Amex Delta Changes & New Benefit Changes.
 

Was just reading Condé Nast article in Apple News. Apparently DL and AMEX are revamping benefits for all DL-branded AMEX, including complimentary access to AMEX CENTURION lounges for AMEX Reserve cardholders. Here’s a link to the article: https://apple.news/AszASILcuTAScUw9NikFBmg

Awesome. Some great benefits for the price but some caveats. What chance is there for a non-Medallion Status Reserve Card holder to get upgrades? Probably < 1%.

The Centurian Lounge could end up being a nice benefit. Unless a club is near capacity and they start turning people away...

I have thought of adding the unbranded Platinum card for that and a couple of other benefits, but couldn't make the $550 AF pencil out on top of the Reserve's $450. Unfortunately, I just renewed my Global Entry a year ago. That would have covered the $100 bump in AF all by itself. I would be interested to know how the comp upgrades with no Medallion status will slot into the existing upgrade priority. I am guessing at the bottom? After all of the FOs have received their unicorn upgrades to First class? If that's the case, it's something of a "paper benefit".

Also wondering where they will plan to take something away. Upgrades and Sky Club floor space are limited commodities. Increasing both on this side means that someone is going to lose out somewhere else.

It will be interesting to see how it plays out.

Probably a *lot* less than 1%

Probably targeted at the newer hubs like BOS and SEA where it's easier to score upgrades.

Looks like a few negative changes:

- The bonus RDMs upon reaching spend thresholds are gone. It's now only MQMs you get, no RDMs.
- The SkyClub access for non-Reserve DL Amex holders (Gold/Plat) is now $39, up from $29

Anyone else spot similar "enhancements"?

Actually it looks like the SkyClub access for Gold is going away.

https://news.delta.com/consumers-bus...-express-cards

For the Reserve card this doesn't seem like a positive change. Global entry and companion upgrades don't seem very useful. The fee is $100 more and we no longer receive 15,000 Skymiles when spending $30k. The new earning structure is fairly useless, so the only new benefit is you can boost multiple times and get 2 sky club entries for a guest. The Centurion Lounge is already overcrowded as is, and this is not going to help.

Oof, you're right. Also, no more MQD waiver available with Gold!

BTW the Reserve is also one of the cards supposedly gaining trip cancellation/delay insurance features:

https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/amer...ect-cards.html

Great. Make the Centurion Lounges more crowded just like SkyDumps. I already avoid most of them.

af on the dl plat card increasing for no new benefits if one holds the amex plat charge card :/

Actually a pretty significant downgrade for all 3 cards (Gold, Platinum, Reserve). Of course, they would never advertise it as such.

For Platinum Delta card holders, the annual fee goes up $55, SkyClub access costs more, 10,000 RDMs for every $25k in spend goes away (major downgrade). The only positive change is a $100 credit that can only be used every 4 years (and is already available on dozens of other cards) and a few more points when booking at Delta or using the card at restaurants/grocery stores. However, you can already get 5x points when booking with AMEX Platinum, so that's worthless, and CSR gives 3x points on dining, while the regular AMEX Gold card gives 4x on dining and grocery stores.

Basically, the card is significantly worse but is more expensive. I may drop it now and have held it for ~8 years.

The link works fine even outside an iPhone, and simply redirects to Conde Nast anyway. Here's a direct link:

https://www.cntraveler.com/story/del...-for-travelers

Under normal business travel patters I'd agree 100%. But there can't be many traditional business travelers who don't have status, but do have a Delta Reserve Card. If anything they will probably do ok as I'd imagine they'd be more on the leisure travel itineraries where upgrades are much more possible.