Update: DEAD! Don’t miss it if this becomes alive again. Sign up for deal notification alerts here!
I’m still catching up with the news I missed while I was offline for 2 days. And of course the insane viral beverage cart video:
Crazy event at ORD. Heads up safety move by a ramp worker! pic.twitter.com/SQi5zB0Ooz
— Kevin Klauer DO, EJD (@Emergidoc) September 30, 2019
But the biggest news was the upcoming changes to the Delta AMEX cards:
Table of Contents
Delta Blue card:
- No foreign transaction fees starting 1/30/20.
- Double miles at restaurants worldwide (instead of just US restaurants) starting 1/30/20.
- Return protection eliminated 1/1/20.
- Purchase protection (covers theft or damage up to $1K) reduced from 120 days to 90 days starting 1/1/20.
- Extended warranty reduced from 2 years to 1 year starting 1/1/20.
- Double miles on Delta purchases and 20% back on in-flight purchases remains.
- Annual fee remains $0.
This card does have some benefits that other no annual fee cards don’t have, like extended warranty and no foreign transaction fees, but there’s no major compelling reason to have it.
Delta Gold cards:
- Double miles at restaurants starting 1/30/20.
- Double miles at US supermarkets starting 1/30/20 (Consumer card only)
- Double miles on US shipping and US advertising starting 1/30/20 (Business card only)
- $100 Delta flight credit annually for spend $10K/calendar year starting 1/30/20.
- Return protection eliminated 1/1/20.
- Purchase protection (covers theft or damage up to $1K) reduced from 120 days to 90 days starting 1/1/20.
- Extended warranty reduced from 2 years to 1 year starting 1/1/20.
- Medallion Qualification Dollars (MQD) waiver eliminated 1/1/20.
- Ability to purchase Delta Sky Club access eliminated 1/30/20.
- Double miles on Delta purchases and 20% back on in-flight purchases remains.
- First check bag fee waiver, priority boarding, and baggage insurance remains.
- Annual fee increases from $95 to $99.
The loss of the MQD waiver and return protection means there’s no good reason to use this card. It can be worth having for the free checked luggage benefit though.
Delta Platinum cards:
- Triple miles at hotels and Delta purchases starting 1/30/20.
- Double miles at restaurants and US supermarkets starting 1/30/20 (Consumer card only).
- 1.5 miles per dollar on eligible purchases of $5,000 or more, up to 50K bonus miles/year (Business card only).
- Global Entry/Pre-Check credit starting 1/30/20.
- $300 trip delay insurance coverage on 12+ hour delays added as of 1/1/20.
- Miles boost will no longer provide redeemable miles after spending $25K and $50K annually.
- Delta Sky Club access increases from $29/person to $39/person starting 1/30/20.
- Return protection eliminated 1/1/20.
- Purchase protection (covers theft or damage up to $1K) reduced from 120 days to 90 days starting 1/1/20.
- Extended warranty reduced from 2 years to 1 year starting 1/1/20.
- Ability to earn 10K MQMs for spending $25K and $50K remains.
- Annual main cabin companion certificate and 20% back on in-flight purchases remains.
- First check bag fee waiver, priority boarding, and baggage insurance remains.
- Medallion Qualification Dollars (MQD) waiver remains and if you have this card you will continue to earn the MQD waiver on Delta Blue and Gold card spending.
- Annual fee increases from $195 to $250.
Lots of negatives here, but if you want the MQMs and MQD waiver it can be worth using.
Delta Reserve cards:
- Centurion Lounge access when you use an AMEX to book a Delta flight starting 1/30/20. Up to 2 guests flying Delta cost $50/each.
- Access for non-elites to get complimentary upgrades on Delta domestic flights starting 1/30/20.
- 2 annual Delta Sky Club guest passes starting 1/30/20.
- Triple miles on Delta purchases starting 1/30/20.
- 1.5 miles per dollar after spending $150K/year (Business card only).
- Global Entry/Pre-Check credit starting 1/30/20.
- $500 trip delay insurance coverage on 6+ hour delays added as of 1/1/20.
- $10,000 trip cancellation insurance coverage added as of 1/1/20.
- Ability to earn 15K MQMs after spending $30K, $60K, $90K, and $120K annually added as of 1/30/20,
- Miles boost will no longer provide redeemable miles after spending $30K, $60K, $90K, and $120K annually.
- Delta Sky Club access increases from $29/person to $39/person starting 1/30/20.
- Sky Priority Security Access eliminated 1/30/20.
- Purchase protection (covers loss, theft, or damage up to $10K) reduced from 120 days to 90 days starting 1/1/20.
- Extended warranty reduced from 2 years to 1 year starting 1/1/20.
- Return protection remains.
- Sky Club access remains.
- Annual first class/main cabin companion certificate and 20% back on in-flight purchases remains.
- First check bag fee waiver, priority boarding, and baggage insurance remains.
- Medallion Qualification Dollars (MQD) waiver remains and if you have this card you will continue to earn the MQD waiver on Delta Blue and Gold card spending.
- Ability to gift MQMs remains.
- Upgrade priority for elite members remains.
- Annual fee increases from $450 to $550.
This card is the most useful of the lot and comes laden with benefits for both elite and non-elite members, though it comes at a steep price.
Chart of the changes:
| Delta Blue | Delta Gold | Delta Platinum | Delta Reserve | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annual Fee | $0 | $95 now, $99 as of 1/30/20. | $195 now, $250 as of 1/30/20. | $450 now, $550 as of 1/30/20. |
| Miles per dollar on Delta purchases | 2 | 2 | 2 now, 3 as of 1/30/20. | 2 now, 3 as of 1/30/20. |
| 20% back on in-flight purchases. | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Miles per dollar on worldwide restaurant purchases | 1 now, 2 as of 1/30/20. | 1 now, 2 as of 1/30/20. | Consumer card: 1 now, 2 as of 1/30/20. Business card: 1 | 1 |
| Miles per dollar on US Supermarket purchases | 1 | Consumer card: 1 now, 2 as of 1/30/20. Business card: 1 | Consumer card: 1 now, 2 as of 1/30/20. 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 now, 1.5 as of 1/30/20, up to 50K bonus miles/year. | 1 |
| Miles per dollar on US shipping and advertising purchases | 1 | Consumer card: 1 Business card: 1 now, 2 as of 1/30/20. | 1 | 1 |
| Miles per dollar after $150K in annual purchases | 1 | 1 | 1 | Consumer card: 1 Business card: 1 now, 1.5 as of 1/30/20. |
| First checked bag fee waiver and priority boarding | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Return protection | Eliminated on 1/1/20. | Eliminated on 1/1/20. | Eliminated on 1/1/20. | $300/item, up to $1,000/year. |
| Purchase protection | Reduced from 120 days to 90 days as of 1/1/20. Covers theft or damage up to $1K. | Reduced from 120 days to 90 days as of 1/1/20. Covers theft or damage up to $1K. | Reduced from 120 days to 90 days as of 1/1/20. Covers theft or damage up to $1K. | Reduced from 120 days to 90 days as of 1/1/20. Covers loss, theft, or damage up to $10K. |
| Extended warranty | Reduced from 2 years to 1 year as of 1/1/20 | Reduced from 2 years to 1 year as of 1/1/20 | Reduced from 2 years to 1 year as of 1/1/20 | Reduced from 2 years to 1 year as of 1/1/20 |
| Car Rental CDW Insurance | Secondary | Secondary | Secondary | Secondary |
| Global Entry/Pre-Check credit | No | No | Yes | Yes |
| Purchase Delta Sky Club Day Pass | No | Currently $29/person, eliminated on 1/30/20. | Currently $29/person, $39/person on 1/30/20. | Currently $29/person, $39/person on 1/30/20. |
| Baggage insurance | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Trip Delay Insurance | No | No | Currently none, $300 trip delay insurance coverage on 12+ hour delays as of 1/1/20. | Currently none, $500 trip delay insurance coverage on 6+ hour delays as of 1/1/20. |
| Trip Cancellation Insurance | No | No | No | Currently none, $10K coverage added as of 1/1/20. |
| Miles boost | No | No | Currently 10K redeemable miles for spending $25K and $50K. Eliminated on 1/1/20. | Currently 15K redeemable miles for spending $30K and $60K. Eliminated on 1/1/20. |
| Status boost | No | No | 10K MQMs for spending $25K and $50K. | Currently 15K MQMs for spending $30K and $60K. As of 1/1/20 you will also be able to earn another 15K MQMs at $90K and $120K thresholds. |
| Annual companion certificate | No | No | Main cabin only. | Any cabin |
| Medallion Qualification Dollars (MQD) waiver | No | Currently waived with $25K annual spend for Silver, Gold, or Platinum and $250K for Diamond, MQD waiver eliminated on 1/1/20. | 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 select domestic flights. |
| Annual Delta Sky Club guest passes | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Sky Priority Security Access | No | No | No | Eliminated as of 1/30/20 |
| Gift MQMs | No | No | No | Yes |
Will these changes make you more or less likely to keep or get a Delta AMEX?
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30 Comments On "Major Changes Are Coming For The Delta AMEX Cards"
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Ouch!
Are they still having the free checked bag perk?
“First checked bag fee waiver and priority boarding No Yes Yes Yes”
if i have 2 versions of the platinum business and consumer ,i can spend 50k on each and get 40 mqm? stack mqms from both the personal and business version of the card?and i filed for purchase protection on an item bought back in june and 3 reps in the purchase proetection told me it is only for 90 days not 120 this was the amex plat card. cmiww
Access for non-elites to get complimentary upgrades on Delta domestic flights starting 1/30/20.” really how? even on award flights?
Delta is notorious for not giving out a lot of upgrades. This benefit sounds better than what you’ll actually get.
they have to be different types of cards for example one business and one personal if they are both personal cards or both business cards you cannot stack them
Must be booked in specific class even within economy not to mention basic economy is defenately out but others as well same goes for companion certificate and medallion upgrades, all depends on class
No good there trying to make money on the fees dont realise well close the accounts fees are not worth the benefits.
Dan – this post was quite extensive, but you didn’t list the addition of pay with miles to the free Blue card! This is nice since it guarantees a 1cpp floor for Skymiles and previously required a paid card.
Does that mean you’ll also earn miles on a flight paid with miles?
Yes, if you did “pay with Skymiles” (using Skymiles at a flat 1 cent per mile) and not a traditional award ticket for a set amount of miles.
Yes
So they just made the free Delta Blue pretty much as good as the Gold – for any existing delta Medallion status member.
I do not see an advantage on the Gold to justify $99/year vs free
Am I missing something ?
Free baggage
So for a Silver/Gold Medallion member, it doesn’t pay to spend the $99 – since they get a free bag anyways.
What does it mean “Secondary” for the car rental.
National?, International?
Secondary meaning that your primary (your personal own auto insurance) will be covering the loss/damage, and secondary will simply cover your deductible
Happy to see 2 PPD at grocery and $100 flight credit being introduced. Makes the consumer gold a keeper for me.
Disappointing that consumer platinum doesn’t get 1.5x for $5k+ purchases. Otherwise, I’d consider upgrading.
Why? You’d be better off earning 1.5 UR on a freedom unlimited. 2×0 is still 0.
Any news with the business cards ?
Read the post?
I have the gold Delta card and found that even though I had spent 50K in less than the calendar year, they did not give me Silver status saying that I still needed to fly segments in order to have the waivers work. Does that make sense?
Yes, you still need to fly. It waives the spending requirement only.
You need the platinum or reserve, and still with the plat. Youll be 5k short, unless you include the signup bonus of 5k mqms the first yr
Is the af of the gold card still being waved the 1st yr?
BTW Dan, fresh news right off the boat, we are right now in the IGA Lounge in IST enroute to TLV.. and as of yesterday the clerk said they are accepting priority pass! We got the whole family in under one card!
They basically gave the same perks other cards already have, just not as good (as cards like CSR, Blue cash preferred, amex Gold or platinum) whether with restaurants, flights, groceries, trip cancellation, trip delay, etc . So the added boost isn’t very helpful. On the flip side, losing return/warranty protection and
major increase to annual fees (by $55 and $100 for Platinum or Reserve) is really disappointing. It wasn’t too long ago that Delta Platinum was just $150, second big increase in a few years.
I have the delta gold card and I don’t have baggage insurance. I tried calling up and they told me its not a benefit on my account. Am I missing something? Is it a premium benefit? A search of the website doesn’t lead me to any information in previous posts.
I found the info online- its online on the delta gold for business not the consumer card.