Earn Free Travel For Every Day Purchases
Written: Feb 15 '01
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Pros: No fee for current American Express Cardmembers, 24-hour customer service, Bonus SkyMiles Offers
Cons: Not universally accepted, annual fee $55 for others, high interest rates
The Bottom Line: If you're a Delta SkyMiles member, this the card for you. Earn bonus miles, reach free travel awards quicker, find great travel deals, free offers and shopping discounts online.
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| glomarrone's Full Review: American Express - Delta Airlines SkyMiles |
American Express and Delta Airlines have teamed up to create the Delta SkyMiles credit card. Enjoy all the benefits of American Express membership while earning miles toward free Delta flights. Frequent Flyers in Delta's SkyMiles Program get the most benefit from this travel reward card. The card gives double miles for booking Delta flights. Earn additional miles for every mile you fly on Delta. Earn bonus miles by traveling on Delta Partner airlines; Delta Shuttle Flights; staying at Partner Hotels; using Car Rental Partners; even taking cruises. If you aren't already a member of the Sky iles Program; you must be enrolled in this program to redeem your points. Enroll online & choose a user ID and Password.
You can also build up SkyMiles just for charging daily expenses on the card. The card is accepted everywhere American Express cards are accepted. Earn at least one mile for every eligible dollar spent on purchases. Additional cards are free of fees.
Signing up
If you have an annual income of at least $20,000 you may qualify for a card. If you already have any other American Express card; this minimum does not apply. You must be a resident of the US, Japan or Guam. Iowa and Puerto Rico residents are excluded. You can either phone Delta or sign up online at their web site. Provide the information requested. Give your e-mail address & choose a PIN number. You must activate the card when it arrives before using it. Within 6 to 8 weeks, you will receive a packet explaining the SkyMiles program. You have a line of credit up to $100,000. Receive 5,000 free points with your first purchase or when you pay your fee.
Additional American Express Card Membership Benefits
Set up an account online. You can access your account, get up-to-the-minute information on charges, transactions and payments. Pay your bill online, at your convenience. Review past statements. Check your statement anywhere in the world. Even dispute charges online. Transfer balances from higher MasterCard, Visa or Discover Card accounts without a transaction fee. For the first 12 months the APR is a low 6.9%. For your convenience, Customer Service is available 24-hours-a-day.
The free Buyer Assurance Plan extends any manufacturer's warranties of 5-years-or-less for up to one additional year at no additional cost with you card purchase. If there is any fraud on your card for online purchases, you will not be held responsible. The Purchase Protection Plan-at no additional cost-covers any damage, loss or theft of purchases made with the card for 90 days from date of purchase.
Travelers find many benefits to the card. Use your card to guarantee hotel rooms even if you have a late arrival time.
Obtain 24-hour medical & legal referrals worldwide. Get assistance at over 1,700 Travel Service Locations worldwide-even cash an emergency check. Protect your baggage in case of loss or theft. Get Travelers Cheques and foreign currencies delivered to your door. Use The Emergency Card Replacement program for a lost card. Receive a new card within 24 hours. You can access cash with the card 24-hours a day. at more that 300,000 ATMs worldwide. Call American Express to activate the card for Express Cash. Use the Global Assistance Hotline for pre-trip information on such things as inoculations and currency conversions. Free Travel Accident Insurance covers you for up to $100,000 for accidental death on buses, trains, ships or planes.
Use the card for car rentals and waive the Loss and Damage Insurance in the US or Canada. Be aware, however, that this coverage is secondary. It covers only those expenses not covered by your personal car insurance or business insurance.
Charges and Fees
The annual fee is $55. It is waived for American Express Cardmembers. In the past, the first year's annual fee has been waived for others as well. Check with Delta if they plan to run this promotion again. There is a 20-day grace period. Interest rates are based on the current prime rate plus 9.99%. The rate comes to 18.99% as of 2/1/01. The minimum finance charge is $.50. Cash Advance fees through Express Cash run 3% of the transaction. There is also a $3 minimum charge per transaction.
Bonus Mile Offers
Use the card in supermarkets, drug stores, home improvement stores, gas stations, US Post Office or pay cell phone bills, and always receive double SkyMiles. Receive bonus miles by flying to certain destinations and flying Delta/Delta Shuttles.
There are always double or triple bonus mile deals and it pays to be aware of them. Check Delta's web site for the latest deals and take advantage of them whenever possible. For example, enroll in the SkyMiles/MCI Program and earn 2,000 bonus miles. Plus, earn 5 SkyMiles for every $1 spent with MCIWorldCom.
Now, even charge federal, state and property taxes with the card. Receive double miles for charging this year's federal income tax on the card (by April 16, 2001.) Be aware that this service is subjected to a convenience fee. Visit www.about18888AllTAXX.com for more information.
Special Deals
The card gives you access to many valuable shopping, dining and entertainment offers. Now, through March 1,2001, if you buy "Be My Guest" dining gift cards, you'll receive free software programs. Use Shop Amex, an online comparison shopping site and get free shipping. MilePoint.com, an online partner of Shop Amex, has just been added to the list of companies that give cash discounts. Open a money market account and receive free Turbo Tax Deluxe Software.
Travel Deals
Online travel deals listed this month (2/01) are for a 7-day trip to Ireland for $699; Aer Lingus airfares to Ireland from $299; deep discounts on various 10 to 15-day European Cruises for this spring and fall; Club Med Family Escape for $799 per person and a trip to Las Vegas for 2 nights including airfare for $389. Deals vary weekly.
Impressions
This card has been very valuable for my husband & I. Utilizing the double mile bonuses by shopping at supermarkets, gas stations, drug stores, and the US Post Office plus flying Delta frequently have enabled us to earn free tickets every year since we enrolled. We make use of as many of the bonus deals as we can. We do not use the card however, for car rentals since the coverage is secondary. (Our Diner's Card-which provides us primary coverage-is enrolled in Club Rewards-and earns us free gifts, also.) We always pay our bill in full so we do not incur high interest rates or late fees. We also are exempt from the annual fee. For us, it is a win-win situation. If you fly Delta often, look into this card. The rewards are great.
Call 1-800-SKYMILES or go on Delta's web site www.delta.com for more information or to sign up for the card.
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
glomarrone
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 - Top 200 |
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Location: Cocoa Beach, FL
Reviews written: 167
Trusted by: 287 members
About Me:
It's been fun for 2-1/2yrs. Now it's time to say goodbye. I'll miss you all!
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