AMEX Gold Delta Skymiles to Delta Reserve info needed.

[Anonymous]

I am looking for some advice (success / horror stories) on going from the Gold Delta Skymiles Card to a Delta Reserve. Here is some background on me:

Capital One QS - $1,250
Capital One QS1 - $2,000
Delta Amex - $1,000
Credit One - $450
* All cards paid in full each month and never late - Both CapOne cards have had CLI’s and one has been upgraded.
TU: 643 EQ: 659 EX: 656
FICO 8: 638 (when pulled from Amex app 11/2017) - No baddies on my report (I may have a late car payment 4+ years ago but) everything shows clean.

I recently got my AMEX in November. Like some I was SHOCKED that I would be approved. I had always wanted an AMEX and I had been approved in minutes over an iPhone app. I met the minimum spend on it in like a month and got a gift card and got the $50 statement credit. I have a flight book already using the miles I got. Now, I am looking to go further... LOL!

I am really wanting a card with lounge access. A premium card if you will, so I figured I’d keep it in the AMEX family (well, I want to stick with CapOne & AMEX). I am eyeing the Platinum card as well (that’s another story though - LOL). My delimma is, I just got the Delta Gold AMEX. Can I upgrade / product change to the Reserve even though I just got new card? How does that work? Will it be a HP? Would I be eligible with my current standing?

I am trying to decide because I am absolutely planning on going for the Amex Platinum, so if I can upgrade this current Gold Delta to the Reserve and then in a few months get the AMEX Platinum, I would be in the GAME!!

What do you all think? Do I have a shot?

[dragontears]

Just an FYI, the CARD act prevents an increase in AF during the first year so you will not be able to PC to a card with a higher AF until the card is at least a year old.
If you have no baddies what is holding your scores down? High utilization?

[Anonymous]

That’s right! I forgot about that. I read that before. Well, I guess that idea is scrapped for now. I guess then I’d just be going with the AMEX Platinum.

I guess what’s holding me back is that I feel like I might not get approved. My utilization is a 0%. I have never carried a balance on my cards ever. The AMEX that I just got in Nov, I have paid it off in full every time, and the same with the Credit One, QS and QS1. The QS started out as a CapOne Platinum MC and then after a year I was able to upgrade; that was after 3 CLI’s. Do you think I should do it? Will I get approved based off of my numbers? What do you think? Have I not had the new AMEX long enough?

Also, I keep hearing about the 5/24 rule for some places, and with getting the AMEX I’d be locked out until 12/2018’ish before I’d be able to try for a CSP / CSR. I am not sure if it would apply to the Co-branded Ritz Card. Help... ☺️
*** sits back and bites nails nervously ***

[Anonymous]

Amex Platinum is an easy card to get approved for. Since it's a charge card and not a credit card, it's less risk for Amex. You've shown good payment history since November, I honestly don't see them declining you unless something drastic has happened with your scores.

With Amex you're also likely not to get hardpulled, so you have nothing to lose there. I got my Platinum a few weeks ago, no HP.

Based on your scores and history, I don' think you'll be able to get CSP/R or the Ritz unless your income is very strong. Might be a better option to start with the Platinum now (which is a great card if you use all the benefits) and build up your scores. Once you're below 5/24 again, go for the Chase cards. 

Edit: Ritz is not under 5/24 so you could try that one before you're under 5/24 again. But give your scores some time to grow. Chase is conservative, they don't like low scores with many new accounts. The Ritz is a Visa Infinite meaning it requires a 10k SL. If you can't qualify for 10k with Chase at the moment, you would just be wasting a HP.

[K-in-Boston]

Excellent and accurate posts in here! Other than SkyClub membership and helping to jump the upgrade queue, Delta Reserve isn’t necessarily any better than the Platinum card anyway outside of the companion ticket (which in itself could of course make up for the difference in AF). Platinum will give you access when flying on Delta ticketed flights, and also allows all of the other participating lounges no matter which airline you’re flying.

[NRB525]

If you have the Delta Gold, you already get half price fees for use of the Delta lounges. So while the Reserve does provide Delta lounge access, unless you are using those lounges a dozen times per year, from a Delta lounge calculation you are better off paying the half-price day fee. 

Insert Important clarification: The Delta Reserve only gets you into Delta lounges. That applies to all the Delta AMEX cards. 

The Delta Reserve also has the annual fee up front. 

With the AMEX One Sign Up Bonus per card per lifetime, if you do decide to go for the Delta Platinum or Delta Reserve, best option is to app separately for each, before product changing your oldest to the one you want long term. 

Mid-2013 Delta Gold, $2k

Mar 2014 Delta Platinum $10k, closed within 6 months because I misunderstood “lounge access” and “Platinum”.

Mid-2017, took a PC offer to move the Gold to Platinum for a small miles bonus. 

Jan 2018 apped the Delta Reserve for the 40k miles plus 10k MQM. 

Jan 2019 will close the Delta Reserve and PC the Delta Platinum ( 2013 open date ) to Delta Reserve and done with the PC and app movements.