Everyone is assuming that Amex wasn't consulted or involved in this decision (I put as much confidence in an Amex phone rep saying "nothing is changing" as I do in the FA claiming that DL is starting MEM-HKG next year). $250k could have been a mutually agreed number that allowed them to maintain current MQD waiver claims, while being sufficiently high to restrict all but the most dedicated MS'ers, who will give Amex $7,500 in merchant fees for their trouble.


Since we don't know the terms of their deal with Amex, it's hard to speculate on the profitability of the cobrand products, but I could certainly see Amex deciding that the current customer mix for the DL Plat/Reserve isn't profitable, and agreeing with the move under the assumption that they can replace no-balance Plat/Reserve cardholders manufacturing spend to get the waiver with Blue-Gold cardholders more likely to carry a balance (and not have to offer the MQM or club access benefits)