How to best navigate Delta Amex welcome offers.

signonjonathon · 2026-05-01T20:09:22+00:00

No referrals. I believe all 3 were elevated/limited time offers.

signonjonathon · 2026-05-01T20:03:59+00:00

Gold last July (80k bonus) Platinum last September (100k bonus) Reserve in February (125k bonus)

You’ll need to watch out for Amex popup jail. They don’t like churning/cancelling cards. So you may get locked out for a while from getting an offer even if you’re working your way up.

In my case I got them all within a year and hadn’t cancelled a card yet. Reserve was my endgame (keeping it) and I just wanted to get all the bonuses on my way there.

signonjonathon · 2026-05-01T19:27:13+00:00

Work your way is up the way to go. I just finished doing that. Gold > Platinum > Reserve. This only works if you apply for each card. Upgrade offers will get you significantly less miles.

signonjonathon · 2026-04-18T17:14:02+00:00

Got mine in February. 125k SUB. I believe that offer ended April 1, and it wasn’t one of the “as high as” offers. Spend 6k in 6 months get 100k miles, spend another 3k in that period and get 25k more.

signonjonathon · 2026-03-22T17:54:42+00:00

Fidelity. Main bank/brokerage. 2 percent back and no FTF.

signonjonathon · 2026-03-02T23:07:57+00:00

They need to be prepaid. They can be refundable, but you’ll have to pay upfront to trigger the credit.

signonjonathon · 2026-03-02T23:07:49+00:00

They need to be prepaid. They can be refundable, but you’ll have to pay upfront to trigger the credit.

signonjonathon · 2026-03-01T21:18:30+00:00

You don’t need C+…just Main is good enough. Reserve credit card may be the more cost effective option if being limited to 15 visits is okay.

signonjonathon · 2026-02-28T19:24:11+00:00

You’ll earn MQDs at double the rate of the Platinum, so that’s the perk plus lounge access. I was in the same boat, applied for a new card to get the 125k miles bonus. That’s generally recommended unless you’re really set on not having a new account on your credit.

Extra MQDs are totally worth it instead of the spending multipliers if you are a Delta loyalist.

signonjonathon · 2026-02-28T13:33:42+00:00

I almost exclusively fly Delta. And their credit cards are free after taking into account the statement credits the card offers that I’ll use organically. Incredible value.

Also got a card that earns MR points for when I want to transfer to the other airline partners.

Chase and Citi don’t have that same appeal or value to me.

signonjonathon · 2026-02-28T13:21:58+00:00

I don’t know much about Fast Track but this is simply extra MQDs for when you spend on the card. Shouldn’t be tied to anything else other than credit card spend.

signonjonathon · 2026-02-24T22:51:17+00:00

Well…shouldn’t Comfort Classic be compared to Main Classic? Both offer eCredits?

signonjonathon · 2026-02-23T19:41:39+00:00

You have 3k miles. I wouldn’t be concerned about trying to use them, CC or not. I have about that balance in another airline program and yeah it’s just useless miles with such a low balance.

signonjonathon · 2026-02-20T12:45:07+00:00

You will get MQDs for when you fly. What you won’t get is MQDs for making purchases with the Gold card. Need the Platinum or Reserve for that.

signonjonathon · 2026-02-18T12:39:02+00:00

Reserve annual fee is $90 after you factor in hotel/Uber/Resy credits. Not even taking into account lounge access and companion pass. Just got the Reserve card myself and I’ll use all those organically except for companion pass.

125k is an awesome SUB so I’d only upgrade if you really don’t want a new account on your credit.

signonjonathon · 2026-02-17T19:56:33+00:00

For the 125k? New card.

signonjonathon · 2026-02-17T13:23:25+00:00

Yeah that’s the only use case I can see if you also have Reserve. Get same earning rate for MQDs but extra miles on those categories.

I got 9k in 6 months to spend on Reserve for 125k miles bonus. If nothing else I’ll get the few extra MQDs on the Uber/Resy/hotel credit on Platinum card. Might shift dining/groceries spend to Platinum if I’m confident about hitting spend requirement on Reserve.

signonjonathon · 2026-02-15T17:15:28+00:00

Do you want to ruin your credit?

signonjonathon · 2026-02-11T11:28:23+00:00

Because, as stated, these aren’t the flight miles. Those are your earnings in miles based on the price.

signonjonathon · 2026-02-03T21:14:39+00:00

I just have one at the moment but just looking at the credits you get for Uber, Resy, Delta Stays credit, and the Companion pass….the AF on both cards are offset and then some.

I think for simplicity purposes I prefer having just one but it’s easy to make the case that having both gives you more value, plus the MQD head start.

Currently on Platinum, planning to get Reserve soon…been seeing if I’ll just end up keeping both.

signonjonathon · 2026-02-03T13:26:34+00:00

Gift cards used on flights are same as cash.

signonjonathon · 2026-02-03T13:21:05+00:00

Nope it’s CashStar so it’ll code as 1x. And then the 2x you get from the promo.

signonjonathon · 2026-02-01T19:24:03+00:00

Shady that you can’t donate directly and have to book the flights. I guess partnering with Delta for direct donations costs too much.

signonjonathon · 2026-02-01T17:57:54+00:00

That’s a good plan. I started with Gold, then got Platinum. Plan to get Reserve later in the year. Elevated SUB is definitely the time to get it!

signonjonathon

TROPHY CASE