American Express Increasing Annual Fees & Adding Benefits To Delta Cards

American Express is increasing the annual fees on Delta cards and adding new benefits. New annual fees will go into effect at their next renewal dates on or after May 1, 2024. New annual fees are as follows:

• Delta SkyMiles® American Express Reserve and Reserve Business: $650 annually (from $550)
• Delta SkyMiles® American Express Platinum and Platinum Business: $350 annually (from $250)
• Delta SkyMiles® American Express Gold and Gold Business: $150 annually (from $99)

New benefits are as follows:

• Increased statement credits:
  • Gold cards:
    • $200 Delta flight credit after you spend $10,000 in purchases in a calendar year (up from $100)
    • $100 Delta stays credit for personal card, $150 Delta stays credit for business card
    • 2x miles per dollar spent on shipping & advertising (up to $50,000)
  • Platinum cards:
    • $150 Delta stays credit for personal card, $200 Delta stays credit for business card
    • $120 Resy credit ($10 per month)
    • $120 ride sharing credit ($10 per month)
  • Reserve cards:
    • $200 Delta stays credit for personal card, $250 Delta stays credit for business card
    • $240 Resy credit ($20 per month)
    • $240 ride sharing credit ($20 per month)
• Improved companion certificate. Now includes first Class, Delta Comfort+®, or Main Cabin round trip flights to Hawaii, Alaska, Mexico, Caribbean, or Central America, in addition to the continental U.S., each year after Card renewal (Platinum, Platinum Business, Reserve, and Reserve Business Card)

•  New MQD Headstart of $2500 MQDs for Platinum, Platinum Business, Reserve, and Reserve Business Card.

• Platinum Business and Reserve Business Card Members new earning categories:

  • 1.5x miles per $1 spent on shipping, office supplies, transit and advertising
  • 1.5x miles per $1 spent on purchase $5,000+

• New Expanded Buying Power Card option for Platinum Business and Reserve Business Card Members gives flexibility to spend above their credit limit. The amount they can spend above their credit limit is flexible, so it adapts with use of the Card, payment history, credit record, financial resources known to us, and other factors. The amount Card Members can spend with Expanded Buying Power is not unlimited.

• Complimentary Hertz President’s Circle status for Platinum & Reserve cardholders

Our Verdict

I’ve probably missed some changes so feel free to make corrections in the comments. I don’t really think any of these cards are worth keeping long term and these changes haven’t changed that for me at all. It’s no surprise that American Express is going the coupon book route for more cards considering what they have done with the regular Platinum & Platinum business cards.