A day trip to Maine: The unexpected and enjoyable way we utilized the elusive Delta companion certificate

It was the beginning of summer, and while I had resumed some of my usual travel habits, there was still something quintessentially summer that I couldn't quite grasp... and I couldn't get it out of my mind. It was a lobster roll.

I had a craving for a fresh, authentic lobster roll, paired with a cold drink and good company, all while seated on the rugged coast of the Atlantic, ideally with a lighthouse in sight.

Yes, it might have seemed a little frivolous or even extravagant, but it was a personal passion I wanted to indulge in. And thanks to my Delta Air Lines companion tickets, it became a reality.

The true value of Delta's companion certificates

There has been a lot of chatter among TPG reporters and editors regarding the true worth of Delta's companion certificates.

I've had great success using my certificates for distant getaways, like heading to Florida during school vacations. Usually, if I plan months ahead, they work out. But recently, I tried to help my parents use one for a trip from New York to Los Angeles in October, and I couldn't find any available dates—even with four months of lead time and a flexible travel schedule. Not ideal.

So, one afternoon, I started browsing Delta's website, trying to fulfill my craving for a fresh lobster roll, ideally accompanied by some sunshine and the salty breeze of the coast.

Just nine days before departure, I found flights from New York to Portland, Maine, that qualified for the companion certificate. I invited TPG's managing editor for news, Clint Henderson, to join the trip. We quickly hit 'purchase' and followed up by offsetting the carbon emissions for the 273-mile flight to Maine. Here's how you can do it too.

How to make the most of your Delta Air Lines companion tickets

The idea behind a companion ticket is simple: Purchase one ticket, and you can bring a companion for just the cost of taxes.

Delta offers two types of companion tickets. The first is issued annually upon renewal of the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card and can be used for round-trip flights in the Main Cabin within the U.S., the Caribbean, or Central America (including Alaska and Hawaii). The second, more valuable option is given annually with the renewal of the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card. This one is valid for round-trip flights in First Class, Delta Comfort+, or Main Cabin within the U.S., the Caribbean, or Central America.

To redeem your companion certificates, simply log into your SkyMiles account and go to this page. From there, select the certificate you want to use (if you have multiple) and start searching for flights that qualify.

Flying to and from Maine for our adventure

For our trip, booked just nine days ahead, there were no eligible fare classes from LaGuardia Airport (LGA) to Portland International Jetport (PWM). However, nearby John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) had a 7:45 a.m. outbound flight and a 4 p.m. return flight. This schedule gave us enough time to enjoy lunch and explore a few sights in Maine.

Our regional flights weren't the height of luxury — one was a Bombardier CRJ-900, and the other, an Embraer E175.

The total cost for two tickets would have been $764.40, but thanks to my companion ticket, we paid just $411.40 — saving $353.

We hit the jackpot in a summer full of flight cancellations, with no delays whatsoever. In fact, both of our Delta flights arrived ahead of schedule. It felt like the good old pre-pandemic days of 2019.

We arrived at JFK with plenty of time to spare and breezed through security thanks to TSA PreCheck and Clear. If you’re not yet a member of these programs, check out our article here on why they’re essential. A few minutes later, we were relaxing in the Delta Sky Club, enjoying breakfast. The outdoor deck was even open. (On our return at 5:20 p.m., I saw a huge line of July Fourth weekend travelers waiting to enter that same club.)

Our flight pushed back four minutes early, and there was almost no wait to take off. By 8:47 a.m., the door was open again, letting the crisp Maine air into the cabin. We arrived 35 minutes ahead of schedule.

The return trip was nearly as smooth. The flight only took 47 minutes, and we were off the plane by 5:13 p.m. — an impressive 17 minutes early.

Both flights offered a snack basket along with beverage service. Honestly, that was all we needed.

What to do in Portland, Maine

With only about six hours to spare on the ground, we had to be strategic about what we saw, and naturally, most of it revolved around food.

This was Clint's first time in Maine, and he had such a great experience that just an hour into the trip, he promised himself he’d return one day.

Our first stop was the Old Port district of downtown Portland, just a 20-minute drive from the airport.

This was my fourth visit to Portland, and I had a list of go-to foodie spots I was eager to revisit.

By 9:30 a.m., we were already in line at Standard Baking Co., ready to indulge in their freshly baked bread and pastries.

Sure, we’d had breakfast a few hours earlier at the Delta Sky Club, but this was on a whole different level. (Upstairs in the same building is one of my favorite dinner spots, Fore Street Restaurant. Unfortunately, we’d be back in New York before it even opened.)

We then took a leisurely stroll through the rest of the Old Port neighborhood, admiring the ships, exploring nearby hotels (hey, we do work for TPG), and popping into shops like Sea Bags, where they craft tote bags from old sails. We climbed up the hill and visited Sherman’s Books & Stationery, which proudly claims to be the oldest bookstore in Maine, established in 1886.

Of course, there was more delicious food to be had along the way. This time, it was doughnuts.

No visit to Portland is complete without stopping at The Holy Donut. These potato-based doughnuts have quite the loyal following (as most good doughnut shops do). My personal favorite is the blueberry glazed, which incorporates fresh Maine blueberries right into the dough. Delicious.

We decided to order two dozen assorted doughnuts to go, only to realize that TPG had a connection with the shop. I discovered this connection when I stopped to use the restroom, where I noticed a press clipping from 2015. Travel + Leisure had included The Holy Donut on its list of America’s best doughnut shops, and the story was written by Melanie Lieberman, a former TPGer. A photo was quickly shared with the whole team. Yes, Melanie is now Maine bathroom famous. Congrats!

After a quick two hours downtown, it was finally time for the main event: lobster rolls.

TPG's senior aviation reporter, David Slotnick, who lives in Boston, happened to be nearby and surprised us by joining Clint and me for the afternoon. Isn’t it amazing how travel can bring us all together?

There are countless places in Maine serving lobster rolls, and while I won’t claim any one spot as ‘the best,’ I’ve been to Bite Into Maine three times now and have never been let down. (And if you can’t make it to Maine, they ship via Goldbelly, so you can enjoy the same great lobster rolls — minus the salty sea breeze.)

What makes Bite Into Maine so special is its unbeatable location: right at Fort Williams Park on Cape Elizabeth, just a stone’s throw from the iconic Portland Head Light.

As I mentioned earlier, I was really craving fresh lobster by the coast, near a lighthouse. And it was everything I hoped for. We grabbed our lobster rolls, found a picnic table, and dug in. The generous lobster roll was absolutely worth the hefty $36 price tag.

To round off the afternoon — and to wash down all that lobster — we made our final stop at the Allagash Brewing Company. Most beer enthusiasts are familiar with Allagash White, but this brewery offers so much more than just that.

It was the perfect way to end a great day. We sat outside, savoring our drinks and even spotted another Bite Into Maine kiosk right on the brewery’s grounds. Perfect!

The industrial park around Allagash has transformed into a mini beer district, with several other breweries popping up, including Foundation Brewing Company, Battery Steele Brewing, Definitive Brewing Company, and Austin Street Brewery.

I could have easily spent the entire day there, but we had a flight to catch. For the first time in ages, I actually wished I was checking a suitcase so I could bring some of that beer back home. (Since it was just a day trip, I had only packed a small backpack with my laptop and a spare change of clothes.)

About 30 minutes later, we had filled up the rental car, returned it at the airport, and breezed through security. It was almost too smooth of an experience.

The bottom line

Yes, it was a wild idea. But it turned out to be a brilliant way to make use of an expiring Delta companion certificate. I had the chance to show Clint around one of my favorite New England cities and, of course, convinced him to plan his own return trip to Maine.

While I couldn’t bring any local beer back with me, I did manage to bring a little piece of Maine home to my wife and 7-year-old daughter. Definitely a trip worth taking.

Check out our complete reviews of the SkyMiles Platinum and SkyMiles Reserve cards.