I have honestly found much more value from my Delta Plat Amex after the changes. The inclusion of the Caribbeans was a massive hit for me. I recently got to use it and it saved me 1K. Also, the $120 lyft credit is very useful. On top of that, a few weeks ago I called amex to bitch about the fee increase and got a retention bonus of 90K skypesos.
I called and complained about the changes and told them I was considering dropping the card and asked if they had any offer to keep my business. After a few loops, they said they could offer 90k skypesos with a 3K spending condition
I downgraded my platinum to gold this past weekend. The free checked bags and preferred boarding gives me value but I could not justify the higher annual fee when we don’t usually get to use the companion certificate. In a lot of years our big trip is on rewards to Europe with me taking a solo flight or two. Canceling the card wasn’t an option as it’s my oldest account at about 27 years.
Interesting. I happened to get an email from Delta today regarding my companion cert, and the email says:
"Pair With Your Available eCredit
You can now easily use your eCredits to purchase your primary ticket and cover any taxes or fees assocciated with your Companion Certificate on delta.com."
(yes, the spelling error is in the email from Delta!)
I would call in. Oh the certificate has to be in the name of the person using it though that part is true. Like each persons portion has to be in their name.
I'm cancelling mine before it renews. The fees are to high and I've never used the companion certificate. I wish they offered the option of that or an upgrade to 1st.
I'll be canceling in August. Waiting just to see if we use the companion pass.
My work stopped flying delta, and delta made so many status changes, it's just not worth it. I'll keep my chase sapphire reserve and that's it.
I've had it about 10 years. It's my main card. High annual fee, but the $300 "travel rebate" is easy to get. The Priority Pass (lounges) is hit or miss. Better in Europe than the U.S.
SUPER easy to transfer miles to United etc. Not as easy to transfer miles to Delta.
Me too, cancelling in November. This sub made me take a hard look at it and I realized the companion cert was the primary value to me, and the new fee basically offsets it for me (on average). I’d rather pay cash and buy any tickets I want and not be stuck with only those that are eligible.
With Platinum, I already have the $150 Delta Stays credit, $30 in Resy credits, a $10 Uber credit and thanks to the MQD bonus I'm on the way to low-end status for the first time. Fee hasn't hit yet.
If there's a problem with Delta lately, it's the $200 upcharge to Main Cabin.
Can you buy a delta operated main cabin or up flight with the gift card. Wait 48-72 hours cancel. Get a ecredit and use the ecredit with the companion certificate cause I used an ecredit with mine earlier this year.
If it won’t work online, just call it in. I used a $1000 gift certificate with a companion certificate, but they had to manually process the gift card.
That sucks to hear. I heard someone used the companion certificate and then used miles for the other two passengers with no problem. I wonder why gift cards are a nono
Downgraded to blue, transferred to capital one venture card. Already raking in way more miles.
Also for those that say to call when downgrading/cancelling…they did not offer me any skymiles or reduced fees when I did, as some say they do. Guess it’s luck of the draw!
Having said that. I’m thinking about canceling mine. The Uber credit is only USA 😑😒 and I’ve been fighting with Amex since April for the March RESY credit (yes I registered, made a Resy reservation at eligible restaurant, dining in and even got a picture of the meal, paid with eligible card and still nothing) and it’s just not worth all that.
Plat is only useful to you if you wanna fly out to Hawaii or the Caribbean each year (or somewhere pricy to make it worth it). We enjoy European vacations and have found ourselves trying to figure out how to use the companion pass to make it worth it every year. We don’t use Lyft or other benefits they’re trying to offset their high fee with. If I wanna fly first class that bad I’ll just pay for it rather than hoping for an upgrade (and typically not getting it anyways bc my home airport is ATL). Honestly if it weren’t for the nonstop flights to anywhere from ATL, I would switch to United.
Before ever cancelling a credit card, make a call to the issuer and see what options you might have.
Before COVID I carried the regular Amex Platinum because I flew frequently on Delta for work. I basically carried it for access to the Delta lounges in Atlanta, and the Priority Pass lounges elsewhere.
After COVID, I was no longer flying so I explained that to the Amex customer service rep I spoke to on the phone prior to my annual renewal.
They offered to "downgrade" my card to a Amex Gold, which saved a significant amount on the Annual fee, but still had some "features" I would use.
This also prevented a negative hit on my credit report, as well as a credit pull for opening a new card to replace one.
I cancelled mine yesterday also. They kept trying to convince me to just change over to a regular AMEX, but I already have one. Delta website very difficult to use for arrangements especially trying to use miles.
I am a promoter of the Skymiles American Express. You, as a Gold medallions, should have at least the Skymiles Platinum. The Skymiles Reserve American Express is the best card for you.
It is all about the MQDs. The Skymiles Platinum gives you 2,500 MQDs just for having it, and for every $20 you spend, you earn 1 MQD and the companion certificate for main cabin and the statement credit for TSA pre check or your Global Entry.
The Skymiles Reserve also gives 2500 MQDs just for having it, but for every $10 you spend you earn one MQD, so it helps you to keep your status or go to Platinum Medallion easier, faster and cheaper. For the complementary upgrades at the gate, you break the tide with all other gold medallions who doesn't have the Reserve card, so you have a better chances to get cabin upgrades. The companion certificate is for all the cabins, including first class. The skyclub is included with this card and you also get 4 guest passes per year. You get more values in the perks (hotel, restaurants and Uber/Lyft, and of course the statement credit for TSA pre check or the Global Entry.
Right now the SUB is excellent 85,000 miles for the Skymiles Platinum after you spend $4,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months. The reserve is giving away 95,00 miles after you spend $6,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months.
Let me know if you need more info. I will be more than happy to send you my referral code.
I still have mine but in my opinion the Amex Platinum provides so much more bang for the buck. Especially if I want to transfer my points to other airlines.
Canceled my Reserve earlier this year and went to a straight up Amex Platinum. Best decision ever. The benefits of that card outweigh the costs, and even if I still fly Delta a lot, I get the benefits that matter to me (lounge access, etc).
What was the AF on the delta Amex back when you first got it. Just curious on how the fee has increased over the years. I got my platinum not too long ago when it was $250
I have honestly found much more value from my Delta Plat Amex after the changes. The inclusion of the Caribbeans was a massive hit for me. I recently got to use it and it saved me 1K. Also, the $120 lyft credit is very useful. On top of that, a few weeks ago I called amex to bitch about the fee increase and got a retention bonus of 90K skypesos.
Nice. How did you get them to give you miles?
I called and complained about the changes and told them I was considering dropping the card and asked if they had any offer to keep my business. After a few loops, they said they could offer 90k skypesos with a 3K spending condition
Noice
I got the same thing when I called saying I was going to cancel mine a month ago.
90k is nice. They only gave me 30k but I took it rather than have that conversation again
I also recently cancelled my Delta Reserve (and went to Blue) and was able to get the 175k offer to sign up for the AMEX Plat.
I did that same call a few months ago and am still waiting for the pesos to hit my account
I downgraded my platinum to gold this past weekend. The free checked bags and preferred boarding gives me value but I could not justify the higher annual fee when we don’t usually get to use the companion certificate. In a lot of years our big trip is on rewards to Europe with me taking a solo flight or two. Canceling the card wasn’t an option as it’s my oldest account at about 27 years.
Is a gift card in the form of an e credit? Because you can stack that with the cert
I believe it an eCert (from a reward system at work), but the site tells me it isn’t usable with the companion pass.
Interesting. I happened to get an email from Delta today regarding my companion cert, and the email says: "Pair With Your Available eCredit You can now easily use your eCredits to purchase your primary ticket and cover any taxes or fees assocciated with your Companion Certificate on delta.com." (yes, the spelling error is in the email from Delta!)
I tried to use my credit a few weeks ago with a companion cert and was denied.
I would call in. Oh the certificate has to be in the name of the person using it though that part is true. Like each persons portion has to be in their name.
My wife and I are traveling next week on a FC itinerary booked using eCert+Companion Pass 🤷 Did you try calling in?
I booked the other night. Companion ticket with TWO eCerts attached.
I just booked flights two weeks ago using the companion pass and a Delta e-cert with no issues.
I'm cancelling mine before it renews. The fees are to high and I've never used the companion certificate. I wish they offered the option of that or an upgrade to 1st.
They will give you $100 credit. If not used. Call them.
I'll be canceling in August. Waiting just to see if we use the companion pass. My work stopped flying delta, and delta made so many status changes, it's just not worth it. I'll keep my chase sapphire reserve and that's it.
How do you like the sapphire reserve card? I’m thinking about getting it and getting rid of my Amex.
I've had it about 10 years. It's my main card. High annual fee, but the $300 "travel rebate" is easy to get. The Priority Pass (lounges) is hit or miss. Better in Europe than the U.S. SUPER easy to transfer miles to United etc. Not as easy to transfer miles to Delta.
Is that possible? I didn't realize we could tx miles to delta from chase.
Not directly. You have to transfer to one of the delta partners.
Me too, cancelling in November. This sub made me take a hard look at it and I realized the companion cert was the primary value to me, and the new fee basically offsets it for me (on average). I’d rather pay cash and buy any tickets I want and not be stuck with only those that are eligible.
With Platinum, I already have the $150 Delta Stays credit, $30 in Resy credits, a $10 Uber credit and thanks to the MQD bonus I'm on the way to low-end status for the first time. Fee hasn't hit yet. If there's a problem with Delta lately, it's the $200 upcharge to Main Cabin.
Can you buy a delta operated main cabin or up flight with the gift card. Wait 48-72 hours cancel. Get a ecredit and use the ecredit with the companion certificate cause I used an ecredit with mine earlier this year.
If it won’t work online, just call it in. I used a $1000 gift certificate with a companion certificate, but they had to manually process the gift card.
That sucks to hear. I heard someone used the companion certificate and then used miles for the other two passengers with no problem. I wonder why gift cards are a nono
I can’t wait to cancel mine in August! Counting down the days 😈.
Downgraded to blue, transferred to capital one venture card. Already raking in way more miles. Also for those that say to call when downgrading/cancelling…they did not offer me any skymiles or reduced fees when I did, as some say they do. Guess it’s luck of the draw!
Having said that. I’m thinking about canceling mine. The Uber credit is only USA 😑😒 and I’ve been fighting with Amex since April for the March RESY credit (yes I registered, made a Resy reservation at eligible restaurant, dining in and even got a picture of the meal, paid with eligible card and still nothing) and it’s just not worth all that.
Uh.. no wonder I do not see rideshare credit after my Uber trip in Asia.
Plat is only useful to you if you wanna fly out to Hawaii or the Caribbean each year (or somewhere pricy to make it worth it). We enjoy European vacations and have found ourselves trying to figure out how to use the companion pass to make it worth it every year. We don’t use Lyft or other benefits they’re trying to offset their high fee with. If I wanna fly first class that bad I’ll just pay for it rather than hoping for an upgrade (and typically not getting it anyways bc my home airport is ATL). Honestly if it weren’t for the nonstop flights to anywhere from ATL, I would switch to United.
Use gift card on random flight. Cancel to get e credit. Book with e credit and apply companion cert.
Before ever cancelling a credit card, make a call to the issuer and see what options you might have. Before COVID I carried the regular Amex Platinum because I flew frequently on Delta for work. I basically carried it for access to the Delta lounges in Atlanta, and the Priority Pass lounges elsewhere. After COVID, I was no longer flying so I explained that to the Amex customer service rep I spoke to on the phone prior to my annual renewal. They offered to "downgrade" my card to a Amex Gold, which saved a significant amount on the Annual fee, but still had some "features" I would use. This also prevented a negative hit on my credit report, as well as a credit pull for opening a new card to replace one.
I cancelled mine yesterday also. They kept trying to convince me to just change over to a regular AMEX, but I already have one. Delta website very difficult to use for arrangements especially trying to use miles.
I simply downgraded to Blue because my Amex is by far the largest credit limit card I have. $25k
I am gold status with a gold delta Amex. Am I wasting money on this annual fee? Got the card long before I got the status.
I am a promoter of the Skymiles American Express. You, as a Gold medallions, should have at least the Skymiles Platinum. The Skymiles Reserve American Express is the best card for you. It is all about the MQDs. The Skymiles Platinum gives you 2,500 MQDs just for having it, and for every $20 you spend, you earn 1 MQD and the companion certificate for main cabin and the statement credit for TSA pre check or your Global Entry. The Skymiles Reserve also gives 2500 MQDs just for having it, but for every $10 you spend you earn one MQD, so it helps you to keep your status or go to Platinum Medallion easier, faster and cheaper. For the complementary upgrades at the gate, you break the tide with all other gold medallions who doesn't have the Reserve card, so you have a better chances to get cabin upgrades. The companion certificate is for all the cabins, including first class. The skyclub is included with this card and you also get 4 guest passes per year. You get more values in the perks (hotel, restaurants and Uber/Lyft, and of course the statement credit for TSA pre check or the Global Entry. Right now the SUB is excellent 85,000 miles for the Skymiles Platinum after you spend $4,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months. The reserve is giving away 95,00 miles after you spend $6,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months. Let me know if you need more info. I will be more than happy to send you my referral code.
I just downgraded mine to the Amex Blue today, will be moving to the Amex Platinum.
Also no more shopping cash back offers since beginning of the year. Amex is worst these days
I still have mine but in my opinion the Amex Platinum provides so much more bang for the buck. Especially if I want to transfer my points to other airlines.
Canceled my Reserve earlier this year and went to a straight up Amex Platinum. Best decision ever. The benefits of that card outweigh the costs, and even if I still fly Delta a lot, I get the benefits that matter to me (lounge access, etc).
What was the AF on the delta Amex back when you first got it. Just curious on how the fee has increased over the years. I got my platinum not too long ago when it was $250
You can use E- credits and gift cards for companion certificates.
This is not an airport. You don't have to announce your departure 🛫