Originally Posted by
JohnHace
For several years, I have been DM mostly from credit card spend (about $250,000/yr). I have both Delta Reserves (Business and Personal) and a Delta Platinum Amex. I also have a nonDelta Platinum Business Amex. I am DM now and have over 400,000 rollover MQM so I plan to extend DM for four additional years. Since I don't need spend for status, it looks like it is better to spend on nonDelta Amex as the points can be converted to Delta or other airlines. I'm in Atlanta so I always fly Delta. I plan to drop the Delta Platinum Amex and the Delta Reserve Business. I will put my business spend on the Amex Platinum Business and get a new Amex Gold for personal spend Does this sound like a good strategy to get the most benefit from credit card spend?
1
Any spend on.a Delta card has negative value - The only reason we did it was to boost status e.g., last year's MQM runs.
A DL mile is max 1.3c value = cash back cards give much more value
Many better options
A
spend 50k on the Amex Business Plus = 2 DL miles for each $ spend instead of 1
B
Get BofA Premium or unlimited rewards cards (personal or business) and get platinum honors = 2.625% cash back
C
Get Capital One Venture X for all spend besides airfare (a simple Amex Platinum)
or Citi Double Cash etc etc
2
Keep a single DL Gold card for 15% off awards. (Business card)
Do not cancel any Delta Amex - downgrade all personal ones to the fee free blue cards
3
As a DM you get 700$ off every year - get yours for 2024 now - takes a week. Then downgrade all cards
4
In July 2025 upgrade the DL Gold to Platinum so you can cash out 700$ then and again in Jan 2026
Downgrade to Gold in 2026 June
5
In end 2027 upgrade again if needed and cash out next 2 yrs of CB
6
When your status runs out then uppgrade to 2 Plat cards and a Reserve