Originally Posted by
FlyBitcoin
$300 AF increase nets DL more cash than an extra $5,000 of non-DL spend that might be required to make PM or DM above current thresholds.
Plus, raising spending thresholds for status does not generate that cash up-front.
If an annual fee increase of $300 all went to Delta it would contribute more to the bottom line than $5,000 of direct spend on DL tickets. Again, a credit card company that owns a few airplanes.