New Amex Delta SkyMiles Credit Card Fees and Rewards Go Live

Thursday, January 30, 2020, all American Express Delta SkyMiles credit cards came out with renewed annual fees and/or benefits. Amex announced the updates back in September, but they were to come into effect only at the end of January.

The changes apply to both consumer and business Delta SkyMiles credit cards. The first alteration is the annual fee increase. The size of the leap varies depending on the card and reaches $100. The only exception is the Blue Delta SkyMiles® Card from American Express which reserves the same $0 annual fee.

Let’s have a look at the annual fee changes for other SkyMiles cards:

• Gold Delta SkyMiles® Card from American Express: from $95 (waived first year) to $99 (waived first year);
• Platinum Delta SkyMiles® Card from American Express: from $195 to $250;
• Delta Reserve® Card from American Express: from $450 to $550;
• Delta SkyMiles® Gold Business American Express Card: from $95 (waived first year) to $99 (waived first year);
• Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card: from $195 to $250;
• Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card: from $450 to $550.

Though paying additional money seems quite unpleasant, the changes regarding perks are definitely for the better and may cover or even outbid the rise in charges. View what extra perks the cards receive and decide for yourself:

• Blue Delta SkyMiles® Card from American Express: 2X miles on purchases made directly with Delta and at restaurants worldwide, no foreign transaction fees;
• Gold Delta SkyMiles® Card from American Express: 2X miles on purchases made directly with Delta and at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets, $100 Delta flight credit after spending $10,000 annually;
• Platinum Delta SkyMiles® Card from American Express: 3X miles on purchases made directly with Delta and on purchases made directly with hotels, 2X miles at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets, up to $100 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck fees;
• Delta Reserve® Card from American Express: 3X miles on purchases made directly with Delta, access to The American Express Centurion® Lounge, 2 Delta Sky Club® one-time guest passes, up to $100 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fees, access to complimentary upgrades for card members without Medallion® Status;
• Delta SkyMiles® Gold Business American Express Card: 2X miles on purchases made directly with Delta and now at restaurants worldwide, on U.S. shipping and U.S. advertising, $100 Delta flight credit after $10,000 annual spending;
• Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card: 3X miles on purchases made directly with Delta and on purchases made directly with hotels, 1.5X miles on each eligible purchase of $5,000 or more, up to $100 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck fees;
• Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card: 3X miles on purchases made directly with Delta, 1.5X miles on purchases after spending $150,000 per calendar year, access to The American Express Centurion® Lounge, 2 Delta Sky Club® one-time guest passes, up to $100 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck fees, access to complimentary upgrades for card members without Medallion® Status.

Starting January 30, all new qualified applicants for these airline credit cards will be approved under new terms. However, for those who managed to apply by the end of the day on January 29, the previous annual fee values will be frozen for the first year. The existing cardholders get the new benefits automatically. As for the new annual membership fee, it is supposed to be charged on the next renewal date on or after January 30, 2020.