American Express and Delta Airlines extend partnership to 2029.
#1
Moderator
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Miami, Mpls & London
Programs: AA & Marriott Perpetual Platinum; DL & HH Gold
Posts: 48,954
American Express and Delta Airlines extend partnership to 2029.
https://www.businesswire.com/news/ho...0402005631/en/
Ongoing investment in industry-leading benefits for Delta SkyMiles Credit Cards from American Express
Complimentary access to the award-winning network of Delta Sky Clubs around the world for Delta Reserve Card Members and Platinum Card® Members from American Express
Delta participation in the Membership Rewards program from American Express, allowing those points to transfer into the SkyMiles® Program
Delta as an American Express Card-accepting merchant
Complimentary access to the award-winning network of Delta Sky Clubs around the world for Delta Reserve Card Members and Platinum Card® Members from American Express
Delta participation in the Membership Rewards program from American Express, allowing those points to transfer into the SkyMiles® Program
Delta as an American Express Card-accepting merchant
Delta expects its benefit from the relationship to double to nearly $7 billion annually by 2023, up from $3.4 billion in 2018,
#2
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: IAH
Programs: DL DM, Hyatt Ist-iest, Stariott Platinum, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 12,790
I'll take inevitable conclusions for $500, Alex.
That said glad to see it continue though those 2 are so joined at the hip I can't have imagined it ending anytime soon.
That said glad to see it continue though those 2 are so joined at the hip I can't have imagined it ending anytime soon.
#4
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: PHX, SEA
Programs: Avis President's Club, Global Entry, Hilton/Marriott Gold. No more DL/AA status.
Posts: 4,422
But I'm glad to see this news since I am enjoying the Skyclubs with my AX Platinum.
#5
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Bye Delta
Programs: AA EXP, HH Diamond, IHG Plat, Hyatt Plat, Marriott Plat, Nat'l Exec Elite, Avis Presidents Club
Posts: 16,273
All the more reason to spend those miles. God only knows what’s going to happen to award redemption rates with the amount of SkyPesos that must be issued for DL to double its benefit here.
#6
Join Date: May 2000
Location: Houston, TX, USA
Programs: UA 1K, AA Lifetime Platinum, DL Platinum, Honors Diamond, Bonvoy Titanium, Hertz Platinum
Posts: 7,969
Good point. I'm trying to figure out just how they jointly plan to more than double the financial benefit to DL from 2018 to 2023. $3.4 billion a year is already a large number, and to more than double in 5 years? It's not just as simple as Amex buying twice the number of miles - why would Amex do that if it didn't also double the amount of revenue it earns from DL passengers? I would imagine that a large number of frequent DL flyers already have an Amex product - how is this going to double? I know they wouldn't make such a statement without a concrete plan to achieve it - I wonder what it is.
#7
Join Date: Mar 2017
Programs: HHonors, TrueBlue, Delta SkyMiles, Hyatt Discoverist, Starwood Preferred Guest, American Airlines.
Posts: 2,035
It's still a weak transfer partner since Skymiles are worth somewhere along the lines of 1 cpm. Transfer ratio should increase to 1:1.5 or even 1:2. When I can get a domestic first class flight on American for 25,000 miles (one way), it shouldn't cost me 50,000 miles for the same on a Delta flight.
AMEX needs to up their game a little and increase the value of MR's or else they'll continue to be seen as just another card issuer.
AMEX needs to up their game a little and increase the value of MR's or else they'll continue to be seen as just another card issuer.
#8
Moderator
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Miami, Mpls & London
Programs: AA & Marriott Perpetual Platinum; DL & HH Gold
Posts: 48,954
#9
Join Date: Mar 2017
Programs: HHonors, TrueBlue, Delta SkyMiles, Hyatt Discoverist, Starwood Preferred Guest, American Airlines.
Posts: 2,035
#10
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Bye Delta
Programs: AA EXP, HH Diamond, IHG Plat, Hyatt Plat, Marriott Plat, Nat'l Exec Elite, Avis Presidents Club
Posts: 16,273
It's still a weak transfer partner since Skymiles are worth somewhere along the lines of 1 cpm. Transfer ratio should increase to 1:1.5 or even 1:2. When I can get a domestic first class flight on American for 25,000 miles (one way), it shouldn't cost me 50,000 miles for the same on a Delta flight.
AMEX needs to up their game a little and increase the value of MR's or else they'll continue to be seen as just another card issuer.
AMEX needs to up their game a little and increase the value of MR's or else they'll continue to be seen as just another card issuer.
#11
Join Date: Mar 2017
Programs: HHonors, TrueBlue, Delta SkyMiles, Hyatt Discoverist, Starwood Preferred Guest, American Airlines.
Posts: 2,035
They have the same problem with Jet Blue... Only one with 250:200 while Citi and Chase do 1:1
#12
Join Date: May 2011
Location: NYC (LGA, JFK), CT
Programs: Delta Platinum, American Gold, JetBlue Mosaic 4, Marriott Platinum, Hyatt Explorist, Hilton Diamond,
Posts: 4,894
The co-branded Delta cards would become even less competitive for most spend if the Membership Rewards / Skymiles transfer ratio was 1 to 1.5 or 1 to 2.
The beauty of MR points is that you can choose to transfer to Delta, or choose not to... If you need to top off your Delta account with extra miles for whatever reason, Membership Rewards is a good tool, but the main purpose of Membership Rewards points is optionality, not Delta Skymiles. The main value in the Delta cards generally are perks for non-elites (free bags, earlier boarding), lounge access, the companion tickets and the MQM and Skymiles Boosts for Delta elites that spend a lot.
#13
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Bye Delta
Programs: AA EXP, HH Diamond, IHG Plat, Hyatt Plat, Marriott Plat, Nat'l Exec Elite, Avis Presidents Club
Posts: 16,273
On JetBlue you have a competitive argument, but for DL that will never happen as long as the DL Amex itself also earns 1 mile/$ on everyday purchases.
#14
Join Date: Mar 2017
Programs: HHonors, TrueBlue, Delta SkyMiles, Hyatt Discoverist, Starwood Preferred Guest, American Airlines.
Posts: 2,035
The co-branded Delta cards would become even less competitive for most spend if the Membership Rewards / Skymiles transfer ratio was 1 to 1.5 or 1 to 2.
The beauty of MR points is that you can choose to transfer to Delta, or choose not to... If you need to top off your Delta account with extra miles for whatever reason, Membership Rewards is a good tool, but the main purpose of Membership Rewards points is optionality, not Delta Skymiles. The main value in the Delta cards generally are perks for non-elites (free bags, earlier boarding), lounge access, the companion tickets and the MQM and Skymiles Boosts for Delta elites that spend a lot.
The co-branded Delta cards would become even less competitive for most spend if the Membership Rewards / Skymiles transfer ratio was 1 to 1.5 or 1 to 2.
The beauty of MR points is that you can choose to transfer to Delta, or choose not to... If you need to top off your Delta account with extra miles for whatever reason, Membership Rewards is a good tool, but the main purpose of Membership Rewards points is optionality, not Delta Skymiles. The main value in the Delta cards generally are perks for non-elites (free bags, earlier boarding), lounge access, the companion tickets and the MQM and Skymiles Boosts for Delta elites that spend a lot.
Citi used to offer 1.6 cpp redemptions through their portal on AA purchases through their Prestige card... Maybe AMEX should do the same with Delta and the Platinum. Delta miles are next to worthless unless you accumulate at least 50,000 of them.
#15
Moderator
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Miami, Mpls & London
Programs: AA & Marriott Perpetual Platinum; DL & HH Gold
Posts: 48,954
Don't be distracted by the number of points or the value of "one" point. Instead, look for value by calculating the amount of spending required to earn a trip or a stay. Also, don't fall into the trap of thinking that you must use Skymiles to travel on Delta.