American Express Delta Credit Card Family Rule
One of the big questions when Amex added the family card rules to the personal Platinum Card by American Express was would the virus spread to other card families? The answer to that question is yes, with the new American Express Delta credit card family rule. This one is unique to most other family of cards rules too. With this one, there is a correct path to success here. It is similar to how some of the Platinum cards have varying degrees of terms. Let's take a look at this new Delta credit card family rule and how you should proceed going forward.
RELATED: My Thoughts On The Delta Status Changes: The Good, The Bad & The Mostly Ugly
Good News First: There Is No Family Rule For Delta Business Cards
Let's start with the good news, there doesn't appear to be an American Express Delta credit card family rule on the business versions. This is good news because these cards often have the better offers, and don't count towards Chase 5/24. It also makes sense because businesses usually tend to spend a lot more than regular consumers. It appears Amex doesn't want to cut off its nose to spit its face here.
Could they roll it out in the future? Possibly. For the most part, it seems like issuers don't mess with the golden goose that is business cards. Just look at Chase and the Southwest cards family rule, which doesn't include their business cards.
New American Express Delta Credit Card Family Rule
Reddit user mage_boot noticed the change over the weekend on the personal Delta cards. Here is what we are seeing for each personal card now. I have bolded the interesting section in each set of terms.
Delta Gold Card (Our Review)
You may not be eligible to receive a welcome offer if you have or have had this Card, the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card, the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card or previous versions of these Cards. You also may not be eligible to receive a welcome offer based on various factors, such as your history with credit card balance transfers, your history as an American Express Card Member, the number of credit cards that you have opened and closed and other factors. If you are not eligible for a welcome offer, we will notify you prior to processing your application so you have the option to withdraw your application.
Delta Platinum Card (Our Review)
You may not be eligible to receive a welcome offer if you have or have had this Card, the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card or previous versions of these Cards. You also may not be eligible to receive a welcome offer based on various factors, such as your history with credit card balance transfers, your history as an American Express Card Member, the number of credit cards that you have opened and closed and other factors. If you are not eligible for a welcome offer, we will notify you prior to processing your application so you have the option to withdraw your application.
Delta Reserve Card (Our Review)
You may not be eligible to receive a welcome offer if you have or have had this Card or previous versions of this Card. You also may not be eligible to receive a welcome offer based on various factors, such as your history with credit card balance transfers, your history as an American Express Card Member, the number of credit cards that you have opened and closed and other factors. If you are not eligible for a welcome offer, we will notify you prior to processing your application so you have the option to withdraw your application.
Amex Has Laid Out A Clear Application Path
Seeing all of these terms having slightly different language does not surprise me. It is something American Express has done in the past. I am sure the front line employees will be mightily confused by all of this, but not us! You may have already noticed it, but there is now a clear application path you should take.
- Delta Gold first
- Then Delta Platinum
- Then Delta Reserve
This allows you to get all three cards and be eligible for each card's bonus. The rotten part of all of this is these rules are now retroactively enforced. So, if you have already grabbed some Delta cards you may be up the creek without a paddle. Let's take a look:
- If you applied for the Delta Gold card only, you are still eligible for the Platinum and Reserve personal cards
- If you applied for the Delta Platinum then you are still eligible for the Reserve, but not the Gold (assuming you didn't grab it already anyway).
- You are extremely unlucky if you grabbed the Delta Reserve first, since you are now ineligible for the Platinum and Gold.
- If you grabbed the Gold and Reserve you are ineligible for the Platinum
- If you grabbed the Reserve and Platinum you are ineligible for the Gold
I hope this makes sense to you and shows you why there is now a clear application path.
American Express Delta Credit Card Family Rule: ToP Thoughts
This is a change we were hoping we would not see, but I can not say I am surprised to see it. There are already pretty stringent Marriott application rules so I don't see anything changing there. I could see something similar rolling out to the Hilton cards though. Only time will tell there. One hope that it doesn't is that fact that we don't know if this was pushed by Delta or by American Express. If it was spearheaded by Delta then maybe Hilton isn't interested in doing something similar etc.
The most important thing to remember, with the new American Express Delta credit card family rule, is that you need to follow a clear application path. This is of course assuming you want to get the welcome offer for all 3 versions of Delta personal cards. The personal Delta cards should be avoided until you are over Chase 5/24 anyway. Until then, stick with the Delta business cards (which have increased offers right now) so you don't hurt your 5/24 count. Also remember that they do not currently have the family card rules either.
HT DDG
