50,000 Miles for Delta SkyMiles Credit Cards Ending Tomorrow

THIS OFFER HAS EXPIRED. 

Earlier this month, American Express launched a limited time sign up offer for three of their Delta SkyMiles credit cards. For all three cards you’ll earn 50,000 bonus miles after spending $1,000 on the card within the first three months.

This limited time offer will be available for signups through TOMORROW, September 8, 2014. Most likely the offers will go down to 30,000 miles after meeting the minimum spend requirements as that has been the norm for these cards for awhile now. If you are having a hard time seeing the offer for any of the three cards above, please feel free to send me an email (dealswelike@gmail.com). I know the personal Gold card is not appearing properly on the Amex site for some and instead taking you to a generic Amex credit card site.

With three different offers, which card is the best for you? 

All three offers are similar in nature, although both the personal and business version of the Gold Delta SkyMiles card gives you a $50 statement credit and the Platinum card gives you a $100 statement. To receive the statement credit it must spend the respective $50 or $100 on a Delta purchase within the first three months of cardmembership. Additionally, the Platinum Delta SkyMiles card gives you 15,000 Medallion® Qualification Miles (MQMs) by meeting the minimum spend requirements. This is a one time perk for signing up for the card, and they only could as MQMs, not redeemable miles. All three cards also give you 2x miles on Delta purchases and 1x mile on everything else.

So here are the main benefits of the card:

• Gold Delta SkyMiles® Credit Card from American Express: First checked bag for free for both you and 8 other passengers on the same itinerary. You’ll also get priority boarding, a 20% in-flight savings, and discounted SkyClub access. The benefits are pretty basic, but free checked baggage can really save you money depending on how you fly. $0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $95, no annual fee for additional card.
• Gold Delta SkyMiles® Business Credit Card from American Express: The benefits are the exact same as the personal version, but you have access to OPEN Savings. This gives you anywhere between 3% and 10% savings on many business expenses, such as FedEx, Hertz, Office Max, Hyatt, etc. $0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $95, no annual fee for additional card.
• Platinum Delta SkyMiles® Credit Card from American Express: Same benefits of the Gold card, but you also can earn bonus miles and MQMs annually! With this card you’ll earn 10,000 miles and MQMs for the first $25,000 in spend during the calendar year, and then another 10,000 miles and MQMs after you spend $50,000 total in the calendar year. You also earn an annual companion certificate. Similar to the Gold business card, there are also no foreign transaction fees. $195 annual fee.

So while all three cards have the same basic benefits, the Platinum card has some enhanced perks that will ultimately cost you an extra $100 a year due to the annual fee difference. However, if you are able to take advantage of the statement credit perk of the sign up bonus, this will give you another $50 for the Platinum card. The main reason to get the Platinum card over the Gold card is if you are looking to earn additional miles and MQMs. While you will get an additional 15,000 MQMs upfront as part of the sign on bonus, there is the ability to get more miles and MQMs on an annual basis. If you are able to put that much spend on your card, however, then the annual fee difference could be worth it. Also, the Platinum card comes with an annual companion certificate upon account renewal (domestic economy class that can be used within the 48 contiguous states + you have to pay applicable taxes/fees). But, if you are just looking for the basic perks and a good sign up bonus, then the Gold card is probably best.

And remember, all three are American Express credit cards so it is another card eligible for the numerous Amex Sync Offers available! For me personally, I get more then $100 a year in statement credits back from these promotions (per card), so it can definitely pay for itself!

What are 50,000 Delta Skymiles Worth? Here are some options to redeem your miles. Of course, some routes will require you to have more then 50,000 miles in your account. You can check the entire award travel chart here.

• Fly Air France or Air Tahiti Nui to Tahiti. It will cost you 100,000 miles roundtrip in economy or 160,000 miles in business class. Taxes are extremely low as well.
• As long as the low point saver tickets are available, you can fly coach within the continental US, Alaska, and Canada s for 25,000 miles roundtrip (business class will be double at 50,000 miles roundtrip).
• Flying to Hawaii from the US will cost you 45,000 miles roundtrip in economy.
• Flying to the Caribbean, Mexico, or Central America will cost you 35,000 miles roundtrip in economy.
• Redeem 50,000 points for $500 towards a flight with the “Pay with Miles” option – this is only an option for those that have the Delta credit card.
• Flights to Europe from the US will run 60,000 miles, but you must check availability well in advance to ensure there is a low level award seat available – flights home from London will also incur decent taxes/fees.