There’s no denying that premium credit cards are all the rage nowadays, and annual fees are reaching new heights. The Chase Sapphire Reserve is undergoing a refresh, a new Chase Sapphire Business is launching, and the Amex Platinum is undergoing some updates later this year.
Continue reading: Are Delta & Amex Planning New Super Premium Credit Card?
Share your questions, experiences, and thoughts below.
I could see a $999 or $1099 card that is basically the Reserve, but with unlimited SkyClub access (i.e. what the Reserve used to have).
i feel like most people who would be willing to upgrade to that already meet the spend requirement though. just my two cents
i feel like most people who would be willing to upgrade to that already meet the spend requirement though. just my two cents
just my two cents - i feel like most people who would be willing to upgrade to that probably already meet the 75k spend requirement
just my two cents - i feel like most people who would be willing to upgrade to that probably already meet the 75k spend requirement
I'd expect unlimited SkyClub access (potentially with additional barriers removed like the 3 hour before departure rule), priority on upgrades that is higher than Reserve, better MQD earning, and potentially a couple Delta One Lounge passes when flying in First on a non-D1 route.
Lucky - in terms of the “how premium can a card get…” I am guessing two things are at play
1) Banks are trying to recoup the cost of these cards with higher fees as revolving balances may not have risen as much as hoped
2) Banks are trying to force customers to choose - a few years ago, you could justify holding a few premium cards from different banks. Now - with fees going so high, more customers are being forced to choose. I am downgrading and basically sock drawering more cards as fees go up. If you have a high income customer, it’s better to get 100% of her spend than 50%, or 25%. Offer her a super premium card that may fit her spend - she may cancel the card from the other bank. So a lot this seems like a market share play. The number of cards per person is going to decrease among those that play this game, with “unprofitable” card accounts being weeded out, and spend per card going up.
Agree on both counts. People with these cards generally aren't likely to revolve balances as the underwriting standards are higher (so far likelier to pay in full every month), and of course you generally can't anyway with the Amex charge cards.
Yes, some of things make sense to me. I can imagine a couple of D1 lounge passes being attractive to people who fly from NYC, BOS, ATL, or LAX to high-end regional leisure destinations twice a year on top of their business travel. Maybe 1 MQD per $5 and as you say, upgrade priority ahead of someone with the Reserve, assuming same fare class and status level as it is now. Is it for me? No, but I can see it attracting certain people.
I disagree. I think the assumption is that folks at these net worth and spend levels would not carry balances month to month, but that is not true.
It's bizarre to me that ANYONE would get a Delta credit card.
It's the worst frequent flyer program in history, and the credit cards are insultingly bad.
I guess if you enjoy spending 500,000 SkyPesos on a single J flight, knock yourself out, but...I genuinely don't get it.
No shot anyone gets D1 lounge passes.
That's not even a thing you get w/ credit cards for Flagship or Polaris lounges. And those have been around for much longer. AA or UA would've jumped on that a long time ago.
I’m retired but high income (spend $150,000-$200,000 a year on cards but pay them all off monthly). I carry the CSR and Amex Platinum (plus Amex Gold and 12-15 other mid-low AF cards). Personally I don’t have to choose as I get value from all my cards and, even if I didn’t, a $245 AF increase (about the cost of a decent meal) isn’t going to get me to cancel. I’m glad to see so many Chase and Amex customers saying they will cancel - FRANKLY they aren’t the banks’ customers and never should have had the cards.
I agree but I still ended up getting the business reserve mostly because of how bad it was in regular economy that one time I wanted to get home early. I had no status and gave up a first class set to get home earlier and ended up in a regular economy seat and my knees were hurting after I got off the plane. So now I am at Silver and that's good enough to get exit rows at booking and I have been able to get comfort+ the onboard product is good for a US carrier and the skyclubs are nice. The miles are barely an ok proposition with the take off 15 benefit. Can't believe I actually spent $2500 this year with delta to requalify for next year. Focusing on AA this year because of the bogo LP promo on the business card. Shooting for PP so will see what happens.
Why are you all looking at it from the perspective of "How much better will this card be?"
When history tells us that the question will likely be:
"HOW MUCH WORSE will they make their EXISTING cards, to incentivize people to move to this one."
They're likely going to trash the benefits of the Reserve card (they're already told us they will, when Bastian mentioned "we ripped the band-aid off too fast") and so that the things expected when people originally got that card (unlimited lounge access, upgrade priority, etc) will likely go to the new one.
Ben, my first thought was the automatic elite status with this super premium card though how high the elite status? Silver? Gold? I doubt platinum or higher. Since, Delta does not let its own elites into their lounges on several factors it may be reversed if you hold this card or even lounge access on all domestic flights just for having the card? Delta granting automatic elite status with a hotel brand? Endless opportunities or more like marketing tools to get you to pay for the what one must suppose super higher annual fee. Delta is smart here by seeing who is willing to pay the $795 annual fee for the CSR. Then, they may also match it or go higher.
This is not new. The recent trend is shifting premium credit cards back to the pre-CSR (2016) dynamic.
AMEX Platinum back in the days came with automatic elite status, but there were no credits/coupon books. You wouldn't even be approved if your income level does not meet the published qualifications. It was meant for high spend consumers that values the customer service, travel related services, status symbol - not value.
AMEX Centurion was/is the top-tier premium credit card with the huge annual fee. The people signing up aren't looking for perks that justify the fee in dollars and cents.
United offers an Economy Plus subscriptions for $600 (Domestic, subscriber only) - $1300 (Global, Subscriber + 8 companion). If AMEX/Delta offers a $1000-$1500 card with a global Comfort+ subscription, there would be some bites. I would sign up at the $1,000 level if I live in a Delta hub.
Unless I can redeem a reasonable number of miles for Delta One there is literally nothing that could entice me to this potential card
I could see 2 D1 passes annually very much being on the table. AA and UA are years behind DL in monetizing their CC relationships - a 'super premium' card isn't on the table for them yet.
Aside from unlimited sky club access, i'm not sure what else they could offer that would make the card appealing though. Probably throw in a $200 annual delta credit or something?
I could see Gold status. Delta is not gonna give platinum when you need to have a 5k a year centurion. I want to see a 5:1 MQD ratio instead of 10:1 on reserve would be amazing haha. That would put it close to the spend $25k waiver days and get gold with a 2500 MQD boost then you are basically there to platinum. $1295 fee. But yes I can see your silver for 5000 MQD boost but agree need some faster way to platinum been since 2018.
Has to be at least $1000, if you have all 4 Delta cards it’s $1000 for 10k MQD … Gold. Feel they would make it more and give some coupons or unlimited Delta lounge access or maybe Delta one 4 lounge passes when flying first domestically or some VIP section in the lounge like the centurion does for their black card members.
No definitely not. The D1 lounges are already quite crowded at JFK.
I really don't see them doing this at all. Delta has been decreasing access to lounges, not increasing them. In fact the whole industry trend has been to tighten lounge access, no reason for them to flood the D1 lounges with domestic shorthaul passengers.
They make 3-4% PER TRANSACTION on these cards. Who cares about revolving balances. They should be free to use WITH the perks.
Curious how much people would pay for a card which allows Delta One lounge access (maybe on flights > some number of hours)? Maybe you only allow certain elite levels to be invited to apply for it. I think I'd pay something fairly significant.
Delta makes all the money, and you get none of it. Try therapy for your mental insanity
The new card adds a $0 monthly sense of humor - TD should upgrade to it but his application will be rejected
Absolutely agree. Delta is in the business of making money; as is Amex. Status to wait to get into "more" classy clubs? Super priority list for FC upgrades, with still fewer upgrades? If you can afford the card, you can book FC. All the rest are playing the slots. More sky pesos? Show all your friends your super-duper elite card? (Your former friends.)
I admit, there are better cash back cards out there. However not everyone is looking to use skymiles for intl J class. I still get a pretty good return using skymiles for moving the family around the country domestically. The biggest problem Delta will face is that so many of the upgrades are now purchased. It's hard to bring incremental value unless they have more creative plans than I can think of right now for this new card.
It's quite embarassing that you got banned for repeatedly posting death threats, but you're so obsessive that you'll make more burner accounts to post on.
Why do I need a credit card statement credit for something I will buy anyway, restaurant etc unless it profits me by a reduced cost or other tangible or intangible benefit. Thus why should I pay more for a card just for statement credits. It just make zero sense and the status hungry will pay, the ones having real money get invited card and don’t care what cost. So a mass product premium card is shallow and will lead people to spend money for nothing. It’s the same with the evaporating mileage game. 500k miles for a ticket one way is a joke. Regardless how good the carrier and flight is
He's still in time out, poor kid is so addicted and desperate he just had to try. I've been there but it was with booze, a bit more noble. I'm glad he's up to $40MM a year now. Last week it was just $6MM! Going places.
You can buy the Delta club membership for 695 individual with paid guests or family 1495 for unlimited visits with 2 guests. Need to have status.