Delta Amex Business Credit Cards - 5% OPEN Savings on Delta purchases going away?
Apr 15, 2009, 10:25 am
#31
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: ATL
Programs: DL SkyMiles PM/2MM, AA Plat, IC Diam. Amb., Peninsula regular, amanjunkie
Posts: 5,848
This stinks! Had the card for barely three months. Going to get rid of it this summer. This was a key benefit for me, the real value-added. Good bye.
Apr 16, 2009, 6:27 am
#32
Join Date: Feb 2005
Programs: DL DM/2MM; SPG PLAT/Ambassador
Posts: 483
Not that we needed further confirmation, but here is the email I received after logging my complaint at delta.com:
Dear Zedthedeadpoet,
Thank you for your e-mail to Delta Air Lines.
As you know, Starting May 15, 2009 Delta will no longer be participating in the Open Savings program. Delta has decided to leave the program in order to shift focus on other opportunities. This decision does not impact the SkyMiles program or any other benefit to your American Express Delta Card. Please know I have forwarded your comments to the appropriate management team.
Thank you for giving Delta the opportunity to serve your travel needs.
Sincerely,
Medallion Desk
Dear Zedthedeadpoet,
Thank you for your e-mail to Delta Air Lines.
As you know, Starting May 15, 2009 Delta will no longer be participating in the Open Savings program. Delta has decided to leave the program in order to shift focus on other opportunities. This decision does not impact the SkyMiles program or any other benefit to your American Express Delta Card. Please know I have forwarded your comments to the appropriate management team.
Thank you for giving Delta the opportunity to serve your travel needs.
Sincerely,
Medallion Desk
Apr 16, 2009, 8:32 am
#33
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: ATL
Programs: DL SkyMiles PM/2MM, AA Plat, IC Diam. Amb., Peninsula regular, amanjunkie
Posts: 5,848
I would say this is an issue to take up with Amex, not so much Delta. If Amex wouldn't give Delta a good enough deal to stay in the program, it's going to cost Amex some cardmembers, such as yours truly. To keep us on this card and paying the fee, they need to offer some bennies. This was a good one. Now that it's gone, so am I.
Apr 16, 2009, 10:09 am
#34
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: NYC, CDG, NCE
Programs: DL DM
Posts: 2,633
I'm sorry you fell in. I almost did.
We have about a 20K+ annual Delta spend out of total 20k/month on our regular Amex Small Biz Gold.
I called to apply for the Delta Biz Plat to get the MQMs (and even considered the Reserve), but was offered the same ridiculous $3000 limit.
So it's not enough credit for the blocks of Delta tix I need to buy (so double Bonus Miles is useless)....
It's useless for the Bonus MQMs when I don't even have the credit line to charge to the second threshold...
And it doesn't even have the 5% savings anymore...
What's the point of the card if you can't take advantage of the things that are the main selling points??
It's just bad business, a waste of my time and even the application was a (small but still) dumb waste of a couple of points of my credit rating.
We have about a 20K+ annual Delta spend out of total 20k/month on our regular Amex Small Biz Gold.
I called to apply for the Delta Biz Plat to get the MQMs (and even considered the Reserve), but was offered the same ridiculous $3000 limit.
So it's not enough credit for the blocks of Delta tix I need to buy (so double Bonus Miles is useless)....
It's useless for the Bonus MQMs when I don't even have the credit line to charge to the second threshold...
And it doesn't even have the 5% savings anymore...
What's the point of the card if you can't take advantage of the things that are the main selling points??
It's just bad business, a waste of my time and even the application was a (small but still) dumb waste of a couple of points of my credit rating.
Well, all I can say is that having just acquired the Reserve for Business card in January, I feel somewhat scammed. And that is after wasting hours of time to get the initial $3,000 credit line raised to something more useful. The only reason I selected this card was that the annual fee would more or less get canceled out by the 5% savings on annual DL spending.
I have been scammed! When did they actually stop advertising the 5% discount?
I have been scammed! When did they actually stop advertising the 5% discount?
Apr 16, 2009, 11:00 am
#35
Join Date: Jan 2008
Programs: DL-PM/R, 1985 US
Posts: 301
Amex should really re-think this one.
Apr 16, 2009, 12:03 pm
#36
Join Date: Aug 2007
Programs: Delta - Plat, Marriott - Platinum, Starwood - Gold
Posts: 115
Apr 20, 2009, 12:09 pm
#37
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: San Francisco Bay Area
Programs: DL Silver, UA Silver, Marriott Lifetime Silver, IHG Plat, Hilton Silver
Posts: 5,695
And if the Delta OPEN Savings going away is not enough to prevent one from obtaining a Delta Amex, I know someone who had a Platinum Amex business card with no preset spending limit who pays early in full, and he just recently had his supposed, no preset limit credit line severely cut, so much so that he will probably close the account and do business with another company.
Apr 20, 2009, 4:26 pm
#38
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: New York,NY
Programs: Delta Gold Medallion
Posts: 25
No more double miles for Delta Tix
If you check at AMEX and delta, you will notice that they no longer mention double miles for Delta purchases either
Apr 20, 2009, 5:04 pm
#39
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: San Francisco Bay Area
Programs: DL Silver, UA Silver, Marriott Lifetime Silver, IHG Plat, Hilton Silver
Posts: 5,695
Earn Miles with the Card
You can earn one mile for virtually every dollar you charge, from inventory and materials to monthly phone bills. You can redeem Delta miles for Award Travel with Delta or over 15 airline partners.
You can earn one mile for virtually every dollar you charge, from inventory and materials to monthly phone bills. You can redeem Delta miles for Award Travel with Delta or over 15 airline partners.
Apr 20, 2009, 5:09 pm
#40
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: San Francisco Bay Area
Programs: DL Silver, UA Silver, Marriott Lifetime Silver, IHG Plat, Hilton Silver
Posts: 5,695
OK, I opened an application for the Delta Business Plat Card and it still says double miles on Delta:
https://www201.americanexpress.com/s...ep=15917&ct=21
But the Delta Personal Amex Plat card says,
https://www201.americanexpress.com/c...9/b/64/0/0/0/n
https://www201.americanexpress.com/s...ep=15917&ct=21
Double Miles on Delta purchases — Earn two miles for every eligible dollar you spend on qualifying Delta Air Lines and Delta Vacations purchases. Earn one mile for virtually every other dollar you spend.
https://www201.americanexpress.com/c...9/b/64/0/0/0/n
Earn at least 1 mile for every eligible dollar spent.
May 1, 2009, 1:58 pm
#41
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Worldwide
Programs: United, Hyatt, Starwood, Hertz
Posts: 11
This is TERRIBLE... I can't believe they would do this and not tell anyone about it. I am Platinum Medallion and use my biz card only constantly, and of course to buy flights. I fly out of new york constantly, internationally usually, and because of this change, I think it's time I make a change and try AA or some other airline. It's terrible how they handled this -- it was the biggest benefit to having the credit card and made me fly with delta. Goodbye Delta...
May 1, 2009, 2:22 pm
#42
Join Date: May 2009
Posts: 1
I purchased a few TATL tickets on nwa.com a few days ago, using personal Platinum AMEX, being a bit disappointed I could not buy them on Delta and get double miles. My latest AMEX statement shows double miles posting for these tickets!
May 9, 2009, 2:05 pm
#43
Join Date: Oct 2003
Posts: 395
Confirmation that it was Delta who ended program.
Just got a letter from AmEx:
"Effective May 15 Delta will no longer participate in the OPEN Savings program. This means... . . . Delta purchases will not be eligible for 3-5% Savings discount.
While we are disappointed to lose such a valuable partner ... Blah, Blah etc."
This a big deal for BE fliers.
I wonder if it is better to cancel and go back to AmEx Platinum (non Delta). Reserve does not insure rental cars outside the US but Plat does. Both get you into the Sky Club.
Any opinions?
"Effective May 15 Delta will no longer participate in the OPEN Savings program. This means... . . . Delta purchases will not be eligible for 3-5% Savings discount.
While we are disappointed to lose such a valuable partner ... Blah, Blah etc."
This a big deal for BE fliers.
I wonder if it is better to cancel and go back to AmEx Platinum (non Delta). Reserve does not insure rental cars outside the US but Plat does. Both get you into the Sky Club.
Any opinions?
May 9, 2009, 4:00 pm
#44
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Atlanta & San Francisco
Programs: DL 2MM DM & My Wife is a DL 3MM DM
Posts: 2,784
Just got a letter from AmEx:
"Effective May 15 Delta will no longer participate in the OPEN Savings program. This means... . . . Delta purchases will not be eligible for 3-5% Savings discount.
While we are disappointed to lose such a valuable partner ... Blah, Blah etc."
This a big deal for BE fliers.
I wonder if it is better to cancel and go back to AmEx Platinum (non Delta). Reserve does not insure rental cars outside the US but Plat does. Both get you into the Sky Club.
Any opinions?
"Effective May 15 Delta will no longer participate in the OPEN Savings program. This means... . . . Delta purchases will not be eligible for 3-5% Savings discount.
While we are disappointed to lose such a valuable partner ... Blah, Blah etc."
This a big deal for BE fliers.
I wonder if it is better to cancel and go back to AmEx Platinum (non Delta). Reserve does not insure rental cars outside the US but Plat does. Both get you into the Sky Club.
Any opinions?
I also have the AXP Plat card which I like for a variety of reasons--including the sort of "insurance" feeling of it when travelling internationally.
May 9, 2009, 5:55 pm
#45
Join Date: Oct 2003
Posts: 395
ATLRunner comments
"I am irritated by this as well. However, the key to the value of the Reserve card for me, will be using the companion certificate where you can book in FC. If that works like it should (I should get the certificate sometime next month) it will certainly make that card worth it. If not, I'll likely cancel it. My wife and I buy transcon A fares so using the certificate for that would be a nice perk.
I also have the AXP Plat card which I like for a variety of reasons--including the sort of "insurance" feeling of it when travelling internationally. "
Yes, we will have to weigh the value. Maybe AXP will reinstate their companion ticket program. To us, the big value of Reserve was 5% off $25k of upgraded M TATL flights annually. I had just canceled our AXPlat - Aarrgh! The Reserve does not insure overseas car rentals (AXP does) which we insured through Amex separately for $25 per rental - worth it for the peace of mind.
I wonder if it's worth writing to the President of Delta? When Gerald Grinstein was boss they were very approachable.
I just get the feeling these new guys are not really Delta people.
The AXP does give you a companion ticket in international Business or 1st on some airlines and I used it a couple of times but it is VERY expensive as you pay full price on 1 ticket. We went to Oz and NZ using it - other routes didn't seem worth it.
Am I missing any other advantages of AXPlat?
I also have the AXP Plat card which I like for a variety of reasons--including the sort of "insurance" feeling of it when travelling internationally. "
Yes, we will have to weigh the value. Maybe AXP will reinstate their companion ticket program. To us, the big value of Reserve was 5% off $25k of upgraded M TATL flights annually. I had just canceled our AXPlat - Aarrgh! The Reserve does not insure overseas car rentals (AXP does) which we insured through Amex separately for $25 per rental - worth it for the peace of mind.
I wonder if it's worth writing to the President of Delta? When Gerald Grinstein was boss they were very approachable.
I just get the feeling these new guys are not really Delta people.
The AXP does give you a companion ticket in international Business or 1st on some airlines and I used it a couple of times but it is VERY expensive as you pay full price on 1 ticket. We went to Oz and NZ using it - other routes didn't seem worth it.
Am I missing any other advantages of AXPlat?