It can expire One of the strictest Delta Companion Certificate rules is that travel for any companion pass must be booked and completed by the expiration date listed on the certificate. Note that its validity is not based on the calendar year.

Yes, companion flights and passes generally have strict expiration dates that depend on how they were earned. For the Southwest Companion Pass, the benefit is valid for the remainder of the year in which it was earned plus the entire following calendar year. For example, if you qualify in early 2026, it would expire on December 31, 2027. Credit card companion certificates, such as those from Delta, Alaska Airlines, or American Airlines, typically expire 12 months from the date of issuance (usually on your card anniversary). It is a peer-to-peer "best practice" to note that for most certificates, the travel must be completed by the expiration date, not just booked. Always check your digital wallet in the airline app, as these vouchers do not "roll over" and will vanish if unused, representing a lost value of several hundred dollars in potential airfare savings.