American Express and Delta have a massive co-brand agreement that’s worth billions of dollars per year to Delta. What makes these cards so rewarding is the perks they offer when flying Delta, and also the ability to earn Delta status through spending on the cards.

Big changes to these cards were announced in September 2019, and the changes went live on January 30, 2020. To coincide with the relaunch of these cards, Amex and Delta are also offering among the biggest welcome bonuses we’ve seen on these cards.

In this post I wanted to recap the changes to these cards, as well as the new limited time welcome bonuses being offered to go along with them, which are valid through April 1, 2020.

Let’s take a closer look at the changes made to each of the cards, as Amex and Delta have the Blue, Gold, Platinum, and Reserve cards.

Blue Delta SkyMiles Amex (Personal Card)

The Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card is the no annual fee (Rates & Fees) card from Delta and Amex, which is great for the casual Delta flyer. Frankly I think there’s much more value in getting one of the annual fee cards (especially given the bonuses), but some people avoid all cards with annual fees.

Blue Delta Amex Card Changes

The changes that were made to this card were entirely positive, and include the following:

  • The card now earns 2x SkyMiles at restaurants worldwide (previously, it earned 2x SkyMiles at restaurants in the U.S. only)
  • The card now has no foreign transaction fees
  • The card now gives you access to Delta’s Pay With Miles feature

Welcome Bonus Of Up To 15K Miles

During this limited time increased bonus, the Delta SkyMiles Blue Amex is offering 15,000 bonus SkyMiles after spending $1,000 within three months.

Gold Delta SkyMiles Amex (Personal & Business Card)

The Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card (Rates & Fees) and Delta SkyMiles® Gold Business American Express Card (Rates & Fees) each have a $99 annual fee that’s waived for the first 12 months.

These cards are ideal for someone who wants some perks on Delta, but doesn’t fly with the airline all the time, and doesn’t want to spend money on the card.

Gold Delta Amex Card Changes

The changes that were made to this card were both positive and negative.

The positive changes to the Gold Card include:

  • The personal card now earns 2x SkyMiles at restaurants and at U.S. supermarkets (it previously earned only 1x miles)
  • The business card now earns 2x SkyMiles at restaurants, on U.S. shipping, and on U.S. advertising
  • The card now offers a $100 Delta flight credit after $10,000 of spending in a calendar year

The negative changes to the Gold Card include:

  • The card no longer offers a Medallion Qualifying Dollar (MQD) waiver (previously, spending $25,000 on the card earned you an MQD waiver)
  • The card no longer offers discounted access to Delta SkyClubs (previously, it offered $29 per person SkyClub access)
  • The card’s annual fee increased to $99 from $95

I consider the changes on this card to be the most negative. The card no longer offers an MQD waiver, so now there are almost no circumstances under which it makes sense to spend money on this card.

2x SkyMiles on U.S. supermarket purchases isn’t that compelling, and it’s not worth spending $10,000 on the card to earn a $100 Delta credit.

Welcome Bonus Of Up To 70K Miles

During this limited time increased bonus, both the Delta SkyMiles Gold Personal Amex and and Delta SkyMiles Gold Business Amex are offering up to 70,000 SkyMiles:

  • Earn 60,000 bonus miles after spending $2,000 within three months
  • Earn an additional 10,000 bonus miles after your first anniversary of card membership

Platinum Delta SkyMiles Amex (Personal & Business Card)

The Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card (Rates & Fees) and Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card (Rates & Fees) each have a $250 annual fee.

These cards are ideal for the more frequent Delta traveler, who values the ability to earn status through credit card spending, as well as a companion certificate as an annual perk.

Platinum Delta Amex Card Changes

While there are positive and negative elements to the changes, I’d argue they’re mostly negative.

The positive changes to the Platinum Card include:

  • The personal card now earns 3x SkyMiles on Delta purchases and hotels (previously, the card offered 2x miles on Delta and 1x miles on hotels), and 2x miles at restaurants and at U.S. supermarkets (previously, it offered 1x miles in those categories)
  • The business card now earns 3x SkyMiles on Delta purchases and hotels, and 1.5x miles on purchases over $5,000 (up to 50,000 bonus miles annually)
  • The card now offers a TSA Pre-Check credit once every four years

The negative changes to the Platinum Card include:

  • The card continues to offer 10,000 bonus MQMs when you spend $25,000 and an additional 10,000 bonus MQMs when you spend $50,000, but it no longer offers 10,000 bonus redeemable miles at each of these thresholds
  • The cost for discounted Delta SkyClub access increased from $29 to $39 per person per visit
  • The card’s annual fee increased to $250 from $195

I consider these changes to be largely negative. The annual fee increased significantly, the cost of SkyClub access increased, and if you’re someone who spent money on this card to earn bonus MQMs, you no longer earn bonus redeemable miles.

The TSA Pre-Check credit sounds nice, though so many cards offer it nowadays. The increased mileage earning rates for certain purchases are nice, though far from industry-leading.

Welcome Bonus Of Up To 100K Miles

During this limited time increased bonus, both the Delta SkyMiles Platinum Personal Amex and Delta SkyMiles Platinum Business Amex are offering up to 100,000 SkyMiles:

  • Earn 80,000 bonus miles after spending $3,000 within three months
  • Earn an additional 20,000 bonus miles after your first anniversary of card membership

Delta Reserve Amex (Personal & Business Card)

The Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card (Rates & Fees) and Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card (Rates & Fees) each have a $550 annual fee.

These are the most premium Delta and Amex cards, which are ideal for those who want lounge access, or who want to be able to earn the most elite miles towards status through credit card spending.

Reserve Delta Amex Card Changes

There are positive and negative elements to the changes, and I think the changes here are controversial. Some love the changes, while others don’t like them. Personally I think they’re positive in a way.

The positive changes to the Reserve Card include:

  • The personal card now earns 3x SkyMiles on Delta purchases (previously, it offered only 2x miles)
  • The business card now earns 3x SkyMiles on Delta purchases, and 1.5x miles on all purchases after spending $150,000 annually
  • You now earn 15,000 bonus MQMs after spending $90,000 and $120,000 in a calendar year (this is in addition to the previous thresholds of $30,000 and $60,000, meaning you can now earn up to 60,000 MQMs per year at a total of four different thresholds)
  • You now receive two complimentary Delta SkyClub passes annually (in addition to the membership offered with the card)
  • The card now offers complimentary Centurion Lounge access when flying Delta same day, though guests will cost $50 each
  • The card now offers a Global Entry or TSA Pre-Check credit once every four years
  • The card now offers complimentary upgrades for non-elite members, though with very low priority

The negative changes to the Reserve Card include:

  • The card still offers the increased potential to earn MQMs, but you no longer earn bonus redeemable miles when passing $30,000 or $60,000 of spending (previously you’d earn 15,000 bonus redeemable miles at each threshold)
  • SkyPriority security access was cut
  • The card’s annual fee increased to $550 from $450

As someone who has long been considering spending my way to status with Delta, I’m actually sort of digging the changes to this card, I think? Spending $120,000 on this card in a year now earns you 60,000 MQMs, which is more than enough for Gold status. With these changes, this is the most MQMs you have ever been able to earn with one Delta card.

The other benefits, like Centurion Lounge access when flying Delta, are cool as well.

This card makes it easier to earn Delta status, and I’m a fan of that.

Welcome Bonus Of Up To 100K Miles + 20K MQMs

During this limited time increased bonus, both the Delta SkyMiles Reserve Personal Amex and Delta SkyMiles Reserve Business Amex are offering up to 100K SkyMiles and up to 20K Medallion Qualifying Miles, as follows:

  • Earn 80,000 bonus miles and 20,000 bonus MQMs after spending $5,000 within three months
  • Earn an additional 20,000 bonus miles after your first anniversary of card membership

How Many Delta Amex Cards Can You Be Approved For?

If you’re considering applying for one of these cards during the limited time bonuses, note that the bonuses on each of these cards is “once in a lifetime.” That means you can receive the bonus on each of these cards once (including both personal and business), but you can’t get the bonus on a particular card more than once.

On top of that it’s worth noting the general restrictions on applying for Amex cards, including:

  • You can apply for at most two American Express credit cards in a 90 day period
  • You can have at most five American Express credit cards at a time

Those restrictions don’t apply to charge cards.

Bottom Line

While we knew these changes were coming, they finally went “live” last week. Amex has been overhauling much of their card portfolio, so it’s not surprising to see the Delta Amex cards refreshed as well.

Some people will like these changes, while other people won’t. It all depends on your spending patterns, and the card benefits that you value most.

Personally I think the changes to the Gold and Platinum products are negative, I like the changes to the Reserve, and the changes to the Blue are unarguably positive.

Regardless of how you feel about the changes, the good news is that the cards have huge new welcome bonuses that coincide with the relaunch.

What do you make of these Delta Amex changes, and how will they impact your use of the cards?

The following links will direct you to the rates and fees for mentioned American Express Cards. These include: Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card (Rates & Fees), Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card (Rates & Fees), Delta SkyMiles® Gold Business American Express Card (Rates & Fees), Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card (Rates & Fees), Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card (Rates & Fees), Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card (Rates & Fees), and Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card (Rates & Fees).

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