Delta Air Lines is now sending out trip credits to some cardholders as part of a promotion to keep some of its top credit card customers.
Back in February, Delta and American Express announced big changes, including a total reimagining of their cobranded credit card portfolio. While Delta and Amex unveiled many new benefits, they also raised the annual fees on most cobranded cards.
The annual fees on both the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card and the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card jumped by $100 to an eye-watering $650 per year (see rates and fees for the Reserve; see rates and fees for the Reserve Biz). In part to help offset the jump in the annual fee, Delta is giving cardholders a one-time $100 credit to use on the Delta website.
You should now see that credit in your email inbox.
Related: The 5 Delta SkyMiles Amex changes I’m most excited about
Delta also sent a new promotion offering customers 1,000 Delta SkyMiles for up to three Hilton stays through July 7 if you register at this link by May 6. The offer is only good for new bookings.
It’s one of a slew of recent promotions from Delta, with the Atlanta-based airline seemingly making a concerted effort to keep SkyMiles members engaged in the program.
Related: How to earn 1,000 Delta miles on your next Hilton stay
I’ve already been able to use other benefits of the Reserve card, such as the up to $200 Delta hotel credit, the monthly ride-hailing service credit and the monthly Resy restaurant credits.
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Related: The Delta rollover choices are now live
Reserve cardholders will now get up to $120 in annual statement credits (up to $10 per month) for U.S. ride-hailing service purchases with select providers and up to $240 in annual statement credits (up to $20 per month) on eligible purchases with U.S. Resy restaurants.
I’ve found the Resy credits easy to use as I live in New York City, which has lots of restaurants to choose from; your mileage may vary, though. I’ve also used the ride-hailing service credits for Revel electric car rides.
Note that if you want to take advantage of the Resy and ride-hailing service credits, you’ll need to enroll with American Express first.
Delta Stays credits are available for hotels booked through this section of Delta’s website. Each year, you’ll receive up to $250 in statement credits for prepaid hotels or vacation rentals booked through this site (depending on the card you use). You’ll also earn at least 2 miles per dollar spent.
The companion certificate on these cards also became much more valuable this year.
Both the personal and business Delta SkyMiles Reserve cards come with an annual companion certificate at each renewal, valid for round-trip tickets in select fare classes.
Related: Save money on flights with the annual Delta companion ticket
The certificates are now good for flights to all 50 U.S. states plus Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean. Those certificates used to only be good on continental U.S. flights.
I also love the status boosts Delta is giving out to cardholders. You now get a head start of 2,500 Medallion Qualification Dollars at the beginning of each year just for being a cardmember. This year, cardholders also received another $1,000 MQD status boost (one-time only). I already got mine for the 2024 status year.
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Delta credit card status boost. DELTA
Remember, you’ll still get unlimited lounge visits at Delta Sky Clubs via your Reserve card through Jan. 31, 2025, too. After that, your visits will be capped, so enjoy this feature while you can.
You’ll also now get four one-time guest passes (up from two previously).
Bottom line
While the changes to the Delta Reserve cards come with a heftier annual fee, there are lots of new goodies to keep cardholders engaged in the program. I had completely forgotten the $100 trip credit that just hit my inbox, so that was a pleasant surprise for this Delta loyalist. The status boosts and the new creative credits will allow me to maximize the new higher annual fee.
Some will complain that the cards are just glorified coupon books; however, I’m having fun, and I’m reengaged with the SkyMiles program. That’s a big deal because I’d strongly considered abandoning the program altogether not too long ago.
Ask me again this time next year.
Related reading:
For rates and fees of the Delta Reserve, click here.
For rates and fees of the Delta Reserve Biz, click here.
