As a faithful holder of the American Express Sky Miles Card I was rewarded with a certificate that allowed me to take a companion on a flight for a mere $99. I was planning on canceling the card but decided not to because I wanted to get that certificate. I would be taking my wife with me to a conference and that certificate would significantly lower the cost of her fare. (The annual fee was waived for the first year and one of the big selling points to keep the card -- and its $95 fee -- was the companion ticket)
The airfare to the conference was $422 each for a total of $844, but with my $99 companion ticket I would only have to buy one ticket for $422 (reimbursed by my employer) and then pay $99 ($123 with taxes) for my wife for a total of $545. What a deal!!! I would be saving $299! I was feeling like the cat that swallowed the bird. This alone would justify the $95 annual fee for the card. As long as I took my wife to this conference every year (and I was planning to do just that) I was in the black.
Oh, naive one. Did you really think that American Express and Delta Airlines were going to let you do this to them each and every year? Well, sort of. I mean, there were several hoops I had to jump through. I had to be a long standing "member" and each year if I didn't cancel the card I would get my companion certificate. It had to be redeemed 30 days before the flight and we had to stay at our destination at least 3 days. No problem. Yes! I snickered. I am going to cash in. (Plus, I'm a good person. I deserve this)
As I went online to redeem my certificate, my glee turned to "you have got to be kidding!" The flight I had chosen on Kayak was not even listed. None of the lower fare flights were listed. Only the most expensive flights were eligible for use with the companion ticket. I was given three choices, all priced at $697 ($275 more than the flight I had planned to take). Add the $123 companion fee and the total for both of us was now $820. Thus, the true economic benefit of my companion ticket was only $24 (844 - 820). I was deflated. Of course it was too good to be true. How could I have thought otherwise?
Yes, there is one born every minute and that minute it was me.
MM
