topic Re: Downgraded my Amex Delta Gold in Credit Cards

Downgraded my Amex Delta Gold

FlaDude — Mon, 03 Feb 2025 01:09:02 GMT

This month would have been my first renewal after the AF bump from $99 to $150. The card was marginal for me at $99, so $150 was a no go. Chatted to downgrade, asked if they had any retention bonuses, but nothing for my account. Not suprising since my spend on that card is a few hundred a year. Downgraded to the no AF Blue version to keep the CL, although I could have transferred most of it to another card and closed too. I still get 2x on Delta purchases so I'll sock drawer it except for that. I also recently downgraded my AA card to the free version, can canned my Green card.

The Hilton Surpass card is still a keeper with $50/per quarter Hilton discount covering most or all of the AF. I hate to give up my Amex Gold since it's my oldest active card at 30 years, but $325/year for mostly worthless benefits means I'm keeping it mainly for the 4x grocery and dining. That was close to breakeven at $250, but not at $325. I'm glad Chase hasn't (yet, at least) followed Amex's lead in raising AFs and giving less for them.

Re: Downgraded my Amex Delta Gold

Gregory1776 — Mon, 03 Feb 2025 03:24:08 GMT

I keep getting Gold/Plat Offers with elevated MR bonus. I have no desire for an expensive Coupon book, maybe one day if I must fly more (does anyone want to do that? 🥲)

it seems like the MR points can be extremely valuable transferring out. I'll find out soon how much my ~63k points in worth eventually.

Re: Downgraded my Amex Delta Gold

LakeLife — Tue, 04 Feb 2025 14:20:36 GMT

I feel like the annual fee for the Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card at $350 is still a great deal even after the $100 increase. They opened the companion pass up to Hawaii and Alaska. My wife and I are flying to Hawaii in April, and she was free minus fees at around a $600 savings. Free luggage and other benefits make it a decent deal. I've never understood the offerings both above and below this tier though.

Re: Downgraded my Amex Delta Gold

BallBounces — Tue, 04 Feb 2025 15:34:03 GMT

@FlaDude wrote:
This month would have been my first renewal after the AF bump from $99 to $150. The card was marginal for me at $99, so $150 was a no go. Chatted to downgrade, asked if they had any retention bonuses, but nothing for my account. Not suprising since my spend on that card is a few hundred a year. Downgraded to the no AF Blue version to keep the CL, although I could have transferred most of it to another card and closed too. I still get 2x on Delta purchases so I'll sock drawer it except for that. I also recently downgraded my AA card to the free version, can canned my Green card.

The Hilton Surpass card is still a keeper with $50/per quarter Hilton discount covering most or all of the AF. I hate to give up my Amex Gold since it's my oldest active card at 30 years, but $325/year for mostly worthless benefits means I'm keeping it mainly for the 4x grocery and dining. That was close to breakeven at $250, but not at $325. I'm glad Chase hasn't (yet, at least) followed Amex's lead in raising AFs and giving less for them.

Mr. Dude,

Regarding your plain Gold Card, I agree the $325 is probably too much, and I am tempted to downgrade it soon as well. I do not want to cancel the tradeline. I just don't have enough spend to justify that card as well as the Aspire, allthough I am sure others do.

However, make sure you are optimizing the Dunkin and Uber and Resy credits. Specifically, even if not a frequent Dunkin user, you can at least maximize that $84 a year without making a monthly stop at the donut shop. As long as you or someone you know has the occasional coffee, breakfast, or box of donuts thast is.

Re: Downgraded my Amex Delta Gold

UncleB — Tue, 04 Feb 2025 19:22:12 GMT

@FlaDude wrote:
This month would have been my first renewal after the AF bump from $99 to $150. The card was marginal for me at $99, so $150 was a no go. Chatted to downgrade, asked if they had any retention bonuses, but nothing for my account. Not suprising since my spend on that card is a few hundred a year. Downgraded to the no AF Blue version to keep the CL, although I could have transferred most of it to another card and closed too. I still get 2x on Delta purchases so I'll sock drawer it except for that. I also recently downgraded my AA card to the free version, can canned my Green card.

The Hilton Surpass card is still a keeper with $50/per quarter Hilton discount covering most or all of the AF. I hate to give up my Amex Gold since it's my oldest active card at 30 years, but $325/year for mostly worthless benefits means I'm keeping it mainly for the 4x grocery and dining. That was close to breakeven at $250, but not at $325. I'm glad Chase hasn't (yet, at least) followed Amex's lead in raising AFs and giving less for them.

I hated closing my Gold as well, but truthfully I don't miss it like I thought I would. I briefly considered downgrading to a Green, but it's just more of the same (just to a lesser degree).

The coupon book thing that Amex is doing now with so many of their cards just doesn't work for me. I was able to "make" it work a few years ago when I lived close to ATL, but now I'm more rural and there's just no opportunities to use many/most of the credits at all. Even before I moved I found myself making purchases that were borderline... by that I mean I wasn't mad about making them, but if it wasn't for the credits I wouldn't have (ex. my infamous "Amex Cookies" I would get with the Grubhub credit).

To be fair, for the right person I can see how it would work out well, but I'm just not that person - and apparently I'm not alone. My financial life is easier now that I'm no longer concerned with going out of my way monthly just to burn credits.

Side note: While I never had a charge declined with any of my NPSL cards it was always on my mind when making a larger than usual purchase. No longer having to be concerned with that is an additional bonus to closing the Gold.

Re: Downgraded my Amex Delta Gold

CreditCuriosity — Tue, 04 Feb 2025 23:24:57 GMT

They are revamping their cards yet again this year and guessing AF's will increase. I did the game with my gold delta amex when they raised the AF i downgraded to the no AF version. Honestly would of just closed it but didn't want to upset the Subs for future Amex's. $150 didn't make sense for that card. Just seems like Amex as mentioned many times here keeps increasing the AFs and adding coupons and I just be forced to make purchases I normally wouldn't do to justify AF increases on their cards. they have lost me on gold delta amex, plat delta amex, plat card, gold card all due to increases in AF. Enough is enough on their AF's. I suppose the loosen up the UW a bit to get more customer in due to high AF's and more than offset their losses is my only logic I can think of why they keep doing this with minimal benefits for "normal" non coupon clippers.

Re: Downgraded my Amex Delta Gold

FlaDude — Tue, 04 Feb 2025 23:59:51 GMT

@BallBounces wrote:

However, make sure you are optimizing the Dunkin and Uber and Resy credits. Specifically, even if not a frequent Dunkin user, you can at least maximize that $84 a year without making a monthly stop at the donut shop. As long as you or someone you know has the occasional coffee, breakfast, or box of donuts thast is.

I appreciate the advice, but I'm not buying $84 dollars a year in Dunkin to give away to try to justify the AF. I use Uber 1-2x per year on average and there are no Resy restaurants within an hour of me. I'll probably see if they have any decent retention offers before closing outright though.

@UncleB wrote:
I hated closing my Gold as well, but truthfully I don't miss it like I thought I would. I briefly considered downgrading to a Green, but it's just more of the same (just to a lesser degree).

To be fair, for the right person I can see how it would work out well, but I'm just not that person - and apparently I'm not alone. My financial life is easier now that I'm no longer concerned with going out of my way monthly just to burn credits.

I agree 100%, it really seems they are targeting urban dwellers with no car. I already closed my Green card recently so no desire to downgrade the Gold to it, but might keep for another year with a good retention offer.

@CreditCuriosity wrote:
They are revamping their cards yet again this year and guessing AF's will increase.

Wow, they've just barely completed the last round of increases. Hopefully this disease won't spread to other issuers. I can stomach keeping a card or two of marginal value at $100/year, but not at ever escalating rates.

Maybe they think their cards have some level of cachet that supports the premium fees, but I really don't care what servers and store clerks think of my credit card.

Re: Downgraded my Amex Delta Gold

Gregory1776 — Thu, 06 Feb 2025 01:55:24 GMT

@UncleB

" My financial life is easier now that I'm no longer concerned with going out of my way monthly just to burn credits."

those are truly wise words, uncleB!

It makes me think of a post I'm struggling on making on the BILT card.