The Limited Edition Boeing 747 Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card design was available while supplies lasted through August 3, 2022 and is no longer offered at this time.
The credit card industry is competitive, and card issuers have all kinds of strategies to get their cards at the front of consumer’ wallets. Sometimes we see credit card issuers introduce limited time card designs, which is something that usually doesn’t get me too excited… this might be an exception, though?
In this post:
Delta & Amex partner for coolest card design ever
Delta & Amex issue several co-branded credit cards, and for a limited time the most premium card in the portfolio is getting a special design. Specifically, Amex and Delta have teamed up to offer a credit card made from a retired Delta Boeing 747. The card is created with 25% metal from the retired Delta Boeing 747 with the tail number 6307.
This is available to those with the Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express Card (review) between June 16 and August 3, 2022, while supplies last:
- Those who apply for the card now have the option of requesting this card design
- Existing card members can request this card design either by phone or online; if you want to make the request online, go to “Account Services,” and then “Replace Card,” and you should see this option listed
Again, this is available on a first come, first served basis, so if you’re interested I’d make the request soon.
The card comes with “exclusive content via an augmented reality experience created especially for card members, which includes Boeing 747 history, interviews with Delta pilots and crew members, and an up-close look at Delta Ship #6307’s transformation from a passenger plane into the card design.”
This particular plane was in service for over 27 years, operated over 14,000 flights, spent over 116,000 hours in the air, flew around 68 million miles, and carried more than four million passengers.
This. Is. Awesome.
Usually special edition card designs don’t do a whole lot for me. I use the cards that offer me the best rewards for my spending, with no thought put into their appearance or what material they’re made of. That being said, this is a card I’d certainly make an exception for, because this is the coolest credit card imaginable for avgeeks.
There’s only one issue — I wouldn’t want to actually swipe this card, because I’d want to keep it in mint condition. Rather I’d want to put this in a case on my desk and preserve it, and I can’t imagine that would do much for Amex or Delta either.
Then again, I suspect I’m not your average consumer when it comes to this stuff.
Bottom line
Delta and American Express are offering a new limited time design for their most premium co-branded Reserve Card, which is made of the fuselage of a retired Boeing 747. What’s cool isn’t just that the card is made of a 747, but that the card has a picture of a 747 on it, plus all kinds of stats about the plane.
Anyone else adore this card design as much as I do?
Sadly this card is no longer to existing cardmembers. Just like the cable company or a cell phone Carrier this offer is only available to new cardmembers now. So over the years the Reserve card perks have dropped, the annual fee went up and now your years of membership is no longer appreciated.
I love this. I have an Amex Biz Platinum and think this is really novel. I do wish Amex would fix its Amex Travel site though instead. Try to book United's "Economy Plus" domestic product through Amex Travel and they'll charge you for it, then force you to select Economy seats only. Then call Amex Travel, and they'll swear up and down that on a United Embraer 175 aircraft with 24 total rows, Premium Economy...
I love this. I have an Amex Biz Platinum and think this is really novel. I do wish Amex would fix its Amex Travel site though instead. Try to book United's "Economy Plus" domestic product through Amex Travel and they'll charge you for it, then force you to select Economy seats only. Then call Amex Travel, and they'll swear up and down that on a United Embraer 175 aircraft with 24 total rows, Premium Economy starts at row 21, leaving 3 - THREE - rows of Economy seating. The Amex Travel backend apparently doesn't understand United's Economy Plus seat map, even though they're happy to charge you for it. Good grief, even SeatGuru has the correct seat map. And prepare to spend over 2 hrs on the phone talking to overseas support that put you in 'on hold hell' while they try to locate a supervisor. Makes me wish I'd gone with the consumer Amex Platinum vs the Biz version, at least then I could book direct for 5x points instead of dealing with the Amex Travel mess.
Yes. Honoring the Queen of the Skies! Being in Washington State makes this card even more special.
Already got mine. On Google App the card shows up already just like pictured here. Very cool for sure as an Aviation geek.
I just called and requested a replacement for my medal purple Reserve card and mine arrives July 1st. AMEX knew what I wanted right away. If I am not in error (1,500K Delta Miles) Delta obtained the 747 from North West and sold them off, soon after they got them. I never got to ride in one and was sorry that Delta sold them off, maybe they should have used a L1011. But thanks for letting me know.
I just called AmEx to request the change. All they could tell me was that I could get a plastic card (already have that) or a metal card. He had no information about the 747 card. So I told him to send the metal card, hoping that it will be the Queen of the Skies.
Whoever came up with the idea for this card deserves a pay raise, such a great idea!!!
Most awesome card design ever
The plane was likely an old Northwest airplane. Delta didn't fly 747's until after buying Northwest.
Delta did fly 747s in the 70s, decades before buying Northwest (and retire them decades before buying NW).
I suspect this as well because it was put in service in 1996.
Oops Typo, 1990. When NW was still big and active.
Cool idea! You can admire the card as you wait in line to get into the lounge.
Yup, avgeek identifier, for sure. But how do I use 100k bonus Skymiles when my beloved DL228 to Paris can't be found under 240k one-way[!] even at the extremes of the schedule? I feel teased and used.
Just glad it's coming back...now I'm just waiting for a flash sale or slightly more sane redemption options.
@Lucky you can still use the card without swiping it by just placing online orders, haha unless you are going to keep it locked in an airtight/anti UV Ray encased box to preserve it in its mint condition.
Use Google Pay! Then you never swipe the actual card. :)
This is avgeek and miles nerd heaven right here! I love this idea!
I as well
I love it also, but not the price, especially when it is a yearly charge.
Just ordered mine and received confirmation from AmEx. YEAH!!!
O.m.g. This made my day. So cool. Ordering now!
just upgraded from Delta Gold card to this card! i only get a new card if i am motivated to do so and this did it for me! Dont mind the annual fee if i feel its worth it and im sure it will become a collectors item in future!!
Swoon, indeed! As a current cardholder, I couldn't log into open.com fast enough. Thanks for the heads-up! I like would have missed it otherwise.
Interested
I went ahead and got it. That 100k bonus miles was nice too.
Just got off the phone with AMEX. Mine's on the way!! Thanks for the heads up!!!!
I just requested one of these as an existing DL reserve holder. Easy enough to do in the app and it will be the coolest looking card in my wallet.
For existing Delta Reserve holders, you can request this online (Account Services -> Replace Card). One of the options is to change the design. There's a new selection for this design on that page. No need to call.
I put it in immediately after seeing this article. I plan to keep this thing as pristine as possible. I only really purchase Delta tickets and taxes (for the MQD waver) online on this card anyway. I...
For existing Delta Reserve holders, you can request this online (Account Services -> Replace Card). One of the options is to change the design. There's a new selection for this design on that page. No need to call.
I put it in immediately after seeing this article. I plan to keep this thing as pristine as possible. I only really purchase Delta tickets and taxes (for the MQD waver) online on this card anyway. I do like having the card around for checking in at a kiosk. But this thing isn't going into my wallet anytime soon (the NW kid in me is pretty happy).
Thanks! Got mine ordered.
@Veejay, thanks for the heads up, mine is on the way
I would love to have this card,
I just don't see a point paying 550USD membership as I barely fly Delta...
“ Sometimes we see credit card issuers introduce limited time card designs, which is something that usually doesn’t get me too excited”
I’m pretty sure every single limited time credit card design change would produce an OMAAT post.
I don’t blame you though!
;)
Wow! I want it enough I'm considering applying for the card...
Interesting to note that this 747 spent half of it's life on the ground. More time than I would think.
as a former northwest orient/delta flight attendant....this is really cool to see....these were magnificent airplanes and i always felt enormous pride working for an airline who flew such a engineering wonder....they will always be the most beautiful bird to fly in my opinion...
I wasn't aware Delta had ever owned any 747s. But NW had all of them. I guess with the merger the 747 pilots flew some new Delta routes.Good for you.
I only ever flew on a NW 747 after the merger with Delta. Truly a special experience flying in front of the pilots in the nose on the lower deck.
I think this was among the last few that flew to end of 747 service with Delta.
Now if DL would have these card for Diamonds or Million Miler, a real treat would be doing the 747 in NW designs, especially for the pre merger Platinum.
you can choose this online as an existing member in account management, in the replace your card section. no need to call.
Very nice! I am in!
PS: Is anyone else getting really tired of knocking down the video and lower banner that pops up every time you want to read Ben's blog?
Get an ad blocker! (Sorry Ben)
How about having to change from "most recent" to "oldest first" so that you can actually read the comments in a sensible order? That's annoying. I mean Ben doesn't put his last paragraph first and expect us to read from the bottom up, so why is it like that in the comments?
@PaulW,
I second that emotion!
Yeah. It is really annoying. Even thought about cancelling the newsletter a few times.
yes. it's not just you.
i often use a tablet to read this stuff, and the junk covers 1/3 of the screen. when this happens i just shut it all down and move on to something else that won't get in the way.
Agreement here
If you're an existing card member - how do you request a new card? Do you need to call in, or is there an online request method?
Ben get the card and load it to your phone/watch and use it there. Have no need for this but so tempted!
Also agree 25% metal is kinda lame.
There should be an online request on your Amex page to request the new card.
@Brian P, see Veejay's post
Dear Amex -
Now do a Silver version for the Platinum Skymiles card. Then, shut up and take my money.
when i saw the title of this post, i thought the card was going to be made from an actual piece of the plane which would have been very cool. Contains 25% metal from a scrapped plane, not so much. But the design is indeed nice.
I was on the fence about upgrading my Delta Platinum card, and this pushed me over the edge.
Have got a bunch of Delta flights coming up over the next year and the lounge access and new Centurion Lounge access will come in handy.
Don't upgrade. Apply for a new Reserve card to get the signup bonus. When your Platinum's annual fee comes due, cancel it or downgrade it to a new annual-fee Blue card.
If you have an available AmEx slot (5 card limit), I would get apply for the Blue to get its small welcome bonus and then later downgrade your Platinum to another Blue card.
Can you request it with a new application? If so, I just might go for it…
You can request it under a new application.
I want this card so bad, but the value proposition of the reserve AMEX to me is near zero.
Same- is the $550 waived for the first year? I don’t fly the airline so would have to burn those points on someone else.