DansDeals will receive compensation if you are approved for a credit card via a link in this post. Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers, visit americanexpress.com to learn more.
Update: DEAD! Don’t miss it if this becomes alive again. Sign up for deal notification alerts here!
Update: This limited time offer will end tonight at 11:59pm ET!
Originally posted on 3/6:
American Express has released limited time offers on their portfolio of Delta credit cards through 4/13/22:
- Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card
- Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card
- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card
- Gold Delta SkyMiles® Business Credit Card from American Express
- Platinum Delta SkyMiles® Business Credit Card from American Express
- Delta Reserve for Business Credit Card
Table of Contents
Welcome bonus and card highlights:
Consumer cards:
- Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card
- Earn 70,000 bonus miles after spending $2,000 in the first 3 months of card membership.
- $0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $99.
- After you spend $10,000 in purchases on your Card in a calendar year, you will earn a $100 Delta Flight Credit to use toward future travel.
- Earn 2 Miles on every dollar spent on eligible purchases made directly with Delta, on every dollar spent on eligible U.S. purchases for groceries, and on every eligible dollar spent on dining at restaurants.
- For rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card, please visit here.
- Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card
- Earn 90,000 bonus miles after spending $3,000 in the first 3 months of card membership.
- If you spend $25,000 in a calendar year you’ll receive 10,000 Medallion Qualifying Miles. If you spend $50,000 in a calendar year you’ll receive another 10,000 Medallion Qualifying Miles.
- Global Entry/TSA PreCheck credit.
- Earn 3 Miles on every dollar spent on eligible purchases made directly with Delta.
- Earn 2 Miles on every dollar spent on every dollar spent on eligible U.S. purchases for groceries, and on every eligible dollar spent on dining at restaurants.
- Receive a Domestic Main Cabin round-trip companion certificate each year upon renewal of your Card.
- $800 of Cell phone protection when previous month’s cell phone bill is paid on card.
- $250 annual fee.
- For rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card, please visit here.
- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card
- Earn 100,000 bonus miles after you spend $5,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 3 months.
- Earn 15,000 Medallion Qualifying Miles with every $30,000 spent, up to 60,000 Medallion Qualifying Miles.
- Upgrade priority for elite members.
- Access for non-elites to get complimentary upgrades on Delta domestic flights.
- Global Entry/TSA PreCheck credit.
- Earn 3 Miles on every dollar spent on eligible purchases made directly with Delta.
- This card includes a Domestic annual Companion Certificate that is valid for a round-trip First Class, Delta Comfort or Main Cabin Companion ticket.
- Complimentary Delta Sky Club® Access and complimentary access to The Centurion Lounge when flying on a same-day Delta-marketed or Delta-operated flight. You’ll also receive two Delta Sky Club One-Time Guest Passes each year.
- $800 of Cell phone protection when previous month’s cell phone bill is paid on card.
- $550 annual fee.
- For rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card, please visit here.
- Delta SkyMiles® Blue Card
- Earn 10,000 bonus miles after spending $500 in the first 3 months of card membership.
- No annual fee.
- Earn 2 Miles on every dollar spent on eligible purchases made directly with Delta and on every eligible dollar spent on dining at restaurants.
- For rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles® Blue Card, please visit here.
Business cards:
- Gold Delta SkyMiles® Business Credit Card from American Express:
- Earn 75,000 bonus miles after spending $3,000 in the first 3 months of card membership.
- $0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $99.
- After you spend $10,000 in purchases on your Card in a calendar year, you will earn a $100 Delta Flight Credit to use toward future travel.
- Earn 2 Miles on every dollar spent on eligible purchases made directly with Delta, on every dollar spent on eligible U.S. purchases for advertising in select media, on every dollar spent on eligible U.S. shipping purchases, and on every eligible dollar spent on dining at restaurants.
- For rates and fees of the Gold Delta SkyMiles® Business Credit Card from American Express, please visit here.
- Platinum Delta SkyMiles® Business Credit Card from American Express:
- Earn 100,000 bonus miles after spending $4,000 in the first 3 months of card membership.
- If you spend $25,000 in a calendar year you’ll receive 10,000 Medallion Qualifying Miles. If you spend $50,000 in a calendar year you’ll receive another 10,000 Medallion Qualifying Miles.
- Global Entry/TSA PreCheck credit.
- Earn 3 Miles on every dollar spent on eligible purchases made directly with Delta and on every eligible dollar spent on purchases made directly with hotels.
- Earn 1.5 miles per dollar on single eligible purchases of $5,000 or more, up to 50,000 additional miles per year. 1 Mile on every eligible dollar spent on other purchases.
- Receive a Domestic Main Cabin round-trip companion certificate each year upon renewal of your Card.
- $800 of Cell phone protection when previous month’s cell phone bill is paid on card.
- $250 annual fee.
- For rates and fees of the Platinum Delta SkyMiles® Business Credit Card from American Express, please visit here.
- Delta Reserve for Business Credit Card:
- Earn 110,000 bonus miles after you spend $6,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 3 months.
- Earn 15,000 Medallion Qualifying Miles with every $30,000 spent, up to 60,000 Medallion Qualifying Miles.
- Upgrade priority for elite members.
- Access for non-elites to get complimentary upgrades on Delta domestic flights.
- Global Entry/TSA PreCheck credit.
- Earn 3 Miles on every dollar spent on eligible purchases made directly with Delta.
- After you spend $150,000 on your Card in a calendar year, you earn 1.5 Miles per dollar on eligible purchases the rest of the year. Eligible purchases after spending $150,000 do not include Delta purchases.
- This card includes a Domestic annual Companion Certificate that is valid for a round-trip First Class, Delta Comfort or Main Cabin Companion ticket.
- Complimentary Delta Sky Club® Access and complimentary access to The Centurion Lounge when flying on a same-day Delta-marketed or Delta-operated flight. You’ll also receive two Delta Sky Club One-Time Guest Passes each year.
- $800 of Cell phone protection when previous month’s cell phone bill is paid on card.
- $550 annual fee.
- For rates and fees of the Delta Reserve for Business Credit Card, please visit here.
Comparison Chart:
Here is a current breakdown on Delta card benefits:
Delta Blue | Delta Gold | Delta Platinum | Delta Reserve | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Annual Fee | None | $0 Intro annual fee, then $99 | $250 | $550 |
Miles per dollar on Delta purchases | 2 | 2 | 3 | 3 |
20% back on in-flight purchases. | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Miles per dollar on worldwide restaurant purchases | 2 | 2 | Consumer card: 2 Business card: 1 | 1 |
Miles per dollar on US Supermarket purchases | 1 | Consumer card: 2 Business card: 1 | Consumer card: 2 Business card: 1 | 1 |
Miles per dollar on hotels | 1 | 1 | 3 | 1 |
Miles per dollar on eligible $5,000+ purchases | 1 | 1 | Consumer card: 1 Business card: 1.5, up to 50K bonus miles/year. | 1 |
Miles per dollar on US shipping and advertising purchases | 1 | Consumer card: 1 Business card: 2 | 1 | 1 |
Miles per dollar after $150K in annual purchases | 1 | 1 | 1 | Consumer card: 1 Business card: 1.5 |
First checked bag fee waiver and priority boarding | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Return protection | No | No | No | $300/item, up to $1,000/year. |
Purchase protection | 90 days theft or damage coverage, up to $1K. | 90 days theft or damage coverage, up to $1K. | 90 days theft or damage coverage, up to $1K. | 90 days loss, theft, or damage coverage, up to $1K. |
Extended warranty | 1 year | 1 year | 1 year | 1 year |
Car Rental CDW Insurance | Secondary | Secondary | Secondary | Secondary |
Global Entry/Pre-Check credit | No | No | Yes | Yes |
Purchase Delta Sky Club Day Pass | No | No | $39/person | $39/person |
Cell phone protection | No | No | Effective 4/1, $800 of Cell phone protection when previous month's cell phone bill is paid on card. | Effective 4/1, $800 of Cell phone protection when previous month's cell phone bill is paid on card. |
Baggage insurance | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Trip Delay Insurance | No | No | $300 trip delay insurance coverage on 12+ hour delays | $500 trip delay insurance coverage on 6+ hour delays |
Trip Cancellation Insurance | No | No | No | $10K coverage |
Status boost | No | No | 10K MQMs for spending $25K and $50K. | 15K MQMs for spending $30K, $60K, $90K, and $120K. |
Annual companion certificate | No | No | Main cabin only. | Any cabin |
Medallion Qualification Dollars (MQD) waiver | No | No | Waived with $25K annual spend for Silver, Gold, or Platinum and $250K for Diamond | Waived with $25K annual spend for Silver, Gold, or Platinum and $250K for Diamond |
Centurion Lounge Access | No | No | No | Available for cardholder for Delta flights booked on an AMEX. Bring up to 2 guests for $50 each. |
Delta Sky Club Access | No | No | No | Yes |
Upgrade Priority for elite members | No | No | No | Yes |
Complimentary Upgrade Access for non-elites | No | No | No | Available on domestic flights. |
Annual Delta Sky Club guest passes | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
Gift MQMs | No | No | No | Yes |
Benefits offered on all Delta Gold, Platinum, and Reserve cards:
- Offer a free checked bag for the primary cardholder and up to 8 companions on the same reservation. You do not need to book tickets on your Delta card for this benefit, you only need to have your Skymiles number in the reservation. That allows you to buy airfare on a card that offers more points per dollar on airfare.
- Have no foreign transaction fees.
- Offer Zone 1 Priority Boarding on Delta flights for the primary cardholder and up to 8 companions on the same reservation so that you won’t have to gate-check your carry-ons.
- Offer free priority boarding along with a free carry-on and checked bag even on a Basic Economy fare. That can equal major savings on domestic and international basic economy deals.
- Offer a 20% savings in the form of a statement credit on eligible pre-purchased meals, in-flight purchases of food, alcoholic beverages and audio headsets, and movies, shows and video games accessed via Delta’s seatback in-flight entertainment system, on Delta-operated flights.
- Offer free additional cardholders (up to 99 per account). Additional cardholders are each eligible for American promotions like AMEX Offers.
Spend Threshold:
If you need a little help to meet the threshold, you can pay your federal taxes for a 1.87% fee). If you overpay your taxes you can request a refund or apply it to your next year’s taxes.
My local natural gas company allows me to prepay up to $1,000 per transaction on a credit card for a $1.65 flat fee. That’s a great way to earn miles and help meet a spend threshold. My electricity supplier allows me to pay with a credit card for free as long as I am enrolled in autopay.
American Express benefits:
The cards carry American Express’ awesome top-notch protections that are light-years better than any other banks. Most other banks always look for a way to get out, but that’s not the case with American Express.
Benefits include warranty coverage, dispute resolution, car rental insurance worldwide-including in Israel, purchase protection, and more. The Reserve card also comes with lost item and return protection.
AMEX cards offer free Shoprunner membership for 2nd day free shipping and returns from dozens of stores.
See this post to see just how amazing some of the AMEX protections can be.
Best Uses Of Delta Miles:
Delta doesn’t publish award charts anymore as they feel than an uneducated customer is their best customer. That’s beyond frustrating.
They don’t charge a close-in award fee, but it can be tough to find saver award space available within 3 weeks.
However there are still plenty of good uses of Delta miles. Plus, Delta miles never expire.
Delta has also lowered the cost of some domestic saver awards from a flat 12.5K to as low as 4.5K, depending on the route.
They also have relative bargains on travel to Israel in coach and business class. Delta now flies their business class suites product between Boston or JFK and Tel Aviv.
They frequently run flash sales. I flew to Amsterdam for just 49K Delta miles each way in Delta Suites:
You can read the Amsterdam trip report and my thoughts on Delta A350 suites here.
If you actually want to collect Delta miles you’ll do better spending on the The Blue Business℠ Plus Credit Card from American Express which earns 2 points per dollar everywhere. Plus you can transfer those points to other airlines or Delta on demand as you need them.
However the MQM bonuses can make it worth spending on the Delta Platinum/Reserve cards if you can hit the spend threshold bonuses.
Additionally if you are gunning for Delta medallion status, then spending $25,000 on Delta Platinum/Reserve cards will waive the requirement to spend a minimum amount on Delta flights to earn that status ($3,000 for Silver, $6,000 for Gold, or $9,000 for Platinum if you don’t spend $25K in a year across all of your Delta cards). You’ll need to spend $250K on Delta Platinum/Reserve cards waive the requirement to spend a minimum amount on Delta flights to earn Diamond status.
Which of the Delta AMEX cards will you apply for?
- For rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card, please visit here.
- For rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card, please visit here.
- For rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card, please visit here.
- For rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles® Blue Card, please visit here.
- For rates and fees of the Delta Business Gold AMEX, click here.
- For rates and fees of the Delta Business Platinum AMEX, click here.
- For rates and fees of the Delta Business Reserve AMEX, click here.
What are the rules regarding having multiple Delta cards / signup bonuses. For instance, if I already have a Gold card, can I downgrade it to Blue (or cancel it), sign up for a Reserve and get a new signup bonus? Or does having any Delta card disqualify me?
You can get each card flavor.
When you apply you can tell if you won’t be able to earn the bonus as a popup will come up telling you that you can cancel the application as you won’t earn a welcome bonus.
Is it possible to downgrade from gold to blue after the first year ?
Yes
@Dan the companion pass looks like the best benefit on the premium cards! Am I right? And can you please elaborate on that in the post?
It’s not an unlimited use pass like with Southwest.
It’s good for one use for a free companion ticket with a paid flight.
Oh…. I thought I’m on to something……
Oh well.
Do you think it’s worth it just for that?
will I get companion pass with first years fee?
no
thanks got approved through your link
Thanks and congrats!
I was just got approved for 60000 miles sign up bonus on the gold card 3 weeks ago do you think they will match this 70000 mile offer?
Unlikely.
Can I downgrade from a platinum to gold? Also dues it make a difference business or consumer?
Thank you Dan!
If I get delta reserve business card and spend 250k I become delta diamond? Even without flying at all?
no. you need 125k mqms or 140 mqs also but you will have 60k mqms
Why do you consider 105k miles a bargain when they are more expensive then all other airlines via saver awards ? Even 85k is not a bargain . Forget about 105k. AA or Turkish on united for 50k or less thats a bargain .
Everything is relative. Delta Skypesos is a devalued revenue based currency, so 105K is a bargain.
Hear ya. Do they charge fuel charges on VA to Isreal? I found something weird how they price the fees.
No
Interesting that I see That they charge much a bigger surcharge for premium economy then they charge for business class.
there is only 6 days jfk to tlv for 105k til the end of 2022 and guess what 2 are shabbos flights 1 lands on rosh hashana afternoon and the other 3 are on chanuka
Try Boston
Tnx booked for 5500 comfort plus (main cabin was 6500) lga to bos and for 105k bos to tlv
Nice!
i currently have a delta gold skymiles for almost a year can i upgrade and get current bonus?
What makes me not eligible??? I only opened a Blue cash back Amex card. would that disqualify me?
Had the same pop up when applying for the gold but was eligible for the platinum. 3 months later I opened the gold
How long after meeting minimum spend will the bonus miles be deposited into my Delta account?