Make sure you make the calculation
Written: Jun 10 '01
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Pros: Great customer service, double miles in gas stations and supermarkets, good bonus benefits
Cons: High annual fee
The Bottom Line: Great for someone who charges a lot and pays the balance in full. Great additional benefits and American Express Customer Service are bonus. Hefty annual fee though.
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| tunga's Full Review: American Express - Delta Airlines SkyMiles |
Let me start listing the pros and cons of this card:
ADVANTAGES
- Signup bonus miles: 5000 for Classic, 10,000 for Gold, and 15,000 for Platinum card.
- You earn 1 Delta Skymiles mile for each dollar charged everywhere. However, for supermarkets, gas stations, drug stores, home improvement stores, the U.S. Postal Service, on Delta Air Lines purchases, and wireless phone bills, you get 2 miles for each dollar charged.
- You can view your account online, or download to Money & Quicken. You can also pay your bill online (they pull it out of your checking account in 2 business days).
- American Express service is great. They are always available, helpful and kind.
- Lots of additional benefits: Car Rental Loss and Damage Insurance, travel accident insurance, purchase protection plan, Online Fraud Protection Guarantee, discounts and promotions in numerous online and offline stores.
- Additional cards are fee-free.
DISADVANTAGES:
- High Interest Rate: 17.50% as of 6/1/01. You do not want to be using this card if you do not pay your balance in full each month.
- Not as widely accepted as VISA or Mastercard. This could be somewhat of an inconvenience, particularly if you like carrying only a single credit card.
- There are limits to how many miles you can earn each year except for the Platinum card (60,000 for Classic, 100,000 for Gold)
- Annual Fee: ($55 for Classic, $85 for Gold, $125 for Platinum) - You get a $55 discount if you have an American Express charge card.
Overall, you have to decide whether this card is for you or not by going through some simple math:
I had the Gold card. I charge about $5500 a year, which gets me approximately 8300 miles (assuming half my charges are in gas stations and supermarkets, etc.). Therefore, I need to stay 3 years to get enough miles for a free domestic roundtrip ticket. Meanwhile, I will have paid $255 in annual fees.
So, the question is (in my case): depending on where I travel, can I get the ticket usually for around $255? If so, then I really don't need this card. If I usually travel to the other end of the country and end up paying $400-$500 for your tickets, then this card could mean big savings (assuming Delta lets you use your miles, but that's another story).
You should make the calculation before you choose this card. If you are charging less than what I do, then this certainly is not a good card for you. If you are charging about where I am, it depends on where you fly. If you charge more, it could be pretty beneficial.
However, from an overall services and benefits perspective, I do believe this is a great card...
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
tunga
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Reviews written: 26
Trusted by: 22 members
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