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This post contains information that is expired or out of date; see our guide to Delta SkyMiles for the most up-to-date information.
American Express has announced big changes for the co-brand Delta cards. Overall, it’s a mixed bag that includes some new benefits we like and some changes to existing ones we could do without. The most obvious negative is the increased annual fee on six of the cards which will apply to applications received on or after January 30, 2020.
We’ve summarized the key changes that kick in on January 30, to help you decide whether it makes sense to jump on the current offer and if you can justify the increased annual fees in the long term.
Changes to Amex Delta Cards in 2020
With all seven Delta cards undergoing a refresh, there is a lot of ground to cover. First, we’ll touch on the benefits that aren’t changing; then, we’ll dig into the updates for each card in more detail below.
Existing benefits that aren't being removed on the Delta cards:
- Free first checked bag on Delta flights
- Annual companion certificates on the Platinum and Reserve cards
- Main Cabin 1 Priority Boarding on Delta flights (Update: now Group 5 boarding in Delta's new boarding order)
- Pay with Miles
- In-flight savings up to 20%
- No foreign transaction fees
Changes to Delta Reserve Cards
Undergoing the most extensive changes of the Delta card lineup, Amex has doubled down on the two Reserve cards as the best products for members trying to earn Medallion elite status. The new perks allow you to earn up to 60,000 MQM via spending alone and provide better lounge access than before. Plus, the Delta Reserve cards have finally jumped on the Global Entry/TSA Pre bandwagon with a $100 credit every four years. Enrollment is required for select Amex benefits.
Cardholders will retain complimentary Delta SkyClub access, the annual companion certificate (Domestic First-Class, Delta Comfort+®, or Main Cabin each year upon renewal), free checked bags, plus the MQD Waiver.
Effective 2/1/25, Reserve Card members get 15 Delta Sky Club visits per Medallion® Year when flying Delta and can unlock an unlimited number of Visits after spending $75,000 on the card each calendar year. Learn more about Delta's status changes for 2024.
Positive changes to the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card:
- 3x miles on Delta eligible purchases (previously 2x)
- Complimentary access to The Centurion® Lounge when flying Delta same day (guests cost $50)
- Up to four Status Boost’s for a total of up to 60,000 MQM per year – new $90K + $120K tiers added to the existing $30K + $60K
(Effective 1/1/24, the Status Boost benefit and MQD benefit will no longer be available, and there will be a new way to earn toward Medallion Status with the Delta cards — Learn more about Delta's status changes for 2024.)
- Global Entry or TSA Pre✔ fee credit up to $100 every four years
- Two Delta Sky Club® one-time guest passes
- Access to complimentary upgrades even if you don’t hold Medallion Status
- Enrollment is required for select Amex benefits.
Negative changes:
- Bonus miles no longer awarded at $30K + $60K Status Boost spending thresholds
- No longer have access to Sky Priority Security Access
- Annual fee will increase from $450 to $550 from January 30, 2020 (Rates & Fees)
The loss of redeemable bonus miles at the $30K + $60K spending thresholds is a genuine hit to the hip pocket, particularly when you factor in the higher annual fee. However, the additional Status Boost tiers at $90K + $120K spending thresholds, plus the new Centurion Lounge access speak to what the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card has always been about; lounge access for Delta fans that don’t have top-tier status and the ability to spend your way to elite status. On these fronts, the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card now provides more lounge options and makes it easier to get Medallion Status.
The Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card features the same new benefits listed out for the personal card, but also receives one additional perk:
- Earn 1.5x miles on eligible purchases after spending $150,000 on the card each year
Changes to Delta Platinum Cards
The Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card and its business counterpart have, for the most part, been the sweet spot cards in the Delta line up. That may change for some folks once the announced changes take effect at the end of January, as we think these cards have been hit relatively hard by these updates.
While the card’s score additional bonus spending categories and a new Global Entry/TSA Pre credit, the loss of bonus redeemable miles at the $25K + $50K spending thresholds are a huge hit. Unlike the Reserve cards, which receive additional Status Boost tiers, there is no replacement perk for the Platinum cards.
(Effective 1/1/24, the Status Boost benefit and MQD benefit will no longer be available, and there will be a new way to earn toward Medallion Status with the Delta cards — Learn more about Delta's status changes for 2024.)
The Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card will keep many of its core benefits, including the yearly companion certificate (Domestic Main Cabin round-trip each year upon renewal), first checked bag free, main cabin 1 priority boarding, MQD waiver, and no foreign transaction fees. (Rates & Fees)
Positive changes to the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card:
- 3x miles on Delta eligible purchases (previously 2x) and hotel purchases (previously 1x)
- 2x miles at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (previously 1x)
- Global Entry or TSA Pre✔ fee credit up to $100 every four years
Negative changes:
- Delta Sky Club per-visit rate has increased from $39 to $50 (Effective 1/1/24, this benefit will no longer be available — Learn more about Delta's status changes for 2024.)
- Bonus miles no longer added at $25K + $50K Status Boost spending thresholds (you'll earn bonus MQMs, but no redeemable SkyMiles)
- Annual fee has increased from $195 to $350 (Rates & Fees)
The big hit for the Platinum cards is the loss of redeemable miles when hitting the Status Boost thresholds. In theory, you should be able to make up the additional miles courtesy of the new bonus categories the cards receive. But, if you primarily place big, non-bonus purchases on the Platinum cards to reach the spending thresholds, you will struggle to make up the difference.
The Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card will feature most of the new benefits listed out for the personal card come January 30, but with the following differences:
- Earn 1.5x miles on eligible purchases over $5,000 (up to 50,000 bonus miles annually)
- Doesn’t receive 2x miles at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets
Changes to Delta Gold Cards
The Gold Delta cards also receive expanded bonus categories, plus you’ll get a $100 flight voucher after spending $10,000 on the card each year (an additional 1% return on spend). But, starting January 1, 2020, these cards no longer offer the MQD waiver after spending $25,000, and cardmembers won’t get discounted access to SkyClub lounges (currently $29 per person) from January 30, 2020.
Positive changes to the Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card:
- 2x miles at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (previously 1x)
- $100 Delta flight credit after spending $10,000 in a calendar year
Negative changes:
- From January 1, 2020, you will no longer earn an MQD waiver after spending $25K on the Delta Gold cards
- Starting January 30, 2020, you will no longer be able to access Delta Sky Club® with the Delta Gold cards
- Effective January 30, 2020, the annual fee increased from $95 to $99 (Rates & Fees)
- Note: The current annual fee for the Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card is $150
The 2020 increase in annual fees on the Gold cards is negligible and doesn’t affect the value proposition of holding either of these cards. Without the MQD waiver, it’s unlikely anyone would spend $10K on the Gold cards, so we don’t assign the $100 Delta credit (now increased to $150) near face value. But, as these cards keep their core benefits like free checked bags and priority boarding, the reason for holding the Gold Delta cards remains the same. If you and a companion fly one round-trip flight per year with Delta and check a bag each, you'll have covered a big chunk of the annual fee.
The Delta SkyMiles® Gold Business American Express Card features most of the new benefits listed out for the personal card come January 30, but with the following differences:
- Earn 2x miles at restaurants worldwide and on U.S. shipping and U.S. advertising (effective 1/1/2024, U.S. shipping and U.S. advertising categories will have an annual cap of $50,000 in eligible purchases per category)
- Doesn’t receive 2x miles at U.S. supermarkets
Changes to Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card Card
The Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card will undergo a minor refresh at the end of January 2020, and the changes are all positive.
Positive changes to the Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card:
- 2x miles at restaurants worldwide (previously 1x)
- Access Pay with Miles to reduce the cost of cash flights
- No foreign transaction fees (Rates & Fees)
There is no change to the annual fee on the Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card, which remains at $0 (Rates & Fees).
Our Take
Whether you approve of these changes likely comes down to how you use your Delta card. If you hold a Delta Gold card and drop $25K on it each year for the MQD waiver, it’s unlikely you’ll renew your card when it’s time to pay the annual fee. If you employ the Delta cards as your daily spenders, the increased earning rates will deliver a substantial increase to your annual SkyMiles balance.
If you’ve had the Delta cards on your radar, we see this as the perfect time to get an application in before the annual fees increase at the end of January. You’ll lock in the lower annual fee for the first year, giving you plenty of time to decide if it makes sense to renew at a higher cost the following year.
For rates and fees of the cards mentioned in this post, please visit the following links: Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card (Rates & Fees), Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card (Rates & Fees), Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card (Rates & Fees), and Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card (Rates & Fees)
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