Popular credit card announces increase in annual fees & consumers will pay more

AMERICAN Express and Delta SkyMiles have raised the annual fees on their joint credit cards, with consumers expected to pay an additional $100 instantly.

American Express and Delta – who have worked together on the credit cards since 1996 – announced that they’ve changed their annual fees on Thursday.

Anyone who opened an account before February 1 will be expected to pay the new price at the next renewal date on or after May 1.

But anyone who signs up for a credit card account going forward will have to pay the new, higher fees immediately.

The Delta Reserve and Delta Reserve Business cards are increasing from $550 to $650.

Fees on the Delta Platinum and Delta Platinum Business cards are rising from $250 to $350.

The Delta Gold and Delta Gold Business cards are jumping from $99 to $150.

But the cards aren’t just coming with higher fees.

The two companies have added extra benefits to offset the increased annual fees.

American Express is adding $200 flight credits after cardholders spend a certain amount.

If you book a restaurant with Resy, customers can earn $120 to $240 in restaurant credits.

Customers will also receive $120 to $240 in credits using a ride-share app like Lyft and Uber.

Other cards such as the Delta Platinum and Delta Reserve will get $2,500 in medallion qualifying dollars which will get customers closer to reaching elite status on the airline.

“These Cards offer a host of new benefits to help consumers and business owners get closer to Medallion status, access new credits and more value, and enjoy a premium travel experience. They make being a SkyMiles member even better,” said U.S. Consumer Services President for American Express, Howard Grosfield.

Delta Reserve and Delta Platinum Cardholders can also use the companion certificate expansion to host a friend or family member on a round-trip flight to more places around the world.

These destinations include Hawaii, Alaska, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Central America, instead of just the United States.

The U.S. Sun has reached out to American Express and Delta for comment on the new changes.

Last year, Delta updated its rewards program and customers were displeased with the changes.

Delta rewarded customers each time they spent on travel with the airline and its partners through its own channels.

The change would have axed the number and distance of flights taken to get rewards and replaced it with double the spending.

The airline received backlash regarding the changes and chief executive officer Ed Bastian said the airline “went too far,” per CNBC. 

Customers complained that their elite status to enter the airport lounges would be more expensive to get into.

Now, after the announcement of the changes on Thursday, American Express and Delta SkyMiles consumers can thoroughly enjoy their new benefits.