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Throughout the past year, Delta Air Lines' infamous SkyMiles frequent flyer program has undergone a lot of change. SkyClub access, Medallion elite status qualification, MQDs — you name it. Almost everything has undergone some sort of overhaul. But now, there's more. Delta's American Express-issued credit card lineup is getting refreshed.
From new and enhanced benefits to higher annual fees, here's everything you need to know about what's changing with the Delta credit card lineup.
Page Contents
Here’s What Changing With the Delta Credit Card Lineup
New, higher annual fees
If you haven't caught on to the trend by now, “refresh” is synonymous with “higher annual fee.” All of Delta's cards with annual fees now carry higher annual fees. Here's a snapshot of what the new fees look like:
Annual fee increasing from $99 to $150 on:
- Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card (Rates & Fees)
- Delta SkyMiles® Gold Business American Express Card (Rates & Fees)
Annual fee increasing from $250 to $350 on:
- Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card (Rates & Fees)
- Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card (Rates & Fees)
Annual fee increasing from $550 to $650 on:
- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card (Rates & Fees)
- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card (Rates & Fees)
For those who applied for a Delta credit card before February 1, the new annual fees will go into effect on May 1, 2024. Starting then, you'll be responsible for covering a higher fee if you elect to renew your card for another year. For new applicants, the higher annual fees take effect immediately.
New applicants for the Delta Gold Card and Delta Gold Business Amex can continue to enjoy an introductory annual fee of $0 during the first year. Once renewal rolls around, the new (higher) annual fee will kick in at $150.
If you're wondering, there are no changes related to the Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card — which doesn't charge an annual fee (Rates & Fees).
Related: All Delta Credit Card Options, and How To Choose the Right Card for You
Enhanced Companion Certificate
Positive changes are coming to the annual Delta Companion Certificate perk on the Platinum Delta Amex, Delta Reserve, Delta Business Platinum Amex, and Business Delta Reserve. It's now easier to use and can take you and your companion further.
The certificate now includes round-trip flights to Hawaii, Alaska, Mexico, the Caribbean, Central America, and the continental United States. You'll still need to pay government-imposed taxes and fees of between $22 and $250 (for itineraries with up to four flight segments).
Related: The Ultimate Guide to Companion Fares, Companion Passes & Companion Tickets
Improved Delta flight credit
As a result of the changes, holders of the Delta Gold Card and Delta Gold Business Amex will see an improvement to the annual Delta flight credit. Instead of receiving a $100 credit after spending $10,000 in a calendar year, cardmembers will receive $200 after spending $10,000.
Expanded statement credits
In typical Amex fashion, statement credits now adorn Delta's credit card lineup. Here's a run-down of the statement credits you'll find on the personal cards:
- Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card: Up to $100 Delta Stays credit
- Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card: Up to $120 Resy credit (available as $10 per month), up to $120 rideshare credit (available as $10 per month), and up to $150 Delta Stays credit
- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card: Up to $240 Resy credit (available as $20 per month), up to $120 rideshare credit (available as $10 per month), and up to $200 Delta Stays credit
And for the business cards:
- Delta SkyMiles® Gold Business American Express Card: Up to $150 Delta Stays credit
- Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card: Up to $120 Resy credit (available as $10 per month), up to $120 rideshare credit (available as $10 per month), and up to $200 Delta Stays credit
- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card: Up to $240 Resy credit (available as $20 per month), up to $120 rideshare credit (available as $10 per month), and up to $250 Delta Stays credit
Enrollment is required for the Resy and rideshare (which includes Uber, Lyft, and other select providers) credits but isn't needed for the Delta Stays benefit. A spokesperson for Amex confirmed to AwardWallet that all that's needed to redeem the Delta Stays credit is to make a prepaid reservation on delta.com.
Enrollment is required for select Amex benefits.
Brand new earning categories for business cards
Unlike most typical business credit cards, Delta's trio of business cards never featured special bonus categories for spending on advertising, shipping, and the like. Instead, cardmembers were limited to increased earnings on Delta and 1X SkyMiles per dollar spent on pretty much anything else.
Thankfully, one of the major gripes about Delta's business card lineup has been reconciled. Bonus categories are here. Alongside the normal Delta and “other eligible purchases” earning rates, Delta's business cards will also earn the following:
- Delta SkyMiles® Gold Business American Express Card: 2X SkyMiles per dollar spent on eligible U.S. shipping purchases and eligible U.S. purchases for advertising in select media (on up to $50,000 annually, then 1X).
- Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card: 1.5X SkyMiles per dollar spent on transit, eligible U.S. shipping purchases, and eligible purchases greater than $5,000 (on up to $100,000 annually, then 1X).
- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card: 1.5X SkyMiles per dollar spent on transit, U.S. shipping purchases, and at U.S. office supply stores.
Related: The Best Small-Business Credit Card Offers for This Month
Here’s What Isn't Changing With the Delta Credit Card Lineup
As mentioned at the outset, the Blue Delta Amex escaped the changes unscathed. The recognizable, no-annual-fee product will remain as-is (Rates & Fees).
The “TakeOff15” benefit available on all cards except the Blue Delta Amex is also sticking around. You can still save 15% on award tickets when redeeming miles on Delta-operated flights.
It's also worth noting that Delta's Medallion Qualification Dollar (MQD) headstart is here to stay. While Delta announced this as a one-time benefit late last year in response to other program-wide changes, it'll become a mainstay on Delta's Platinum- and Reserve-branded credit cards. As a refresher, you'll receive the following number of MQDs just by holding eligible cards:
- $2,500 bonus MQDs for holding either the Platinum Delta Amex and Delta Business Platinum Amex
- $2,500 bonus MQDs for holding either the Delta Reserve and Business Delta Reserve
Related: How To Earn Delta Medallion Status in 2024
Also not changing? The recently announced limits to SkyClub lounge access. Those with Platinum-level Delta cards can no longer buy their way into the lounge using their card (which previously cost $50 per visit). Also, those flying Basic Economy have now lost access to the SkyClub, regardless of what cards they have in their wallet or lounge memberships they hold.
And restrictions put in place for Reserve-level cardmembers also aren't changing with today's announcement. Lounge access will be reduced on February 1, 2025, requiring significant spending to maintain your ability to garner unlimited visits.
Final Thoughts
The Delta credit card lineup has undergone some changes. As a result, almost every product has been outfitted with a few new bells and whistles, statement credits, and more. But these changes come with a cost, found in the form of now-higher annual fees.
On balance, the changes aren't overwhelmingly bad. However, they're not overwhelmingly positive. At best, they're fair.
For some current cardholders, these changes might be enough of a reason to say goodbye and move on from the Delta credit card ecosystem. But for others, the addition of statement credits, business spending categories, and more perks could provide sufficient reason to renew or apply for a new card. If you can make the benefits work for you, the annual fees can be justified. For many, that will require a re-evaluation when the higher annual posts to your account.
For rates and fees of the cards mentioned in this post, please visit the following links: Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card (Rates & Fees), Delta SkyMiles® Gold Business American Express Card (Rates & Fees), Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card (Rates & Fees), Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card (Rates & Fees), Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card (Rates & Fees), Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card (Rates & Fees), and Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card (Rates & Fees)
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