Major Changes to AMEX Delta Cards

RicHowe · ‎09-30-2019

Annual fees are going up for the new benefits. Some changes not so good.

CreditCuriosity · ‎09-30-2019

Trivial AF changes on least gold, but I see some of the other nerfs. Wonder how big time Delta people will react. Just used alot of my sky pesos for a upcoming trip so might be a time for me to get out right after AF hits this month. Least I would have an excuse if i so choose so they thought I wasnt "churning" as they changed the rules

hawkins · ‎09-30-2019

Based on what I just read it’s nothing impressive at all. Better of with the gold card or platinum. Typical Delta.

Anonymous · ‎09-30-2019

Nothing special. 2x at restaurants on my Delta Gold is nice in a vacuum, but I get 4x MRs on my Gold card already and MRs beat SkyPesos any day so...meh.

simplynoir · ‎09-30-2019

Can someone translate if any of this is worth the AF increase? Because I'm not seeing it

ToxikPH · ‎09-30-2019

If the Amex Plat/Gold didn't exist I could totally see myself using either the Delta Plat or Reserve as my only card.

MrCreditInternational · ‎09-30-2019

It sucks that the plat is going from 195 to 250 whole the Delta lounge went from 29 to 39 per visit. The 3x on hotels and Delta is nice, but totally useless with any basic travel card. Might still be worth it tho for the companion pass

Current open cards:
Schwab Amex Platinum (NPSL); Amex Gold (NPSL); HH Aspire ($31,700); Amex BBP ($27,000); HSBC Premier WMC ($21,500); USB Altitude Reserve ($20,000); USB Altitude Reserve ($10,000); WF Bilt MC ($9,400); Chase Freedom ($7,300), BofA Premium Rewards ($5,000); Apple Card ($4,750); BofA Alaska Visa ($4,200); USB Altitude Go ($1,000)

Started collecting cards: Oct/2018

Anonymous · ‎09-30-2019

Thanks for sharing @RicHowe! This definitely affects me. A bit to think about concerning my future line up.

Shadowfactor · ‎09-30-2019

The only worthwhile change I’m seeing in theory is the complimentary upgrades for Reserve card holders.

In reality you have almost 0% chance of clearing, I suppose some of the smaller routes you could theoretically clear if traveling late at night or on the weekends.

Don’t see how any of this is worth the AF hike.
Still undecided if I will grandfather in for one more year for DL platinum and then cancel.
$250 for a CP roundtrip is bordering on the point where it’s more cost effective to be flexible. If you have the Visa Infinite Air discount the AF hike make this almost worthless.

This year I booked Economy and paid $75 more then I would have paid on AA for my flight to use the CP. Flight price was $350 for CLE-SFO. So take off the $75 I overpaid that’s $275. Then take off $100 Visa discount that’s $175 for a CP ticket. I lost out on the AF and I won’t get a free upgrade if I flew AA.

Total Revolving Limits $254,800

ToxikPH · ‎09-30-2019

@Shadowfactor wrote:
The only worthwhile change I’m seeing in theory is the complimentary upgrades for Reserve card holders.

In reality you have almost 0% chance of clearing, I suppose some of the smaller routes you could theoretically clear if traveling late at night or on the weekends.

Don’t see how any of this is worth the AF hike.
Still undecided if I will grandfather in for one more year for DL platinum and then cancel.
$250 for a CP roundtrip is bordering on the point where it’s more cost effective to be flexible. If you have the Visa Infinite Air discount the AF hike make this almost worthless.

This year I booked Economy and paid $75 more then I would have paid on AA for my flight to use the CP. Flight price was $350 for CLE-SFO. So take off the $75 I overpaid that’s $275. Then take off $100 Visa discount that’s $175 for a CP ticket. I lost out on the AF and I won’t get a free upgrade if I flew AA.

You make an incredibly good point, flexibility seems to pay in this scenario and I can imagine very often. Looks like my Delta Gold is being downgraded to Blue and SD.