Delta SkyMiles Credit Cards Get A Revamp: Limited-Time Welcome Offers, Increased Annual Fees And New Statement Credits Added

Let’s start with the time-sensitive information first. Those who apply for the following cards by March 27, 2024 can qualify for a limited-time welcome bonus of up to 110,000 bonus miles after hitting a spending threshold within the first six months of card ownership.

Delta SkyMiles Credit Card	Current Welcome Bonus
Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card	70,000 bonus miles after spending $3,000 in purchases in the first 6 months of card membership
Delta SkyMiles® Gold Business American Express Card	80,000 bonus miles after spending $6,000 in purchases in the first 6 months of card membership
Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card	90,000 bonus miles after spending $4,000 in purchases in the first 6 months of card membership
Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card	65,000 bonus miles after spending $6,000 in purchases in the first 6 months of card membership
Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card	100,000 bonus miles after spending $6,000 in purchases in the first 6 months of card membership
Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card	110,000 bonus miles after spending $12,000 in purchases on your new card in your first 6 months, offer ends 3/27/24

See MoreSee Less

Now for the not-so-great news: The six updated cards have received notable increases to their annual fees:

• Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card: $0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $150 (previously $0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $99)
• Delta SkyMiles® Gold Business American Express Card: $0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $150 (previously $0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $99)
• Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card: $350 (previously $250)
• Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card: $350 (previously $250)
• Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card: $650 (previously $550)
• Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card: $650 (previously $550)

Although a raised annual fee is never a pleasant change, these pricing changes have been paired with new or increased statement credits on each card. For certain cardholders, these enhanced benefits could more than offset their card’s higher yearly fee.

You’ll want to consider how much value you can get from your Delta SkyMiles credit card moving forward—that is, if you currently hold one. If your spending habits don’t align with the card’s statement credits, it may be time to cancel or downgrade your card to a version with a lower annual fee.

Read more. Is a Delta SkyMiles Credit Card Worth It?

As mentioned above, the changes to Amex’s Delta SkyMiles credit cards don’t stop at boosted welcome offers and higher annual fees. Other notable changes include refreshed statement credits, rewards earnings, Companion Certificates and elite status perks.

Revamped Statement Credits

The six affected Delta SkyMiles cards now come with some combination of statement credits which can provide hundreds of dollars in value if they naturally align with your spending patterns. Some credits are granted automatically, while others are earned after spending a certain amount on your card. Before we look at the specific amounts that are offered on each card, here’s how each credit works:

• Delta flight credit. This credit can be used on future Delta flight purchases made with your card.
• Delta Stays credit. You’ll receive this credit after using your Delta SkyMiles card to book prepaid hotels or vacation rentals through Delta Stays.
• Rideshare credit. You’ll receive this credit after using your Delta SkyMiles card to make a U.S. rideshare purchase with select partners, including Uber, Lyft, Curb, Revel and Alto.
• Resy credit. You’ll receive this credit when you use your card to pay for eligible Resy purchases, including purchases at U.S. restaurants that offer reservations on Resy.com and the Resy app, and purchases made directly on Resy.com or in the Resy app with your enrolled card.

Here is a breakdown of the credits you’ll find on each card:

Delta SkyMiles Credit Card	Statement Credits
Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card	$200 Delta flight credit: After you spend $10,000 in purchases on your card in a calendar year, you can receive a $200 Delta flight credit to use toward future travel $100 Delta Stays credit
Delta SkyMiles® Gold Business American Express Card	$200 Delta flight credit: After you spend $10,000 in purchases on your card in a calendar year, you can receive a $200 Delta flight credit to use toward future travel $150 Delta Stays credit
Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card	$150 Delta Stays credit $120 Resy credit ($10 per month) $120 rideshare credit ($10 per month)
Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card	$200 Delta Stays credit $120 Resy credit ($10 per month) $120 rideshare credit ($10 per month)
Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card	$200 Delta Stays credit $240 Resy credit ($20 per month) $120 rideshare credit ($10 per month)
Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card	$250 Delta Stays credit $240 Resy credit ($20 per month) $120 rideshare credit ($10 per month)

See MoreSee Less

Higher Earnings Rates on Business Cards

The Delta SkyMiles Platinum and Reserve business cards also got an upgrade to their rewards earnings potential by receiving new bonus categories.

Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card cardholders now earn 1.5 miles per dollar on transit, U.S. shipping and purchases of $5,000 or more, on up to $100,000 of spend per year.

The Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card will now earn 1.5 miles per dollar on transit, U.S. shipping and U.S. office supply store purchases.

Expanded Destinations for Companion Certificates

Cardholders of a consumer or business version of the Delta SkyMiles Platinum and Reserve credit cards receive a Companion Certificate each year after renewing their card. This certificate allows you to add a companion to a round-trip Main Cabin reservation (for Delta SkyMiles Platinum consumer and business cards) or Main Cabin, First Class, Delta Comfort+ (for Delta SkyMiles Reserve consumer and business cards) for just the cost of taxes and fees.

In the past, Companion Certificates could only be used for domestic flights within the continental U.S. With the recent changes, certificates earned with all cards can now be used on flights to Hawaii, Alaska, Mexico, the Caribbean and Central America as well.

Earn Elite Status Faster

Last but certainly not least, cardholders of a SkyMiles Platinum or Reserve consumer or business card can earn elite status faster in the Delta SkyMiles program.

These four cards grant a boost of $2,500 Medallion Qualification Dollars each year on February 1, the first day of the Medallion Qualification Year. The lowest tier of Medallion Status, Silver, requires earning $5,000 MQDs, meaning this annual boost gets you halfway there with no effort on your part.

Whether you currently hold an American Express Delta SkyMiles card or have been considering one, it’s imperative to take note of these changes. Prospective cardholders who could receive enough value from a card’s rewards, credits and perks to make it worth the cost can secure an impressive welcome bonus by applying now through March 27. And if you’re an existing cardholder who can’t justify your card’s new price, remember you can always downgrade to a lower-fee option within the SkyMiles family of cards.