To continue our series on earning points through high-value credit card offers, let’s review:
- Part one: In June, FCF highlighted 21 credit cards that allow you to earn points that can be transferred into miles on airlines that offer the most lucrative premium travel opportunities.
- Part two: In July, FCF highlighted elite status earning credit cards.
- Part three: In December, FCF highlighted six reason NOT to use American co-branded credit cards.
This month we’ll dive into part four and highlight the pitfalls of using co-branded Delta credit cards.
The short answer: You’re going to miss out on some desirable destinations and First Class travel with these cards and/or pay up to 40,000 miles MORE than you have to for the same Delta flight.
Let’s first look at the destinations that are off the table with a Delta co-branded credit card:
1. Dreaming about travel to Australia or New Zealand in comfort? You rarely can with Delta miles, because the airline is very stingy to this region. Even its partner Virgin Australia rarely has any free premium award space using Delta miles.
On the other hand, United, a Chase partner, intermittently offers upgrade opportunities (go here for Sydney example, here for Auckland and Sydney, and here for Melbourne and Sydney).
2. How about Asia First Class? Delta does not offer a First Class redemption option to Asia; the best you can get is Business Class. So, its SkyTeam partners (Korean and China Eastern) reciprocate by not allowing Delta members to access their First Class.
However, All Nippon, an Amex Rewards partner (and accessible via United miles and therefore Chase points, too, although at a much higher cost), often has mileage availability—and for less than what Delta usually charges for Business Class! Yes, this is for free First Class tickets. For details, go here; or consider First Class on Singapore Airlines, an Amex Rewards and Chase partner.
3. Hoping for Europe in First Class? Try again. Delta does not offer a First Class redemption option; the best you can get is Business Class.
But British Airways, an Amex Rewards and Chase partner, often offers availability (minus some West Coast gateways)—free in First Class to Europe. For details go here. With a Delta credit card, don’t even think about it.
Now consider these additional benefits that you would forego with a Delta co-branded card:
4. Want to fly on Delta, but at a much lower mileage rate? You’re out of luck with a Delta card. Instead, save up to 40,000 miles for travel to Asia and Europe when booking a Delta flight with partner Virgin Atlantic miles, accessible with partners Amex Rewards and Chase.
5. How about flying Emirates and enjoying those coveted showers in the sky? You can’t do that either with a Delta co-branded credit card, because Delta is not a partner with Emirates. But you can transfer Amex Reward points to Emirates. For details, go here.
6. Want to earn points faster? Sorry, but Delta’s co-branded cards won’t multiply your earnings like other cards will. Get 5X (American Express Platinum card) points for airline tickets and hotels or 4X (American Express Gold card) points for dining or supermarkets, for example. Chase Sapphire Reserve offers 3X points on travel and dining.
7. Wish you could get transfer bonuses? A Delta co-branded card won’t help. But Amex Membership Rewards, unlike most other programs, offers great bonuses—up to 40%—with British Airways and Virgin Atlantic.
8. Need more and cheaper miles? Nope, you can’t buy points with Delta’s co-branded card. If you buy miles via Delta directly, you are limited to 60,000 per year at a cost of 3.5¢. By comparison, you can buy up to 500,000 points at a cost of 2.5¢ via Amex Rewards and then transfer those points to Delta. But there plenty of other buy-miles deals that are even better.