The 5 Delta SkyMiles Amex changes I’m most excited about

12.02.2024 - 17:27 / thepointsguy.com

On Feb. 1, Delta Air Lines and American Express announced some big changes, including a total reimagining of their cobranded credit card portfolio — which hasn't had a major update since January 2020.

I'm a longtime holder of the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card, which I'd used for years to requalify for Delta Medallion elite status thanks, in part, to spending on that card. As I look ahead to my strategy as a Diamond Medallion member in 2024, I'm thrilled with the new perks — such as enhanced travel benefits, improvements to companion certificates and new statement credits.

These cards have become an even more powerful tool for casual and frequent Delta flyers alike.

Here are the five changes to the Delta Amex cards I'm most excited about.

I'm a big fan of the great selection of new statement credits now offered on the following Delta SkyMiles credit cards:

All of these cards now come with new (or enhanced) credits similar to what we've seen on other American Express cards (like one of my other favorites, The Platinum Card® from American Express). For me, the aggregate value of these benefits is an easy way to offset most (or even all) of the cards' annual fees.

Here's a table that summarizes the new credits along with existing credits:

Note that the total value of these statement credits can go a long way in covering each card's annual fee.

For the Resy statement credits, once you enroll, all that's required is to use your eligible Delta Amex card to make an eligible purchase with a Resy restaurant in the U.S. Once you do, you'll receive a statement credit up to the monthly maximum on that card.

It's a similar story for the ride-hailing services credit; just add your eligible Delta SkyMiles card as a payment method in your Uber or Lyft app, and when you charge a ride to it, you'll receive up to $10 back as a statement credit each month. The credits will also work with Revel, Curb and Alto.

Finally, the Delta Stays credits are available for eligible purchases at travelextras-delta.com. Each year, you'll receive up to $250 in statement credits for prepaid hotels or vacation rentals booked through this site (depending on the card you use) and also score at least 2 miles per dollar spent.

I have a good track record of maximizing statement credits on other cards, so if I can do the same on my Delta SkyMiles Reserve Card, I can get $560 in annual statement credits thanks to these new benefits.

Meanwhile, on the Delta SkyMiles Platinum Card, if you maxed out the new statement credits, you'd come out at $390 in total value.

And remember, every dollar spent on the Delta SkyMiles Platinum Card and the Delta SkyMiles Reserve Card — including purchases with merchants that now offer statement