companion pass still be honoured on montreal to Calgary leg?

If you’re booking the entire segment as one ticket, you should be able to use the voucher.

We’ve booked a Companion Trip from YVR to Gatwick for August (returning in September) 2020 to go on a European River Cruise. We are contemplating deferring the cruise until September 2021. Will WestJet allow us to defer this flight until 2021? Are there any fees?

As far as I know, WestJet has only issued their cancellation/defer policy until April – https://www.westjet.com/en-ca/travel-info/coronavirus

Good afternoon, how do we use our companion voucher if we want to go on an all inclusive trip? Would we have to purchase the flight and pay for the hotel sperate ? We are thinking of cuba? We always book all inclusive, so maybe we should have did a little more research before getting the RBC Westjet elite card. If we can’t use it that is.

The companion voucher does not apply to WestJet Vacations packages

I have a current reservation made using a companion fare for travel in March. If I cancel my trip due to the current travel advisory will I be able to use my companion fare to rebook in the future? The original booking was before the expiration period of the voucher, but rebooking will be after expiration.

You would get the voucher back. As long as you book a trip before the expiry date, you’re fine. It doesn’t matter if the travel date goes past the expiry date.

Is the companion fare still valid if l need to change return flight and return home early due to corona virus recommendations.

I’m planning to apply for this card. Right now it’s 450WJ$ with a limited offer of $0 companion voucher.

In the terms and conditions for this limited offer, it says “valid for one (1) round-trip for a companion of the primary cardholder flying on a full base fare, travelling on the same itinerary”. – Does this mean I cannot use my 450WJ$ towards me and at the same time use the $0 for my husband? – For the companion voucher, I’m aware that it’s only towards the base fare. Is there a cap or maximum? I mean if the base fare is C$774 (YVR/YUL return), will it still be $0? – If I cannot use my WJ$ on me, can I use it towards any amount left for my companion? Like taxes and fees? Your reply is appreciated.

You can use your WJD at the same time as your companion voucher. The full base fare refers to sales or other discounts.

There’s no cap on the base fare for the companion voucher, that’s why it’s so valuable. Flights to Hawaii or to Europe in Premium Economy yield incredible value.

Your WJD can only be applied to the base fare, so it can’t be used for taxes and fees. You don’t need to use all your WJD in one go, you can save it for another trip if you have any leftover.

Feel free to use my WestJet RBC World Elite Mastercard referral link if you plan on getting the card – https://www.moneywehave.com/refer/WestJetWEMC

Thanks Barry

Honestly I’m torn right now between this card, Amex cobalt and scotiabank gold Amex.

The Amex Cobalt is excellent since you get a high earn rate and the points are transferable to Aeroplan and Marriott. Although the current welcome bonus is spread out over a year, it’s easily with at least $1K if you transfer your points to Aeroplan.

I’ve got a full review here – https://www.moneywehave.com/american-express-cobalt-review/

I use the Cobalt as my main card.

I have the westjet world elite I have westjet dollars and travel voucher can I use all my westjet dollars and my companion voucher than cancel my credit card even if my travel date is in a later date ?

Can you use your companion voucher AND West Jet Dollars at the same time? The online booking doesn’t seem to allow both. It seems to be one or the other. Thanks!

Yes you can, but not with WestJet Member Exclusive Fares.

If you’re booking a regular fare, you can use your companion voucher and your WestJet dollars.

Is there any way to find out in advance how much the “extra fees’ for a trip will be when I cash in my voucher? I am considering using my companion voucher for International travel premium, but have no idea how much the extra fees would cost from YYZ to LGW. Do I have to “pretend” to plan the trip to get this info?

The “pretend” way is indeed the only way to know exactly what you’ll pay in taxes since every flight is different.

This is my first “companion voucher”. I can’t see a place indicating redeeming a companion voucher When I “book” the flight, do I book for 2? That’s what I tried.? I see a list of fees of $777.12 as well as “other ATC” of $1040 Are those charges for 2 so I would only pay half of these in addition to Companion Base fare or do I simply deduct 1 base fare from the “total for 2” and add on the companion premium? In this case , my total for 2 is $5127.12 and Base fare for 2 is $3250. companion fare is $399 . Would I be paying $3901.12 for 2? Do I have to use “Juliet” or call west jet to do this? Thanks again.

If you log in to your account, you will see an option to select your companion voucher before you select your flight details.

The cost of the companion is Taxes, fees and charges, plus the cost of the companion voucher.

Once you’re logged in and you select your companion voucher, it’ll be obvious what you’re paying.

Can a companion voucher be used for all inclusive vacations

No, it only applies to WestJet operated flights.

Hi I have not use a companionship vouchers from last year. Now I received a RBC statement owing for this year annual fee. I would like to know if I downgrade my card to no annual fee will I lose my companionship voucher that I earned last. WestJet has extended last year expire to Dec.31,2021. Do I lose this voucher?

Hi Richard,

Usually when you cancel/switch cards, you’ll lose your companion voucher. That said, I cancelled a card recently and still see my companion voucher in my account 5 months later.

There doesn’t seem to be a firm answer. You might lose it or you might not. The no fee card also comes with a companion voucher, but it’s less valuable.

When I use the companion voucher (I now have 2) on the Westjet site, the price of the primary seat increased…a lot over just booking 2 regular seats. I would basically be just giving them the voucher back and paying the same amount in cash. There must be very specific routes where these are worth it but I can’t see an itinerary where you actually save money

The only time that would happen is if the base fare of the ticket is less than what the companion voucher is costing you. For example, if the base fare is $100, but the companion voucher costs $119. Whenever that happens, the website automatically tells you that it’s cheaper to not use your voucher and automatically takes it off. That’s only happened to me once when I was searching for flights to the Caribbean.

Hi: Do you know what would happen to a fare if 2 travellers booked using the companion voucher and one person had to change or cancel the return flight?

If the second person has to cancel, then I believe the companion voucher would be credited back. You would also get the difference in fare back in WestJet dollars. I’m not sure how it works if the secondary passengers needs to change their return flight only.

Do you get new companion voucher credits in January of every year ? or in month when you were approved? Like I got one approved in November 2021 . I got one companion voucher right away. Will i only get another voucher after November 2022?

You get it on your card anniversary.

I purchased a trip to the U.S. for 2 and used my companion voucher. The voucher is now expired and because of Covid we are thinking we might change our flight to a later date. Will I lose my companion voucher or will I be able to still use it if changing up the flight? Thanks!

You’d have to ask WJ as it depends on when your voucher was set to expire and when you’re planning to rebook. WJ Recently extended the expiry date for many companion voucher holders, but you had to manually register.

I just got off the phone with Westjet and unfortunately, they no longer let you book multi-city trips with the companion voucher 🙁 messed up my itinerary pretty good. So please update the post.

Thanks for the intel. I’ve made the update.

Hi Jenna, thanks for the update. I contacted WestJet (using Messenger) in February and they told me I could but I had to call in.

Hey Jenna, got off the phone with the agent this evening and it took a while but it got the trip booked using the companion voucher (Toronto to Honolulu, then Maui to Toronto). The trip is normally $20000ish but paid $1100. He mentioned that he had to book individual one way trips or something so that’s why it took so long to do (about 45 mins). If it matters I booked an econoflex seat

Hi Marion. I did call in, twice in fact, but was told no I couldn’t twice. Maybe my call agents made a mistake? Make sure you call in and confirm with agents before you assume anything! -Jenna

If we purchase an Elite card Is the companion discount applicable with an upgrade from Economy to Premium Economy. Or is there any benefit in this case Thanks Patricia Miller

The WestJet companion voucher can be used on premium seats that are wholly operated by WestJet.

The credit card companion voucher s a joke. Do a simple test. Price a flight without the voucher. Then go back and price the same flight WITH the voucher. All of a sudden the flights are double or 3 times the price when selecting the voucher. I just did this. A flight to JFK was 489 without selecting g voucher. Then jumped to 1043 when selecting the voucher. This is a scam. I will be cancelling the card immediately.

Can you use the companion discount on allinclusive vacations if you and your companion are both going with Westjet. if so would the charges be different

No, the companion voucher can’t be used for WestJet Vacations.

Booked a trip for two return to Calgary. Used elite voucher which gave no seat charge to companion , just add on charges. Fabulous. I have submitted an seat upgrade offer for return trip. Does my companion get charged the upgrade fee if the upgrade is accepted?

I’m not sure, but usually, upgrade offers are charged per seat

I specifically got the World Elite card to save on All Inclusive vacations, which you say is not valid. Could I use it to pay for the flights and book our resort stay separately?

Hi Christy,

Yes, you could do that since the companion voucher is for flights only. Check the resort websites directly as they often have sales.

We’ve purchased regular fare and companion fare to for Yvr to Mexico, Feb. 2023. May I change it and pay 2 regular fares to Mexico and use the companion fare from Yvr to Rome, Oct. 2023?

You could, but I suspect you’d have to pay cancellation fees and then you’d have to rebook your Mexico flight at current flights. In other words, it’s probably not worth it.

Say you have a voucher expiring in one month and you book a fully refundable fair ticket and another of the same with your voucher for a flight two months out. now the day before the flight you cancel both tickets. What happens to your voucher since technically it expired a month ago?

You just need to redeem it before the expiry date. Your travel date can be up to one year from the expiry date. If you cancel the flight and your companion voucher has expired, you wouldn’t get it back.

Upcoming Changes to WestJet Annual Companion Voucher Pricing

WestJet has announced some upcoming changes to the annual companion voucher that comes as a benefit on the WestJet RBC® World Elite Mastercard and the WestJet RBC® Mastercard .

For vouchers issued on or after June 30, 2024, there will be an increase to the fee you pay when redeeming it for a Premium or PremiumFlex Fare.

WestJet has revealed that there will be an increase to the fees charged for redeeming an annual companion voucher for certain fares.

For annual companion vouchers issued on or after June 30, 2024, the base-fare fee for the second passenger on a Premium or PremiumFlex fare is increasing by $100 (all figures in CAD).

The base fare you’ll pay for a second passenger is $100 more than Basic, Econo, or EconoFlex fares, which depends on your destination.

For flights within Canada or to/from the continental United States, you’ll pay the following base-fare fees for a second passenger with a World Elite voucher issued on or after June 30, 2024:

Basic, Econo, or EconoFlex: $119 (unchanged)
Premium or PremiumFlex fares: $219 (up from $119)

For flights to or from the rest of the WestJet network, you’ll pay the following base-fare fees for a second passenger with a World Elite voucher issued on or after June 30, 2024:

Basic, Econo, or EconoFlex: $399 (unchanged)
Premium or PremiumFlex fares: $499 (up from $399)

For annual companion vouchers that come with the WestJet RBC Mastercard, you’ll pay the following base-fare fees for a second passenger with a voucher issued on or after June 30, 2024 for flights within Canada or to/from the United States (excluding Hawaii):

Basic, Econo, or EconoFlex: $199 (unchanged)
Premium or PremiumFlex fares: $299 (up from $199)

The increased fees for Premium and PremiumFlex fares only affect vouchers issued on or after June 30, 2024. Therefore, if you have a voucher that was issued on or before June 29, 2024, you’ll still pay $119, $199, or $399 for a second passenger on a Premium or PremiumFlex booking, depending on your booking and how you earned the voucher.

The added cost comes in addition to the taxes, fees, and Other ATC fees that WestJet levies on bookings.

In the email sent out to eligible cardholders, WestJet also noted that you’ll soon be able to redeem WestJet dollars with Sunwing Vacations on sunwing.ca.

Flying in Premium Will Cost a Premium

It’s unfortunate to see the upcoming change to the fee structure on the WestJet annual companion voucher.

As we’ve illustrated in our guide to the voucher – and as is the case will all companion vouchers – it becomes more valuable as you redeem for higher fares.

In some cases, redeeming the companion voucher for a lower fare is actually more expensive than just buying two tickets, since the base fare is sometimes less than the companion voucher base fare.

In other cases, you can get excellent value for a companion voucher by redeeming it during peak travel seasons (when base fares are high), last-minute bookings (when base fares are high), and for Premium and PremiumFlex bookings (which always have a higher cost than economy fares).

This will still be the case, and you’ll still be able to get good value out of an annual companion voucher as long as you redeem it strategically.

On one hand, if you’ve redeemed your annual companion voucher for Premium or PremiumFlex fares, it’s going to cost you $100 more for vouchers issued on or after June 30, 2024, which is unfortunate. You’ll still get great value out of a voucher this way – it’s just going to cost you more than it did before, which means that you’re getting less value.

On the other hand, it’s likely that the majority of people who use companion vouchers redeem them for Basic, Econo, or EconoFlex fares, and these upcoming changes won’t affect them at all.

WestJet has announced some upcoming changes to the fees charged for a second passenger booked on Premium or PremiumFlex fares with an annual companion voucher.

For vouchers issued on or after June 30, 2024, the base-fare fee is increasing by $100 for Premium and PremiumFlex fares.

You’ll also soon be able to redeem WestJet dollars for Sunwing Vacations on sunwing.ca; however, a timeline for that has not been set.

Earn 250 WestJet dollars upon making your first purchase†
Plus, earn 200 WestJet dollars upon spending $5,000 in the first three months†
Plus, receive an annual companion voucher for discounted travel on WestJet flights, with a co-pay starting at $119 plus taxes and fees†
Minimum income: $80,000 personal or $150,000 household
Annual fee: $119

Never got the chance to use the companian fare in the years I held the card. Finally cancelled the card. The Westjet rewards is completely useless. Westjet is using Swoop planes for a lot of routes while selling premium fare. Another company destroyed by PE.

The number of policies Westjet has implemented recently that negatively affect their remaining loyal customers is truly astounding. Not to mention they are begging the government (taxpayers) for support. Now, Westjet isn’t going to get its new 737 MAX 10 airplanes anytime soon (or at all), meaning it’s aging short-haul fleet will continue to be a less than stellar flying experience. Air Canada and Porter are flying much newer & nicer planes like the E2 and the A220 usually for similar pricing.

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Our existing Basic fare has been replaced by our new UltraBasic fare. Guests who booked a Basic fare on or before June 3, 2024 will still be able to bring a carry-on bag.

By using the WestJet website, you agree to the website terms of use , the privacy statement , and the use of cookies .

Annual World Elite round-trip companion voucher

As a WestJet RBC ® World Elite Mastercard ‡ cardholder, you will receive an annual round-trip companion voucher EVERY year. 3

How does it work?

The companion voucher allows you to invite someone special to fly with you on a round trip to wherever WestJet flies. All you need to do is book a round trip for yourself (the primary cardholder) and you’ll get a reduced fare for the second guest on the same itinerary. 3

Round-trip companion voucher fares (issued before June 29, 2024) 3

Within Canada or to/from continental U.S.:

UltraBasic, Econo, EconoFlex: $119 (plus taxes, fees and other ATC)
Premium or Premium Flex: $119 (plus taxes, fees and other ATC)

To/from the rest of the WestJet network:

UltraBasic, Econo, EconoFlex: $399 (plus taxes, fees and other ATC)
Premium or Premium Flex: $399 (plus taxes, fees and other ATC)

Round-trip companion voucher fares (issued on or after June 30, 2024) 3

Premium or Premium Flex: $219 (plus taxes, fees and other ATC)
Premium or Premium Flex: $499 (plus taxes, fees and other ATC)

Save more on your next trip

In 2023, on average, cardholders saved over $1,000 when redeeming companion vouchers on Premium fares and an average $500 on Economy fares. 4

Your companion voucher can do more

Did you know that you can exchange your companion voucher for four airport lounge vouchers? Treat yourself and your companion next time you fly.

Discover our destinations

Fall in love with the incredible city of Tokyo, discover stunning cenotes in Mexico or explore the breathtaking landscapes of Iceland - the choice is yours.

Where will you take your favourite travel companion?

Frequently asked questions

When will I receive my first companion voucher?

Once approved for the WestJet RBC ® World Elite Mastercard ‡ , the World Elite companion voucher will be deposited into your account 4-6 weeks after your first purchase transaction date.

When will I receive my companion voucher each year?

You’ll receive a companion voucher 30 days after renewal of your credit card every year.

Where can I find my companion voucher?

Your companion vouchers are accessible at westjet.com/account .

How do I book my companion voucher?

Booking is as easy as 1, 2, 3:

Sign into your WestJet Rewards account
Select the companion voucher check box on the booking widget
Search for flight(s)

Can I book more than one companion voucher on the same booking? 

Maximum one companion voucher may be used per booking. 

Can someone else use my companion voucher?

The companion voucher owner must be on the booking. Vouchers are not transferable.

How do I make changes to my existing companion voucher reservation?

You can self-serve changes and cancellations online via the Manage Trips section of your account.

Terms and conditions: Annual World Elite companion voucher

1. ®Registered trademarks of Royal Bank of Canada. RBC and Royal Bank are registered trademarks of Royal Bank of Canada.

2. ‡Mastercard is a registered trademark of Mastercard International Incorporated. Used under license.

3a. Applicable to World Elite Companion Vouchers issued prior to June 30, 2024: Once approved for the WestJet RBC World Elite Mastercard, please allow 4-6 weeks after the first purchase transaction date for the welcome round-trip companion voucher (the “World Elite Companion Voucher”) to appear on your WestJet Rewards account, accessible at  westjet.com/account . The World Elite Companion Voucher is offered to new WestJet RBC World Elite Mastercard cardholders only, and annually thereafter 4-6 weeks after the annual fee is charged. Primary cardholder may use the World Elite Companion Voucher only once for one of these options of: A) round-trip flight for travel in Canada and the continental U.S. for $119 CAD; or B) round-trip flight to/from the rest of the WestJet network for $399 CAD. Applicable taxes, fees, charges and other ATC (Air Transportation Charges) on the World Elite Companion Voucher must be paid at time of booking. Unless otherwise stated, companion voucher fees are quoted in Canadian dollars (CAD) and are quoted for flights originating in Canada. World Elite Companion Voucher bookings originating outside of Canada will be in the currency of the departure country. Visit westjet.com/creditcard-companion-voucher  for complete details. Additional fees may apply for bookings made via the Contact Centre. 

World Elite Companion Voucher may only be used: A) for all published and eligible UltraBasic, Econo, EconoFlex, Premium, and PremiumFlex fares wholly marketed and operated by WestJet; B) if the companion is travelling with you on the same itinerary; and C) for new bookings made through westjet.com or WestJet’s Contact Centre. World Elite Companion Voucher cannot be: A) used for Business, BusinessFlex or Member Exclusive fares; B) applied to existing reservations; nor C) used for group bookings or WestJet Vacations bookings. If one-way travel is booked, the full base fare will be charged, the voucher will be deemed fully used and the return portion of travel is forfeited. Valid for travel at any time with no blackout periods. Booking must be made before the voucher expiry date; travel may occur after the voucher expiry date subject to flight schedule availability at the time of booking.  If booking is eligible for cancellation based on fare type purchased, voucher will be reinstated to the account; original expiry date of voucher applies. If booking is made in the UltraBasic fare type, it is not eligible for cancellation and voucher will be forfeited. Other terms and conditions apply. Visit  westjet.com/companion-voucher  for complete details. The welcome (first) World Elite Companion Voucher is not available to existing or former WestJet RBC World Elite Mastercard primary cardholders applying for or transferring to a WestJet RBC World Elite Mastercard. Additional cardholders (co-applicant and authorized user(s)) are also not eligible for the World Elite Companion Voucher offer. This offer may not be combined or used in conjunction with any other offer. Terms and conditions of the World Elite Companion Voucher are established by WestJet, not Royal Bank of Canada, and WestJet reserves the right to change or withdraw this offer at any time. For complete details, visit  westjet.com/companion-voucher .

3b. Applicable to World Elite Companion Vouchers issued on or after June 30, 2024: Once approved for the WestJet RBC World Elite Mastercard, please allow 4-6 weeks after the first purchase transaction date for the welcome round-trip companion voucher (the “World Elite Companion Voucher”) to appear on your WestJet Rewards account, accessible at westjet.com/account . The World Elite Companion Voucher is offered to new WestJet RBC World Elite Mastercard cardholders only, and annually thereafter 4-6 weeks after the annual fee is charged. Primary cardholder may use the World Elite Companion Voucher only once for one of these options of A) round-trip flight for travel in Canada and the continental U.S. for $119 for UltraBasic, Econo and EconoFlex fares (“Economy Fares”) or for $219 for Premium and PremiumFlex fares (“Premium Fares”); or B) round-trip flight to/from the rest of the WestJet network for $399 for Economy Fares or for $499 for Premium Fares. Applicable taxes, fees, charges and other ATC (Air Transportation Charges) on the World Elite Companion Voucher must be paid at time of booking. Unless otherwise stated, companion voucher fees are quoted in Canadian dollars (CAD) and are quoted for flights originating in Canada. World Elite Companion Voucher bookings originating outside of Canada will be in the currency of the departure country. Visit westjet.com/creditcard-companion-voucher  for complete details. Additional fees may apply for bookings made via the Contact Centre.  

World Elite Companion Voucher may only be used: A) for all published and eligible Economy Fares and Premium Fares wholly marketed and operated by WestJet; B) if the companion is travelling with you on the same itinerary; and C) for new bookings made through westjet.com or WestJet’s Contact Centre. World Elite Companion Voucher cannot be: A) used for Business, BusinessFlex or Member Exclusive fares; B) applied to existing reservations; nor C) used for group bookings, WestJet Vacations or Sunwing Vacations bookings. If one-way travel is booked, the full base fare will be charged, the voucher will be deemed fully used and the return portion of travel is forfeited. Valid for travel at any time with no blackout periods. Booking must be made before the voucher expiry date; travel may occur after the voucher expiry date subject to flight schedule availability at the time of booking.  If booking is eligible for cancellation based on fare type purchased, voucher will be reinstated to the account; original expiry date of voucher applies. If booking is made in the UltraBasic fare type, it is not eligible for cancellation and voucher will be forfeited. Other terms and conditions apply. Visit westjet.com/companion-voucher for complete details. The welcome (first) World Elite Companion Voucher is not available to existing or former WestJet RBC World Elite Mastercard primary cardholders applying for or transferring to a WestJet RBC World Elite Mastercard. Additional cardholders (co-applicant and authorized user(s)) are also not eligible for the World Elite Companion Voucher offer. This offer may not be combined or used in conjunction with any other offer. Terms and conditions of the World Elite Companion Voucher are established by WestJet, not Royal Bank of Canada, and WestJet reserves the right to change or withdraw this offer at any time. For complete details, westjet.com/companion-voucher .

4. Average companion voucher savings calculation is based on usage in 2023 when using the  Annual round-trip  companion voucher.

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Travel office hours summary (january-june 2024).

[email protected] | June 4, 2024

Summary of Travel Office Hours (January-June 2024)

JOIN TRAVEL OFFICE HOURS

June - Office Hours Summary

Email: [email protected]
Phone: 614-292-9290 (Option 3)
Website: Coming Soon!
TPE will be combining Office Hours beginning July 2024.
Hosted on the 2nd Tuesday of the month from 10-11:30 AM.
First session for new Office Hours - 07/09/24.
Internal Departments - use booking request form online or call reservation office (614-247-4003).
Rate Code: OSUGSC
The Controller’s Office has published the Year End Checklist for processing deadlines.
The turnaround time for unapproved SA's will be shortened ahead of FY end. Please keep this timeline in mind if you receive a notification from the Travel Office regarding a prepaid airfare issues (e.g., SA not approved).
If not addressed by the deadline specified, the request may be escalated to the SFO due to the processing deadlines.
Content notification from contracted agencies may differ depending on the complexity of the itinerary change. In some instances, you will need to contact the agency directly to facilitate next steps.
Note: The airline may contact traveler directly instead of agency depending on the timing of the delay or cancellation.
Remember to have updated contact information in your Concur profile. It is also reccomended to install the airline specific app on your phone and load your itinerary details.
July 17th (in-person): 3/20 - 17 slots available
August 20th (in-person): 2/20 - 18 slots available
September 10th (virtual): 2/20 - 18 slots available
Policy requires an approved SA before purchasing any business travel expenses.

May - Office Hours Summary

Travel Office Hours - Offered 1st Tuesday of each month from 10-11:00 a.m. with summary posted at Travel Website (under News).
"Allow Workers to Approve Once" condition rule has been removed from WD and "Exclude Prior Approvers" has been added under Advanced Routing on the BOCL and GOCR steps for the following Business Processes: Expense Reports, Miscellaneous Payment Requests, Supplier Invoice Request, Requisition, Purchase Order
Emails sent to SCM's with tasks/transactions to review (ER's, SA's, MP's, Airfare Transactions, PCard Transactions, Cash Advances)
The Travel Office is hosing a Working Lab Session on May 21, 2024, from 9-10:30 a.m to assist with competing fiscal year-end responsibilities by the close deadlines.
For lodging and per diem - use applicable city
For airfare - use airport code or city
July 17th (in-person): 0/20 - All slots available
August 20th (in-person): 0/20 - All slots available
T# is legacy terminology for SA# (e.g., approved travel request number)
T# is the reference ID on the Historical Travel report in Tabelau that includes data from eTravel (legacy Travel system)

April - Office Hours Summary

Airlines are raising baggage fees. When submitting your spend authorization, cushion your baggage estimate appropriately to account for the increased rates.
Concur has a planned design theme update scheduled for April 10, 2024. There will be no functionality changes -- only aesthetic updates.
The Travel Office does not recommend using CTP for personal vacation bookings unless a companion is joining a business traveler with an SA or when blending personal/business with an SA.
Review CTP invoices and check the payment method/ last 4 digits of the credit card.
Confirm the Central Travel Ghost Card was not used for prepayment to avoid reimbursement to traveler in error.
Be aware of report limitations when pulling data by destination (e.g., Spend Authorization Summary & Detail reports). It is recommended to run for a specific country and then apply filters (e.g., pull in United States and export and filter by individual state).
When searching for flights in Concur, run a broad search to ensure all available fares are displayed - especially when pulling for comparison fares. Policy permits the most economic option that meets the business need.
Traveler sets up applicable travel arranger in Concur profile settings.
Traveler Arranger uses the "Act As" function to switch to traveler's Concur account and book on their behalf.
April 23rd (virtual): 6/20 - 14 slots available
May 15th (in-person): 1/20 - 19 slots available
Clean-up incomplete requests in advance of FY-End to reduce overall volume of reconciliation tasks.
Reach out to the Travel Office with any questions.

Travel Information Session: Cash Advances

Job Aid - Cash Advance Process
An advance payment available to eligible travelers for travel expenses when specific circumstances would cause undue financial hardship.
Cash advances are processed and approved in Workday via an approved Spend Authorization.
Before requesting a cash advance, consider other available payment methods (Department PCard, Individual PCard, Service Center Pcard, GET Card).

PCard is the preferred payment tool for an employee traveler to pay for travel-related expenses (excluding airfare which can be prepaid by the university on the Central Travel ghost card).

Considerations for access to card types are being proposed to be extended to broader audience (especially for travel) – reach out to PCard Office ([email protected]) to discuss.
Other payment options are being reviewed for non-employees – more to follow later in 2024.
Visit PCard Website for more information on card types and how to apply.
Ohio State student traveling on behalf of the university – 100% of the total estimated cost, including airfare, can be advanced .

Ohio State faculty or staff leading students – 100% of the total estimated cost minus costs covered by other university methods can be advanced .

Ohio State faculty and staff traveling internationally – 80% of the total estimated cost minus the costs covered by other university methods can be advanced.

The Service Center confirms eligibility for the cash advance in the Spend Authorization. Service Center can deny the cash advance request if there are better payment alternatives (e.g., PCard) or eligibility requirements are not met.
To request a cash advance, a spend authorization is submitted for approval with the cash advance box checked for one or more spend authorization lines.

When a cash advance is requested, an alert will follow the Spend Authorization through the approval process. The Service Center will review the cash advance and can stop payment if necessary.

Once approved, a payment is made to the traveler for the amount requested.

Notification will be sent to employee traveler and/or EDES with content specific to cash advance policies / reconciliation guidelines.

Expenses associated with a cash advance must be documented by itemized receipts or equivalent documentation and must be reconciled within 30 days of completion of the trip by the traveler. If the trip is cancelled, the traveler must repay the cash advance immediately.
If unused funds are not returned and processed as a cash sale, an outstanding balance will display on the Spend Authorization (which cannot close until fully reconciled).
Run "Find Spend Authorization Summary" report to identify outstanding cash advances
Troubleshoot unusual / unique circumstances
Travel Office provides oversight – don’t wait to ask for help!

Create Expense Report(s) and enter a line for each expense with related receipt documentation.

Each Expense Report will post to the Cash Advance Outstanding Balance total (excluding prepaid transactions) to reduce the remaining balance.

No reimbursements will pay out until the cash advance balance is exhausted or zero.

If oustanding balance is exhausted - cash advance is reconciled and no further action is needed
If oustanding balance remains - proceed with repayment of unused funds. See Record Cash Sale job aid for instructions. Once repayment is completed, proceed with the Cash Advance Repayment process.

March - Office Hours Summary

Regional campus cities (Lima, Marion, Mansfield, Newark, Wooster) have been added to the "Ohio" dropdown list in Workday.
The AOU has been updated in Workday to include Loaner Laptop language to contact local IT for technology needs & Pre-Authorization language for travel to restricted countries.
The Travel Office will be providing another Travel Information Session on "Cash Advances" following April Travel Office Hours.
For employees who hold split positions, functionality has been enabled to select the applicable position when submitting the SA or ER in Workday.
See more information in February 12th NewsLink article.
For travel reimbursements to NRA's, always submit via Supplier Invoice Request (SIR) regardless of the payment method.
Accounts Payable (AP) validates the payee requirements.
March 20 th (in-person): 10/20 – 10 slots available
April 23rd (virtual): 4/20 - 16 slots available
May 15th (in-person): 0/20 - All slots available

Travel Information Session: Combining Personal with Business Travel

Use Travel Comparison Worksheet and Travel Cost Comparison Guide .
Obtain quotes and estimates by using contracted suppliers and online tools. Ensure that quotes are date and time stamped!
Clearly separate business vs. personal travel expenses.
Processing Support roles - be proactive! Ask if there will be personal travel or unique travel needs and inform traveler of associated policy requirements.
Attach support documentation for review and approval. Remember that attachments cannot be added to the SA once an ER is linked to the request.
The header dates of the Spend Authorization should only include those for business travel. The personal dates can be notated in the justification field after entering your business purpose.
If there are changes to the trip after expenses have been applied, traveler should provide explanation/documentation for the change when expensing.
Processing Support roles - ask for clarification when approving the Spend Authorization if details are unclear and/or documentation is incomplete. Remind the traveler about completing the cost comparison.
Determine payment methods for your travel expenses. Traveler should use personal credit card or split payment methods (e.g., personal credit card and Pcard) as appropriate to separate business and personal expenses.
Transportation - book lowest reasonable transportation that fits the business need.
Airfare Cost Comparison - pull airfare cost comparison within 24 hours of booking (date and time stamped).
Companion Travel (e.g., spouse, family) - booking can be made with contracted agent on personal credit card only. Do NOT use Concur and/or prepay on the ghost card.
Cost Comparison is important to differentiate business vs personal travel.
Exercise caution and use your best judgement to avoid submitting for personal expenses not covered by the University.
Travel Office - submits prepaid Airfare Expense Reports for airfare purchased through CTP on the ghost card..
Service Center - marks policy exceptions when reviewing Expense Report.
Processing Support Roles - always ask for clarification if the documentation is unclear!

February - Office Hours Summary

Passenger van rentals have resumed with our contracted agencies.
For employees who hold split positions, functionality will be enabled to select the applicable position when submitting the SA or ER in Workday. See more information in February 12th NewsLink article.
Has a cash advance included
Has the total dollar amount changed from initiation to completion
Is cancelled
Wire payments are moving to production this week!
Travel Information Session: International Travel – Join us 02/27/24 from 10-11:30 a.m.
Termed employees generally have WD access for 60 days (unless involuntary termination)
Payment elections are active for 20 weeks
Workday does not reccomend using the default "Grid View" for 30+ lines
Use "List Detail" view instead to avoid system freeze
Utilize Certified Enterprise Dashboard for historical travel data
Dashboard - "Historical eTravel - Travel Request"
February 22 nd (virtual): 4/20 – 16 slots available
March 20 th (in-person): 6/20 – 14 slots available
April 23rd (virtual): 0/20 - All slots available

Wire Payment Process for Travel Reimbursements:

Job Aid - "Non-Resident Alien Travel Reimbursement Process"
Job Aid - "Create Supplier Invoice Request"
Travel ( [email protected] ) - for process/initiation questions
AP ( [email protected] ) - for payment questions

January - Office Hours Summary

Effective January 1, 2024 – the mileage reimbursement rate has increased to 67 cents per mile.
Additional information and a brief demo will be provided at February Office Hours (02/06/24).
Check Inbox filters to ensure Travel replies are not sent to your Junk/Spam folder.
Emails sent to Travel Mailbox (“[email protected] ”) receive a response from “[email protected]”
January 23 rd (virtual): 7/20 – 13 slots available
February 22 nd (virtual): 2/20 – 18 slots available
March 20 th (in-person): 1/20 – 19 slots available

IMAGES

How to use your British Airways Amex 2-4-1 companion voucher
How to use your British Airways Amex 2-4-1 companion voucher
Customizable Free Printable Travel Voucher Template
Customizable Free Printable Travel Voucher Template
Sample Travel Voucher Template in Pages, PSD, Illustrator, Word
How a BA Companion Flight Voucher Works

COMMENTS

Amex Companion Vouchers
22. Outbound travel must take place before the expiry date on the Companion Voucher however inbound travel can take place after the expiry date of the Companion Voucher. 23. Companion Vouchers are non extendable and non transferable. 24. Once travel using the Companion Voucher has been booked no name changes are allowed. 25.
Best ways to use a BA Companion Voucher
The chart assumes off-peak travel and using a Companion Voucher. Redemption option 1: Long-haul. Premium cabins. As the taxes are nearly the same between classes, you are parting with a similar amount of cash with a Companion Voucher redemption whether you are squeezed in the back of the plane or sitting up the front.
Is The British Airways Companion Voucher Worth It?
The companion voucher is valuable for travel to & from London Bottom line. Overall I find the British Airways Visa to be a well-rounded card. In addition to its big welcome bonus, the card also offers perks like 10% off British Airways tickets, and up to $600 per year in statement credits to offset carrier surcharges. If you fly British Airways ...
Things you should know about the British Airways Travel Together Ticket
Related: Maximizing British Airways Avios: Travel Together companion ticket. There's only 1 way to earn a Travel Together Ticket. ... So, with a redemption costing 100,000 Avios, using the voucher for solo travel would only require 50,000 Avios. The full fees, taxes and surcharges for the solo traveler are still payable.
Using your BA Companion Voucher
Using a companion voucher for a flight to New York in business class will save you 100,000 Avios on off-peak flight redemptions and 120,000 at peak times. Typically each Avios you redeem on a long-haul business class ticket is worth around 1 pence. So that's a potential saving of £1,200 for a £300 annual fee.
Smart Travel: Best Ways to Use a British Airways Companion Voucher
The Companion Voucher lets two people fly for the price of one on Avios redemption flights. Solo travellers can also benefit from this by redeeming only 50% of the required Avios points. Adequate planning is needed due to limited reward seat availability. To sum it up, making use of a British Airways Companion Voucher feels like the best of ...
How to: Book a companion voucher
Step 2: Find your trip. You can only redeem one companion voucher at a time. The owner of the companion voucher must be on the booking. Complete the travel details for you and your companion. You can also select your seats.
EXPLAINED
The BA 2-4-1 Companion Voucher only be used on British Airways services. Unlike regular Avios bookings, you are only able to book flights which are marked with the BA prefix and operated by British Airways. You are unable to Part-Pay with Avios. Unlike a regular Avios booking, you are unable to part pay the journey with cash.
WestJet Rewards Vouchers
A companion voucher issued as a milestone award is an award you will receive when you reach specific levels of milestone qualifying spend in your qualifying year. At $4,000 and $6,000 in qualifying spend you'll receive a WestJet-wide companion voucher, valid for round-trip travel in Economy or Premium anywhere in WestJet's world (excluding flights operated by partner airlines).
How do I get a Companion Voucher?
The Companion Voucher you hold will depend on the Card product you earned it with. See below for details of the benefits of each Companion Voucher type, as well as the latest updates that will allow you to get away, your way. Please note that the below applies to Companion Vouchers earned after 1 September 2021. For information relating to Companion Vouchers earned before 1 September 2021 ...
How to maximize the British Airways Travel Together Ticket
THE POINTS GUY. U.S.-based British Airways Visa Signature Card cardholders who spend $30,000 on their card in a calendar year can earn a Travel Together Ticket (posted within 4-6 weeks). The voucher is valid for outbound travel up to 24 months from the issue date (the return flight can be after that). The British Airways Visa Signature Card offers 85,000 Avios after spending $5,000 in the ...
Companion Certificates
Select the "Certificates, eCredits & Vouchers" on the left side of the screen; ... Travel for Companion Certificate must be booked and completed (i.e., fully flown) by the date on the front of certificate. Validity is not based on calendar year. Primary ticket will accrue miles. Companion ticket will not accrue miles. Tickets are eligible ...
Annual round-trip companion voucher
Annual round-trip companion voucher. You can now go further with the WestJet RBC ® Mastercard ‡. Effective April 1, 2020, your annual credit card round-trip companion voucher includes travel to/from the continental U.S, in addition to travel within Canada, for the same base fare rate of $199 CAD (plus taxes, fees and other ATC charges).
Certificates, eCredits & Gift Cards
Companion Certificates are good for one eligible round-trip flight - upon renewing your eligible Delta SkyMiles® American Express Card and can be combined with available eCredits. ... Delta Travel Voucher received when a ticket exchange results in residual (remaining) value;
Companion Pass
Companion Pass is the benefit that allows you to choose one person to fly with you, free of airline charges (does not include taxes and fees from $5.60 one-way) unlimited times whenever you purchase or redeem points for a flight. To qualify, simply fly 100 qualifying one-way flights or earn 135,000 qualifying points 1,3 in a calendar year.
How Does the WestJet Companion Voucher Work?
Broadly speaking, the WestJet annual round-trip companion voucher offers a discounted rate for a second passenger when the first passenger pays full price for a ticket. In many ways, it's similar to the Air Canada Annual Worldwide Companion Pass. It's important to note that the second passenger is still subject to other taxes, fees, and air ...
Alaska's Famous Companion Fare™ FAQ
The expiration date listed on your companion fare code indicates the date by which you must redeem your companion fare code and purchase your fare. Your companion fare code must be redeemed by 11:59 pm PT on the expiration date. Once ticketed, travel can be completed after the expiration date — within 12 months of the date of issue.
WestJet Companion Voucher Explained
The WestJet companion voucher is given to you free every year if you hold the WestJet RBC Mastercard or the WestJet RBC World Elite MasterCard but there are a few fees you need to pay on top of the fare for the first ticket purchased. $119 for round-trip travel in Canada and the continental U.S. $199 for round-trip travel within Canada (WestJet ...
Upcoming Changes to WestJet Annual Companion Voucher Pricing
Conclusion. WestJet has announced some upcoming changes to the fees charged for a second passenger booked on Premium or PremiumFlex fares with an annual companion voucher. For vouchers issued on or after June 30, 2024, the base-fare fee is increasing by $100 for Premium and PremiumFlex fares. You'll also soon be able to redeem WestJet dollars ...
Annual World Elite round-trip companion voucher
Primary cardholder may use the World Elite Companion Voucher only once for one of these options of A) round-trip flight for travel in Canada and the continental U.S. for $119 for Basic, Econo and EconoFlex fares ("Economy Fares") or for $219 for Premium and PremiumFlex fares ("Premium Fares"); or B) round-trip flight to/from the rest of ...
My husband died. Can I get my $5,398 cruise refunded from Viking?
Viking refunded her $221 and Trip Mate refunded her $531, leaving her $5,398 poorer. Kennedy is shocked and saddened at the loss of her husband and now at Viking's refusal to refund her cruise. After all, she thought she had taken every precaution she could to protect her cruise. She bought Viking's insurance twice through Trip Mate.
Travel Office Hours Summary (January-June 2024)
Companion Travel (e.g., spouse, family) - booking can be made with contracted agent on personal credit card only. ... Travel Information Session: International Travel - Join us 02/27/24 from 10-11:30 a.m. Workday Access and Payment Elections. ... Travel initiative voucher drawing rules and regulations. Faculty and Staff Appreciation Buckeye ...
Lupita Nyong'o had therapy to overcome her fear of cats for new horror role
The actress said she needed "cat therapy" to prepare for her role in the Netflix film A Quiet Place: Day One, because she harbours a long-standing phobia of the animal and her character owns ...

Changes to British Airways American Express Companion Vouchers

British Airways American Express Companion Voucher - Terms and Conditions for Companion Vouchers earned from 1 September 2021 onwards

Earning a Companion Voucher

Using the Voucher

British Airways American Express Premium Plus Cardmember

Rules and Restrictions

British Airways American Express Companion Voucher - Terms and Conditions for Companion Vouchers earned before 1 September 2021

British Airways American Express Credit and Premium Cardmembers

British Airways American Express Premium Plus Cardmembers

All British Airways American Express Cards

Frequently asked questions

Redeeming your voucher

Other questions

Using your BA Companion Voucher

What is a BA companion voucher?

Now, this is where it can get a little confusing. If you want to use a Companion Voucher for solo travel, you can do that too - getting 50% off the Avios cost of your ticket.

That sounds great. How do I get one?

There are two types of cards available

Will I need a British Airways Executive Club account?

Which card offers the best value?

So is the blue BA Amex a waste of time?

How many companion vouchers can I earn each year?

Can I use my companion voucher on other Oneworld airlines?

Can I book one-way or open-jaw tickets?

Can I use my companion voucher for tickets in two different classes?

Can I combine or share vouchers with my friends and family?

Can I use a companion voucher with a Reward Flight Saver deal?

How can I reduce the taxes I have to pay?

What else should I know??

What's the catch?

What's the solution?

I already know where I want to go What's next?

What should I do if I'm unsure where I want to go?

Smart Travel: Best Ways to Use a British Airways Companion Voucher

Table Of Contents:

Maximising Value from the Companion Voucher

Recent Posts

EXPLAINED – British Airways Companion Voucher

Benefits Of The British Airways Companion Voucher

How is it Earned?

British Airways Companion Voucher Small Print

General Flight Booking Rules

Redemption Rules

Voucher Validity

Reward Flight Saver Prices

Getting The Seats You Want

How Do I Get a First Class Ticket?

Can You Reduce the Ammount Of Tax Payable

Air Asia X Quite Zone: An Overview

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EDITOR PICKS

How do I get a Companion Voucher?

Now more valuable than ever: How to maximize the British Airways Travel Together Ticket

Editor's Note

How to earn the British Airways Travel Together Ticket

Rules for redeeming The Travel Together Ticket

When it makes sense to redeem the Travel Together Ticket

How to earn Avios

Bottom line

Certificates, eCredits, & Gift Cards

Certificates & eCredits

Companion Certificates

WestJet RBC Mastercard

WestJet companion voucher cost

WestJet companion voucher conditions

How much you’ll save with a WestJet companion voucher

What is the expiry date of the voucher?

WestJet companion voucher pros and cons

How the WestJet companion voucher compares to others

Save even more with the WestJet credit card

Final thoughts

About Barry Choi

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