Following the massive changes announced last year, including some that impacted co-brand credit cards, it’s hardly unexpected to see yet more SkyMiles-related changes. This time, though, they impact just the cards and Amex Remixes Delta cards with new benefits but also higher annual fees.
I know it seems counter-intuitive to raise fees now, especially after gut punches, such as eliminating unlimited SkyClub access on the Delta Reserve card. However, the changes being implemented often outweigh the fee increases so long as you can make use of these new benefits. If you can’t, then you ought to revisit your valuation of your card(s) to see if it still makes sense for you to keep.
Amex Remixes Delta Cards
When I say Amex remixes Delta cards, I mean all of their personal and business cards! So let’s go product-by-product to keep things as simple as possible.
Delta SkyMiles Gold Amex
The first card up in our Amex remixes Delta cards discussion is the base Delta SkyMiles Gold. This one has the steepest percent change in annual fee, which is jumping from $95 to $150. It’s also the most egregious change, as the card isn’t receiving any new benefits, nor does it help you earn Medallion status as all the other cards do. I mean, it does get your free checked bags for you and your travel companions, along with Main Cabin 1 Priority Boarding, but for $150/year? No thanks.
That said, there is a new promotion on the card for 70,000 SkyMiles after spending $3,000 in six months for new cardholders. The annual fee is waived for the first year, too.
Delta SkyMiles Gold Business Amex
As you’ll see throughout the rest of this post, the business version of this card got the same changes as the consumer. However, the sign-up bonus is different at 80,000 SkyMiles after spending $6,000 in six months after account opening.
Delta SkyMiles Platinum Amex
Next up in the Amex remixes Delta cards discussion is the SkyMiles Platinum card. Here is where the fee increase begins to come with added benefits. Speaking of, the annual fee for this card is jumping from $250 to $350. Ouch! However, for that increase, you get the following additions/improvements:
- Companion Certificate Enhancement: same as before (Main Cabin only), but is now applicable across the entire U.S. (including Hawaii), the Caribbean, Mexico, and Central America. As a reminder, the certificate is only available on Main Cabin fares L, U, T, X, and V and will incur taxes and fees of up to $80 for roundtrip domestic flights and no more than $250 for roundtrip international flights (both for itineraries with up to four flight segments max).
- Delta Stay Credits: receive up to $150 in statement credits per year for booking your hotel or vacation rental via Delta Stay with your card.
- Resy Credits: receive up to $10 per month in statement credits for purchases made at U.S. Resy-affiliated restaurants. It’s important to note that the restaurant must be part of Resy’s reservation system at the time of your visit and that Resy Pay transactions don’t account. However, purchases from Resy directly do count as well.
- Rideshare Credit: receive up to $10 per month in statement credits for U.S. rideshare purchases. Nope, unlike Amex’s other cards, this one isn’t limited to Uber.
Of course, these changes are in addition to others that were announced last year, including the MQD Headstart, which gives you $2,500 in MQDs per year, plus the ability to earn more with MQD Boost, which will award you $1 MQD for every $20 you spend on the card.
Like the Gold card, the Platinum currently has an increased sign-up bonus at 90,000 SkyMiles, versus the standard 50,000. To get the bonus, you’ll need to spend $4,000 in the first six months after you open your card.
Delta SkyMiles Platinum Business Amex
Like the Gold cards, the same story applies here. The actual changes to the cards are identical between the Platinum consumer and business flavors, but the business has an enhanced sign-up offer at 100,000 SkyMiles after spending $8,000 in the first six months after account opening.
Delta SkyMiles Reserve Amex
The final card I’ll be covering in my Amex remixes Delta cards discussion is the Delta SkyMiles Reserve card. This one is a bit tougher since unlimited SkyClub access was removed, while the annual fee is soaring from $550 to $650. Yeesh. So what do you get, then, with that increased annual fee? Well, basically the same thing as the Platinum, just with more value.
- Companion Certificate Enhancement: same as before (Main Cabin, Delta Comfort+, and First Class), but is now applicable across the entire U.S. (including Hawaii), the Caribbean, Mexico, and Central America. As a reminder, the certificate is only available on Main Cabin fares L, U, T, X, and V and will incur taxes and fees of up to $80 for roundtrip domestic flights and no more than $250 for roundtrip international flights (both for itineraries with up to four flight segments max).
- Delta Stay Credits: receive up to $200 in statement credits per year for booking your hotel or vacation rental via Delta Stay with your card.
- Resy Credits: receive up to $20 per month in statement credits for purchases made at U.S. Resy-affiliated restaurants. It’s important to note that the restaurant must be part of Resy’s reservation system at the time of your visit and that Resy Pay transactions don’t account. However, purchases from Resy directly do count as well.
- Rideshare Credit: receive up to $10 per month in statement credits for U.S. rideshare purchases. Nope, unlike Amex’s other cards, this one isn’t limited to Uber. Ok, so this one isn’t really an upgrade over the Platinum. But, three out of four isn’t bad, right?
Of course, the Reserve also gets the MQD Headstart and MQD Boost, same as the Platinum, but the MQD Boost on the Reserve awards at $1 MQD per $10 charged on the card.
The promotional sign-up bonus is currently at 100,000 SkyMiles (up from 60,000) after spending $6,000 in the first six months after account opening.
Delta SkyMiles Reserve Business Amex
The sign-up bonus for the Reserve card is currently at 110,000 SkyMiles after you spending a whopping $12,000 in the first six months after account opening.
Amex Remixes Delta Cards, Final Thoughts
Honestly, I’m not a Delta SkyMiles fans, so the fact that Amex remixes Delta cards has no bearing on me. That said, if you’re chasing status with Delta, you pretty much have to have a Platinum or Reserve card. Which one? Again, it depends on how much value the card returns to you, especially when it comes to MQD earnings. That said, for my Hawaii people that travel to the East Coast often, the Platinum or Reserve card may be worth it for you, just because of the Companion Certificate.
At any rate, if you want to take advantage of the enhanced sign-up offers, you’ll need to do so by March 27, 2024. You can apply direct with American Express.