Lounge Access; help me wrap my head around this
#16
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2015
Location: At the moment? ...
Programs: DL DM, Marriott Titanium
Posts: 377
That sounds to me like a good deal and removes the need to worry about hitting the spend for the bonus. A consideration to be weighed is, what's the value of the bonus to the OP, and how does that weigh against the $950 value of the Ameriprise signup features?
When I saw the Ameriprise link, I almost signed up myself but then reminded myself, I'm not a frequent flyer anymore so what on earth is the point?
When I saw the Ameriprise link, I almost signed up myself but then reminded myself, I'm not a frequent flyer anymore so what on earth is the point?
#17
Join Date: Apr 2015
Location: USA
Programs: DL Gold / AA Gold
Posts: 609
Go with AMEX Plat. Also depending on your destinations, if you get decent UG as plat then I would hold short of DM and explore other airlines.
SkyPeso are SkyZWD now. I mean DL is still better IMHO, just the FFP isn't what it used to be.
SkyPeso are SkyZWD now. I mean DL is still better IMHO, just the FFP isn't what it used to be.
#18
Suspended
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: MEM
Programs: Starbucks Green Card
Posts: 5,431
A point on the Amex Platinum Charge card -- the annual fee is going up to $550 (from $450). They are also adding a $15/month Uber credit ($30 in December). If you use Uber it can be worthwhile. If you don't then it makes the card that much more expensive (especially as you need to keep the DL Plax Amex for the MQD waiver). The Delta Reserve may be a better deal -- though you get the MQD waiver at $25K spend you don't get the MQM boost until $30K spend (but I think you get 15K MQM instead of 10K)
#19
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: Nashville -Past DL Plat, FO, WN-CP, various hotel programs
Programs: DL-MM, AA, SW w/companion,HiltonDiamond, Hyatt PLat, IHF Plat, Miles and Points Seeker
Posts: 11,066
There are many cards that offer PP. Many with excellent signup bonuses, even if you only keep the card for one year.
That would be my choice if you wanted PP.
That would be my choice if you wanted PP.
#20
Join Date: Sep 2016
Location: LON, PDX
Programs: DL PM, AS MVP 75K, HH/SPG/MR Gold, Amex Plat, PRG, CSR
Posts: 2,064
As a Delta flyer with a need for PP, I think the Amex Platinum is the clear choice. Even though there isn't a SkyClub at your home airport, you will use the access feature a lot when flying Delta.
If one really uses some of the additional features of the Plat such as the hotel status, rental car statuses, concierge, and Boingo subscription the value can be phenomenal.
If one really uses some of the additional features of the Plat such as the hotel status, rental car statuses, concierge, and Boingo subscription the value can be phenomenal.
#21
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: LAX
Programs: Fallen DL DM (PM) 2MM
Posts: 4,783
Personally, I don't actually use the lounge a lot at LAX (my home airport) -- grab a cup of coffee if I have time. I'm usually there for a morning flight and too early (for me) to have a drink or beer. I live close enough to the airport that I am usually notified of significant delays before I leave home. But not everybody is that way.
#22
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Minneapolis: DL DM charter 2.3MM
Programs: A3*Gold, SPG Plat, HyattDiamond, MarriottPP, LHW exAccess, ICI, Raffles Amb, NW PE MM, TWA Gold MM
Posts: 100,337
A point on the Amex Platinum Charge card -- the annual fee is going up to $550 (from $450). They are also adding a $15/month Uber credit ($30 in December). If you use Uber it can be worthwhile. If you don't then it makes the card that much more expensive (especially as you need to keep the DL Plax Amex for the MQD waiver). The Delta Reserve may be a better deal -- though you get the MQD waiver at $25K spend you don't get the MQM boost until $30K spend (but I think you get 15K MQM instead of 10K)
It might be cost effective for some people to change the DL AmEx Plat card to a Reserve card and buy the cheapest PP membership as a backup. IIRC any AmEx card entitles you to purchase access at the door to the Centurion lounges but not perhaps not the Escape lounges.
#23
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Minneapolis: DL DM charter 2.3MM
Programs: A3*Gold, SPG Plat, HyattDiamond, MarriottPP, LHW exAccess, ICI, Raffles Amb, NW PE MM, TWA Gold MM
Posts: 100,337
#24
Join Date: Apr 2015
Location: USA
Programs: DL Gold / AA Gold
Posts: 609
It might be cost effective for some people to change the DL AmEx Plat card to a Reserve card and buy the cheapest PP membership as a backup. IIRC any AmEx card entitles you to purchase access at the door to the Centurion lounges but not perhaps not the Escape lounges.
#25
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Minneapolis: DL DM charter 2.3MM
Programs: A3*Gold, SPG Plat, HyattDiamond, MarriottPP, LHW exAccess, ICI, Raffles Amb, NW PE MM, TWA Gold MM
Posts: 100,337
Moreover, currently the regular AmEx Plat card is good for all of the Escape lounges. As of a week or so ago, Escape at MSP accepted PP but BDL and several other locations did not.
For the OP, perhaps the DTW connections are the hardest to cover with lounge access as the only lounges in the terminal DL uses are all SCs. OP either needs a means to access DL SCs when flying DL or must pay per entry at the DTW SCs, which seems to be possible, at least if one has a DL AmEx credit card.
#26
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2015
Location: At the moment? ...
Programs: DL DM, Marriott Titanium
Posts: 377
For the OP, perhaps the DTW connections are the hardest to cover with lounge access as the only lounges in the terminal DL uses are all SCs. OP either needs a means to access DL SCs when flying DL or must pay per entry at the DTW SCs, which seems to be possible, at least if one has a DL AmEx credit card.
#27
Join Date: Sep 2016
Location: LON, PDX
Programs: DL PM, AS MVP 75K, HH/SPG/MR Gold, Amex Plat, PRG, CSR
Posts: 2,064
For this reason alone I'm leaning toward either the unbranded Amex Plat Business card or giving it a run for a year with the aforementioned personal Ameritrade Amex Plat and keeping my personal DL Amex Plat for the MQM bonus. Lounge access alone with the unbranded Amex Plat is really hard to argue with. Almost a no-brainer.