- Delta and Amex recently announced some big updates to their co-branded credit cards, and to celebrate they launched limited-time welcome bonuses on three of the consumer cards.
- With the Gold Delta SkyMiles® Credit Card from American Express, you can earn 60,000 bonus miles after you spend $2,000 in the first three months, plus a $50 statement credit when you make a Delta purchase in the first three months.
- With the Platinum Delta SkyMiles® Credit Card from American Express, you can earn 75,000 bonus miles and 5,000 Medallion Qualification Miles after you spend $3,000 in the first three months, and get a $100 statement credit when you make a Delta purchase in the first three months.
- The Delta Reserve® Credit Card from American Express is offering 75,000 bonus miles and 10,000 MQMs after you spend $5,000 in the first three months.
- These three welcome bonuses are only available until October 30.
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In 2020, Delta’s co-branded Amex credit cards will get a big makeover, with new spending categories for earning bonus miles, additional airport lounge access options on the premium Delta Reserve card, and more. These updates will come with annual fee increases for most of the cards, but none of the fees will jump by much, and it could be well worth paying a bit more to get the new perks.
The Delta card updates won’t take effect until January 30, 2020, but upon announcing these upcoming changes in early October, Delta and Amex also launched three limited-time welcome bonuses. New cardholders can currently earn more miles than usual – up to 75,000 miles – when they apply for the Gold Delta, Platinum Delta, and Delta Reserve cards, but these offers are only available until October 30, so it’s your last chance to apply.
Keep in mind that we’re focusing on the rewards and perks that make these credit cards great options, not things like interest rates and late fees, which will far outweigh the value of any points or miles. It’s important to practice financial discipline when using credit cards by paying your balances in full each month, making payments on time, and only spending what you can afford to pay back.
Read more: Gold, Platinum, or Reserve? We break down which Delta Amex credit card gets flyers the most value
Gold Delta Amex
The Gold Delta Amex has the lowest annual fee of the three cards: $95, and it's waived the first year. However, it will increase to $99 for applications received on or after January 30, 2020.
Until October 30, the card's offering a welcome bonus of 60,000 miles. To earn this, new cardholders will need to spend $2,000 in the first three months. If they make a Delta purchase in the first three months, they can also receive a $50 statement credit.
Read more: Gold Delta Amex card review
Along with a slightly increased annual fee, in January 2020 the Gold Delta Amex will add new bonus categories that earn 2x miles: purchases at US supermarkets and at restaurants. This is in addition to the 2x miles you'll earn on Delta purchases, and it means the card could be worth a more permanent spot in your wallet, rather than it being the option you use for booking Delta flights and nothing else.
Other upcoming changes to the Gold Delta card include a $100 Delta flight credit when you spend $10,000 on the card in a year, and the removal of the discounted Delta Sky Club access benefit. Additionally, the card will no longer be eligible for the Medallion Qualification Dollar waiver - with more premium Delta cards, if you spend $25,000 or more in a year, you can waive the MQD requirement for Delta elite status up to Platinum status.
The Gold Delta Amex, along with the Platinum Delta and Delta Reserve cards, also offers you a first bag checked for free on Delta as long as you connect your SkyMiles account to your credit card account.
Click here to learn more about the Gold Delta SkyMiles card.
Platinum Delta Amex
The Platinum Delta Amex is the more premium of the two cards, with a $195 annual fee that isn't waived the first year. It's currently offering 75,000 bonus miles and 5,000 Medallion Qualification Miles (MQMs) after you spend $3,000 in the first three months, and a $100 statement credit when you make a Delta purchase in the first three months.
Beyond a higher welcome bonus, the Platinum Delta Amex offers additional benefits compared to the Gold Delta card, including the ability to earn MQMs, which are part of the qualification requirement for Delta Medallion elite status, and an annual companion certificate for main cabin travel on Delta - essentially a two-for-one travel certificate, and you only have to pay for taxes and fees.
Read more: Platinum Delta Amex review
The Platinum Delta card is getting one of the more significant makeovers among Delta Amex cards. In 2020, its annual fee will increase to $250, but it will also earn 3x miles (up from 2x) on Delta purchases, plus 2x miles at restaurants and US supermarkets. It will also add an application fee credit of up to $100 for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck.
Click here to learn more about the Platinum Delta SkyMiles card.
Delta Reserve Amex
The highest-end consumer credit card in Delta's lineup, the Delta Reserve Amex, is offering an elevated welcome bonus of 75,000 miles and 10,000 MQMs when new cardholders spend $5,000 in the first three months.
This card will also get a hefty annual fee increase in 2020: Currently, the fee is $450, but for applications received on or after January 30, 2020, it will jump to $550. One of the Delta Reserve card's standout benefits is free Delta Sky Club access when you're flying Delta, and a Delta Sky Club membership costs $545, so some cardholders may find it's still worth it.
The Reserve's adding plenty of new perks in 2020, too. It will offer American Express Centurion Lounge access when you're flying Delta, two one-time Sky Club guest passes, 3x miles on Delta purchases, and access to complimentary upgrades for cardholders without Delta elite status. Like the Platinum Delta Amex, it will also offer up to a $100 statement credit to cover the cost of Global Entry or PreCheck.