topic Re: Delta Skymiles Card in Credit Cards

Delta Skymiles Card

Anonymous — Tue, 23 Jul 2013 19:52:47 GMT

I just applied and was approved for the Delta Skymiles Card. This is my first AMEX card. I was kind of bummed no one has a clue what my CL will be. Not sure if I will keep the card past the first year, since the $95.00 annual fee seems a bit high. This is currently my 9th credit card. I checked my TransUnion Score which came back at 751, which is good, but not great. I am surprised how easy credit cards are to obtain. I have two credit cards with NCFU one has 8,000 CL and the other 10,000 CL. I have two with Chase, one is Slate Card with 7,000 CL and the other is the United Mileage Plus with 12,000 CL. I have a Discover Card with 8,000 CL. Discover raises my limit almost every month it seems like. I have a Best Buy Card with a CL of 2,500 through HSBC and lastly CareCredit Card with only 1,000 CL though GE Capital. Only three cards have balances, which total about 6,000, but I find it strange how I never stop getting approved. At some point will these negativity impact my score and ability to obtain credit if needed? Being able to charge over 50,000 seems extreme to me, not that I would ever do that. I am 29 years old and make 65,000 per year. Thanks!

Re: Delta Skymiles Card

Anonymous — Tue, 23 Jul 2013 20:05:57 GMT

the Gold card for 95$ is known to be lacking in benefits (unless you fly often and use the free bags) on the other hand the Platinum Skymiles card for 150$ offers a free economy companion pass each year. This year alone this saved me 580$ on a flight that I used the pass to get my wife a free ticket and 100.00 in baggage charges on that flight.

580 + 100 = 680 - 150AF = 5304 in net savings.

so in summary if you fly enough to justify using the card it can be very beneficial.

Re: Delta Skymiles Card

Anonymous — Tue, 23 Jul 2013 20:08:31 GMT

That does sound great! I fly about two times for work per year and two to three times for leisure! Does my score have to be higher to receive the platinum one or will AMEX offer it eventually?

Re: Delta Skymiles Card

DrJim — Tue, 23 Jul 2013 20:17:51 GMT

Delta Skymiles started me off low ($2K). But after 61 days I went to $6K, 6 months after that was $18K and six months later $25K. For grins and giggles a few months ago I asked for $35K and got it after filling out one of their silly forms so they could pull my tax returns.

AMEX will grow with you and they are all SP's. I upgraded to the platinum for the companion pass.

Re: Delta Skymiles Card

lhcole77 — Tue, 23 Jul 2013 20:20:41 GMT

You can call the AmEx 800 number and get your CL over the phone through their automated system.

I am loving my card and the bonus miles I racked up with it and my new SkyMiles account (47,500 bonus miles and still counting!)

Re: Delta Skymiles Card

Anonymous — Tue, 23 Jul 2013 20:24:26 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
That does sound great! I fly about two times for work per year and two to three times for leisure! Does my score have to be higher to receive the platinum one or will AMEX offer it eventually?

If you just got the Gold you will have to wait 12 months to upgrade, the UW criteria is the same so it would be a credit pull to upgrade.

Normally AMEX will throw you some miles to upgrade as well!

Re: Delta Skymiles Card

Anonymous — Tue, 23 Jul 2013 20:28:19 GMT

What was the process to upgrading to the Platinum? The companion pass would be helpful! Does anyone know if having a bunch of unused account hurts your score? Thanks for the tip! They approved 5,500. I will try to request the CLI in 60 days like you suggested.

Re: Delta Skymiles Card

lhcole77 — Tue, 23 Jul 2013 20:37:36 GMT

Here is a great link to get even MORE miles:

http://dmn.delta.com/ace_offers/SkyMilesNewMemberRT/

NEW MEMBER BONUS EARN UP TO 40,000 MILES WITH THESE
SPECIAL WELCOME OFFERS.

Re: Delta Skymiles Card

Anonymous — Tue, 23 Jul 2013 20:44:46 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
What was the process to upgrading to the Platinum? The companion pass would be helpful! Does anyone know if having a bunch of unused account hurts your score? Thanks for the tip! They approved 5,500. I will try to request the CLI in 60 days like you suggested.

You can do it online or over the phone, you will have to keep your Gold card for 13 Months before you will have the option to upgrade.

Re: Delta Skymiles Card

Anonymous — Tue, 23 Jul 2013 21:50:55 GMT

Thanks for the tip! Let the waiting begin

Re: Delta Skymiles Card

Anonymous — Tue, 23 Jul 2013 23:03:13 GMT

I know right, I'm already trying to justify upgrading to the reserve card when my next AF comes due!

Re: Delta Skymiles Card

CreditScholar — Wed, 24 Jul 2013 04:48:33 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
the Gold card for 95$ is known to be lacking in benefits (unless you fly often and use the free bags) on the other hand the Platinum Skymiles card for 150$ offers a free economy companion pass each year. This year alone this saved me 580$ on a flight that I used the pass to get my wife a free ticket and 100.00 in baggage charges on that flight.

580 + 100 = 680 - 150AF = 5304 in net savings.

so in summary if you fly enough to justify using the card it can be very beneficial.

+1. The gold used to offer a companion ticket, but that was removed in the past 12 months.

Re: Delta Skymiles Card

USF813 — Wed, 24 Jul 2013 04:55:25 GMT

There's a classic base version of the Delta Amex, with a $55 annual fee. You could always downgrade to this one at the end of the first year. You don't get a free bag but you do earn miles. My personal opinion is to only cash miles in for first or business class, where checked bags are free to begin with.

Re: Delta Skymiles Card

Anonymous — Wed, 24 Jul 2013 15:51:38 GMT

The AF on that one seems steep! Any extra benefits that make it worth it?

Re: Delta Skymiles Card

Anonymous — Wed, 24 Jul 2013 15:56:23 GMT

@CreditScholar wrote:
@Anonymous wrote:
the Gold card for 95$ is known to be lacking in benefits (unless you fly often and use the free bags) on the other hand the Platinum Skymiles card for 150$ offers a free economy companion pass each year. This year alone this saved me 580$ on a flight that I used the pass to get my wife a free ticket and 100.00 in baggage charges on that flight.

580 + 100 = 680 - 150AF = 5304 in net savings.

so in summary if you fly enough to justify using the card it can be very beneficial.
+1. The gold used to offer a companion ticket, but that was removed in the past 12 months.

Yep, but it was 99$ to use, so if you included the 95$ annual fee the Gold card was actually more expensive then the platinum

Re: Delta Skymiles Card

Anonymous — Wed, 24 Jul 2013 15:57:49 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
The AF on that one seems steep! Any extra benefits that make it worth it?

SkyClub access, additional MQM earning ability. Also at one point you could use the SkyPriority lines but I believe that went away, and if you are a medallion you have upgrade preference over someone with the same status flying in the same fare class as you.

Re: Delta Skymiles Card

Anonymous — Wed, 24 Jul 2013 16:55:43 GMT

That's a good point @ryanbush! I see many complain of these service being removed, but if it cost $99 to use anyway, then going to Platinum seems better! Maybe they don't qualify for Platinum or they are complaining just to complain

Re: Delta Skymiles Card

Anonymous — Wed, 24 Jul 2013 17:10:25 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
@Anonymous's a good point @Anonymous! I see many complain of these service being removed, but if it cost $99 to use anyway, then going to Platinum seems better! Maybe they don't qualify for Platinum or they are complaining just to complain

If you quality for Gold you should qualify for Platinum.

Re: Delta Skymiles Card

ibmrad7 — Wed, 24 Jul 2013 17:13:09 GMT

@ryanbush,

Are there any restrictions on the companion pass? or is it valid for all 50 states travel?

Re: Delta Skymiles Card

Anonymous — Wed, 24 Jul 2013 17:38:50 GMT

@ibmrad7 wrote:
@Anonymous,

Are there any restrictions on the companion pass? or is it valid for all 50 states travel?

It's restricted to certain fares (L,U,T I believe) as such it is only good for economy (Delta Reserve AMEX is good for Business Class)

I know it is good for domestic, not sure wether it is 48 or all 50.