Delta and Amex Add Perks but Hike Annual Fees on Several Credit Cards

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• Delta and Amex add some benefits to their co-branded credit cards to offset hefty annual fee hikes.
• Annual fees increase between 18% to 52% on six consumer and business Delta SkyMiles credit cards.
• Added benefits include new statement credits, and a boost toward elite status for some cardholders.

If you have a Delta SkyMiles credit card, prepare to spend more money on it this year. 

American Express and Delta Air Lines increased annual fees across their co-branded airline credit cards today for consumer and business credit cards alike. In exchange for this price hike, cardholders will receive the following benefits:

• Delta Companion Certificates can now be used for select travel to Hawaii, Alaska, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Central America, as well as within the continental U.S. (While the expanded companion fare can be used for First Class, Comfort+ or Main Cabin flights, fare class restrictions still apply.) 

• Additional statement credits each year for select purchases. New credits include a Resy credit for U.S. restaurants that partner with Resy, a rideshare credit for eligible airport rides on specific operators, and a Delta Stays credit to use on prepaid hotel and vacation rental bookings through delta.com.

• Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card, Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card, Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card, and Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card cardholders will receive $2,500 Medallion Qualifying Dollars (MQDs) every qualifying year, beginning February 1, which will give them a jumpstart toward earning Delta status each year. 

• Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card and Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card cardholders can now spend above their credit limit, albeit within a certain undisclosed extent.

Both consumer and business credit cards are impacted by the annual fee increase, beginning February 1 for new cardholders. Current cardholders will be billed at the higher annual rate at their next renewal date or after May 1. 

The new annual fees for each card are as follows: 

For more information on these cards, read our guide to the best Delta credit cards. 

This annual fee increase follows hard on the heels of Delta’s SkyMiles loyalty program overhaul last fall, which was unpopular with many Delta travelers for focusing purely on consumer spending as a metric toward earning elite status, and for limiting credit card access to Delta SkyClub lounges.

If you think the new statement credits and travel benefits don’t outweigh the additional cost of holding a Delta co-branded credit card, check out Personal Finance Insider’s guide to the best travel credit cards for potential alternatives.

Delta Reserve cardholders may want to consider The Platinum Card® from American Express instead, which carries a similar annual fee of $695 but comes with a slew of premium benefits including access to Centurion Lounges in addition to Delta SkyClubs when traveling with Delta.