CC Companion reward flights - what's the point?

I'm off to Vegas in December. As my FC statement recently showed I had qualified for the reward flight, I thought I'd price up taking the OH.
Well I can either get us two x 'N' economies (I only need 1 more TP this year to maintain silver so not worried about those) for c.£700 inc taxes, or I can get myself an 'L' return and her the companion fare (i.e. taxes, etc.) for c. £720. A no-brainer really.

Just curious to know if anyone bothers to use these fares and if/when they work out value for money!

Cheers
Andy

[HighFlyer]

I have always used mine, good for a cheap weekend away in Premium if you can bag an S and a U. Generally useless for Upper rewards (a few exceptions).

Also useful to give to family, or when travelling in a group, particularly when fellow travellers are not in the FC - they can give you money towards the cost of a ticket and you can put them down as your companion.

On the whole though i do agree, the restrictions can make it a useless benefit for many.

Thanks,
Sarah

I've only ever used one once. Which was for economy in July this year. The miles+money options worked out nearly the same for two as paying for a companion and getting one free.

I took the companion fare as at least I earned miles and TPs which I needed.



Jilly

I've only used one once, to book a flight in August for my parents. It saved them around £300 i think.

It seems they are most useful if you fly at peak times, where sale fares are difficult to get. Also useful for PE bookings in S Class.

DD

I've got one going spare that I just don't see being used, and I have previously had 2 (I think) expire. So I guess that give you my view of the answer to your question

Generally the Companion reward is worth far more during peak periods where the difference between X (if you can get it) and L narrows.

Pretty pointless during off-peak.

Phil FM

Good value if your travelling premium economy.

Saved several £100 to NYC this year and over £1000 to San Francsco and Vegas next year. I guess the savings, if any, on economy are going to be less and that two Z fares may be cheaper that J and companion.

I find these types of tickets useful because I book an all singing all dancing ticket should I have to fly home urgently, & my husband can continue the holiday with our daughters. For us, these are invaluable.

Currently working through an exhaustive list of options for business class flights to NZ next Autumn, incl. Great Escape RTW with VS,NZ,SQ & NZ's own RTW option (now that they go via Hong Kong). We plan to stop in Hong Kong and San Francisco as part of the trip, hence looking at RTW.

I was also keen to look at the option of using a Companion Reward and getting ourselves UC to SYD, then doing a cheapo flight on to AKL and scrapping the SFO bit. Now, I've read in this and other threads that the Companion Reward flights we get via AMEX really aren't worth the bother so I've just put this to the test for dates next September. A J fare (which I presume would need to be purchased to get the Companion Reward) comes in at £5,885 whereas two Z's come in at £5754. I'm aware that 6 CDC transfers would be included if we go down the Companion route. So I guess that, overall, the companion route does just about repesent better value? Would be interested in peoples views?

Dean, didn't you & Fozz do UC to SYD using a Companion reward...I'm sure you mentioned this when we met earlier in year?

Thanks

James

I couldn't see the benefit of these companion flights. I have a voucher to use still so will probably use this for a NYC Premium or something

[HighFlyer]

Originally posted by Vegascrazy
A J fare (which I presume would need to be purchased to get the Companion Reward) comes in at £5,885 whereas two Z's come in at £5754. I'm aware that 6 CDC transfers would be included if we go down the Companion route. So I guess that, overall, the companion route does just about repesent better value? Would be interested in peoples views?

Dont forget the taxes for the companion!

To be honest, you are getting two people to SYD plus CDC's for the same price as two people to SYD, both earning miles and tier points, less CDC's. Personally, i dont think its a great saving as i'd probably want the miles and tier points, though its down to personal preference. What dates are you looking at?

I have two companion vouchers to burn right now and i cant seem to find value for money for them. Two K fares are coming out a little less than an S and a U, when you have two miles hungry people in the house it makes sense to take the miles and hope for the op-up.

Thanks,
Sarah

Originally posted by HighFlyer

I have two companion vouchers to burn right now and i cant seem to find value for money for them.

Well why didn't you ring me! I saw a great ocean planet the other day we can go on a fishing trip to! Don't mention it to Rim'mer though[V]

Originally posted by HighFlyer
Personally, i dont think its a great saving as i'd probably want the miles and tier points, though its down to personal preference. What dates are you looking at?

Hi Sarah, we're looking to go in October but clearly Oct '07 fares aren't bookable at the mo. To get an idea though I ran the searches mentioned using 3/9/07 for outbound and 17/9/07 for inbound.

As you know from our PM's a while back we were originally set on the Great Escapade concept - great being able to mix'n match VS, NZ & SQ. However £3.9K each is a lot of money, especially when NZ themselves are promoting much cheaper RTW business class (suite!) deals now that they go via Hong Kong. We then started entertaining the VS Companion Reward option as we have companion vouchers sitting unused in our FC accounts. Of course we'd need to scrap the return stopover in SFO if we end up going VS to Sydney and cheapo ticket to AKL!

Re your point about miles & TP's - in all honesty, we're after optimal value rather than hitting FC Gold, at the end of the day we simply don't do enough VS flights on a regular basis to maintain Gold - so whilst it would be nice it's not at the top of our list.

Cheers,

James

Just to throw in my 2c worth on this one [:o)]

Ive just used my companion reward for flights to Dubai next March.

Two 'Z' tickets would have been just over £2200 (£1100each) .... however I have booked a 'D' at just over £1700 and used my renewal companion ..... £850 each for UC to Dubai and i get the limo !!... me thinks that is a pretty good deal !

Regards

Mark

They allowed you to use the companion on a D fare? I thought it was only on the 'full J ' fare???