topic Re: Apply for Delta Gold Or Not? in Credit Cards

Apply for Delta Gold Or Not?

BronzeTrader — Sat, 21 Oct 2017 00:25:42 GMT

Have a family member at Atlanta, which is the Delta Main hub. Pre-approved for Delta Gold. Still not sure if should apply or not. We use mainly Southwest due to uncertain travel schedule. Delta is know for charging change fee.

Or we can still apply, and have the option to downgrade to Delta Blue if we do not like Delta.

Re: Apply for Delta Gold Or Not?

ridgebackpilot — Sat, 21 Oct 2017 00:30:24 GMT

My litmus test when deciding whether or not to apply for airline credit cards is whether I'm actually going to be able to use the airline regularly. I find the airline cards marginally useful if the carrier doesn't serve my home base. That's one reason I haven't applied for the Delta Gold card myself.

In your case, it might make more sense since you may be able to fly Delta to see your family in Atlanta.

Re: Apply for Delta Gold Or Not?

MrDisco99 — Sat, 21 Oct 2017 00:31:26 GMT

I dunno... I vote yes.

What's the downside?

Re: Apply for Delta Gold Or Not?

kilroy8 — Sat, 21 Oct 2017 00:32:36 GMT

I think everybody has gotten this offer the past week or so. It is like they are running a fire sale on Delta Cards. I didn't look twice, as it would be useless to me. I think there are much better travel offers out there, if you are a traveler. The bonus looks nice, but you would need a fair amount of spend to get it.

Re: Apply for Delta Gold Or Not?

K-in-Boston — Sat, 21 Oct 2017 00:35:14 GMT

If you need the flexibility, I believe change fees are still waived for Medallion members. (DW and I just got Gold and Platinum cards respectively this week but we likely won't be flying Delta enough to warrant chasing MQMs and MQDs, so I did not thoroughly research those perks. We generally fly about twice a year for pleasure and sometimes 1 or 2 times solo for business.) If status is something achievable for you, you may want to consider the Platinum. While the AF is higher (and due 1st year) on the Platinum, the public offer does come with 10k MQMs and another 10k bonus miles, and the domestic companion ticket on anniversary years should more than cover the AF, while you'd need to check bags 4 times to recoup the Gold fee. All of the Delta cards should be PCable upward and downward.

Re: Apply for Delta Gold Or Not?

BronzeTrader — Sat, 21 Oct 2017 00:42:23 GMT

@MrDisco99 wrote:
I dunno... I vote yes.

What's the downside?

When you apply for hotel or airline cards, you want to build around them. Or why pay the AFs if you do not use them. Compared with the SW, the Delta change fees are bad. It wipes all the benefits if you want to change/cancel just one trip in a year. That would be hundreds of $$.

Also, I do not think we'll work toward Delta Medalion. It gets very complex. We may just pick up the bonus, try it out. And downgrade if it does not work out.

Re: Apply for Delta Gold Or Not?

MrDisco99 — Sat, 21 Oct 2017 00:36:11 GMT

@kilroy8 wrote:
I think everybody has gotten this offer the past week or so. It is like they are running a fire sale on Delta Cards. I didn't look twice, as it would be useless to me. I think there are much better travel offers out there, if you are a traveler. The bonus looks nice, but you would need a fair amount of spend to get it.

It's the current public promotion for the card. It's the highest it's been in a while so lots of people are jumping on it. The deal is good until 11/8.

Re: Apply for Delta Gold Or Not?

K-in-Boston — Sat, 21 Oct 2017 00:44:32 GMT

@BronzeTrader wrote:
@MrDisco99 wrote:
I dunno... I vote yes.

What's the downside?
When you apply for hotel or airline cards, you want to build around them. Or why pay the AFs if you do not use them. Compared with the SW, the Delta change fees are bad. It wipes all the benefits if you want to change/cancel just one trip in a year. That would be hundreds of $$.

Wonderful points. I'd probably (okay, would) have a Southwest card if it weren't for 5/24. They are my preferred airline, but they don't go everywhere I want to go (rumor has it Hawaii's coming in 2019 so maybe that will open the doors for international travel outside of the Americas) and unless my destination is Chicago, it almost always involves a transfer somewhere (and sometimes absurd ones like Minneapolis/St. Paul between Boston and Miami). If only Southwest would join an alliance...

Re: Apply for Delta Gold Or Not?

BronzeTrader — Sat, 21 Oct 2017 00:53:50 GMT

We have direct flights to/from Atlanta on Southwest. So SW will remain our personal airline. Delta would be the alternative for now, mainly due to change fees. We are not tied to any airline for business and overseas travels.

Re: Apply for Delta Gold Or Not?

Anonymous — Sat, 21 Oct 2017 01:30:23 GMT

@BronzeTrader wrote:
Have a family member at Atlanta, which is the Delta Main hub. Pre-approved for Delta Gold. Still not sure if should apply or not. We use mainly Southwest due to uncertain travel schedule. Delta is know for charging change fee.

Or we can still apply, and have the option to downgrade to Delta Blue if we do not like Delta.

Who is "we" a significant other? Better apply for the Delta Platinum instead.

Re: Apply for Delta Gold Or Not?

MrDisco99 — Sat, 21 Oct 2017 02:19:52 GMT

@K-in-Boston wrote:

Wonderful points. I'd probably (okay, would) have a Southwest card if it weren't for 5/24. They are my preferred airline, but they don't go everywhere I want to go (rumor has it Hawaii's coming in 2019 so maybe that will open the doors for international travel outside of the Americas) and unless my destination is Chicago, it almost always involves a transfer somewhere (and sometimes absurd ones like Minneapolis/St. Paul between Boston and Miami). If only Southwest would join an alliance...

One thing budget airlines like Southwest do to keep costs low is to only use one aircraft type. Diverse fleets carry lots of overhead.

Southwest only flies 737s. They'll never be intercontinental with those.

And if they were to join an alliance, they would have to change their product to be consistent with their partners. Southwest has a great product BECAUSE they are independent.

Re: Apply for Delta Gold Or Not?

K-in-Boston — Sat, 21 Oct 2017 02:28:35 GMT

Oh, agree with the independence. I was half-joking. They just bought a fleet of 737 MAX 8, though, and I know at least Norwegian is using them for transatlantic flights and it's what SWA plans to fly to Hawaii so the range is there now!

@BronzeTrader did you decide to Delta or not yet?

Re: Apply for Delta Gold Or Not?

BronzeTrader — Sat, 21 Oct 2017 02:33:10 GMT

I think my family member will apply for it. There is no AF the first year. So the worst is to downgrade it to Blue and keep it for a while. I won't apply it myself.

Re: Apply for Delta Gold Or Not?

Anonymous — Sat, 21 Oct 2017 02:55:39 GMT

@kilroy8 wrote:
I think everybody has gotten this offer the past week or so. It is like they are running a fire sale on Delta Cards. I didn't look twice, as it would be useless to me. I think there are much better travel offers out there, if you are a traveler. The bonus looks nice, but you would need a fair amount of spend to get it.

I think the only places Delta flies out of my home airport are Atlanta, Cinncinati, and Minneapolis. I have two other major airports within an hour and half and neither of them have many Delta Flights. Last time I flew to Atlanta I used Southwest as they multiple flights a day to Atlanta at a cheaper price. Probably not going to visit Cinncinati again. Maybe one day I will fly to Minneapolis but until I do I don't see the need for me to get a Delta card.

Re: Apply for Delta Gold Or Not?

BronzeTrader — Sat, 21 Oct 2017 03:42:25 GMT

While, AmEx heavily promote this card with good bonus. And there are both upgrade and downgrade pathes. We can try it out to see if it works. It is better than the popular no AF blue Delta card, which is popular now.

Re: Apply for Delta Gold Or Not?

NRB525 — Sat, 21 Oct 2017 05:33:27 GMT

@K-in-Boston wrote:
If you need the flexibility, I believe change fees are still waived for Medallion members. (DW and I just got Gold and Platinum cards respectively this week but we likely won't be flying Delta enough to warrant chasing MQMs and MQDs, so I did not thoroughly research those perks. We generally fly about twice a year for pleasure and sometimes 1 or 2 times solo for business.) If status is something achievable for you, you may want to consider the Platinum. While the AF is higher (and due 1st year) on the Platinum, the public offer does come with 10k MQMs and another 10k bonus miles, and the domestic companion ticket on anniversary years should more than cover the AF, while you'd need to check bags 4 times to recoup the Gold fee. All of the Delta cards should be PCable upward and downward.

Maybe off-topic but are airline change fees something that are reimbursable with the PRG and AMEX Platinum Airline Fee Credit?

Re: Apply for Delta Gold Or Not?

simplynoir — Sat, 21 Oct 2017 05:43:16 GMT

@NRB525 wrote:
@K-in-Boston wrote:
If you need the flexibility, I believe change fees are still waived for Medallion members. (DW and I just got Gold and Platinum cards respectively this week but we likely won't be flying Delta enough to warrant chasing MQMs and MQDs, so I did not thoroughly research those perks. We generally fly about twice a year for pleasure and sometimes 1 or 2 times solo for business.) If status is something achievable for you, you may want to consider the Platinum. While the AF is higher (and due 1st year) on the Platinum, the public offer does come with 10k MQMs and another 10k bonus miles, and the domestic companion ticket on anniversary years should more than cover the AF, while you'd need to check bags 4 times to recoup the Gold fee. All of the Delta cards should be PCable upward and downward.
Maybe off-topic but are airline change fees something that are reimbursable with the PRG and AMEX Platinum Airline Fee Credit?

I can only speak for the platinum but yes they are.

Re: Apply for Delta Gold Or Not?

BronzeTrader — Sat, 21 Oct 2017 18:08:12 GMT

If you really want to pay $200+ change fee, it is legit to get the credit back from any airline credit. But with PRG, you need to designate the airline first. I believe you can do with Chase Ritz, BA PR and AmEx Plat.

Re: Apply for Delta Gold Or Not?

K-in-Boston — Sat, 21 Oct 2017 18:27:58 GMT

Indeed, they are reimbursable on Platinum and SPG but of course you do need to designate in January and personally I'd raher use the $200 or $100 toward gin and tonics.

Re: Apply for Delta Gold Or Not?

BronzeTrader — Sat, 21 Oct 2017 18:55:33 GMT

@K-in-Boston wrote:
Indeed, they are reimbursable on Platinum and SPG but of course you do need to designate in January and personally I'd raher use the $200 or $100 toward gin and tonics.

Or Champagne for two?