Amex Removes Miles Boost for DL Gold Amex
#31
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: HNL
Programs: DL PM/1MM, BW DE (lifetime), HH DE, Marriott PE (lifetime), National Emerald Executive
Posts: 7,195
May be pay with miles is being removed for good in favour of PerkChoice, that DL has been claiming will be brought back for ages?
#32
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: NYC
Programs: SPG Plat, Emerald Exec., PC Plat, AA, CO, DL, UBS Charter Card, Palladium Card, Amex Plat
Posts: 1,694
They offer prorated refunds on any card, including the Plat.
#35
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: The best state in the USA - Florida!
Programs: Marriott Titanium/LT Plat, AS MVP75K, AA PlatPro, UA Premier, Disney AP
Posts: 14,495
Seems like they want the Gold AmEx to be the card of kettles and other infrequent flyers (with the benefits such as free checked bags, Zone 2 boarding, etc. - all things elites don't care about but kettles would) and want the elites to pony up some more money for the Plat or Reserve.
#36
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: WAS
Programs: BA Gold, HH
Posts: 673
that is one thing i miss from NW. the ability to use half miles and half cash and earn miles on the cash portion. would LOVE to see that return.
#37
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: DCA
Programs: DL DM 2MM; EK Silver; HH Gold
Posts: 927
Seems like they want the Gold AmEx to be the card of kettles and other infrequent flyers (with the benefits such as free checked bags, Zone 2 boarding, etc. - all things elites don't care about but kettles would) and want the elites to pony up some more money for the Plat or Reserve.
#38
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: MKE
Programs: DL-MM-Diamond HH-Diamond
Posts: 3,218
If you think about it, how many of cardholders are getting that card through airport kiosk, etc just for the free bags. They don't even know what MQM's are, so why have that liability? I get it, no problem with it #donthaveagoldanyway
#39
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: SYD
Programs: |QF Platinum|HH Gold|DL Silver|ALL Silver|
Posts: 1,736
Thanks for the OP and others for pointing this out. I had almost convinced myself to convert one of my Amex cards to the DL Gold Amex but will happily keep my current card.
DL keeps reinforcing Skymiles as my "when I can't credit the points anywhere else" program.
DL keeps reinforcing Skymiles as my "when I can't credit the points anywhere else" program.
#40
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Toledo, OH
Programs: Delta DM & MM, Hilton DM, Marriott gold, Hyatt Globalist, Alaska 75K, Wyndham Diamond,
Posts: 15,391
I'll be changing in January (or sooner) as well. All the other card benefits (except for the companion ticket), I get as a Medallion. Free bag - check. Priority boarding - check. Never use pay with miles since they don't earn MQMs or can get upgrades.
I charge roughly 15k-20k/year so I would never hit the MQM threshold for the Plat.
Not sure which card to choose. If the thresholds were lowered for the Plat, it would be a no-brainer. Otherwise, I could even consider the Reserve or the regular AmEx Plat if I felt there was enough value to justify paying the $450 annual fee.
I charge roughly 15k-20k/year so I would never hit the MQM threshold for the Plat.
Not sure which card to choose. If the thresholds were lowered for the Plat, it would be a no-brainer. Otherwise, I could even consider the Reserve or the regular AmEx Plat if I felt there was enough value to justify paying the $450 annual fee.
I see you are a hilton gold. I consider a hilton point worth at least as much as a skypeso and with the hilton am ex you get 3 pts/$ charged. After I get my mileage spending in for the MQMs, all my non-delta am ex spending goes on the Hilton Am Ex since I realize better rewards from it.
Delta also has a Optima Am Ex card that my friend downgraded to a few years ago but it only gives 1/2 skymiles per $ charged but there is no annual fee.
#41
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Toledo, OH
Programs: Delta DM & MM, Hilton DM, Marriott gold, Hyatt Globalist, Alaska 75K, Wyndham Diamond,
Posts: 15,391
WOuldn't make sense for them to remove the mileage boost from the Platnium and Reserve. If they did, there would be no added benefit on paying the additional yearly fee on the Platniumc arde and if they removed it from the resereve, those cardholders may as well just move to the regular Am Ex plantium card.
#42
Join Date: Oct 2007
Programs: Now just a lowly DL PM/1MM. This industry needs some competition. It's just not enjoyable anymore.
Posts: 3,543
#43
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Toledo, OH
Programs: Delta DM & MM, Hilton DM, Marriott gold, Hyatt Globalist, Alaska 75K, Wyndham Diamond,
Posts: 15,391
Yes, Costco, Amex, Hilton and SPG are all heavily in bed with Amex. At least the other companies though accept cards other than Am Ex.
#44
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: SUX
Programs: BA Silver; HHonors Gold; SPG Gold; Points but dirt with everyone else
Posts: 8,050
Shhh. Don't give DL any ideas here. I can just see them deciding to only accept AmEx or charging a $10 fee per passenger each way to pay with anything other than AmEx, taking a page out of FR's playbook.
#45
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: 16,247
The $fee would be a violation of their merchant agreements with Visa/MC, etc.