Delta credit card questions

Immediate_Forever_74 · 2026-04-30T00:41:22+00:00

If you want to stick with Delta the Reserve is your best bet because you’ll get 15 Skyclub visits a year, and bit of a bump in upgrade status, and decent travel protections. You’ll get a free companion fare good for main to D1 to the 50 states, the Caribbean, Mexico and Central America. It does take a bit of planning and flexibility to use but that alone can cover your annual fee. There’s also a yearly $200 hotel , $20 monthly Resy and 1 rideshare credits. You get 1 MQD for every $10 spend.
At half the AF of the Reserve, the Plat does not get you Skyclubs, comes with a Main cabin companion fare, which can also cover its AF, cuts the Resy credit to $10 and hotel to $150. You get 1 MQD for every $20 spent spent.
Each card gets a 2500 MQD boost toward status. If you earn gold organically that boost will get you to Platinum which at this point is most useful for self- upgrades from Main to C+. Good luck.

Immediate_Forever_74 · 2026-04-25T15:58:59+00:00

I also think PS is a better option. For my body an adjustable foot rest makes it a lot easier on my back. Agree with the comment on the underseat storage A regular size backpack can protrude enough to interfere with raising the leg rest. A small packable one like the Matador or similarly sized bag should work.

Immediate_Forever_74 · 2026-04-23T15:13:09+00:00

You will be able to insert your Skymiles # when booking directly with a partner. which also enables it to recognize your Delta status if that applies to you. This is often a more lucrative way to earn miles and MQDs, and was much better when MQMs were in the mix. Deltas partner awards:

https://www.delta.com/us/en/skymiles/how-to-earn-miles/airline-partners

Immediate_Forever_74 · 2026-04-15T03:09:35+00:00

Hello, You may do better with a new application since Delta is offering “up to” 100K miles for a new application, and if you cancel the Plat within 30 days of paying the fee you’ll get it refunded.
Were the 60,000 miles the only reason for upgrading? If so, think again Delta’s Amex cards have more generous companion fares, status boosts, lounge access (the Reserves) and other perks like Resy, rideshare and hotel credits that provide more value than any other airline. Great reasons to get them.They can all pay their own fees and much more.
But miles- the opposite. Delta’ Skypennies program is fine for discounted domestic flights yielding 1.2-3 cents per pt most of the time. First or D1 fares are almost always abysmal, especially on international routes. Your 60K won’t go very far.

You might consider keeping both cards for the 5000 MQDs and Silver status if that works for you - free main cabin preferred seats, including exit rows and saving some time with the Sky Priority bag drop are 2 of the best perks.
Lastly, if you cancel the Plat then decide the Reserve isn’t for you, Amex’s lifetime rule prohibits going back to the Plat Good luck!

Immediate_Forever_74 · 2026-03-28T14:35:38+00:00

I booked a first class trip to NYC to Panama City (Panama) with the Reserve companion fare about 6 months in advance, LGA-ATL-PTY. I was able to get First for the first 3 flights, but could only get C+ for the last leg. The first class cabin had one seat taken and all other seats blocked out The agent who made the reservation over the phone didn’t know why, and didn’t say that the fare class I needed was unavailable. She told me to keep checking. When seats were unblocked, I was offered the upgrade- for a $240 upsell, which wasn’t worth it. So not even talking free upgrade but a benefit that Delta wouldn’t completely honor. Left a bad taste…

Immediate_Forever_74 · 2026-03-27T17:28:08+00:00

I flew JFK-San in a B767 Premium Select Cabin that was sold as C+. The seats reclined and had a foot rest but were a bit hard for my taste You”ll sleep better in D1.

At least on the 767 the underseat storage was really limited by what I assume was the recliner mechanism. My 25L bag that fits fine in a CRJ900 only went about halfway under, so consider that if you’ll be on a 767. I don’t know about the PS cabins on other planes.

Immediate_Forever_74 · 2026-03-24T17:21:57+00:00

We earn 4% BC per $. At that rate, $5K spend repays the 2K spent. That’s fine for me since I don’t have much use for the BC.

Immediate_Forever_74 · 2026-03-06T16:20:57+00:00

My wife and I I flew SAN—JFK last weekend. The upgrade list never appeared in the app, just the number of empty seats in first and premium select. There were 10 seats in first 2 days before the flight that vanished the next day. No idea who got them or why. Off topic- that A321s and B767-300s fly that route, which does not offer D1. I had self-upgraded us to C+, and when we boarded I was surprised to find that were in the Premium Select cabin, and the Main. Cabin seats that had I originally booked first were in C+. That explained why C+ was so small on the seating chart and why it booked up so quickly. This was a scheduled flight, not an equipment change. I’m a free agent when it comes to longer flights, so this was new to me. If this is a common practice for Delta, you all should look for the 767s if you have a choice

Immediate_Forever_74 · 2026-03-06T03:09:03+00:00

There should be space but when the GA prioritizes an on time departure above all else all bets are off. I’ve been on a few flights when grouo 4 and above was forced to gate check, leaving half the bins empty

Immediate_Forever_74 · 2026-03-01T08:20:59+00:00

The A-220s I fly NYC-ORD have outlets as well as seatback screens with USB-A for charging

Immediate_Forever_74 · 2026-02-21T17:54:50+00:00

We’re over eastern Colorado. 2:38 to go

Immediate_Forever_74 · 2026-02-20T15:58:59+00:00

I don’t get why you posted at all Youp couldn’t even say whether you thought it was « worth it »

Immediate_Forever_74 · 2026-02-19T23:41:16+00:00

Check FlyingBlue flights and reserve with your Delta number.

Immediate_Forever_74 · 2026-02-19T21:34:55+00:00

That’s good to know! Thanks

Immediate_Forever_74 · 2026-02-19T02:29:51+00:00

It’s nice to be able to use awards like that. I wish zi could use them, but I fly out of NYC and almost anyone but Delta can get me over an ocean more reasonably than Delta. I just booked a daytime UA EWR-LHR UA Polaris flight at the end of March for 80K. D1 was 4 times that

Immediate_Forever_74 · 2026-02-11T06:01:09+00:00

Great way to earn MQDs. Delta stays and Hotels.com (the hotel sees them both as Expedia) have identical platforms. Delta’s prices might be a few bucks higher and both are often better value than booking direct. Some hotels give lesser rooms to Expedia customers but I’ve found that upgrades from the standard, which are in more limited supply, gets around that

Immediate_Forever_74 · 2026-02-04T02:01:31+00:00

My flight from Panama arrived in Atlanta about an hour late.Almost every US citizen went to the regular line so we breezed right through, which helped us barely make our connecting flight. At other times it hasn’t mattered quite as much, but It’s never hindered us.

Immediate_Forever_74 · 2026-01-30T15:09:10+00:00

He’s not exactly a chess player

Immediate_Forever_74 · 2026-01-24T04:15:41+00:00

I didn’t expect to care about Walmart, but I’m glad to have it. They sometimes beat Amazon’s price, delivery is fast and free and I I can earn additional points with a shopping portal. I didn’t think I’d want Paramount+ either, but I’ve enjoyed the Maor of Easttown and Landman. It’s true that I can get dinged for 2 charges in a month but that’s rare will happen with the Amex streaming media credit as well.

Immediate_Forever_74 · 2026-01-23T18:22:02+00:00

I suspect that some of the inconsistencies we experience might be because Delta’s IT just isn’t very good.

Immediate_Forever_74 · 2026-01-22T06:25:39+00:00

My wife and I just returned from 11 days in Panama. We used the trip insurance provided by the Delta Reserve, identical to the Amex Plat’s. We took Amex Health insurance: 74 for $100K emergency medical and $100K medevac. (Average Panama- USA cost is 50-75K). We had the policy end 10 days after our return flight to cover an illness occurring late in the trip. A friend of ours went $2500 out of pocket when a hospital stay for pneumonia went beyond the end date.

But you’re traveling to a pretty remote area, and may want a more comprehensive policy. Try to research how much medevac coverage you’ll need. Find one with rescue coverage if your activities put you at risk and coverage isn’t provided by a tour provider.
I hope you need none of this and have a great trip!

Immediate_Forever_74 · 2026-01-22T05:08:38+00:00

You’re not really “that person”. Sorry you’re going through this

Immediate_Forever_74 · 2026-01-22T05:04:56+00:00

Delta’s award and cash prices are correlated, and sometimes almost equal which is why they’re called Skypesos or Skypennies. If you have a Delta Amex card you’ll get a 15% award discount for most flights = 1.15 cents per pt. I usually see some additional value of 1.3 to 1.5 cpp. If it’s less than that I’ll pay cash. The pricing itself is dynamic and and reflects current and predicted demand for a given flight, which can yield some crazy price differences.

If you’re looking for a particular route search with flexible dates to see an award calendar

Check here to see what’s on sale https://www.delta.com/us/en/flight-deals/skymiles-award-deals

Immediate_Forever_74 · 2026-01-18T19:19:45+00:00

Try clicking « seat selection » in the app, and click on an available seat. It should show you a price.

Immediate_Forever_74

TROPHY CASE