Increased Delta Amex Welcome Offers
Some new increased Delta Amex welcome offers launched this week and I figured it would be helpful to rank them in terms of value. Remember that the personal cards are only good for people over, and no trying to get back under, Chase 5/24. The business cards are good for anyone since they won't add to your Chase 5/24 count. If you already have an American Express card then it is likely you won't get a hard pull either (YMMV) which is good for keeping your credit report clean if going for the Citi Premier etc.
RELATED: Application Rules For Each Bank Explained
Update 7/31/23: A reminder that these offers in a few days.
Ranking The Delta Credit Card Welcome Offers
Let's get to it then. I'll rank the cards from worst to first in terms of value. For the Delta Skymiles I will give them a valuation of 1.15 cents per point. If the values are close for two cards I will take any perks or earning structure into account as well. The business cards will get a little extra value added to them since they are useful to more people because of Chase 5/24.
The interesting thing is the business cards offer higher welcome offers compared to their personal counterparts across the board. But, the personal cards get 6 months to complete the spend versus 3 months for the business cards.
If you would like to see the full review on any of the cards you can click the links on the card names for each below. If you would like to apply for one, and would like to support ToP, then you can use the affiliate links in the full credit card reviews. Remember that if you have a player 2 referral that is the better option for you. If not, we always greatly appreciate the support!
Let's take a look at the rankings:
6th – Delta Reserve Personal Card
Probably no surprise that the most expensive card is towards the bottom in terms of value offered in the first year. This is of course putting the value of the lounge access and a bump in the upgrades pecking order at zero value. Here are the terms for the current welcome offer:
- Earn 85,000 bonus miles after you spend $6,000 in purchases on your new card in your first 6 months. Terms Apply
- The Delta Reserve card has a $550 annual fee which is NOT waived.
This is a perks card through and through, meaning the earning structure is not worth considering in the slightest. It is a card best suited for the frequent Delta flyer that doesn't have an Amex Platinum for lounge access and can't get business cards. A pass for the vast majority of people.
5th – Delta Reserve Business
Coming in just past the personal Reserve is the Delta Reserve Business card. That is because the offer is a little higher compared to the personal card and it doesn't effect Chase 5/24. The same notes said above stand for this one, it is best suited for someone that is a Delta frequent flyer and doesn't get most of the perks with other cards yet. This is a niche target though and most will want to skip over this one. Here are the terms for the current offer:
- Earn 100,000 SkyMiles after you spend $6,000 in purchases on your new card in your first 3 months. Terms Apply
- Offer ends 8/2/23
- The card has an annual fee of $550.
4th – Delta Platinum Personal Card
Now that we got past the super expensive cards that are only useful to Delta elitist flyers we find ourselves squarely in the middle ground. The Platinum cards from Delta offer decent welcome offers, some of the better earning options and the ability to trigger the MQM spending waiver for a $250 annual fee. This card is best suited for people that need the $25,000 yearly MQM waiver, or the 10K MQM boost, and can't get business cards. Although the spending structure is a lot better than the business version with bonus earning (2x) in the grocery category. Having said that, if you don't care about Delta status at all then this card is a pass. Here are the current welcome offer details:
- Earn 85,000 bonus miles after you spend $4,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months. Terms Apply
- The card has a $250 annual fee which is NOT waived.
Same amount of miles as the personal Delta Reserve but for less spend, a longer time frame to complete it and a lower annual fee.
3rd – Delta Gold Personal Card
Grabbing the bronze medal is the Delta Gold personal card. This card may be useful to the over Chase 5/24 crowd that has already had their fill on Membership Rewards earning cards. This offer isn't the best it has been so I wouldn't push the card to the front of the line because of the increased offer. The earning structure is decent, with the annual fee waived the first year, but it is still lacking behind the MR earning cards. Some people may want it just for the free checked bag perk though.
- Earn 65,000 bonus miles after you spend $2,000 purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months. Terms Apply
- This card has a $99 annual fee, which IS waived for the first year.
We Call It A Tie For The Top Spot
We need to take a quick break from our regularly scheduled ranking to bring you a word from our sponsor. Kidding! The top two cards are within $20 in value of each other in the first year, so pretty much identical. That means the sway one way or another will depend on what you need them for. If you are just going for value the first year and want to pad your Delta Skymiles account then go for the Delta Gold Business Card. If you are a Delta loyalist and are chasing status then grab the Delta Platinum Business card for the MQM spending waiver and boost at $25,000 in spend. For most of the people reading this the Gold will be the better option. Because of that I will slot that in 1A.
1B – Delta Platinum Business Card
If you are on the Delta status hamster wheel and have decided to chase the MQM spending waiver and 10K MQM boost you get after $25,000 in spend then this is the card for you. The earning structure isn't as good as its personal card's counterpart but the welcome offer is a little higher. Everything else pretty much works the same between the two. It would have been nice if the welcome offer included an MQM bonus as well, as it has sometimes in the past. Here are the terms of the current welcome offer:
- Earn 90,000 bonus miles after spending $4,000 in purchases on your new card in your first 3 months. Terms Apply
- Offer ends 8/2/23
- The card has an annual fee of $250.
1A – Delta Gold Business
The card offering the most value in the first year for the majority of people is the Delta Gold Business card. Do you want a good sized bonus, no annual fee the first year, free checked backs and 15% cheaper award flights? Well, look no further then the Delta Business Gold card. It offers the most value in the first year as well because of the waived annual fee. Here are the terms of the current welcome offer:
- Earn 70,000 Bonus Miles after spending $3,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 3 months of Card Membership. Terms Apply
- Offer Ends 8/2/23
- The card has an annual fee of $99, which is waived for the first year.
Increased Delta Amex Welcome Offers: ToP Thoughts
As with all things, these rankings may shake out a bit differently for you depending on your personal situation.
For myself, since I am way over 5/24 and not heading back under any time soon, I actually prefer the Delta Platinum personal card. That is because it earns 2x at US Supermarkets and has the MQM bonus and spending waiver after spending $25,000 in a calendar year. With all of the Delta status rollovers because of covid I have been on the Delta status hamster wheel for a few years now and this card works best for me.
My thoughts one the personal Delta Platinum card will likely change next year if I decide to get out of the status rat race as intended. That is another thing to point out, what works this year may not work next year. Always be reevaluating your cards each and every year. And ALWAYS break down the numbers before deciding which one to sign up for.
If you have any questions on this increase Delta Amex welcome offers card rankings hit me up in the ToP Facebook Group. And thanks again if you decide that one of these cards works for you and you choose to support ToP.
