Increased Delta Amex Welcome Offers
Some new increased Delta Amex welcome offers launched in the last 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, 5/24. The business cards are good for anyone since they won't add to your 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
**These Offer May Have Changed Since Publishing This Article
How I Came Up With The Rankings
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 5/24.
The Delta cards added quite a few “perks” last week as well, or coupons as we like to say. You will have to decide what value you give each of them yourself and add that value back in. I am giving them a value of $0 for our purposes here. I actually think that will be close to what many end up coming up with for themself anyway.
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!
Delta Card Rankings
Here are the rankings, from 6th all the way up to 1st!
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 100,000 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 $650 annual fee which is NOT waived.
- Final value – $685
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 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 110,000 SkyMiles after you spend $12,000 in purchases on your new card in your first 6 months. Terms Apply
- The card has an annual fee of $650.
- Final value – $615
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. This used to be a useful card with the lower annual fee and the MQM spending waiver. That is no longer the case with the increased annual fee and the less stellar MQD boost you get for holding the card.
I will say that the spending structure is a lot better than the business version with bonus earning (2x) in the U.S. supermarket category. Having said that, the value of this card long term depends on the more useful companion pass it offers each year. If you don't struggle to use it then it will likely offset your cost.
- Earn 90,000 bonus miles after you spend $4,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months. Terms Apply
- The card has a $350 annual fee which is NOT waived.
- Final value – $685
3rd – Delta Platinum Business Card
Coming in with the bronze medal is the business version of the Delta Platinum card. That is because it comes with slightly more miles, although with a lot more spend required. At least you get 6 months to pull it off. Having it not count 5/24 also adds a small boost to this card's ranking. The card comes with the same MQD head start as the personal card, which could be useful to some. The earning structure is a bit worse though and the annual fee increased on this one too.
- Earn 100,000 bonus miles after spending $8,000 in purchases on your new card in your first 6 months. Terms Apply
- The card has an annual fee of $350.
- Final value – $800
2nd – Delta Gold Personal Card
Coming in second by the hair on it's chinny chin, chin is the Gold personal card. Even though the annual fee increased on the personal and business Gold cards, the annual fee is still waived the first year. That helps out a lot in these calculations even if the miles offered are a bit lower than the premium cards. You also get the bags perk and 15% off award flights without that annual fee the first year. This is a card for when you're over 5/24 though.
- Earn 70,000 bonus miles after you spend $3,000 purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months. Terms Apply
- This card has a $150 annual fee, which IS waived for the first year.
- Final value – $805
1 – 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 offer, 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 80,000 Bonus Miles after spending $6,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Terms Apply
- The card has an annual fee of $150, which is waived for the first year.
- Final value – $920
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. It will also depend what level of spend you can handle. Although, with these giving you 6 months to complete the required spend it should be possible for most people.
This list is a little bit of a shake up from last year when the Gold Business and Platinum Business tied for the ToP spot and the personal Gold came in 3rd. It just goes to show how much those annual fee increases hurt the value of these cards. You will have to figure out if the new perks that some of the cards offer change your own calculations. You can get all of the details on those changes here.
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.
