delta award travel 15 off

• Search Please fill out this field.
• Manage Your Subscription
• Give a Gift Subscription
• Sweepstakes

Delta Amex Cardholders Will Now Receive a 15% Discount on Select Flights

The discount is automatically applied to all SkyMiles bookings when your credit card is linked to your account.

Courtesy of American Express

There's never been a better time to be a Delta American Express card member. Those who have the Delta SkyMiles Gold, Platinum, and Reserve Consumer and Business American Express credit cards now receive a 15 percent discount when booking award flights with SkyMiles.

Aptly named the "TakeOff 15" benefit, the discount appears automatically after cardholders link their Delta Amex card to their Delta SkyMiles account, when searching for flights on both the airline's website and app (as long as the search is filtered to to paying with miles instead of dollars).

"Our Delta SkyMiles American Express Card Members are some of our most loyal customers, and we want to continue to give them opportunities to travel the world more easily," Prashant Sharma, Vice President of Loyalty at Delta, said in a statement. "We're grateful to have a partner like American Express who shares our vision and passion for delivering ingenuity and excellence to our customers."

This new discount is one of many perks for Delta Amex cardholders; they also receive priority boarding in Main Cabin 1 and a free checked bag. Those who have the highest-tier card, the Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express , receive additional perks like a free companion pass on domestic flights, complimentary lounge access, and free complimentary upgrades based on availability.

We should also note that Delta allows award bookings to earn both Medallion Qualifying Miles (MQMs), Medallion Qualifying Segments (MQSs), and Medallion Qualifying Dollars (MQDs), which are metrics for qualifying for elite status — that's a huge incentive for Delta frequent flyers to book with SkyMiles.

Travelers looking to sign up for a Delta Amex credit card, American Express is offering substantial sign-up bonuses for a limited time: anywhere from 70,000 to 100,000 SkyMiles, depending on the card. These bonuses require a spending threshold, which vary per card. Find out more and apply for the credit cards at card.americanexpress.com/d/delta .

• Credit cards
• View all credit cards
• Banking guide
• Loans guide
• Insurance guide
• Personal finance
• View all personal finance
• Small business
• Small business guide
• View all taxes

You’re our first priority. Every time.

We believe everyone should be able to make financial decisions with confidence. And while our site doesn’t feature every company or financial product available on the market, we’re proud that the guidance we offer, the information we provide and the tools we create are objective, independent, straightforward — and free.

So how do we make money? Our partners compensate us. This may influence which products we review and write about (and where those products appear on the site), but it in no way affects our recommendations or advice, which are grounded in thousands of hours of research. Our partners cannot pay us to guarantee favorable reviews of their products or services. Here is a list of our partners .

Delta AmEx Cards Give Permanent 15% Off Award Travel, Increased Bonus Offers

Many or all of the products featured here are from our partners who compensate us. This influences which products we write about and where and how the product appears on a page. However, this does not influence our evaluations. Our opinions are our own. Here is a list of our partners and here's how we make money .

» These offers have expired

The offers described in this article have expired. For the current offers, see our details pages on the Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card , Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card , Delta SkyMiles® Gold Business American Express Card , Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card , Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card and Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card .

Delta Air Lines is rewarding loyal flyers who hold one of its branded American Express credit cards.

As of Feb. 2, 2023, new and existing Delta AmEx cardholders will receive a 15% discount on the number of SkyMiles required to book award travel.

This new and permanent benefit, called TakeOff 15, will be automatically applied when cardholders redeem miles to book award travel on Delta flights through Delta's website or the Fly Delta app. No enrollment is necessary, but the benefit can be used on only Delta flights and will not apply to travel on partner airlines. The benefit will also not apply to cash bookings or those booked with a combination of miles and cash.

Eligible cards include the:

Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card

Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card

Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card

Delta SkyMiles® Gold Business American Express Card

Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card

Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card

A 15% discount is a nice perk and the first benefit of its kind to be offered on an airline card. And while saving 15% on every flight booked using award travel is nice, it may not be as flashy as it sounds. Delta has a history of devaluing its SkyMiles program and in recent years has removed its award chart — making it harder for consumers to plan for how many miles they'll need for their next award flight. Terms apply.

» MORE: Best Delta credit cards

Increased limited-time offers

In addition to the new TakeOff 15 benefit, AmEx is offering increased limited-time offers for new cardmembers of the following consumer and business cards. Applicants must apply and be approved between Feb. 2, 2023, and March 29, 2023, to qualify.

Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card : Earn 70,000 bonus miles after you spend $2,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months.

Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card : Earn 90,000 bonus miles after you spend $4,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months. Terms Apply.

Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card : Earn 90,000 bonus miles after you spend $6,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months. Terms Apply.

Delta SkyMiles® Gold Business American Express Card : Limited Time Offer: Earn 75,000 Bonus Miles after spending $3,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 3 months of Card Membership. Offer Ends 3/29/23. Terms apply.

Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card : Limited Time Offer: Earn 95,000 Bonus Miles after spending $4,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 3 months of Card Membership. Offer Ends 3/29/23. Terms Apply.

Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card : Limited Time Offer: Earn 100,000 Bonus Miles after spending $6,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 3 months. Offer ends 3/29/23. Terms Apply.

NerdWallet estimates the value of a Delta SkyMile at 1.5 cents , making these increased offers worth between $1,050 and $1,500 depending on the card.

If you’re a Delta flyer, the bonus combined with the additional perks the cards offer could make a good fit for your wallet. The Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card , for example, gives a free checked bag for you and up to eight traveling companions and was named best airline card once again in our Best-Of Awards 2023 . Terms apply.

» MORE: The complete guide to Delta SkyMiles

On a similar note...

Find the right credit card for you.

Whether you want to pay less interest or earn more rewards, the right card's out there. Just answer a few questions and we'll narrow the search for you.

Advertiser Disclosure

Many of the credit card offers that appear on this site are from credit card companies from which we receive financial compensation. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site (including, for example, the order in which they appear). However, the credit card information that we publish has been written and evaluated by experts who know these products inside out. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse. This site does not include all credit card companies or all available credit card offers that are on the market. See our advertising policy here where we list advertisers that we work with, and how we make money. You can also review our credit card rating methodology .

Delta Cardholders Can Now Save 15% on SkyMiles Award Flights

Stella Shon

News Managing Editor

84 Published Articles 604 Edited Articles

Countries Visited: 25 U.S. States Visited: 22

How To Get a 15% Discount on Your Next SkyMiles Booking

Exclusions to the takeoff 15 discount, double-check your existing award flights, final thoughts.

We may be compensated when you click on product links, such as credit cards, from one or more of our advertising partners. Terms apply to the offers below. See our Advertising Policy for more about our partners, how we make money, and our rating methodology. Opinions and recommendations are ours alone.

While Delta SkyMiles have been significantly devalued over the years, there are still several instances where it makes sense to collect these airline miles. Thanks to Delta’s frequent flash sales, you can often score domestic one-way tickets for as few as 4,500 SkyMiles.

Now, many of Delta’s American Express credit cards get access to a key benefit: 15% savings on award flights . In other words, that same flight requiring 4,500 miles will cost you around 3,800 miles.

Let’s discuss the details of this newest credit card perk, known as “TakeOff 15.”

Have a Delta credit card in your wallet? Chances are, you can now save 15% on all future Delta award   bookings,  which is now valid for all personal and business Delta cards — but sadly excludes the no-annual-fee Delta SkyMiles ® Blue American Express Card.

Here’s the full list of cards eligible for this new perk:

The benefit is already live on Delta’s website and app . If you’re a Delta cardholder, simply look up a flight as you normally would, and be sure to click Shop with Miles when searching.

You’ll see that the 15% award discount is automatically applied on the flight search. There’s no stated limit to the discount, so Delta cardholders can potentially save thousands of SkyMiles every year .

This discount is already quite generous, but note that it only applies to award flights operated by Delta or Delta Connection. Any partner awards, like with SkyTeam partners Air France or Korean Air, won’t be discounted.

Additionally, the standard taxes and fees apply. As a refresher, domestic award flights only cost $5.60 one-way or $11.20 round-trip.

Hot Tip: Want to be elite? Check out our guide to the best ways to qualify for Delta Medallion status .

Got an upcoming Delta flight that you booked on miles? It never hurts to check back periodically to see how much Delta is charging for the same flight.

If you notice that the award price decreased — or would be cheaper with the new 15% off discount — cancel your existing booking and rebook to use fewer miles . Delta allows free cancellations to award bookings , so you’ll get your miles immediately redeposited into your SkyMiles balance  and  the taxes and fees refunded to your card.

Delta’s co-branded American Express credit cards just got a whole lot more valuable, and it’s great to see that this new perk has been seamlessly integrated already!

For rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles ® Platinum American Express Card, click here . For rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles ® Platinum Business American Express Card, click here . For rates and fees of Delta SkyMiles ® Reserve American Express Card, click here . For rates and fees for the Delta SkyMiles ® Reserve Business American Express Card, click here . For rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles ® Gold American Express Card, click here . For rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles ® Gold Business American Express Card, click here .

Was this page helpful?

About Stella Shon

With a degree in media and journalism, Stella has been in the points and miles game for more than 6 years. She most recently worked as a Corporate Communications Analyst for JetBlue. Find her work in The New York Times, USA Today, and more.

INSIDERS ONLY: UP PULSE ™

Get the latest travel tips, crucial news, flight & hotel deal alerts...

Plus — expert strategies to maximize your points & miles by joining our (free) newsletter.

We respect your privacy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA. Google's privacy policy and terms of service apply.

Related Posts

UP's Bonus Valuation

This bonus value is an estimated valuation calculated by UP after analyzing redemption options, transfer partners, award availability and how much UP would pay to buy these points.

• Diversity, Equity & Inclusion at Delta
• Racial and Ethnic Diversity
• LGBTQ+ Diversity
• People with Disabilities
• Veterans and the Military
• Sustainability
• Awards & Recognition
• Global Partners

Eligible Delta SkyMiles American Express Card Members have another reason to start planning their next trip: beginning February 2, these cardholders can take 15% off Award Travel on Delta flights, anytime 1 .  

The new TakeOff 15 benefit is available to Delta SkyMiles Gold, Platinum, and Reserve Consumer and Business American Express Card Members. 

“Our Delta SkyMiles American Express Card Members are some of our most loyal customers, and we want to continue to give them opportunities to travel the world more easily,” said Prashant Sharma, V.P. of Loyalty at Delta. “We’re grateful to have a partner like American Express who shares our vision and passion for delivering ingenuity and excellence to our customers.” 

This latest partnership achievement with American Express further demonstrates Delta’s commitment to evolving the SkyMiles program to exceed expectations and enable more seamless travel. And it comes as Delta continues to revolutionize the customer experience in the air and on the ground. Delta now offers free high-speed Wi-Fi for all SkyMiles Members , which will power a vast suite of in-flight entertainment. All of this bolsters an already best-in-class loyalty program that gives customers opportunities to earn status through other partnerships with brands they love, such as Starbucks and Hertz . 

Here’s how Card Members can take advantage of this benefit and enjoy more of the places they love: 

Sign into your SkyMiles account and search for Award Travel by selecting “Shop with Miles” in the search criteria on delta.com or in the Fly Delta app.  

Select an eligible flight. When you get to check-out, you will see the miles discount applied to your itinerary.  

Use your qualifying Delta SkyMiles American Express Card to earn miles with your Card on any taxes and fees for your itinerary.  

“Delta Card Members love using their Cards to earn miles they can put toward future trips and the great experience they get when flying Delta,” said Jon Gantman, Senior Vice President and General Manager, Cobrand Product Management at American Express. “Now, you can go even further with your miles and get the best of the SkyMiles program with your Card.”  

New Delta SkyMiles American Express Card Members can also earn miles through new, limited time offers when they apply before March 29, 2023, and are approved. Terms apply. For more information, visit delta.com/takeoff15cardoffer 2 . 

In 2022, Delta SkyMiles received several top honors for loyalty program excellence, including outperforming all global airlines in U.S. News & World Report’s Best Airline Reward Program ranking and earning the Best U.S. Airline Loyalty Program accolade from The Points Guy. 

Delta’s SkyMiles program continues to lead with premier program enhancements such as: miles that don’t expire, no blackout dates for Award tickets on any Delta Air Lines flight, unlimited mileage accrual for tickets, and the ability to earn toward Medallion Status on Award Travel so Members can earn even faster toward Status.  

1 Not applicable to partner-operated flights or to taxes and fees. Terms apply.

2 For customers that apply and open a new eligible Delta SkyMiles American Express Credit Card, the system may take up to 24 hours to reflect benefit eligibility on Delta.com and the Fly Delta App when booking award travel on qualifying Delta-operated flights

• American Express
• Delta SkyMiles Credit Card

Not finding what you need?

• American AAdvantage
• United MileagePlus
• Delta SkyMiles
• British Airways Executive Club
• Southwest Rapid Rewards
• JetBlue TrueBlue
• Alaska Mileage Plan
• Marriott Bonvoy
• Hilton Honors
• IHG One Rewards
• World of Hyatt
• Accor Live Limitless
• Radisson Rewards
• Amex Membership Rewards
• Chase Ultimate Rewards
• Citi ThankYou Rewards
• Capital One Rewards
• Brex Rewards
• Bank Rewards Cards
• Airline Cards
• Hotel Cards
• Business Cards
• Cashback Cards
• 0% APR & Balance Transfer Cards
• Best Cards for Everyday Spending
• Best Cards for Dining
• Best Cards for Groceries
• Best Cards for Gas
• Best Cards for Travel
• Best Cards for Purchase Protection
• Best Cards for Elite Status
• Best Cards for Lounge Access
• How a Signup Bonus Works
• Types of Card Benefits
• Credit Card Application Rules
• Managing Your Credit Score
• Meeting Spending Requirements
• Buy Points and Miles Promotions
• Types of Reward Points
• Airline Partners & Alliances
• Which Flights Are Bookable With Miles
• Finding Award Availability
• Miles Needed for a Free Flight
• Track Your Points
• Mile Transfer Times
• Merchant Lookup Tool
• Reverse Merchant Lookup
• Credit Card Spend Analysis
• Transaction Analyzer
• Travel Trends
• Advertiser Disclosure

How Delta TakeOff 15 Can Help You Save 15% on Delta Award Tickets

Reviewed by JT Genter

AwardWallet receives compensation from advertising partners for links on the blog. Terms Apply to the offers listed on this page. The opinions expressed here are our own and have not been reviewed, provided, or approved by any bank advertiser. Here's our complete list of Advertisers .

If you've got a Delta SkyMiles credit card, you can book Delta-operated award flights cheaper than anybody else. Thanks to the staple TakeOff 15 benefit that adorns almost every Delta American Express co-branded card, you can save 15% on Delta awards. While it may not seem like much, this perk can be the key to unlocking unparalleled savings on Delta SkyMiles award tickets.

Here's what Delta SkyMiles American Express cardholders need to know about the TakeOff 15 benefit.

Page Contents

Which Delta SkyMiles credit cards offer the TakeOff15 award discount?

How can delta cardholders redeem the takeoff 15 award discount, short-haul united states domestic flights, flights to europe, traditionally expensive award flights to asia and the south pacific, final thoughts, what is delta's takeoff 15 award discount.

In short, the TakeOff 15 benefit is uniquely available to select Delta SkyMiles American Express cardholders. With it, cardholders to receive a 15% discount on eligible SkyMiles award redemptions. Even better, you can use the perk unlimited times with no blackout dates.

Delta and American Express offer seven co-branded SkyMiles credit cards, and all but one affords cardholders the signature 15% discount on award flights. You can view the complete roster of eligible cards below:

• Delta SkyMiles ® Gold American Express Card
• Delta SkyMiles ® Gold Business American Express Card
• Delta SkyMiles ® Platinum American Express Card
• Delta SkyMiles ® Platinum Business American Express Card
• Delta SkyMiles ® Reserve American Express Card
• Delta SkyMiles ® Reserve Business American Express Card

The only co-branded Delta SkyMiles card not offering this benefit is the Delta SkyMiles ® Blue American Express Card . However, this isn't a surprise, as the Blue Delta Amex doesn't have an annual fee and isn't rich in benefits ( Rates & Fees ).

Related:  How To Choose the Right Delta SkyMiles Card

To use the Delta TakeOff 15 benefit, you'll need to add your SkyMiles credit card to your Delta profile . Click on “Payment Methods” and enter your credit card details.

Once you've added an eligible Delta card to your SkyMiles account, the discount will automatically apply to eligible Delta- and Delta Connection-operated itineraries. You'll see a tag indicating exclusive cardmember savings when looking for award flights.

The 15% discount only applies to the mileage portion of the ticket — not the taxes, fees, or other carrier-imposed surcharges. To take advantage of the discount, ensure you use your linked Delta card to cover the applicable cash portion of your booking. Also, you won't see the discount if you aren't logged into your Delta account or are looking at partner-operated flights.

On most routes operated by Delta, the cash component is usually less than $10 each way, with domestic flights incurring taxes and fees of just $5.60. Flights from Europe to the United States traditionally require paying more out of pocket, given high departure taxes — especially in the U.K.

Related: The 7 Best Ways To Use Delta SkyMiles

Delta TakeOff 15 Award Discount Examples

While it might not seem like much, the TakeOff 15 benefit is among the most valuable benefits on Delta's co-branded credit cards. Saving 15% on Delta awards instantly makes each flight more affordable, preserving a handful of SkyMiles for later use. Plus, the savings will stack up if you utilize the benefit enough.

If you're still of the opinion that Delta awards cost too much as it is, and a 15% discount won't make much of a difference, we beg to differ. Here are a few examples of when the TakeOff 15 perk truly shines.

Related: The Unofficial Delta SkyMiles Award Chart for Flights from the U.S.

One of the best and easiest ways to redeem Delta SkyMiles is for short-hop flights within the U.S. On some routes — roughly an hour in duration — Delta charges a few thousand SkyMiles each way. But if you have a  TakeOff 15-eligible credit card, you can book cheap awards for even cheaper. For example, instead of paying 4,500 SkyMiles to fly from Los Angeles (LAX) to Las Vegas (LAS), you could pay 3,800 SkyMiles.

Whether you're looking for a Spring Break getaway or finally getting around to crossing off that bucket list item of skiing in the Alps, the TakeOff 15 perk can make your award flight to Europe a little more affordable. Think economy awards from 30,000 to 48,000 SkyMiles each way.

It's no secret that flying to the South Pacific is expensive. New Zealand, Australia, Tahiti — you name it — it can drain your mileage balance before you know it. But if you can take 15% off the top, awards start seeming generally affordable by Delta SkyMiles standards. For example, you can fly one-way from Los Angeles (LAX) to Auckland (AKL) for 45,900 miles in economy. Not a bad deal!

Or, if you've got more SkyMiles to burn, you can fly Delta's premium cabins from Seattle (SEA) to Seoul (ICN) for a little over 200,000 miles one-way — saving almost 40,000 miles in the process.

If you didn't know, your Delta SkyMiles credit card can be the key to unlocking substantial savings on Delta-operated award flights. Just by holding an eligible card and keeping it in your wallet every year, you can save 15% on Delta awards. Arguably, the TakeOff 15 benefit is one of the most valuable perks on Delta's suite of American Express credit cards. The best part is that there's no limit to the number of times you can use this valuable benefit.

For rates and fees of the cards mentioned in this post, please visit the following links: Delta SkyMiles ® Blue American Express Card ( Rates & Fees )

The comments on this page are not provided, reviewed, or otherwise approved by the bank advertiser. It is not the bank advertiser's responsibility to ensure all posts and/or questions are answered.

Leave a Reply

Click here to cancel reply.

Notify me of followup comments via e-mail Notify me of followup posts via e-mail

For hub captives who hold this CC, this could be an easy way to save some miles. But for the rest of us, spending $550 annually to save 15% miles on redemptions is not attractive. Between the lines, is this a feature to attract more people to the Amex Delta Reserve card? Or is Delta now realizing that their redemptions are priced too high and without admitting that, this new feature gives their best customers a small discount? I can’t see anyone going hogwild over a 15% discount!

It certainly isn’t gamechanging for all travelers, but the savings could add up for Delta frequent flyers. If someone would otherwise redeem 250k SkyMiles, the 37,500-mile savings would equate to $450 at 1.2 cents per mile. That would definitely change the math on this card.

• Credit Cards
• All Credit Cards
• Find the Credit Card for You
• Best Credit Cards
• Best Rewards Credit Cards
• Best Travel Credit Cards
• Best 0% APR Credit Cards
• Best Balance Transfer Credit Cards
• Best Cash Back Credit Cards
• Best Credit Card Sign-Up Bonuses
• Best Credit Cards to Build Credit
• Best Credit Cards for Online Shopping
• Find the Best Personal Loan for You
• Best Personal Loans
• Best Debt Consolidation Loans
• Best Loans to Refinance Credit Card Debt
• Best Loans with Fast Funding
• Best Small Personal Loans
• Best Large Personal Loans
• Best Personal Loans to Apply Online
• Best Student Loan Refinance
• Best Car Loans
• All Banking
• Find the Savings Account for You
• Best High Yield Savings Accounts
• Best Big Bank Savings Accounts
• Best Big Bank Checking Accounts
• Best No Fee Checking Accounts
• No Overdraft Fee Checking Accounts
• Best Checking Account Bonuses
• Best Money Market Accounts
• Best Credit Unions
• All Mortgages
• Best Mortgages
• Best Mortgages for Small Down Payment
• Best Mortgages for No Down Payment
• Best Mortgages for Average Credit Score
• Best Mortgages No Origination Fee
• Adjustable Rate Mortgages
• Affording a Mortgage
• All Insurance
• Best Life Insurance
• Best Life Insurance for Seniors
• Best Homeowners Insurance
• Best Renters Insurance
• Best Car Insurance
• Best Pet Insurance
• Best Boat Insurance
• Best Motorcycle Insurance
• Travel Insurance
• Event Ticket Insurance
• Small Business
• All Small Business
• Best Small Business Savings Accounts
• Best Small Business Checking Accounts
• Best Credit Cards for Small Business
• Best Small Business Loans
• Best Tax Software for Small Business
• Personal Finance
• All Personal Finance
• Best Budgeting Apps
• Best Expense Tracker Apps
• Best Money Transfer Apps
• Best Resale Apps and Sites
• Buy Now Pay Later (BNPL) Apps
• Best Debt Relief
• Credit Monitoring
• All Credit Monitoring
• Best Credit Monitoring Services
• Best Identity Theft Protection
• How to Boost Your Credit Score
• Best Credit Repair Companies
• Filing For Free
• Best Tax Software
• Best Tax Software for Small Businesses
• Tax Refunds
• Tax Brackets
• Taxes By State
• Tax Payment Plans
• Help for Low Credit Scores
• All Help for Low Credit Scores
• Best Credit Cards for Bad Credit
• Best Personal Loans for Bad Credit
• Best Debt Consolidation Loans for Bad Credit
• Personal Loans if You Don't Have Credit
• Best Credit Cards for Building Credit
• Personal Loans for 580 Credit Score Lower
• Personal Loans for 670 Credit Score or Lower
• Best Mortgages for Bad Credit
• Best Hardship Loans
• All Investing
• Best IRA Accounts
• Best Roth IRA Accounts
• Best Investing Apps
• Best Free Stock Trading Platforms
• Best Robo-Advisors
• Index Funds
• Mutual Funds
• Home & Kitchen
• Gift Guides
• Deals & Sales
• Best of Wellness Awards 2024
• Sign up for the CNBC Select Newsletter
• Subscribe to CNBC PRO
• Privacy Policy
• Your Privacy Choices
• Terms Of Service
• CNBC Sitemap

Follow Select

Our top picks of timely offers from our partners

Find the best credit card for you

Delta introduces a 15% discount on award flights for eligible skymiles american express cardholders, your delta miles just became more valuable thanks to this new card perk..

Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more.

Today, Delta Airlines is rolling out a new benefit for certain cobranded SkyMiles American Express cardholders.

Eligible Delta SkyMiles American Express cardholders now have access to "TakeOff 15," a new perk that offers a 15% discount when using miles to book Award Travel on Delta flights through delta.com and the Fly Delta app. Discount not applicable to partner-operated flights or to taxes and fees . This is great news for anyone with an eligible card because now your Delta SkyMiles will stretch a bit further.

Below, CNBC Select breaks down which cards qualify for the new benefit and the other perks and welcome offers currently available for the Delta SkyMiles American Express consumer and business cards .

Our best selections in your inbox. Shopping recommendations that help upgrade your life, delivered weekly.  Sign-up here .

15% award flight discount for Delta Amex cardholders

The new TakeOff 15 perk applies to Delta award flights booked through Delta.com or the Fly Delta app. The discount only applies to Delta flights, not partner airline-operated award flights you book through Delta. Best of all, CNBC Select has confirmed that this is a discount and not a rebate. Discount not applicable to partner-operated flights or to taxes and fees.

That means you'll actually need fewer miles to book your next award and it effectively increases the value of Delta miles. For example, if a Delta flight costs 50,000 miles, you'll only need 42,500 miles in your account to book the award.

The TakeOff 15 perk is being added to almost all consumer and business Delta SkyMiles American Express cards, including:

Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card

Delta skymiles® gold business american express card, delta skymiles® platinum american express card, delta skymiles® platinum business american express card, delta skymiles® reserve american express card, delta skymiles® reserve business american express card.

Plus, if you're not already a cardholder, they all have new limited-time welcome offers that you can take advantage of.

Earn 2X Miles on Delta purchases, at U.S. Supermarkets and at restaurants worldwide, including takeout and delivery in the U.S., and 1X Mile per dollar on all other eligible purchases

Welcome bonus

Earn 40,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $2,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.

$0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $150

Regular APR

20.99% - 29.99% variable

Balance transfer fee

Foreign transaction fees, credit needed.

Excellent/Good

See rates and fees , terms apply.

Earn 2X miles on every dollar spent on eligible purchases made directly with Delta and on every eligible dollar spent at restaurants, 2X miles per dollar spent on purchases at U.S. Shipping providers and at U.S. providers for Advertising in select media on up to $50,000 of purchases per category, per year. Earn 1X mile on every eligible dollar spent on other purchases.

Earn 55,000 Bonus Miles after spending $4,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership

Earn 3X miles on Delta purchases and purchases made directly with hotels; 2X miles at restaurants worldwide including takeout and delivery in the U.S., and at U.S. supermarkets; 1X mile on all other eligible purchases

Earn 50,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $3,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.

Earn 3X miles on every dollar spent on eligible purchases made directly with Delta and on every eligible dollar spent on purchases made directly with hotels. Earn 1.5X miles* on eligible transit and U.S. shipping purchases, plus single eligible purchases of $5,000 or more. If your purchase qualifies for a category that has a higher mileage accelerator, only the higher accelerator will apply. 1X mile on every eligible dollar spent on other purchases.

Earn 65,000 Bonus Miles after spending $6,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.

20.99% - 29.99% Variable

Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and 1X Mile on all other eligible purchases.

Earn 60,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $5,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.

Earn 3 miles per dollar on eligible Delta purchases

Earn 75,000 Bonus Miles after spending $10,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. 

The one major exception is the no annual fee (see rates and fees ) Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card , which will not have access to the TakeOff 15 perk.

Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card

Earn 2X miles per dollar spent on Delta purchases, 2X miles per dollar spent at restaurants worldwide; plus takeout and delivery in the U.S., and 1X mile per dollar on all other eligible purchases

Earn 10,000 bonus miles after you spend $1,000 in purchases on your new card in your first 6 months.

Bottom line

There's a new benefit available for most Delta SkyMiles American Express cardholders. Now, new and existing eligible Delta cardholders will get a 15% discount when booking Delta-operated award flights. This means you'll need fewer miles to book your next Delta award and any Delta miles you earn are worth more if you have one of the Delta consumer or business cards with this perk.

The new benefit joins a range of other perks available to eligible cardholders, such as free checked bags on Delta flights, discounts on in-flight purchases and annual companion certificates.

Catch up on Select's in-depth coverage of  personal finance ,  tech and tools ,  wellness  and more, and follow us on  Facebook ,  Instagram  and  Twitter  to stay up to date.

For rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card card, click here .  

For rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card, click here .

For rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card, click here .

For rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card, click here .

For rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles® Gold Business American Express Card, click here .

For rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card, click here .

For rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card, click here .

• 5 hidden insurance fees to avoid Liz Knueven
• Can I pay my mortgage with a credit card? Kelsey Neubauer
• How can I get homeowners insurance after nonrenewal? Liz Knueven

StarTribune

Delta launches 15% off award travel for its credit card holders — but there might be a catch.

Delta Air Lines credit card holders, take note: The airline has unveiled a new benefit to promote its lucrative American Express cards. With the new "TakeOff 15" program, people with the Delta SkyMiles Gold, Platinum and Reserve cards will automatically save 15% on award travel on Delta-operated flights.

All three of the Delta SkyMiles American Express consumer cards included in TakeOff 15 are running elevated signup bonuses of 70,000 to 90,000 miles through March 29.

To take advantage of the benefit, cardholders can select "Shop with Miles" while searching for flights on delta.com . The 15% discount on miles will automatically appear in the search results and at checkout.

But it's unclear whether the value of the new benefit will be tempered by the airline charging higher rates on award travel overall.

For example, we searched for a flight from Minneapolis-St. Paul to Rome, and found an award ticket in Main Cabin for 120,000 SkyMiles from March 5-13 (with a layover at New York-JFK). With the new cardholder benefit, the adjusted cost was 102,000 miles.

That ticket would cost $1,198 if you were paying cash — nearly one penny per SkyMile, before the discount. With TakeOff 15, a Delta Amex cardholder in this example might see a savings in miles worth at least $180.

But we might have expected a slightly better SkyMiles redemption rate to begin with — at least 1.1 to 1.2 cents per mile, or more during sales.

SkyMiles Amex cards

If you're serious about SkyMiles and have good credit habits, the premium Delta Amex cards are worth a look. They can potentially offset their annual fees with standard benefits such as a free checked bag on Delta flights for everyone on your reservation (normally $60 per person round-trip), as well as priority boarding.

The SkyMiles Gold American Express is an entry-level card. The current introductory bonus offer is for 70,000 miles when you spend $2,000 on the card in the first six months. The annual fee is $99 after the first year.

The SkyMiles Platinum card is next, with 90,000 bonus miles after spending $4,000 in the first six months. The annual fee is $250, with at least one additional standout benefit: an annual companion pass that provides an almost-free Main Cabin ticket for your co-traveler on domestic flights.

The top-tier SkyMiles Reserve Amex is for serious frequent Delta fliers and airport-lounge enthusiasts. With a bonus offer of 90,000 miles after spending $6,000 in six months, it has an annual fee of $550, with goodies that include complementary access to Delta SkyClubs and two guest passes per year, plus an annual companion pass for a first-class or lower Delta ticket.

In addition to these consumer cards, the business versions of all three cards are also eligible for TakeOff 15.

Simon Peter Groebner is Travel editor for the Star Tribune.

• Dining out on the cheap: 15 favorite meals for $10 and under
• 'Officer down:' Two deputies injured, 28-year-old man dead after firefight in Minnetonka
• Scoggins: Anatomy of a game-saving play as Correa throws out Ohtani
• Wolves lose showdown, fall behind Nuggets in battle for top seed
• Twin Cities grocery stores, ranked by affordability
• State says 10 water systems in the metro have unsafe levels of PFAS, under new EPA rule

Justin: 10 TV shows about the Founding Fathers that are more fun than Apple's 'Franklin'

Poland's kids rejoice over new rules against homework. teachers and parents aren't so sure.

That's no eagle: Turkey vultures are the other large birds soaring above

What can shipwrecks tell us? New book says: Pretty much everything.

Outside roles by nbc's conde, others reveal a journalism ethics issue: being paid to sit on boards.

• Travel Troubleshooter: Credit card claim from canceled trip still unsettled 7 months later Jan. 6, 2023
• Money, Work, Know-How Apr. 1
• The next total solar eclipse will hit these two popular world travel destinations in 2026 • Travel
• New upscale camper cabins add to Cuyuna options • Travel
• How to spend the day (but not the night) at high-buck resorts and hotels from Maui to Miami • Travel
• 12 Florida winter destinations with direct flights from Minneapolis-St. Paul • Travel
• Cruise line buys up the Mississippi River ships from defunct American Queen Voyages • Travel

© 2024 StarTribune. All rights reserved.

Delta Introduces 15 Percent Mileage Discount Benefit for Amex Cardholders

Land 15 percent off award tickets with a new delta credit card..

• Copy Link copied

The hardest decision will be picking which destination you’ll fly to with all these bonus miles.

Photo by David Peterlin/Shutterstock

AFAR partners with CreditCards.com and may receive a commission from card issuers. This site does not include all financial companies or all available financial offers. Compensation may impact how an offer is presented. Our coverage is independent and objective, and has not been reviewed, approved, or endorsed by any of these entities. Opinions expressed here are entirely those of the AFAR editorial team.

Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Enrollment may be required for select American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more.

Delta Airlines is the second largest passenger airline in the United States, but it’s first in terms of number of daily flights (a whopping 6,700!). Given this remarkable presence in the skies, most traveling Americans will find themselves on a Delta flight at some point in 2023, shelling out money for bags, wondering how to get Delta perks in-flight and freebies on the ground, and questioning the best way to maximize hard-earned Delta SkyMiles. The simple answer: a Delta credit card.

Delta has three cobranded Amex personal cards—the Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card, the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card, and the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card—that come with standard perks like free checked baggage and priority boarding. Even better? On February 2, 2023, all three cards began offering the new TakeOff 15 benefit, which gives cardholders 15 percent off Delta award flights booked through delta.com and the Fly Delta app. (Discount not applicable to partner-operated flights or to taxes and fees.)

Here, the skinny on the three cards, who they are best for, and why applying now is a smart idea.

Three Delta Amex cards with a new TakeOff 15 benefit

Each of Delta’s three cobranded American Express personal cards has different levels of benefits, annual fees, as well as target consumers. All, however, have added the new benefit of a 15 percent discount on mileage redemptions. This discount applies to all bookings made using Delta SkyMiles for flights on Delta, but not on partner airlines.

We break down the differences here, beginning with the casual Delta flier (Gold) to the hard-core Delta loyalist (Reserve).

Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card

Best for: The Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card is best for casual Delta fliers looking for free checked bags and a boost to their SkyMiles balance.

Why now? Even though recent best-ever bonus offers are over, there’s still no annual fee for the first year.

Welcome offer: Earn 40,000 bonus miles after spending $2,000 on new purchases within the first six months.

Annual fee: No introductory annual fee the first year, then $99 (see rates and fees)

Earn points: Earn two miles per dollar spent on Delta purchases as well as at restaurants worldwide, including on eligible delivery services in the United States, and at U.S. supermarkets. Earn one mile per dollar on everything else.

Credits: Get 15 percent off Delta SkyMiles redemptions with the new TakeOff 15 benefit.

Key perks: Cardholders and up to eight companions can check a bag for free when flying Delta and enjoy priority boarding. Get 20 percent back on in-flight purchases of food and drinks.

Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card

Best for: The Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card is best for frequent fliers who want a boost to elite status through spending and to earn SkyMiles with everyday purchases.

Why now? Even though recent best-ever bonus offers are over, the statement credit perks are still solid.

Welcome offer: Earn 50,000 bonus miles after spending $3,000 within the first six months.

Annual fee: $250 (see rates and fees)

Earn points: Earn three miles per dollar on Delta purchases and those made directly with hotels. Get two miles per dollar at U.S. supermarkets and at restaurants worldwide, including takeout and delivery in the U.S.; earn one mile per dollar on everything else.

Credits: Get 15 percent off Delta SkyMiles redemptions with the new TakeOff 15 benefit. Get a credit for your Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee (worth up to $100) once every four years. Receive a Main Cabin round-trip companion certificate each year upon renewal of your card. Enrollment required for select benefits; terms apply.

Key perks: Cardholders and up to eight companions can check a bag for free when flying Delta and enjoy priority boarding.

Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card

Best for: The Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card is best for Delta loyalists and big spenders who want to boost elite status through credit card spending and who can take advantage of the card’s upscale perks.

Why now? This premium card comes with the best perks portfolio of all Delta consumer cards.

Welcome offer: Earn 60,000 bonus miles after spending $5,000 on purchases within the first six months.

Annual fee: $550 (see rates and fees)

Earn points: Earn three miles per dollar on purchases made with Delta and one mile per dollar on everything else.

Credits: Get 15 percent off Delta SkyMiles redemptions with the new TakeOff 15 benefit. Get a credit for your Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee (worth up to $100) once every four years. Receive a Domestic First Class, Delta Comfort+, or Main Cabin round-trip companion certificate each year upon renewal of your card. Enrollment required for select benefits; terms apply.

Key perks: On Delta flights, expect one free checked bag for the cardholder and up to eight travel companions on the same itinerary plus priority boarding. Access to Delta Sky Clubs at no cost when traveling on a Delta-marketed or operated flight and access to American Express Centurion Lounges when booking your Delta flight on the card. Effective February 1, 2025, Reserve cardmembers will receive 15 visits per year to the Delta Sky Club. Cardholders can earn unlimited Club access after spending $75,000 on their eligible card in a calendar year, valid for the year in which the spending is achieved plus the following calendar year.

Which Delta SkyMiles credit card is right for you?

As with all credit card welcome bonuses, the one you choose depends on how often you fly Delta and whether you already have other cards that offer benefits like airport lounge access.

In our opinion, the Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express Card is the most appealing. Like its more expensive counterparts, it provides the new 15 percent discount on award bookings. It also provides one free checked bag for the cardholder plus up to eight travel companions on the same itinerary. The first checked bag on Delta Airlines costs $30 per person, each way, so that’s $120 round-trip for two passengers. The card’s savings can add up quickly.

Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express Card also has a superior overall earnings structure to the pricey Reserve card since it earns double miles on purchases at U.S. supermarkets and restaurants globally (versus the Reserve’s one mile per dollar spent). This makes it a wise choice as an everyday spending card, not just a card to use for Delta flight purchases. Furthermore, with Delta SkyMiles cashing out around one cent each on Delta flights, 40,000 miles should equate to about $400 toward Delta flights.

The Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express Card is also attractive if you plan to fly Delta or its SkyTeam partners pretty much exclusively and if you don’t already have the Platinum Card® from American Express (see rates and fees ). The Reserve’s annual fee is justified by the current lounge access it provides. However, if you currently have the Platinum Card from American Express, you already have the same, if not better, lounge access. (The Platinum Card offers more extensive lounge access, including American Express Centurion Lounges, Delta Sky Clubs, and lounges in the Priority Pass network.) Additionally, the Global Entry or TSA PreCheck credit is only worthwhile if you don’t already have a card that offers it. The Companion Certificate, valid even on business-class tickets, is also valuable, if used correctly.

We don’t want to give the Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card middle-child syndrome, but unfortunately it deserves it. This card, wedged between the Gold and Reserve, doesn’t quite merit an annual fee that’s more than double the Gold card. Meanwhile, the benefits aren’t next level like the Reserve. Overall, this card’s biggest selling point is the bonus of 50,000 miles, but it’s not a card that you’ll likely keep long term like the Gold or the Reserve.

We’re excited to see Delta add the new 15 percent redemption discount benefit to all three of its consumer cards. Casual fliers, who are planning even one trip on Delta this year, should consider the Gold card, while those regularly flying the carrier seeking to climb its elite ladder should opt for the Reserve.

This article was originally published in 2022; it was updated on September 14, 2023, with current information. While the offers mentioned above are accurate at the time of publication, they are subject to change at any time, and may have changed or may no longer be available.

• Travel Planning Center
• Ticket Changes & Refunds
• Airline Partners
• Check-in & Security
• Delta Sky Club®
• Airport Maps & Locations
• Flight Deals
• Flight Schedules
• Destinations
• Onboard Experience
• Delta Cruises
• Delta Vacations
• Delta Car Rentals
• Delta Stays
• Onboard Wi-Fi
• Delta Trip Protection
• How to Earn Miles
• How to Use Miles
• Buy or Transfer Miles
• Travel with Miles
• SkyMiles Partners & Offers
• SkyMiles Award Deals
• SkyMiles Credit Cards
• SkyMiles Airline Partners
• SkyMiles Program Overview​
• How to Get Medallion Status​
• Benefits at Each Tier
• News & Updates
• Help Center
• Travel Planning FAQs
• Certificates & eCredits
• Accessible Travel Services
• Child & Infant Travel
• Special Circumstances
• SkyMiles Help

Get to Know SkyMiles ®

It's free to join

Miles don't expire

Travel to 1,000+ destinations

Earn & Use Miles That Don't Expire

Earn miles with delta, earn with partners, skymiles deals, use miles your way, rewards at every level, earn more miles with a delta skymiles american express card.

Earn 3 miles per dollar on Delta purchases using your Delta SkyMiles ® Reserve American Express Card or Delta SkyMiles ® Platinum American Express Card ‡​

Earn miles on everyday purchases ‡

No cap on the miles you can earn ‡

‡ Benefit Terms

Benefits for Medallion Members

Sit up front, multiply your miles, waived fees, each day means more miles, make the most of skymiles.

Additional SkyMiles resources to help you get the most out of your membership.

Get the Most Out of SkyMiles

All the ways to upgrade, skymiles news & updates.

• Investor Relations
• Business Travel
• Travel Agents
• Comment/Complaint
• Browser Compatibility
• Accessibility
• Booking Information
• Customer Commitment
• Tarmac Delay Plan
• Sustainability
• Contract of Carriage
• Cookies, Privacy & Security
• Human Trafficking Statement (PDF)

15% Off Delta Award Redemptions for Amex Cardholders

February 20, 2023 by Points, Miles & Martinis

Delta has announced a new benefit for American Express cardholders called TakeOff 15 . Cardholders of a co-branded Delta American Express card will receive 15% off award flights when redeeming miles on Delta.

The discount will be applied automatically when logged into your SkyMiles account and searching for award flights as a cardholder. The discounted award prices are only for Delta operated flights, so partner redemptions aren’t eligible.

Introducing TakeOff 15, an exciting new benefit exclusively for Delta SkyMiles Gold, Gold Business, Platinum, Platinum Business, Reserve and Reserve Business American Express Card Members. Card Members now save 15% when booking Award Travel with miles on Delta flights*. Anytime. Terms apply.

How To Get This Discount:

• Search for Award Travel by selecting “Shop with Miles†in the search criteria on delta.com or in the Fly Delta app. Be sure to log into your SkyMiles account before searching for best results.
• Select an eligible flight. When you get to check out, you will see the miles discount applied for your itinerary.
• Use your Delta SkyMiles® American Express Card to earn miles with your Card on any taxes and fees for your itinerary.

Here’s a look at the discounted award pricing from Los Angeles to New York:

You’ll see the 15% discount applies to all fare classes including Basic, Main, Comfort + and Delta One in the above example. Both one-way flights and round-trips are eligible for the discounted award pricing.

New York (JFK) to London (LHR) roundtrip for 35,600 SkyMiles:

The discount above is for a roundtrip flight from New York (JFK) to London (LHR) on a Delta operated flight both ways. The discounted awards don’t apply for partner airlines, so when searching to London, you won’t see the discount apply to Virgin Atlantic flights.

Depending on how many miles you redeem annually, this new perk should save you several thousand SkyMiles each year.

What are your thoughts on Delta’s latest TakeOff15 benefit for Amex cardholders? Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments below. 

About Points, Miles & Martinis

Here at Points, Miles and Martinis, we love all things travel. We focus on topics relating to travel including destinations, airline, hotel, car rental and credit card reward programs. Our goal is to help people travel better. - See more at our About Us page.

Sign up for Email   ||  Twitter  ||  Facebook  | |  Tips & Tricks Hotel Offers  ||  Airline Offers  ||  Bank Offers  ||  Cash Back Offers

Any idea if this is a permanent feature?

15% off my 400,000 mile flight. Woohoo!!!

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

Notify me of follow-up comments by email.

Notify me of new posts by email.

Free Newsletter

Enter your email to receive the latest travel deals, news and updates direct to your inbox.

You have Successfully Subscribed!

• Credit Cards
• Travel Rewards Cards
• Airline Credit Cards
• Hotel Credit Cards
• Cash Back Credit Cards
• No Annual Fee Credit Cards
• Small Business Credit Cards
• 0% Intro APR Cards
• Balance Transfer Cards
• Bad or Poor Credit
• Elite Mileage Runs
• Merchandise
• αbout US ✉

A New Feature? The Delta Reserve Amex’s “TakeOff 15” — a 15% Discount on SkyMiles Award Travel for Card Members?!

Here’s an interesting development with the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card : it seems cardholders might (eventually?) receive 15% discounts on SkyMiles award travel.

Delta Reserve Card’s “TakeOff 15” Benefit

I’ve written about the Delta Reserve Cards for several years. This certainly is news to me — as it was a few other people familiar with the cards, too.

Mike West , a writer for our cruise-centric blog Frequent Floaters , spotted something on called “TakeOff 15” — a benefit listed as part of the Reserve Card’s benefits on American Express’ website.

TakeOff 15 is touted as “Get 15% off when booking Award Travel with miles Here’s how:

Visit delta.com or the Fly Delta app and log in to your Delta SkyMiles account Choose “Shop with Miles” when searching for Delta flights for your itinerary The 15% miles discount will automatically be reflected.

It further states that “Discount not applicable to partner-operated flights or to taxes and fees.”

(To see this for yourself, go to the Reserve Card’s landing page. Scroll down, then click “Compare Cards.” “TakeOff 15” should be listed above “Centurion Lounge Access.”)

I do not see “TakeOff 15 listed as a Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card  benefit.

Is TakeOff 15 Not Yet Live?

Following TakeOff 15’s verbiage, there’s a “‡” symbol. That refers us to the “Offer & Benefit Terms.”

I opened that link . I didn’t see anything regarding TakeOff 15.

Interesting.

Then I decided to try it out on Delta.com

My wife is a Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card  member. So, I logged into her account and did some fare comparisons with a non-SkyMiles member.

There’s no difference in price. René , who does not hold either Reserve card, had the same results. Are we doing something wrong?

I performed multiple Google searches and Bing searches ( here’s why ) for “TakeOff 15” and “Delta TakeOff 15” and “Delta Reserve TakeOff 15.” Nothing about a SkyMiles award travel discount appeared.

In fact, here’s what some of the searches turned up.

All of this makes me wonder if TakeOff 15 is a new benefit that hasn’t yet been announced or taken live — but is already listed on the American Express website. I contacted both Delta and American Express for comment. I’ll update this post when/if we receive any information.

Similar-ish to the Amex Business Platinum Card’s 35% Points Rebate with Paying With Miles

This sort of brings to mind the 35% rebate feature that’s part of The Business Platinum Card® from American Express. Cardmembers earn a 35% Membership Rewards rebate when using MRs to pay for an eligible trip on an airline they select each year or an eligible business or first class flight .

A 15% instant savings — if, in fact, that’s what TakeOff 15 would bring — is certainly a great perk to the card.

More SkyClub Overcrowding?

The Reserve card comes with complimentary Sky Club admission for the primary cardholder on the same day they fly a Delta-operated and marketed flight. Sky Club overcrowding is definitely a thing in some airports. So, if TakeOff 15 is indeed a thing, I foresee even more people getting the card. Thus, more people in Sky Clubs.

What do you make of all this?

Review: American Airlines Flagship Lounge Review Chicago O’Hare Airport

I am going for diamond status this year – but it is not what you think, chris carley.

Chris Carley is the owner, editor, and lead writer of Eye of the Flyer (formerly known as Rene's Points).

I Am Going For Diamond Status This Year - But It Is Not What You Think!

Of course a 15% reduction would still not bring Delta’s award prices back from the realm of ludicrousness.

I’d like to see more of this kind of discount on other airlines’ cards, though.

OUCH..412,500 for first class LAX-JFK totally nuts….What a waste of miles…aka sky pesos

Yeah, probably better off using Pay-with-Miles

I have the Reserve card. I just performed two searches, one logged in, the other not logged in on another browser. Same amount of points for both flights

Has anyone checked if it’s discounted at final checkout screen?

I’m just guessing as I don’t have the Reserve card to check myself.

WOW. So i can fly transcon for only 350,625 miles on Delta. Amazing value!!!!

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Notify me of follow-up comments by email.

Notify me of new posts by email.

You have Successfully Subscribed!

➤ search eye of the flyer, great travel and cash back card offers.

Eye of the Flyer may receive a commission from the links below. See our Privacy Policy

Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card : Earn 3 Free Night Awards, valued at a total of up to 150,000 Marriott Bonvoy® points after you spend $6,000 on eligible purchases within six (6) months of being approved for card membership. Each award can be redeemed for one night at or under 50,000 Marriott Bonvoy points at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy®. (Certain hotels have resort fees. Terms apply.)

Chase Freedom Unlimited® Card : Earn an additional 1.5% cash back on everything you buy (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year) – worth up to $300 cash back. Read more here .

The Business Platinum Card® from American Express : Earn 120,000 bonus American Express® Membership Rewards® points after you spend $15,000 on eligible purchases on the card within the first three (3) months of being approved for card membership. Terms apply.. Plus, select airport lounge access, statement credit opportunities, and more!  Read here why we love this card.

Ink Business Cash® Credit Card : $350 when you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first three months and an additional $400 when you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first six months after account opening. That's up to $750 bonus cash back (awarded as 75,000 bonus Chase Ultimate Rewards® points ) Read more here .

Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card : A Free Night Award each year, complimentary Diamond status, and several great statement opportunities. Plus, earn 150,000 bonus Hilton Honors Bonus Points after you spend $6,000 in purchases on the card within your first 6 months of Card Membership approval. Learn here how to apply .  ( See Rates and Fees. Terms apply . All information about the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card was collected independently by Eye of the Flyer.)

The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card is a  must-have “it” card for travel lovers! Earn 75,000 bonus miles after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first three (3) months of being approved for card membership. Plus, earn $300 annually in statement credits for travel purchased through Capital One AND 10,000 bonus miles every year, after the first anniversary. The annual fee can EASILY be earned back ( here’s how ) — and then some! Read more here .

Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this site’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Eye of the Flyer with appropriate and specific directions to the original content.

• ✍ Editors Disclaimer
• 💰 Advertiser Disclosure
• 🔒 Privacy Policy
• BANK & Travel Cards ★

Copyright © 2023 Eye of the Flyer. All Rights Reserved.

Travel on Point(s)

• Delta Cards Getting Upgraded With New 15% Discount On Award Bookings

• February 2, 2023
• Mark Ostermann

Travel on Point(s) is an independent, advertising-supported website. This site is part of an affiliate sales network and receives compensation for sending traffic to partner sites like Cardratings.com. This compensation does not impact how or where products appear on this site. Travel on Point(s) has not reviewed all available credit card offers on this site. Reviews, analyses & recommendations are the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, endorsed or approved by any partner entities.

15% Off Delta Award Bookings

There had been some rumblings about a 15% off Delta award bookings perk getting added to Delta Airlines credit cards issued by American Express. The details were a bit light since it was accidentally showing a bit early on some cards for a hot minute and then pulled back down again. We were not sure which cards would be eligible but some marketing materials were sent out and shared on Reddit . So now we have a better picture of what is coming down the pipeline. These perks just went live this morning too! It is a pretty substantial card benefit and may be a reason for people to hold these cards long term, assuming they redeem Skymiles for flights often.

Table of Contents

Which Cards Will Be Eligible For The 15% Off?

• Delta Skymiles Gold
• Delta Skymiles Platinum
• Delta Skymiles Reserve
• Business Delta Skymiles Gold
• Business Delta Skymiles Platinum
• Business Delta Skymiles Reserve

It looks like every card besides the no fee Delta Blue card will be eligible.

Full Terms Of The TakeOff 15 Benefit

Here are the terms from the marketing materials:

TakeOff 15 Eligibility: Basic Delta SkyMiles Gold, Platinum, and Reserve American Express Card Members, as well as Basic Delta SkyMiles Gold, Platinum, and Reserve Business American Express Card Members (each, an “Eligible Card”), can get at least a fifteen percent (15%) discount off the mileage portion of an Award Ticket (the “TakeOff 15” benefit). Additional Card Members are not eligible.

Available only it entire itinerary is on Delta and Delta Connection” carrier-operated and ticketed lights booked at delta com or the FlyDelta app Not available on flights operated by other carriers Not available for Pay with Miles, Miles + Cash, seat upgrades purchased after the initial fight booking or other Delta products or services. Discount only applies to the mileage portion of the Award Ticket fare and does not apply to applicable taxes and ices, which must be paid using the Eligible Card Card Member must be logged -in to a SkyMiles account linked to an Eligible Card to receive the TakeOff 15 benefit discount Mileage discount will be greater than or equal to 15% of the overall mile portion for the Award Ticket, An Award Ticket is a ticket issued by Delta pursuant to the SkyMiles Program Rules, by which SkyMiles members may redeem miles and pay applicable government imposed taxes and fees in exchange for air transportation. All Award Ticket rules apply, as set forth on delta.com and in the specific terms incorporated into your Award Ticket. Award Travel is defined as travel using an Award Ticket. Award Travel seats are limited and may not be available on all flights or in all markets. SkyMiles account balance must have sufficient miles for the entire Award Tickets) being purchased. Take Off 15 benefit is not combinable with certificates, Delta Credits, Delta Gift Cards. vouchers, or with any other discounts or promotional offers. (HT:  r/delta )

15% Off Delta Award Bookings: ToP Thoughts

This is a pretty great card benefit and instantly one of the better perks of an airline card. I am pretty surprised to see it across all of the Delta Airlines with an annual fee instead of just the ultra premium cards like originally thought. It would have made more sense to offer a higher tier for the expensive Reserve cards etc.

Does this perk make it more likely for you to keep your Delta card long term? Let us know your thoughts over in the ToP Facebook Group or on Twitter.

• Join Facebook Group

Recent Posts

Get 5,000 ultimate rewards for setting automatic payments, up to $200 bonus for current discover savings members (targeted), cathay removing first class, why marriott bonvoy’s people & delta tweaks their boarding process, absolutely bananas amex handing out 150k retention offers, delta no lifetime language offers going out, check if you’re targeted, top posts & pages.

• Hurry, Grab This British Airways Status Match While It Is Alive
• Rack Up Points With Chase My Bonus Spending Offers
• (UPDATES) Ruh Roh: American Airlines Botched Loyalty Points Accrual

Chase Automatic Payments Bonus There is a new Chase automatic payments bonus going out that

Targeted Discover Savings Bonus Hopefully you have been listening to me when I have been

ToP Roundup In this series I will share articles I found interesting from all over

150K Amex Business Platinum Retention Offer Just when I thought the 250K Amex Business Platinum

Delta No Lifetime Language Offers If you have ever carried a Delta card and been

SIGN UP TO RECEIVE ToP TIPS STRAIGHT TO YOUR INBOX

We promise to keep things short, sweet, and packed with awesome insights!

Delta updates boarding process, revamps groups with numbers

In the never-ending quest to make boarding as efficient as possible, Delta Air Lines is rolling out an updated boarding process.

The Atlanta-based carrier will transition to boarding by numbered zones beginning May 1. Delta calls this a "simple change" — the airline isn't making changes to who is in each group, rather, the updates are just to how the groups are communicated.

Right now, Delta boards its planes with "branded zones," such as Delta One and Main Cabin 2. Under the new scheme, the airline will use zones 1 through 8 to reflect each of the existing groups.

Want more airline-specific news? Sign up for TPG's free biweekly Aviation newsletter .

You can find the full breakdown of who is in each group below.

The airline explained this move as a way to streamline the boarding experience.

"Delta believes the move to numbered zones will simplify the boarding process for both our customers and our employees, adding clarity of sequence and improving the overall gate experience," the carrier shared in a statement with TPG.

Delta's move will likely make it easier for infrequent travelers and those who might face a language barrier to understand the airline's boarding process. Additionally, many of the carrier's joint venture and international partners use numbered groups for boarding, so this change will make for a consistent experience when flying on mixed-airline itineraries.

More from TPG: Here are the best credit card welcome offers for April

Interestingly, Delta introduced zone-based boarding back in 2018 as a way to better market onboard products across the entire travel experience. Perhaps the carrier isn't happy with how long it's been taking to board its jets.

It remains to be seen if Delta's change will make the boarding process any faster, which would help shorten the turn time needed between flights. After all, as any airline executive will tell you, planes don't make money when they're sitting on the ground.

That's why airlines are typically laser-focused on doing whatever they can to trim boarding times. For carriers like Southwest Airlines, an open-seating policy incentivizes customers to board faster and quickly find their preferred seat.

Late last year, United Airlines added a new seventh boarding group to help it save up to two minutes of boarding time for each flight. (American Airlines already has a whopping 10 boarding groups.)

Over the years, we've even seen scientists try to "prove" which processes are the fastest and most efficient.

Despite the research, the jury is still out among the U.S. carriers about how to get passengers on the plane as quickly as possible.

Related reading:

• Delta SkyMiles: Your complete guide to earning, redeeming and elite status
• Best Delta credit cards
• Delta Medallion status: What it is and how to earn it
• Maximize your airfare: The best credit cards for booking flights
• The best credit cards to reach elite status
• How to survive basic economy on Delta Air Lines

Delta expects summer travel demand to produce record second-quarter revenue

• Medium Text

Make sense of the latest ESG trends affecting companies and governments with the Reuters Sustainable Switch newsletter. Sign up here.

Reporting by Rajesh Kumar Singh in Chicago Additional reporting by Deborah Sophia in Bengaluru Editing by Pooja Desai, Chizu Nomiyama and Matthew Lewis

Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles. New Tab , opens new tab

Business Chevron

IMF chief sees inflation dropping further in 2024, not yet fully defeated

Inflation is easing faster than expected but has not been fully defeated, International Monetary Fund chief Kristalina Georgieva said on Thursday, urging central bankers to carefully calibrate their decisions on cutting interest rates to incoming data.