The Delta Air Lines Credit Card Benefits are Changing, and Why Now Might Be the Best Time to Apply

The Delta Air Lines credit card benefits are changing, and while some changes are for the better, others are not.

On the positive side, all Delta Air Lines credit cards are offering all-time (or close to all-time) high sign-up bonuses until October 30, 2019, so now might be the best time to apply considering some of the upcoming changes.

Before I cover the Delta card benefit changes, let’s quickly review application rules for American Express, the issuer of all Delta Air Lines co-branded credit cards.

American Express Application Rules

American Express has one of the most stringent sign-up bonus restrictions in the credit card industry.

If you have ever received a sign-up bonus for a specific American Express credit card in the past, you will not receive a sign-up bonus for that specific card again.

So, if you’ve gotten a sign-up bonus for either the Blue Delta, Gold Delta, Platinum Delta or Delta Reserve cards in the past, don’t bother applying if earning the sign-up bonus is your goal.

Keep in mind, though, each Delta card is its own product. So if you’ve received the sign-up bonus on the Gold in the past, you can still get the sign-up bonus on the Blue, Platinum and Reserve cards.

There have been recent reports that 7 years is the cutoff (if you received a sign-up bonus more than 7 years ago, you could get the sign-up bonus now) but that’s not confirmed. Gamble if you want.

One other option: the Gold Delta, Platinum Delta and Delta Reserve cards each have business credit card versions for which you can apply and receive the sign-up bonus.  If you have a business – even selling things on eBay, or working as an independent contractor in a gig position – you possibly could get approved for the business version of either card.  Just something to consider.

Changes to Delta Credit Card Benefits

With the application warnings out of the way, on to the Delta credit card benefit changes.

Changes listed below will begin January 30, 2020.

Blue Delta SkyMiles Amex

• The card will no longer incur foreign transaction fees.
• It will begin earning 2x SkyMiles at restaurants worldwide (was limited to U.S. only).
• It will remain a no annual fee card

Gold Delta SkyMiles Amex

• It will begin earning 2x SkyMiles at restaurants and U.S. supermarkets.
• Earn a $100 Delta Flight Credit after spending $10,000 per year on the card.
• Cardholders will no longer receive reduced price admission to Delta Sky Clubs.
• Will not earn an MQM waiver with $25,000 spend.
• Annual fee will increase from $95 per year to $99 per year.

Platinum Delta SkyMiles Amex

• It will begin earning 2x SkyMiles at restaurants and U.S. supermarkets and 3x at hotels and on Delta charges.
• $100 Global Entry fee credit every 4 years (4.5 years for TSA Precheck).
• Delta Sky Club access price increases from $29 to $39 per visit.
• Miles Boost is now Status Boost – won’t earn bonus miles with MQM spend thresholds (applies to cardholders using spend to help achieve status levels).
• Annual fee increases from $195 per year to $250 per year.

Delta Reserve Amex

• Cardholders now receive Amex Centurion Lounge access when flying Delta.
• 2 Delta Sky Club one-time guest passes (primary cardholder receives Sky Club access with card when flying Delta)
• 4 Status Boosts annually (card spend to achieve status levels)
• Earn 3x SkyMiles on Delta spend
• Complimentary upgrades (non-elite cardholders get on the free upgrade list behind elite members on same flight).
• $100 Global Entry fee credit every 4 years (4.5 years for TSA Precheck).
• Miles Boost now Status Boost.
• No Sky Priority Security Lane access for non-elite cardholders
• Delta Sky Club access price for guests increases from $29 to $39 per visit.
• Annual fee increases from $450 per year to $550 per year.

Delta Business Credit Cards

Changes to the Delta Air Lines business credit cards are the same as the personal versions with these additional changes.

Gold Delta SkyMiles Business Amex

Will earn 2x SkyMiles on U.S. shipping and advertising charges.

Platinum Delta SkyMiles Business Amex

Will earn 1.5x SkyMiles on eligible purchases of $5,000 or more (max of 50,000 extra miles per calendar year).

*Doesn’t earn the 2x on restaurant or U.S. supermarket spend.

Delta Reserve Amex

Earn 1.5x SkyMiles on all spend per calendar year after spending $150,000.

Increased Sign-Up Bonuses for October 2019

In a somewhat coordinated effort, American Express also announced increased sign-up bonuses on its lineup of Delta Air Lines cards.

The reason now might be a good time to apply is to take advantage of the higher sign-up bonuses while the annual fees are at their lower levels.

The higher annual fees listed in the “change” section above will go into effect January 30, 2020.

Cards that have an annual fee (that is not waived the first year) will charge that higher fee for approved applications on and after that date.

Cards that come up for renewal after January 30, 2020, will have that higher annual fee as well.

Here are the increased sign-up bonuses for October 2019.

Blue Delta SkyMiles Card – 10,000 SkyMiles after spending $500 on purchases within the first 3 months from card approval.

This actually is the typical sign-up bonus for this card.

No annual fee.

Gold Delta SkyMiles Card – 60,000 SkyMiles after spending $2,000 on purchases within the first 3 months from card approval.

$50 statement credit after a Delta purchase within the first 3 months.

The Gold Delta has seen higher sign-up bonuses (70,000 SkyMiles) but 60,000 isn’t too bad.

Annual fee (currently $95) is waived the first year. Should be $99 at card’s first year anniversary.

Platinum Delta SkyMiles Card – 75,000 SkyMiles and 5,000 Medallion Qualifying Miles (MQMs) after spending $3,000 on purchases within the first 3 months from card approval.

$100 statement credit after a Delta purchase within the first 3 months.

This is the best sign-up bonus for the Platinum card.

Annual fee is $195. Will be $250 at card’s first renewal.

Delta Reserve – 75,000 SkyMiles and 10,000 Medallion Qualifying Miles (MQMs) after spending $5,000 on purchases within the first 3 months from card approval.

Annual fee is $450. Will be $550 at card’s first renewal.

If you want to jump on to a Delta card before the annual fees go up, now’s the time to apply.

After January 30, 2020, you’ll be able to take advantage of the benefit changes at the lower annual fee level until your renewal hits sometime next October or November.

Wrap Up

Delta Air Lines credit cards are undergoing a makeover as it pertains to the benefits they offer and the annual fees they charge.

In an effort to get more cardholders to actually use their Delta cards rather than sock drawer them after the sign-up bonus is received, the SkyMiles earning has been boosted.

Although, as I’ve argued in other posts, if earning Delta SkyMiles is your goal, there are other, better points earning, cards on which to do that.

The American Express Gold Card with its 4x Membership Rewards points per dollar spent at restaurants and U.S. supermarkets is one. Of course you’re aware Membership Rewards points can be transferred to Delta on a 1:1 basis.

That said, multiple SkyMiles earning at restaurants and supermarkets on some of the Delta cards is better than before. And 3x on Delta purchases is a step up, too.

Overall, the revamping is good. Although, I’m not a fan of the annual fee increases that are coming.

Which is why now might be the time to grab an increased sign-up bonus and then seriously consider whether holding the card long-term is for you when that higher annual fee hits next fall.