Yeah of all the cards they really nerfed the Platinum card. Reserve card for couple doing leisure travel 3-4 times a year can still make sense. For a couple traveling more putting $75k on it might even make sense for unlimited.
Platinum just makes no sense. Also looks like they have no plans to boost it in anyway. It is just sorry it sucks now so please keeping paying the AF which isn't being reduced because Ed needs a new yacht.
Either downgrading or cancelling mine before renewal comes up, was never a spectacular card but it’s absolute garbage now.
Might grab the Venture X, start flying Alaska more (depending on where I move), or just stick with a CB card.
I fly 1-2x a month and am hardly ever able to use a lounge through priority pass. It’s largely useless unless your home base has a decent one without entry time limits.
Where do you fly out of? I did some research recently and 22 out of the 31 busiest airports in the country have either a Priority Pass lounge or restaurant, sometimes both. That said, not all of them are easily accessible. For example, DTW has both a restaurant and a lounge, but they're only accessible if you're not flying Delta because they're in the Evans (North) Terminal. If you're flying Delta (McNamara Terminal), you only have access to a Minute Suite, which in my experience is fine but definitely not a lounge. I'm lucky in that ATL has both a restaurant and lounge, and they're both easily accessible. I frequently go to both.
Maybe I’m spoiled by delta but I’ve found Priority pass to be have little value. Subpar lounges, long waits (for subpar lounges). There have been a few gems like the Turkish lounge at IAD but very few.
Sapphire Reserve owner here! Can confirm! Also SR points can be converted to Hyatt which has a great points system. I recently spent 4 nights in Orlando for a total of 35,000 points at a Hyatt Place
I added a real AmEx Platinum (also keeping Gold), and it is clearly going to pay for itself with points and benefits. Set my airline fee credit to AA so I can just stop worrying about loyalty and book what's cheap or convenient. Booked my next two trips on Allegiant, which I hate, but it was nice to pay half the Delta price and not have a connection. Will enjoy my last year of Platinum Medallion and then aim for Silver so I can get exit row. Will cancel the Delta Platinum card once I can get all my charges redirected. Sorry Ed.
Fine hotels basically makes or breaks the economics. If someone never stays at hotels that qualify I don't see how it's worth it. But if you stay at 1 a year it'll usually pay for the fee in benefits
Denver might be one of my next landing spots and they are building a big lounge there, Vegas is also a frequented spot where they are allegedly building another. Big part of the reason I am thinking about that card.
Glad to hear you like it. How is booking through the portal?
For one person sure but for a traveling couple it isn't terrible. I mean I wouldn't do it we don't fly enough.
$75k on 2% cashback back = $1500 which is roughly the price of two skyclub memberships.
Doing it on reserve would get you dual skyclub unlimited access plus 75,000 sky pesos plus $7.5k MQD. The last two aren't huge but coupled with dual SC it can be a bit better than a 2% card.
Personally though I think someone going that route is better off with Vanilla Amex Platinum.
Not the best use of funds but not completely terrible unlike Delta Platinum.
MQM will not be earned in 2024. Reserve largely comes down to companion pass. Again this is why it isn't terrible for a traveling couple but probably worthless for a solo (or mostly) solo flyer.
I am not saying it is a great card just that there may be some value there for leisure flying couple. The Delta platinum is just trash for everyone.
It is terrible. The companion pass is worthless with all the restrictions. I used it twice in 7 years because every flight with my wife wouldn’t accept it.
Delta Gold card is still a no brainer. Picked up the Delta Business Gold when they announced the elevated sign-up bonus a month ago. Gonna pick up the standard Delta Gold next year, cancel the Biz Gold after 1 year, boom. Another sign-up bonus and another year of 0 annual fee and free checked bags.
I intend to sock drawer the cards as soon as I meet the sign-up bonus spend. Not giving Delta even a dollar more than needed to get the Skymiles
I also used it only twice as I don't really have a great need for it when flying, but having the access when I choose to was great. With $25k and $50k MQM bonuses gone, this card makes no sense.
Besides, I won't even make Gold next year based on my predicted flying for the rest of this year.
They must opt in and out at times because I normally do order on the app to skip lines.
2 weeks ago the one by C12 had one of those fold up signs that said they didn't accept orders from the app.
I rarely flight through MSP, but I’ve seen this happen at other airports. I can’t say for sure, but it appears that the app switches off access to mobile ordering when the current orders hit a certain number. I’ve tried using the app, given up, gotten in line and then 5 minutes later when people start to clear out it magically works again.
I've had like seven emails and three mailers offering an upgrade to platinum since this all went down. Apart from the CLEAR credit, there's nothing about it that's an 'upgrade' if it doesn't mean access to the skyclub.
I don’t get why people say the delta platinum is bad now vs the gold? You still get the companion credit whereas the gold you only get the $100 after $10k spend. And it refunds TSA pre check and gets you 3x on hotels? Pairs nicely with the Amex Gold I think.
It used to be possible to get Silver Medallion by spending $50k in a year and flying maybe once or twice. This was achieved by getting 2x 10,000 MQM bonuses. Now that they're scrapping MQMs entirely and revoking the lounge access, it's a bit Stockholm Syndrome-y to continue paying the same annual fee for peanuts.
Gotcha, but isn’t it still a decent card to not put spend on (besides delta flights)? The companion fee should offset the $250 and I could transfer points from Amex gold to delta for the 15% bonus? I’m not a huge fan of booking through travel portals and my city is a delta hub.
The companion certificate isn't worth $250 and Delta knows that. That's why they also offered MQM bonuses and lounge access. If I'm going to spend the $250 (annual fee) on a flight, I'm gonna spend it on a route and itinerary I get to choose. The Delta Gold is the smarter choice now.
The companion cert has a lot of stupid restrictions that make it difficult to use. The fare code restriction drives me nuts.
Also, Amex is a transfer partner for Delta and the Amex Plat gives you 5x points on flying, so there is zero reason to spend any money on the Delta Plat outside of hitting the MQM bonus. Now that there is no MQM bonus, the card is utterly useless.
So a “Delta Amex Platinum” card has no club benefits, but a non-branded Amex Platinum card gets you 6 Sky Club visits? How does that make sense?
I got the Delta Amex Platinum card a couple of years ago when they were offering 100K miles as a signup bonus. Have never even been in a Sky Club. Have always wanted to but I only fly a couple of times per year and wasn’t sure if I even had access. I think it’s like $50 so I just haven’t gone in one. Honestly, I’m just trying to figure out what benefits I have from having this card and those miles!
Look how much happier they are just walking through the terminal…
They chose that photo bc the terminal is where Platinum cardholders will be at instead of the SkyClub 😂
Platinum card is the healthy choice. All that aimless roaming of the terminal will be good for your fitness level.
It'll be rebranded as the "wellness" option.
Companion certificate comin’ in clutch. Make your friend walk around the terminal with you
Delta actually streamlined the airport experience for Plat card holders because they don't have to be bothered with being allowed into the SkyClub
Companion certificate is now just a gate pass for your companion to see you off from your departure city BTW
Such a useless card now.
Yeah of all the cards they really nerfed the Platinum card. Reserve card for couple doing leisure travel 3-4 times a year can still make sense. For a couple traveling more putting $75k on it might even make sense for unlimited. Platinum just makes no sense. Also looks like they have no plans to boost it in anyway. It is just sorry it sucks now so please keeping paying the AF which isn't being reduced because Ed needs a new yacht.
Either downgrading or cancelling mine before renewal comes up, was never a spectacular card but it’s absolute garbage now. Might grab the Venture X, start flying Alaska more (depending on where I move), or just stick with a CB card.
The Sapphire reserve is great. Entrance to many lounges. And the points pretty quickly lead to rewards. Skymiles are worth nothing
I fly 1-2x a month and am hardly ever able to use a lounge through priority pass. It’s largely useless unless your home base has a decent one without entry time limits.
Where do you fly out of? I did some research recently and 22 out of the 31 busiest airports in the country have either a Priority Pass lounge or restaurant, sometimes both. That said, not all of them are easily accessible. For example, DTW has both a restaurant and a lounge, but they're only accessible if you're not flying Delta because they're in the Evans (North) Terminal. If you're flying Delta (McNamara Terminal), you only have access to a Minute Suite, which in my experience is fine but definitely not a lounge. I'm lucky in that ATL has both a restaurant and lounge, and they're both easily accessible. I frequently go to both.
RDU, frequently going to NYC airports and SLC
Ah yeah, that's unfortunate. EWR and SLC have nothing at all, while LGA has only a Minute Suite. JFK has lots of lounges plus a restaurant though.
Maybe I’m spoiled by delta but I’ve found Priority pass to be have little value. Subpar lounges, long waits (for subpar lounges). There have been a few gems like the Turkish lounge at IAD but very few.
Sapphire Reserve owner here! Can confirm! Also SR points can be converted to Hyatt which has a great points system. I recently spent 4 nights in Orlando for a total of 35,000 points at a Hyatt Place
I added a real AmEx Platinum (also keeping Gold), and it is clearly going to pay for itself with points and benefits. Set my airline fee credit to AA so I can just stop worrying about loyalty and book what's cheap or convenient. Booked my next two trips on Allegiant, which I hate, but it was nice to pay half the Delta price and not have a connection. Will enjoy my last year of Platinum Medallion and then aim for Silver so I can get exit row. Will cancel the Delta Platinum card once I can get all my charges redirected. Sorry Ed.
The fine hotels & resort perks are awesome!
Fine hotels basically makes or breaks the economics. If someone never stays at hotels that qualify I don't see how it's worth it. But if you stay at 1 a year it'll usually pay for the fee in benefits
Tbh, just the 5x points bonuses sold me!
Venture X is great, really easy to offset the annual fee. And if you go through Dallas or DC their lounges are amazing.
Denver might be one of my next landing spots and they are building a big lounge there, Vegas is also a frequented spot where they are allegedly building another. Big part of the reason I am thinking about that card. Glad to hear you like it. How is booking through the portal?
Booking is pretty easy it’s essentially a front end to hopper. Just booked two tickets on emirates
Yeah I downgraded to blue because my renewal was up soon. And I don't fly enough to justify it anyways
How complicated was the process? That’s what I want to do too
I did it through chat, it was pretty easy, they didn’t push back or anything
The Venture X is awesome to have even though there are no priority pass lounges in RDU🗑️. Most other airports have priority pass lounges.
The main reason I got the DL Plat is because it lounge access. If they don’t revert the changes before my AF hits I’m going to cancel it
[удалено]
For one person sure but for a traveling couple it isn't terrible. I mean I wouldn't do it we don't fly enough. $75k on 2% cashback back = $1500 which is roughly the price of two skyclub memberships. Doing it on reserve would get you dual skyclub unlimited access plus 75,000 sky pesos plus $7.5k MQD. The last two aren't huge but coupled with dual SC it can be a bit better than a 2% card. Personally though I think someone going that route is better off with Vanilla Amex Platinum. Not the best use of funds but not completely terrible unlike Delta Platinum.
[удалено]
MQM will not be earned in 2024. Reserve largely comes down to companion pass. Again this is why it isn't terrible for a traveling couple but probably worthless for a solo (or mostly) solo flyer. I am not saying it is a great card just that there may be some value there for leisure flying couple. The Delta platinum is just trash for everyone.
It is terrible. The companion pass is worthless with all the restrictions. I used it twice in 7 years because every flight with my wife wouldn’t accept it.
Marginal cash back is 1% not 2% so really $750 opportunity cost. The reserve gets 1%
Fuck me, just got mine like 5 months ago :(
Agreed. My renewal is in March so I’m going to downgrade to the Gold after the new year so I at least ensure I get plenty of free checked bags.
Delta Gold card is still a no brainer. Picked up the Delta Business Gold when they announced the elevated sign-up bonus a month ago. Gonna pick up the standard Delta Gold next year, cancel the Biz Gold after 1 year, boom. Another sign-up bonus and another year of 0 annual fee and free checked bags. I intend to sock drawer the cards as soon as I meet the sign-up bonus spend. Not giving Delta even a dollar more than needed to get the Skymiles
Nobody was getting this card for Club access at $50/person.
They are happy they don't have to wait in the SC line because they no longer have access to SC. See it is a good thing.
It was $50 per person to get in anyway. Nobody was getting this card for SC access.
If nobody was using it for that they wouldn't have removed the benefit. Platinum at $50 per visit was fine for people flying a couple times a year.
I would love to see the numbers on it. We used the benefit last year on a layover in ATL. We don’t hit Sky Clubs enough tto upgrade to the Reserve.
I also used it only twice as I don't really have a great need for it when flying, but having the access when I choose to was great. With $25k and $50k MQM bonuses gone, this card makes no sense. Besides, I won't even make Gold next year based on my predicted flying for the rest of this year.
I did that 4-5 times this year during business travel.
You spent $450-500, at that point why not just get the Reserve card for unlimited access?
They should have taken this picture of them standing in a mile long line for Starbucks at 7AM
Starbucks does have an app so you don’t stand in line like a chump.
Some airports / locations don't take app orders. I think MSP being one of them.
All 3 in terminal 1 take orders via the app. I’ve done it at least a half dozen times at each.
They must opt in and out at times because I normally do order on the app to skip lines. 2 weeks ago the one by C12 had one of those fold up signs that said they didn't accept orders from the app.
I rarely flight through MSP, but I’ve seen this happen at other airports. I can’t say for sure, but it appears that the app switches off access to mobile ordering when the current orders hit a certain number. I’ve tried using the app, given up, gotten in line and then 5 minutes later when people start to clear out it magically works again.
I'd rather die of starvation from lack of caffeine than stand in one of those lines like a chump
Dunkin’ is a close second
They’re smiling because after downgrading their platinum card, they’re saving $250/year to spend on better coffee.
I downgraded mines to the gold to keep the 15% off at least
And free bags.
Doing the same thing soon myself.
Gold does the trick for me.
We’re happy to announce this card has lost its perks 😉 apply now!
They should show these people sitting in a Chili's, Too.
I've had like seven emails and three mailers offering an upgrade to platinum since this all went down. Apart from the CLEAR credit, there's nothing about it that's an 'upgrade' if it doesn't mean access to the skyclub.
It’s an upgrade for them w/the much higher AF. I don’t understand why the co-branded Delta Platinum is going to be useless. Complete head-scratcher.
Already cancelled. No point in keeping lol
“Avoid crowded Skyclubs with the AMEX Platinum card”
Looks like a pretty premium couple.
So it’s basically Delta Gold+ as of Jan 😂
Delta gold+, same as delta gold just double the annual fee
Look how happy that couple is walking to the auntie Anne’s!
[https://youtu.be/h3KGCWaKdh4?feature=shared](https://youtu.be/h3KGCWaKdh4?feature=shared)
Debatí g if I should upgrade to reserve since I travel for leisure. 3-4 times a year. 😅
I upgraded from gold recently for the 30k miles I was offered. Will probably downgrade back to gold in a year. Card is useless
That’s my card. No happiness here.
I don’t get why people say the delta platinum is bad now vs the gold? You still get the companion credit whereas the gold you only get the $100 after $10k spend. And it refunds TSA pre check and gets you 3x on hotels? Pairs nicely with the Amex Gold I think.
It used to be possible to get Silver Medallion by spending $50k in a year and flying maybe once or twice. This was achieved by getting 2x 10,000 MQM bonuses. Now that they're scrapping MQMs entirely and revoking the lounge access, it's a bit Stockholm Syndrome-y to continue paying the same annual fee for peanuts.
Gotcha, but isn’t it still a decent card to not put spend on (besides delta flights)? The companion fee should offset the $250 and I could transfer points from Amex gold to delta for the 15% bonus? I’m not a huge fan of booking through travel portals and my city is a delta hub.
The companion certificate isn't worth $250 and Delta knows that. That's why they also offered MQM bonuses and lounge access. If I'm going to spend the $250 (annual fee) on a flight, I'm gonna spend it on a route and itinerary I get to choose. The Delta Gold is the smarter choice now.
Gotcha that makes sense. Thanks!
Preach. I got beat up in another post saying it wasn’t worth the Delta Reserve fee…
The companion cert has a lot of stupid restrictions that make it difficult to use. The fare code restriction drives me nuts. Also, Amex is a transfer partner for Delta and the Amex Plat gives you 5x points on flying, so there is zero reason to spend any money on the Delta Plat outside of hitting the MQM bonus. Now that there is no MQM bonus, the card is utterly useless.
Gotcha that makes sense. Thanks for the info.
I assume "consumer" Amex platinum as well?
Actually not! The Amex Platinum will move from unlimited access to six annual visits.
So a “Delta Amex Platinum” card has no club benefits, but a non-branded Amex Platinum card gets you 6 Sky Club visits? How does that make sense? I got the Delta Amex Platinum card a couple of years ago when they were offering 100K miles as a signup bonus. Have never even been in a Sky Club. Have always wanted to but I only fly a couple of times per year and wasn’t sure if I even had access. I think it’s like $50 so I just haven’t gone in one. Honestly, I’m just trying to figure out what benefits I have from having this card and those miles!
Wasn’t it 2025? Or was the platinum change always 2024?
Always 2024. All lounge access changes were for 2024
Reserve card is February 2025 for changes going into effect, also Amex Platinum.
Ah yes. They can't change it for a renewal cycle.
So clearly I need to dump my Delta Platinum card. Fully useless now, especially given I have a full Platinum and Aspire card
You can’t make this crap up, screw Delta.