Why The Delta Credit Cards Just Got Better | 2024 Refresh

[@averageperson2659]

You’re the 1st person to mention the instant silver status. That’s a cool hack!

[@Spend.Earn.Travel.]

I’m surprised more people aren’t talking about it!!

[@martinasandoval5326]

​@Spend.Earn.Travel. it's been mentioned in the FT community a lot but most KZbinrs have missed this. You definitely are the only one mentioning it.

[@Spend.Earn.Travel.]

Absolutely! I think it's a huge win for these cards!

[@SystemDesign-pro]

Love your video. Can you do a video what to put on reserve vs platinum? What’s your credit card spent strategy using these two cards?

[@billlyl3725]

@@SystemDesign-prothat’s a great idea for a video. I struggle with how to think about how to integrate different cards into my spending patterns with other cards

[@_iErik]

These updates to the Delta cards are great for the people who they were always meant for: people who travel via Delta flights 6 times or more per year. If that isn’t you: that’s okay. Not every credit card has to fit your lifestyle. I love the increase in value on the companion passes, which deliver at least the value of the annual fee. The rideshare credit is just a bonus travel rebate (I always use at least one Uber/Lyft when I fly). And a hotel stay credit is also a great rebate, because I pretty much always need a hotel when I fly.

[@bcloetta]

I have the reserve card and have been proactive about getting the Resy and Delta Stays credits. That brings the “cost” down to $220ish per year. And I think that is worth getting the lounge access and flight upgrades (almost always get bumped to comfort).

[@ThatCho]

This was a great breakdown. I currently have the Gold, and I think it's worth it to upgrade to the Platinum. My Player 2 has the Platinum as well. I feel like they're solid keeper cards when you consider the new Delta Stays Credit making the effective AF $200 not including the Resy/Uber credits which we use without even thinking. Really appreciate your style of presentation. You're getting a sub from me. :)

[@Spend.Earn.Travel.]

Thanks for the Sub! If you’re wanting the platinum card, you should apply for it on its own. The SUB will be bigger than if you upgrade. Then you can cancel your gold if you don’t want it anymore.

[@bukullaniciadi]

Dont you cant acess to lounge. Get Platinum Amex dont get delta ones

[@ThatCho]

@@bukullaniciadi I have the platinum.

[@bukullaniciadi]

@@ThatCho thats great

[@ItsJustMeStevie]

I’m so torn between Delta Reserve and United Club Infinite. Delta is my go-to but they sometimes lack of direct flights and convenient flight times. United is usually my fall back and have noticed as of late they have more availability to choose from. 🤔

[@Spend.Earn.Travel.]

It's a hard decision for sure. Delta is my favorite airline and I always seem to be pulled back. But I have considered getting a few other airlines cards, just to have them incase I don't fly Delta.

[@jimmyjames6492]

Premier Access benefits on the Chase United Club Infinite card are

[@Honey_bee098]

I love my Capital one venture X, get 10x points on hotels and rentals and 5x on flights

[@drchrisheidelberg]

Do the Reserve! I kept my Platinum SkyMiles and accepted the upgrade to Reserve and I use them as a tandem. I used it for a trip to Vegas to celebrate our daughter.

[@theVhin]

I'm in the same dilemma. As much as I would like to fly Delta all the time, the fact that they can’t compete with United Polaris is a bummer.

[@portfolioman45]

I agree the Reserve Card should have more multiplying categories. One hack - primary card holder Reserve card. Additional card holder with Platinum card (still get the other categories)

[@TheRoman4373]

Great video..thanks for the breakdown

[@martinasandoval5326]

The changes to the companion pass make the AF worth it on my reserve. We also received a 1x bonus of $1000 MQD and $100 delta credit this year. I am one of the lucky ones to have my renewal before May so I wont be hit with the updated AF. I am wondering if at some point they will change the whole getting the MQD head start to only one card. Time will tell.

[@golfjunkie6047]

Great info Matt! I currently have the platinum. Should I upgrade it the reserve or keep the platinum and get the reserve?

[@LooseJointhiphopdance]

I like it! I like to fly delta and don’t own any delta credit cards. I would like to have the business card but the reserve is a little too rich for me because of the amount of the required spend. I will have to start on a lower tier like the business gold card. I did receive an offer in the mail for the delta personal gold card with a 70k bonus miles. The problem with that is I travel for business and should be using a business credit card for the purchase.

[@Spend.Earn.Travel.]

There is a business version of the Gold card that you could get. I believe it currently has a nice welcome offer as well!!

[@drchrisheidelberg]

Get the business Platinum and then upgrade after 2 years as your income rises and you get offered an upgrade

[@chrisknapp5910]

When does your status reset?

[@Chocokaylarobin]

I moved from Purple to Blue it just didn't make sense from a travel point to keep purple and and i don't fly delta frequently

[@jimmyjames6492]

Not a fan of the RESY credit or how the rideshare credit works (wish it would stack on Uber). Like the hotel credit, enhancements to the companion certs, and MQD boost. Worth holding at least one (Platinum or Reserve) if not both. Thanks for the info + video!

[@Spend.Earn.Travel.]

Agree 100%. Rideshare and Resy are not super helpful. But the hotel credit is a great addition and i'm really excited for the new companion certificate destinations!

[@martinasandoval5326]

Resy is pretty easy to use. I just received it when I paid at a local restaurant.

[@Spend.Earn.Travel.]

Oh that's good to know! I need to try it out sometime soon.

[@Rocanlover2015]

I buy gift cards online to trigger the rest credit. So far I have around $250 in gift card. The cool thing is that you can reload/add value to the same gift card and use it in one go when you have a decent stash. For the ride-sharing I buy Lyft gift cards to also trigger the credit. I have around $300 in Lyft credits lol Btw I have both platinum and reserve.

[@OfficialChadsMoneyMinutes]

great video I'm a fan of the changes as well

[@Spend.Earn.Travel.]

Thanks for watching!

[@blitzsama]

Great thorough video

[@Spend.Earn.Travel.]

Thank you!

[@alancapil]

Love how you didn't say deep dive or game changer!

[@AeshiaJackson]

So the Platinum card can longer access the Sky lounge?

[@Spend.Earn.Travel.]

That is correct. The Delta SkyMiles Platinum Card no longer receives SkyClub Access.

[@Farbar1955]

I'm lucky in that my Amex Delta Gold card renewed for $99 just a couple of weeks before the $150 kicked in so I'm good until this time next year. I'll have to make a decision then as to whether to keep it or rethink my points strategy with Delta to either upgrade or dump it.

[@Spend.Earn.Travel.]

Make sure to ask for a retention offer next year when your annual fee hits.

[@tonyhaggerty9433]

Great Video, good breakdown, I have a large tax bill I have to pay soon and looking at using cards and eating the 1.8 surcharge and spend way to status ( Have Reserve and Platinum) as I'm close to gold status now, so I would need 5k in MQD's more which is $50k in cash if I'm figuring this out correctly? Then I would have status for the rest of this year and all of next? I don't know why I find this MQD stuff so confusing,

[@Spend.Earn.Travel.]

Yes. You status is always working towards the next year, but you will get it for the remainder of this year! Tax payments are a great way to do it!

[@TbirdThunderHD]

The limited club visits is a deal breaker for me.

[@Spend.Earn.Travel.]

It is unfortunate. It is possible to get in past that point, it will just cost you $50 a visit.

[@TbirdThunderHD]

@@Spend.Earn.Travel.A desk agent at the club told me the same thing. But, assuming I renew the card, when I’m already paying $650 it’s just not worth it to pay $50 per visit for access beyond 15 visits. At $650 that’s 43.33 per visit for the first 15 club visits. They are also now throwing in 4 club guest passes next year, up from the current 2 per year. I haven’t asked yet if I can just use them for myself for addl. visits. Also, Any frequent traveler already has HERTZ PC or National Emerald Isle status. That perk is useless. I foresee very empty sky clubs next year. I also foresee addl. tweaks to the card programs being made when everyone like myself just says no to the higher cost, lower benefit card next year.

[@fallankahlbaum2926]

I am still confused about the benefits for Reserve card. It’s only beneficial if you spend $ directly with Delta? Why only 1x points on every other purchase? Seems pretty pricey for obtaining points on everyday purchases.

[@Spend.Earn.Travel.]

You'll earn MQDs anywhere you spend with the Reserve card. You'll earn 3 SkyMiles for every 1 dollar spent on Delta purchases 1 Skymiles for every 1 dollar spent on everything else. I probably wouldn't recommend this for everyday uses because it doesn't have great multipliers.

[@cmonell1]

Is there much of a benefit to Silver status if you already have one of the gold/platinum/reserve credit cards? They already give you “priority” boarding (Zone 5) and free first checked bag.

[@Spend.Earn.Travel.]

Silver status doesn't offer a ton. But because you do have status, you will be slightly higher up the upgrade list. I have gotten a few upgrades in the past with silver status. You can also look at it as half way to gold status!

[@Rocanlover2015]

I have silver status and flight international (family of 3) and with silver you get free checked bags up to 8 companions. So for 1 trip international round trip I’m saving $210

[@ericrollings]

I have Delta Business Reserve and Gold. I also have Amex business platinum. I am gold medallion and approximately 2000 MQDs from Platinum medallion. I fly from NC to the Philippines 2/3 times per year. Am I better off chasing Platinum medallion status or piling up Amex points which seem to be more versatile?

[@quietstormz29]

Why do you have both the Platinum and Reserve, outside of getting automatic Silver status? Also, how do you determine which one to use when you want to make a purchase?

[@Spend.Earn.Travel.]

The main reason is for the companion certificates. These are super helpful when flying with my family. I generally will put spending on to the Reserve card as it earns 1 MQD for every $10 spent compared to $20 on the Platinum.

[@sammyloccisano30]

I want the reserve but my company doesn’t book me on delta flights for work. If I go to the airport and try to get to the sky club with my reserve card and I’m not flying delta will I not be allowed in since I’m not flying delta?

[@Spend.Earn.Travel.]

What flights does your work normally book you on? Yes you do need to be on a Delta marked flight to get access to the Delta SkyClub.

[@sammyloccisano30]

@@Spend.Earn.Travel. Southwest/united/jetblue/american

[@GetTheJabPlease]

with the card you can still get into a Centurion lounge with any flight as Centurion is a Amex lounge

[@janetdungan2878]

yea how? my purple wants me to spend 75k before end of year. i just got the card like 4 months ago. also the ability to earn enough miles to get a free trip are almost impossible for me, i would have to fly to tokyo from los angeles every week for an entire year.

[@anthonyfreeman2147]

Do you think the 100K welcome bonus for the Reserve will come back anytime soon?

[@PravinDesilva]

It’s back now!

[@theeyeplaylists]

Awesome explainer! Thank you for this

[@Spend.Earn.Travel.]

You're very welcome!

[@darlingermosen7985]

So with the new benefits you have a free flight to the Caribbean every year of your renewal so I have a free flight to the Dominican Republic 😱 wow well not for me but for my companion!

[@Spend.Earn.Travel.]

It’s a pretty sweet deal! I think it makes paying the annual fee a lot easier!

[@TravelOnTheHouse]

Did anyone figured out the best way to use rideshare credit ? Like towards Uber eats, buying gift cards, etc?

[@Spend.Earn.Travel.]

I did try it for Uber Eat last week. I have not seem a statement credit come through yet. That was my first thought when I saw the updates. But I don't think it will. Very unfortunate...

[@JamesKing-wm8ep]

@@Spend.Earn.Travel. thats good to know!

[@jenniferfranco2220]

rideshare partners include purchase made at Uber ( Uber Eats wont be eligible )

[@jenniferfranco2220]

It does require enrollment too ;)

[@rickeysantos]

Platinum card companion ticket doesn’t allow you to travel to Hawaii. It only allows Hawaii / Alaska residents to travel to the contiguous 48 states l

[@Clapicus]

I just got my Delta Platinum.. when will I get the free bonus miles?

[@Spend.Earn.Travel.]

Are you referring to the MQD headstart?

[@GetTheJabPlease]

I asked American Express - they said the MQD headstart hits your Delta account 6-8 weeks after opening a new card.

[@FirePilot2020]

So if you sign up for the Reserve and add the free additional Platinum, does that bump you to Silver? Or is that free Platinum just for a different named, additional user?

[@Spend.Earn.Travel.]

Unfortunately it doesn’t. You need to hold the platinum card as a separate card.

[@SystemDesign-pro]

I’m currently united silver status planning to switch because united economy plus is so uncomfortable. Which card should I get first? Planning to have two cards like you.

[@Spend.Earn.Travel.]

The SkyMiles Platinum Card and Reserve Card are the best option if your going for two cards. I don't think the gold card offers enough, other than the Welcome Offer. Make sure to sign up for the Platinum card, then the Reserve card!

[@drchrisheidelberg]

Get the Platinum and Reserve and don't look back. It is paying off because I travel with the wife and adult kids and in laws. I used both as a tandem and my points and got a 550 round-trip to Vegas for free and then spent 655 for my wife and daughter with the companion pass. We get the first bags free and my wife and I both have the Reserve and Platinum and we can use them for the second bag.

[@jeromybeasley7919]

I’ve been traveling Delta for years. I’m not thrilled about these cards.

[@Spend.Earn.Travel.]

What is it about the cards that you're not thrilled about?

[@billwright2176]

Is the companion certificate once a year?

[@Spend.Earn.Travel.]

Yes it is!

[@billwright2176]

@@Spend.Earn.Travel. one more. Uber also UE?

[@Spend.Earn.Travel.]

If you’re referring to the rideshare credit on the delta cards, I did try using it for Uber eats and it unfortunately did not work. I was a bit bummed about that….

[@billwright2176]

Appreciate the info. For me ue would be easier.

[@Spend.Earn.Travel.]

Agreed!

[@patriciahere]

Did this work outside like Mexico who own there home and they dont stay hotels and no rental cars?

[@yinhuili]

Still going to cancel my Delta Plat. No longer want to exclusively use Delta anymore so the card doesn't make sense to me.

[@Spend.Earn.Travel.]

That's understandable. Co branded cards do sometimes make more sense if you are exclusive with a brand. Are you thinking of replacing it with something?

[@yinhuili]

​@@Spend.Earn.Travel. still researching for a travel card. I am thinking of Chase Preferred.

[@Spend.Earn.Travel.]

That's a great option to get access the the Chase Transfer Partners!

[@shawnmitchell23]

Just got this card. Unaware there’s a Delta Amex Blue Card with a 0 AF and 1:1 for miles spent outside of Delta and then 2x at Delta. Anyone think it’s worth shredding this card and applying for the Delta Blue Amex and just get a normal debit card?

[@TheGUM24]

Thank you for this video. Good insight. For those with both reserve and delta Platinum, do you get 2 separate companion certificates at time of renewal? Do you get the $2500 at time of renewal or starting now? Also, it seems like the admin work to keep track of the monthly benefits used for each card can be hectic? Lastly, the welcome offer on the Delta Platinum did not apply since I had the reserve already. Thank you.

[@Spend.Earn.Travel.]

Yes you do get two separate companion certificates with those cards! I think it will be at the start of each year, when the new status year hits. Yes it can be a bit difficult to keep track of all the credits!!

[@wesm3848]

In over 10 years with the Delta AMEX Platinum I never was able to make the companion certificate work. Very limited flights etc, was a joke and very misleading. I am dropping the Delta Platinum when it comes due. I have moved to the regular AMEX Platinum. For 2023 I was Diamond on (2024 Gold) on Delta and have given up maintaining status with Delta.

[@stgermain6488]

I wished the Uber credit was quarterly or every 3 months. $10 for Uber can’t really get you anywhere in NYC. The Resy credit I can make it work

[@Spend.Earn.Travel.]

That would be much more helpful!

[@JamesJohnson-op4xl]

It will pay pay for the monthly subscription to Uber One & Uber One yearly subscription would pay for itself with more Uber credit to use for rides or Uber Eats.

[@Ronnieleec]

I’m upset with the lounge limit and lame. MQD points help.

[@Spend.Earn.Travel.]

What about it upsets you?

[@Ronnieleec]

@@Spend.Earn.Travel. I travel pretty regularly and almost exclusively Delta. I wish we earned more for MQDs for our spend. I travel mostly regionally, so my flight costs are not as high as those doing coast to cost and international. That said, I must connect almost every time and so sit in airports a lot. Fortunately, Escape and Priority Clubs help. I also hold the AMEX Platinum.

[@Spend.Earn.Travel.]

I can see where that is a bit hard. I would recommend getting the Reserve Card to earn some additional MQDs on your spending as well as a few more lounge passes. And with your Platinum Card, you'll earn even more SkyClub visits.

[@billmckrowski]

I have a Reserve card but my company pays for my flights with a Visa card. Do I need to pay for my flight with my Reserve card to have Delta lounge access?

[@Spend.Earn.Travel.]

No! As long as you have the Reserve card connected to your Delta account, then you’ll be all set!

[@pftburchell5197]

Man, I just don’t understand paying those fees. All the benefits are tied behind a set of rules that make it difficult to use. Raising those fees, really kills the worth these cards had.

[@Spend.Earn.Travel.]

Which rules are you referring to? I personally don't run into many issues with various rules

[@fogrunr5075]

I've come to realize that the AMX Platinum is anti-Delta. The Airline Incidentals Credit is anti-Delta.

[@bukullaniciadi]

Delta amex is not worth it