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Are the New Amex Delta Rewards Card Offers Worth Applying for?

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See new limited time offers here. 

Edit: These Limited Time Offers Have Ended

American Express has raised the sign-up bonus on 3 of their Delta Airlines branded rewards credit cards. Citibank and Chase have been busy recently with limited offers, so Amex couldn’t let them have all the fun.

It’s no secret that I’m not a huge fan of Delta’s Skymiles program, and that’s because of their award availability, prices, and oh yeah – they love to devalue their program on a whim. But it’s always good to see increased offers on rewards cards, and some people have no choice but to fly Delta (for what it’s worth, I actually really enjoy flying Delta).

Anyway, let’s dive into the offers.

Gold Delta SkyMiles® Business Credit Card from American Express 

The Gold Delta SkyMiles® Business Credit Card from American Express has a bonus of 50,000 Skymiles after you make $2,000 in purchases in the first 3 months. Plus, you’ll receive a $50 statement credit if you make a Delta purchase in the same time period. The $95 annual fee is waived for the first year. You have until June, 30th, 2015 to apply for this offer.

 

Amex Delta Business Card Offer

Amex Delta Business Card Offer

 

To be eligible for the Gold Delta SkyMiles® Business Credit Card offer, you must not currently have or have had this card in the last 12 months. 

The Delta Business card comes with first checked bag free (for up to 9 people), priority boarding (zone 1), no foreign transaction fees, 2x miles per $1 on Delta purchases, and 20% inflight discounts on purchases.

I always enjoy it when I can get elite status benefits, like free checked bags and priority boarding, just for holding a credit card. Makes a big difference when traveling.

The full marketing bullets:

  • Limited Time Offer: Earn 50,000 bonus miles after you make $2,000 in purchases on your new Card within your first 3 months.
  • Additionally, earn a $50 statement credit after you make a Delta purchase with your new Card within your first 3 months.
  • Your application must be received by 6/30/2015 to be eligible for this offer.
  • Earn 2 Miles per dollar spent on purchases made directly with Delta. Earn 1 mile on every eligible dollar spent on purchases.
  • Priority Boarding and 20% In-Flight Savings in the form of a statement credit on eligible purchases.
  • Pay no foreign transaction fees when you spend overseas.
  • The annual fee will be $0 for your first year of Card Membership with an introductory offer, then $95.
  • Terms and limitations apply

 

Platinum Delta SkyMiles® Credit Card from American Express

The premium Platinum Delta Skymiles credit card offer is an interesting one. First of all, you will receive 60,000 Skymiles & 10,000 Medallion Qualification miles after you spend $2,000 in 3 months. I love the low spends on these offers. And you will get a $100 statement credit after you make a Delta purchase in the same time period. However, the $195 annual fee isn’t waived.

 

Amex Platinum Delta Card Offer

Amex Platinum Delta Card Offer

 

Remember, you can only receive a sign-up bonus once per lifetime on personal American Express cards. This offer also expires on June 30th, 2015. 

The 10,000 MQM miles is a nice bonus for those trying to achieve Delta elite status. Other benefits include: priority boarding, anniversary domestic main cabin round-trip companion ticket, 2x miles per $1 on Delta purchases, and no foreign transaction fees.

The big sign-up bonus, $100 statement credit, 10k MQM miles, and Delta perks make this an interesting offer. There is a $195 annual fee.

Marketing Bullets:

  • Special Offer Expires June 30, 2015: Earn 10,000 Medallion® Qualification Miles and 60,000 bonus miles after you spend $2,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 3 months.
  • Additionally, earn a $100 statement credit after you make a Delta purchase with your new Card within your first 3 months.
  • Enjoy a Domestic Main Cabin round-trip companion certificate each year upon renewal of your Card.
  • Earn 2 miles per dollar spent on purchases made directly with Delta and one mile on every eligible dollar spent for all other purchases.
  • Check your first bag free on every Delta flight – that’s a savings of up to $200 per round trip for a family of four.
  • Settle in sooner with Priority Boarding.
  • The Annual Fee is $195.
  • Terms and Restrictions Apply.

 

Gold Delta SkyMiles® Credit Card from American Express

The personal Delta Gold Skymiles card comes with a 50,000 Skymiles bonus after spending $2,000 in 3 months. Plus, a $50 statement credit after making a Delta purchase in the same time period. The $95 annual fee is waived for the first year.

 

Delta Gold Card Offer

Delta Gold Card Offer

 

You also have until June 30th, 2015 to apply for this offer, and remember that you’re eligible for the bonus if you’ve never had the card before.

All the benefits are the same as the business Gold card mentioned above. Free checked bag, priority boarding, no foreign transaction fees, 2x miles on Delta purchases, and 20% inflight savings.

Updated Marketing Bullets:

  • Special Offer Expires June 30, 2015: Earn 50,000 bonus miles after you make $2,000 in purchases on your new Card within your first 3 months.
  • Additionally, earn a $50 statement credit after you make a Delta purchase with your new Card within your first 3 months.
  • Earn 2 miles on Delta purchases. 1 mile for each dollar you spend on other eligible purchases.
  • Check your first bag free on every Delta flight – that’s a savings of up to $200 per round trip for a family of four.
  • Settle in sooner with Priority Boarding.
  • The annual fee will be $0 for your first year of Card Membership with an introductory offer, then $95.
  • Terms and Restrictions Apply.

 

What You Do with Delta Skymiles

First of all, you can top off your Delta Skymiles account by transferring in American Express Membership Rewards points or Starwood Preferred Guest points. Not saying that I would, but it’s an option to top off your Delta account for an upcoming booking.

Delta is a part of the Skyteam alliance, so you can use your Skymiles to fly any airline in that alliance. They include: Aeroflot, Aerolineas Argentinas, AeroMexico, Air Europa, Air France, Alitalia, China Airlines, China Eastern, China Southern, Czech Airlines, Delta, Garuda Indonesia, Kenya Airways, KLM, Korean Air, Middle Eastern Airlines, Saudia, Tarom, Vietnam Airlines and Xiamen Airlines.

A big problem with using Delta Skymiles is that they have removed their award chart from their website. That means you have to search on their website for flights and go off of your results. Lame. They have made some improvements by finally adding the capability to book one-way awards, show more partners online, improved the website search, and added 5,000 mile one-ways.

If you’re able to find 5,000 mile one-ways, then you’re doing well, and would have enough miles from one of these offers for 5 round-trips. Most likely, your domestic flights will be 7,500 or 10,000 each way.

 

Delta One Way Domestic

Delta One Way Domestic

 

If you want to go to Europe, you will be probably find 30,000 miles for economy or 62,500 miles for business class one way. Here’s an example from NYC to Paris (CDG).

 

Delta NYC-CDG Awards

Delta NYC-CDG Awards

 

Conclusion 

Skymiles isn’t a program that will ever be my main focus because I don’t live in a Delta hub, and they love a good devaluation. However, it’s always good to diversify your miles accounts, and Delta Skymiles can definitely serve a purpose and help you travel for a price you can afford. I do cherish my American Express backed cards because they are always earning something through their promotions. For example, there are the Twitter Sync Offers, Small Business Saturday credits, and additional offers through your online card accounts.

 

What are your thoughts on the new Delta offers?

— Geoff Whitmore


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