Delta Amex Cards
About a year ago, I wrote about how the TakeOff 15 benefit changed our strategy for Delta Amex cards. This new-at-the-time perk enables 15%-cheaper awards directly booked with Delta. It was also tremendously easy to use, automatically attaching to our accounts and reflective in all searches. My wife and I decided one of us should indefinitely hold a Delta card. But between then and now, so much has happened with Amex, and holding one is no longer the optimal move for us. Let’s explore.
Outstanding Opportunities
Amex has since presented remarkable opportunities for my wife and I to pick up huge welcome offers and referral bonuses. In true Amex fashion, there’s no way I could’ve predicted certain options last year. We’ve focused even more on hotel cards than we previously expected, each signing up for multiple new ones while closing our last Delta card. We haven’t experienced a burning need to bring in another Delta product in the past several months, and we’re doing better elsewhere, anyway.
We’re Not Flying Delta Enough
Since I wrote last year’s article, I can count on two hands how many times I’ve been on Delta. And my wife hasn’t flown them once during that period. The 15% savings from the Delta card weren’t providing significant enough reward savings. Those were a drop in the bucket compared to what else we could do with that credit card slot (see above). We didn’t need any other Delta card benefits anyway, making our decision to live without one even simpler. And it wasn’t even a full 15% savings across all of my Delta flights. That’s because….
…I Regularly Book with Flying Blue
I increasingly book flights on Delta metal with Flying Blue currency. While the Air France site comes with its own set of booking quirks, the miles savings more than make up for it. Ironically, the same Delta flights are often substantially cheaper in Flying Blue miles than Delta currency. Some of my Air France bookings cost half what the Delta options did.
Other Airlines Are Keeping Me Busy…
…for a variety of reasons. These undoubtedly have affected how often I’ve flown Delta. I’m having tremendous fun earning, redeeming, and yes, flying with American. Thanks to the Loyalty Points structure, I qualified for Executive Platinum the past two years, and I’m closing in on my third time right now. Plus, I have a big stash of United Travel Bank that I’m using for that airline’s premium offerings.
Delta Unpredictability
In my experience, Delta award rates and availability are wackier than ever. There often seems to be no rhyme or reason to how flights are priced. Primarily finding (and ignoring) one-way domestic flights around 30k SkyMiles has become the norm. Routinely, even restrictive, basic awards are more expensive than fully-cancellable AA options. In many cases, the American rate is much better than the Delta award even if I were to incorporate the TakeOff 15 discount.
Delta Amex Card – Conclusion
One thing’s for sure – I’m taking off from a Delta Amex card. In a world of Amex credit card limits, I don’t see any amount of benefits bringing either my wife or me back to a Delta product. Delta’s unreliable, unpredictable redemption structure has undercut the TakeOff 15 benefit, the only one which kept us around. Beyond a slightly above average lounge experience, I can’t trust Delta for much else these days. And of course, I don’t need a Delta card for that. With Amex, I’ll be doing bigger, non-Delta things elsewhere, and I encourage you to consider the same.
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Can you explain a bit more on using Flying Blue?
I totally agree that the redemption of SkyMiles is totally wacky and seemingly unknowable. However, one thing that you did not address is Medallion status. The new system off MQD has really made a dent in my status. I now have Platinum status and will probably only make Silver next year. It seems likely to be shelving this card soon and look for better rewards.
Unless I am forced to fly a Delta partner, I have no need anymore for mine… especially in January when they hit me with the higher membership renewal. Am millionmiler with Star Alliance so we know where my loyalty goes… lol.
I downgraded my Delta Reserve card last year to a Gold, just so I can access the mileage discounts. I have generally stopped flying DL domestically and I do have a lot of miles to burn up. I have zero loyalty left to that airline and have had more premium hard product experiences with AA and UA lately. I fly based on price and schedule so that means usually NOT DL.
Gotcha, BW.
Except you can’t book fully domestic Delta flights with Flying Blue… kind of a deal breaker for folks who live in a DL fortress hub.
That’s not my experience, Lance. I’ve routinely booked those with Flying Blue.
Thanks for this review. I checked my Delta account and I hadn’t flown with Delta since 2021 and that used up all my welcome points. I couldn’t remember the last time the card came out of the sock drawer. I’ve had the card for 5 years. Time to let it go.
On to better things and cards, Susanne!