I do not think the calculations are right. The $675 gets Lounge membership; You get 2.625c cash= 1968.50
The DL Reserve card is not free - it costs 600$ at least + gets 75k DL miles worth 15% more than 1c at most = about 862.50
The loss is 1900-850 = about 1050 by going to DL Amex;
you are still buying DL miles for 2.625c and buying 1.15c of travel with each DL mile
Originally Posted by
steveholt
Right. These changes only incentivize spending $75K for lounge access if you're so tethered to Delta that you're not willing to do the math on alternatives.
I could spend $75K of unbonused spend on a DL card and earn 75,000 DL miles (~$900) and unlimited lounge access for myself.
I could spend that same $75K of unbonused spend on my Premium Rewards card and get 2.625% back, which is $1970, and buy lounge access for $675. I also get the benefits of having the rest left in cash as opposed to, you know, a currency that DL has shown little interest in propping up.
I would be implicitly be buying DL miles for 1.72 cents/mile by putting that spend on a DL card as opposed to a cash back card. No thanks.