amex Delta Reserve: still upgrade priority?
Apr 11, 2013, 7:09 am
#16
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Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Minneapolis: DL DM charter 2.3MM
Programs: A3*Gold, SPG Plat, HyattDiamond, MarriottPP, LHW exAccess, ICI, Raffles Amb, NW PE MM, TWA Gold MM
Posts: 100,413
I got the Delta Reserve card and as a GM I feel it has helped me with upgrades, plus the fact it also includes entry into the Sky Club for myself and 2 guests makes it worth the cost of the card.
On a recent flight traveling with my wife, LGA to RSW on a slut fare on an Airbus with only 12 F seats, I was upgraded at the window, but my wife, who is FO was number 1 on the list at the gate with only 1 seat available and 3 other medallions were listed below her on the gate screen and she got the upgrade, I feel that charging the trip on our Delta Reserve card was the reason she was upgraded ahead of the others on the list.
Mr. Elliott
On a recent flight traveling with my wife, LGA to RSW on a slut fare on an Airbus with only 12 F seats, I was upgraded at the window, but my wife, who is FO was number 1 on the list at the gate with only 1 seat available and 3 other medallions were listed below her on the gate screen and she got the upgrade, I feel that charging the trip on our Delta Reserve card was the reason she was upgraded ahead of the others on the list.
Mr. Elliott
Apr 11, 2013, 7:24 am
#18
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Minneapolis
Programs: DL DM
Posts: 2,235
Charging tickets to a Reserve card has nothing to do with upgrades. what matters is having a Reserve card, in your name, linked to your DL FF account. It need not be used for payment in order to get the upgrade priority and certainly using someone else's Reserve card to pay for tickets has no effect on upgrades.
Apr 11, 2013, 8:15 am
#19
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Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Minneapolis: DL DM charter 2.3MM
Programs: A3*Gold, SPG Plat, HyattDiamond, MarriottPP, LHW exAccess, ICI, Raffles Amb, NW PE MM, TWA Gold MM
Posts: 100,413
I don't think secondary cards can be linked to DL FF accounts, just entered as a saved payment method, which doesn't result in any benefits such as the upgrade priority. I'm not sure how secondary AmEx cards are treated for the free bag and relatively early boarding.
Apr 11, 2013, 9:32 am
#20
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Minneapolis
Programs: DL DM
Posts: 2,235
It wouldn't/shouldn't get free bag because it would not show up in their Delta.com profile. It only shows up in the primary card holders profile. YMMV as always with Delta.
Apr 11, 2013, 10:43 am
#21
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Salt Lake City, UT, USA
Posts: 762
My co-worker and I are both DMs and travel on the same routes with the same fare class. A few times last year, I got the upgrade and he did not. So, it does make a difference if you on the bubble to get an upgrade.
Happydad
Happydad
Apr 11, 2013, 11:14 am
#22
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: CT
Programs: DL DM 2MM, MR LTT, Hilton D, Hertz PC. National Emerald Exec, UA Silver(thanks to Marriott)
Posts: 2,026
I've missed as a DM on a B fare with the card, It is a rare benefit at best, you will never 100% definitively know when it helped you get an UG, but you can make yourself believe it did if that makes you feel better about having the card.
I consider that a non-benefit and did not get the card for that reason.
I consider that a non-benefit and did not get the card for that reason.
Apr 11, 2013, 11:29 am
#23
Join Date: Aug 2011
Posts: 118
>I got the Delta Reserve card and as a GM I feel it has helped me with upgrades, plus the fact it also includes entry into the Sky Club for myself and 2 guests makes it worth the cost of the card.
just to weigh in with my $0.02 on the subject, the annual fee for the DL Reserve is the same as that for the AMEX Platinum (or was the last time I checked).
The AMEX non-branded platinum card gets you $200 in airline credit for a single airline for non-ticket purchases (good for EC, club passes for friends, et). In addition to that $200, they'll reimburse you the $100 Global Entry application fee if you pay it with your AMEX platinum. And it gets you into several different airport clubs as long as you're flying the associated airline. US Airways clubs you don't even need to be flying their airline to use the card. Another perk is you get Priority Pass Select (www.prioritypass.com/select) which gets you into even more airport clubs. All in all, I think the benefits of the nonbranded card are better than those of the DL flavor, though you don't get the first class companion cert.
Just my opinion.
just to weigh in with my $0.02 on the subject, the annual fee for the DL Reserve is the same as that for the AMEX Platinum (or was the last time I checked).
The AMEX non-branded platinum card gets you $200 in airline credit for a single airline for non-ticket purchases (good for EC, club passes for friends, et). In addition to that $200, they'll reimburse you the $100 Global Entry application fee if you pay it with your AMEX platinum. And it gets you into several different airport clubs as long as you're flying the associated airline. US Airways clubs you don't even need to be flying their airline to use the card. Another perk is you get Priority Pass Select (www.prioritypass.com/select) which gets you into even more airport clubs. All in all, I think the benefits of the nonbranded card are better than those of the DL flavor, though you don't get the first class companion cert.
Just my opinion.
Apr 11, 2013, 12:21 pm
#24
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Washington, DC
Programs: Delta PM, Delta Reserve, Amex Plat, Bonvoy Gold, Hilton Diamond, Starbucks Gold ;)
Posts: 1,775
It always depends on routes you fly. I personally think the card helps my UG percentage. My only upgrade miss in 12 segments this year is ATL-LAX.
This is just my experience.
This is just my experience.
Apr 11, 2013, 1:21 pm
#25
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Minneapolis, originally from Cincinnati
Programs: Diamond with Delta, Hyatt and Hilton. 2 MM and Plat with America (thank you citi:))
Posts: 2,345
>I got the Delta Reserve card and as a GM I feel it has helped me with upgrades, plus the fact it also includes entry into the Sky Club for myself and 2 guests makes it worth the cost of the card.
just to weigh in with my $0.02 on the subject, the annual fee for the DL Reserve is the same as that for the AMEX Platinum (or was the last time I checked).
The AMEX non-branded platinum card gets you $200 in airline credit for a single airline for non-ticket purchases (good for EC, club passes for friends, et). In addition to that $200, they'll reimburse you the $100 Global Entry application fee if you pay it with your AMEX platinum. And it gets you into several different airport clubs as long as you're flying the associated airline. US Airways clubs you don't even need to be flying their airline to use the card. Another perk is you get Priority Pass Select (www.prioritypass.com/select) which gets you into even more airport clubs. All in all, I think the benefits of the nonbranded card are better than those of the DL flavor, though you don't get the first class companion cert.
Just my opinion.
just to weigh in with my $0.02 on the subject, the annual fee for the DL Reserve is the same as that for the AMEX Platinum (or was the last time I checked).
The AMEX non-branded platinum card gets you $200 in airline credit for a single airline for non-ticket purchases (good for EC, club passes for friends, et). In addition to that $200, they'll reimburse you the $100 Global Entry application fee if you pay it with your AMEX platinum. And it gets you into several different airport clubs as long as you're flying the associated airline. US Airways clubs you don't even need to be flying their airline to use the card. Another perk is you get Priority Pass Select (www.prioritypass.com/select) which gets you into even more airport clubs. All in all, I think the benefits of the nonbranded card are better than those of the DL flavor, though you don't get the first class companion cert.
Just my opinion.
However the reserve card can give you 30,000 MQM's which is worth it for me. If someone isn't charge enough for MQM's I agree the Plat is a better deal
Apr 11, 2013, 2:22 pm
#26
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: LEX
Programs: Delta Reserve - PM
Posts: 1,143
Apr 11, 2013, 2:33 pm
#27
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Minneapolis
Programs: DL DM
Posts: 2,235
secondary card holders.
Apr 11, 2013, 2:43 pm
#28
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: LEX
Programs: Delta Reserve - PM
Posts: 1,143
Let me type very slowly.
I know the primary AMEX Reserve cost is $450. I also pay $175 for my wife to have a Delta Reserve card with her name on it, but attached to my account. She absolutely gets SC access when she shows that black card to the front desk with her same day DL ticket.
My Reserve card has waived ZERO foreign trax fees for items that I have purchased online from foreign merchants.
I know the primary AMEX Reserve cost is $450. I also pay $175 for my wife to have a Delta Reserve card with her name on it, but attached to my account. She absolutely gets SC access when she shows that black card to the front desk with her same day DL ticket.
My Reserve card has waived ZERO foreign trax fees for items that I have purchased online from foreign merchants.
Apr 11, 2013, 2:54 pm
#29
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Minneapolis
Programs: DL DM
Posts: 2,235
No need to type slowly, I am fairly smart. You were just not totally clear, which if I re-read, I can see what you were saying.
I am talking about transactions like where you are in a restaurant and you buy dinner in Paris. You will pay a transaction fee (or currancy fee, whatever you want to call it). Different than what you meant. I was not aware that "secondary card holders" get Sky Club access. I think you may have been lucky. Thinks like that are generally only for the primary holder, but I may stand to be corrected. Like everything else with the Amex cards, it is difficult to find the exact information online. (Like two for one coupons, etc). I thought I remembered something in the original T & C that confirmed things like this for the primary card holder only. Now I will be trying to see if Amex can give me the correct information.
I am talking about transactions like where you are in a restaurant and you buy dinner in Paris. You will pay a transaction fee (or currancy fee, whatever you want to call it). Different than what you meant. I was not aware that "secondary card holders" get Sky Club access. I think you may have been lucky. Thinks like that are generally only for the primary holder, but I may stand to be corrected. Like everything else with the Amex cards, it is difficult to find the exact information online. (Like two for one coupons, etc). I thought I remembered something in the original T & C that confirmed things like this for the primary card holder only. Now I will be trying to see if Amex can give me the correct information.
Apr 11, 2013, 3:15 pm
#30
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Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Minneapolis: DL DM charter 2.3MM
Programs: A3*Gold, SPG Plat, HyattDiamond, MarriottPP, LHW exAccess, ICI, Raffles Amb, NW PE MM, TWA Gold MM
Posts: 100,413
If the secondary Reserve card does give SC access, the $175 fee is cheaper than a SC membership.