delta skymiles for cruises

Earn Delta SkyMiles Worth Up to $1,800 on AMEX Card

This article only reviews the Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express credit card.   We may get compensation if you visit partner links on our site. We may not cover every available offer. Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Enrollment may be required for select American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more. Our relationship with advertisers may impact how an offer is presented on our website. However, our selection of products is made independently of our relationship to advertisers.

Deciding which travel credit card to choose? The Delta and American Express cobranded Platinum business credit card just got a new welcome offer that could get you thousands of SkyMiles. The card is designed for businesses large enough to meet the spending threshold for the intro offer: $20,000 in the first three months of card ownership.

Why Delta SkyMiles?

Hitching your rewards wagon to just one airline can be a risk if the quality of service erodes over time. According to a report by airline analytics company Cirium , Delta was the most on-time North American airline in 2021, 2022 and 2023 , demonstrating quality management over time. And you can redeem miles through many other domestic and international partner carriers.

According to The Points Guy , Delta SkyMiles are worth 1.2 cents per mile .

Overview: Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card

• Intro offer: Earn 150,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $20,000 in eligible purchases on the Card within the first 3 months of Card Membership.
• Earn Five Membership Rewards® points on flights and prepaid hotels on AmexTravel.com.
• Earn 1.5 points (that’s an extra half point per dollar) on each eligible purchase at US construction material, hardware suppliers, electronic goods retailers, and software & cloud system providers, and shipping providers, as well as on purchases of $5,000 or more everywhere else, on up to $2 million of these purchases per calendar year for total potential annual rewards up to $30,000.
• Get one point for each dollar you spend on all other eligible purchases.
• Statement credits: Unlock over $1,000 in statement credits on select purchases, including tech, recruiting and wireless in the first year of membership with the Business Platinum Card®. Enrollment required. 
• $200 Airline Fee Credit: Select one qualifying airline and then receive up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year when incidental fees are charged by the airline to the Card.
• $189 CLEAR® Plus Credit: Use your card and get up to $189 in statement credits per calendar year on your CLEAR® Plus Membership (subject to auto-renewal) when you use the Business Platinum Card® . 
• Lounge Access : The American Express Global Lounge Collection® can provide an escape at the airport. With complimentary access to more than 1,400 airport lounges across 140 countries and counting, you have more airport lounge options than any other credit card issuer on the market as of 03/2023.
• $695 Annual Fee.
• Terms Apply.
• See Rates & Fees

If you don't think you can meet the $20,000 spending threshold required by this business card but still want Delta SkyMiles, then a personal credit card bonus might be the way to go. If so, compare three different intro offers on personal Delta and American Express cobranded credit cards in our article, Earn Delta SkyMiles Worth up to $720 .

• Credit Cards that Cover Car Rental Insurance
• Credit Card Bonuses up to $1,600
• Deep Discounts on New Mercedes Cars
• Best Airline Credit Card Bonuses with a Free Ticket

Just released: Get a limited-edition Delta card design made 33% from an iconic retired Boeing 747

Want a credit card that's made from a piece of storied aviation history?

If so, you may want to strongly consider getting a Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card or Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card with the limited-edition Boeing 747 design made from two retired Delta Air Lines Boeing 747 aircraft.

Delta and American Express have partnered to release a limited-edition card design made with 33% metal from two retired 747 Queen of the Skies aircraft. This sleek card is available to both new and existing Delta Amex cardmembers.

Consider this your chance to hold a piece of aviation history in the palm of your hand with a new design that celebrates the iconic 747.

Here's what you can look forward to from the just-released, exclusive, limited-edition Boeing 747 card design from Delta Air Lines and American Express.

All-new card design

This new glossy white design inspired by clouds showcases the engineering and design details that are characteristic of the Queen of the Skies, including the four engines and the iconic forward "hump."

The two retired aircraft that were used to create the limited-edition Boeing 747 card design, Delta Ships 6302 and 6310, had many amazing stories from their passengers and crew during their time in the sky.

For example, in addition to safely carrying travelers across the globe, they also carried U.S. service troops headed on missions overseas.

Delta Ship 6302 (N662US) flew for 66 million miles over 14,578 flights in its 28 years of service from 1989 to 2017, and Delta Ship 6310 (N670US) flew for 27 years for a total of 65 million miles over a span of 13,873 flights from 1990 to 2017.

Related: Delta's final 747 flight was one big celebration

How the card was made

As you might guess, it's not easy to repurpose material from a 747 aircraft and turn it into a credit card. American Express cards are typically made from stainless steel and polymer to maintain durability and function.

The parts that make up a 747, on the other hand, are made from materials like aluminum alloy, titanium and steel. These were then combined with other components from the retired 747 aircraft and rolled into thin sheets.

Amex then affixed the materials from the plane, such as that aluminum alloy, to a stainless steel base in order to make it stand up to the job of being a functioning, modern credit card.

It's these unique features, along with the design itself, that will make the card stand out even more over time.

Offers for new Delta Reserve cardmembers

In addition to the limited-edition look and feel of the card, new Delta SkyMiles Reserve cardmembers can also earn 60,000 bonus miles after spending $5,000 on purchases on the card in the first six months of card membership. Terms apply.

New Delta SkyMiles Reserve Business cardmembers can earn 75,000 bonus miles after spending $10,000 on that card in the first six months of card membership. Terms apply.

If you already have a Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card or Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card , you could be eligible to upgrade to this limited-edition Boeing 747 version of the Delta Reserve Card and could receive up to 25,000 bonus miles and a $250 statement credit after spending $4,000 on purchases on the card in the first six months when you do so. Terms apply.

Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card members could be eligible to upgrade to the exclusive 747 card and could receive up to 30,000 bonus miles and a $300 statement credit after spending $8,000 on purchases on the card in the first six months. Terms apply.

Related: Delta SkyMiles: Your complete guide to earning, redeeming and elite status

Delta Reserve and Reserve Business card benefits

For those new to the Delta Amex cards, know that the Delta Reserve Card and the Delta Reserve Business Card are two of the most premium cards within the suite of Delta cobranded credit cards. They are the "queens" of the Delta cards, if you will.

With annual fees of $650, the Delta Reserve Amex ( see rates and fees ) and Delta Reserve Business Amex (see rates and fees ) are the only Delta cards that still offer access to the Delta Sky Club network when flying Delta. Starting in February 2025, that will change to 15 complimentary visits per year, with unlimited visits if you spend $75,000 on eligible purchases on the card in a calendar year. You also get access to the American Express Centurion Lounges when you purchase a Delta flight with your card. Terms apply.

Additionally, Delta Reserve cardmembers get an annual Delta Companion Certificate * each year after card renewal, valid for a first-class, Premium Select, Delta Comfort+ or Main Cabin ticket when they purchase an eligible round-trip flight valid for domestic, Caribbean or Central American destinations. This is subject to availability and not available on all flights. Terms apply — head here to learn more .

* The companion ticket requires payment of government-imposed taxes and fees of no more than $80 for round-trip domestic flights and no more than $250 for round-trip international flights (both for itineraries with up to four flight segments). Baggage charges and other restrictions apply. See terms and conditions for details.

Delta Reserve cardmembers receive a head start of 2,500 Medallion Qualification Dollars each qualification year. They also earn MQDs at a rate of 1 MQD per $10 in eligible purchases charged on their card — the highest earning rate of any Delta American Express card. Terms apply — head here to learn more .

Bottom line

You don't have to be a serious aviation aficionado to appreciate the special nature of a card made partially from retired Delta 747s.

This limited-edition card design is more than just an opportunity to show off to your friends when it comes time to pay the bill — it's a chance to own a piece of aviation history. And, of course, the card's benefits and bonus miles don't hurt either when it comes to making your modern-day travels that much more comfortable and getting you closer to your next flight.

For rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles Reserve Amex Card, click here . For rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles Reserve Business Amex Card, click here .

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Barbados Vacation Packages

As a Caribbean paradise with English, African and West Indian roots, Barbados is a unique island with a rich history and even more vibrant future. 

Book a flight + hotel package today to bask in the warmth of the island and its people with nonstop Delta ® flights from: †

• Atlanta, daily, beginning November 23, 2024.
• New York (JFK), weekly (Saturdays), beginning December 21, 2024.

Explore Barbados

Named for its white sands and stunning views, the Platinum Coast is the prime spot for sunbathers and watersport enthusiasts alike.

Barbados’ capital is a melting pot of cultures and cuisines, with plenty of duty-free shopping, fine dining and colonial architecture.

The island’s year-round sunny skies make it the perfect destination for an active getaway.

• Platinum Coast Slide 1 of 3: Named for its white sands and stunning views, the Platinum Coast is the prime spot for sunbathers and watersport enthusiasts alike.
• Bridgetown Slide 2 of 3: Barbados’ capital is a melting pot of cultures and cuisines, with plenty of duty-free shopping, fine dining and colonial architecture.
• Golfing Slide 3 of 3: The island’s year-round sunny skies make it the perfect destination for an active getaway.

Stay: Sam Lord’s Castle Barbados, a Wyndham Grand Resort. This 422-room, all-inclusive retreat offers family-centered activities and child-friendly amenities and menus.

Must See:  The beauty of Barbados and pristine Atlantic Ocean views from the comfort of a  Catamaran Lunch Cruise.

Don’t Miss: Watching sea turtles hatch at Dover Beach, Pebbles Beach or Turtle Beach.

Do Try:  Signature dishes everyone’s sure to devour, from Bajan fish cakes to world-famous macaroni pie.

Adults/Couples

Stay: O2 Beach Club & Spa, with an award-winning spa, gourmet dining and adults-only amenities.

Must See:  Some of the “Seven Wonders of Barbados,” from Harrison’s Cave to the Morgan Lewis Windmill.

Don’t Miss: The bars, eateries and shops along one of the liveliest streets in Barbados: the St. Lawrence Gap.

Do Try:   The island’s national dish, flying fish and cou cou, at Oistins Fish Fry, along with a tasting or two of local rums at on a Mount Gay Rum Tour .

This is just a taste of all you can see, do and try in Barbados. Go ahead, start booking a vacation that fits your style perfectly with the freedom to choose from great hotels and exciting tours.

Whether you are a family, couple or friends vacationing together, check out more info below or call our vacation experts at  1-800-800-1504  for assistance and tips!

The west coast – known as the Platinum Coast – offers powdery sands and natural corals, plus the best backdrop for swimming, snorkeling, sunbathing and world-class watersports. Divers flock to the coast in the summer months for adventures alongside seahorses, sponges and giant sand eels on dives to underwater caves, rainbow reefs and more than 200 shipwrecks.

Breathtaking beaches abound in every direction of Barbados – the south coast is the spot for windsurfing, the rugged east coast’s Soup Bowl attracts serious surfers and the northern coast is a sensational sight with sandstone cliffs soaring straight out of the sea.

The beauty of the isle also goes far beyond its beaches. Nature lovers can take in  panoramic views amidst 53 acres of wild gardens at the Flower Forest, enjoy species sightings at the Barbados Wildlife Preserve, or wander the Welchman Hall Gully Tropical Forest where a fascinating gully – formed by the collapsed roofs of caves – is connected to one of the island’s most magnificent wonders, Harrison's Cave. For those looking to dive into local history and heritage, cultural sites include the George Washington House, where the future first president is alleged to have stayed in 1751.

For sports enthusiasts, Barbados is home to sunny, world-class golf links and a multitude of sportfishing opportunities. Spectators can also stay busy by sipping coconut rum at The Garrison Savannah horse racing track.

No matter your style, you’re sure to leave Barbados with a brimming suitcase. Broad Street in Bridgetown offers department chains and duty-free goods, the Pelican Village Shops carry an array of local handicrafts and the colorful collection of stores at the Chattel Village promises local fashion and gifts.

Where there’s a blend of cultures, there’s an enticing blend of cuisines. While seafood is the mainstay of the island’s diet, restaurants offer a range of epicurean delights with African, Caribbean, West Indian and European influences.

Don’t miss tasting the world’s oldest rum at the Mount Gay Rum Distillery or dancing the night away at the island’s best bars in St. Lawrence Gap, aka ”The Gap.”

Delta Vacations flight + hotel packages include round-trip airfare aboard a nonstop Delta ®  flight. Daily flights from Atlanta to Grantley Adams International Airport (BGI) begin November 23, 2024 and weekly flights from New York (JFK) begin  December 21, 2024. †

† Flight routings subject to change without notice.

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Some airline issues get you a refund, some don't. How it works | Cruising Altitude

John Schrier was traveling home to New York from Taipei last month and said the flight was interminably boring.

“As we boarded, you could see that about half of the screens had a black screen,” he told me. “Half of us were not able to watch an entertainment system.” 

Schrier said he reached out to the Taiwanese airline EVA Air on multiple platforms, including on social media during the flight, but said he initially had no luck hearing back or getting reimbursed for the inconvenience of a transpacific flight with no inflight entertainment.

Unfortunately for Schrier, it’s unlikely that compensation will be required. Airlines have conditions attached to every ticket, known as contracts of carriage, that outline their minimum obligations to passengers. Contracts of carriage, coupled with rules from regulators like the Department of Transportation, give passengers their basic rights when flying – but seatback screens are not usually considered mandatory equipment, even if they’re advertised as an available amenity.

Nevertheless, the DOT recently announced new rules that give consumers increased protections when other kinds of things go wrong, so here’s what you need to know about what is and isn’t a reimbursable offense by an airline these days.

What is an airline contract of carriage?

Airline contracts of carriage are the terms and conditions that passengers agree to when they fly. Travelers automatically sign on when they purchase their tickets, even if they don’t have to formally sign a document. The contracts typically outline an airline’s commitments for transportation, as well as what happens if your flight is delayed or canceled and other fine print related to your itinerary.

“Some airlines have a customer bill of rights to basically simplify the airline contract of carriage, but essentially it’s what’s allowed, what’s not allowed, but everybody has a little bit different verbiage,” Loulu Lima, founder of the Texas-based travel agency Book Here Give Here, told me. 

If you want to comb through the fine print, airlines make their contracts of carriage available on their websites. EVA’s contract , which covered Schrier’s trip, includes terms and conditions on how tickets can be used and (not) transferred, how stopovers work, what kinds of delays or cancellations make a passenger eligible for a refund and other assorted policies.

“It’s going to depend on the airline. An American airline is going to have a different set of rules than an Asian one,” Lima said. “The rules are really written based on the country of the corporate office.

Here are the contracts of carriage for each of the major U.S. airlines, if you want to take a look: 

• American Airlines
• United Airlines
• Delta Air Lines
• Southwest Airlines

Can passengers get a refund for broken inflight entertainment?

Usually not. 

“If you have status, you might get some loyalty points out of it, but other than maybe going on social media and making a big stink about it you’re probably not going to get anything,” Lima said.

Some airlines are also more accommodating than others and may voluntarily give passengers credits when something like that goes wrong. A few years ago, I was flying on Delta, and my seatback screen was broken, and they gave me about 2,500 SkyMiles as a goodwill gesture. 

Schrier said EVA eventually offered him about $100 in compensation.

Last week's Cruising Altitude: Another Boeing plane issue? Don't fall for the headlines.

New Department of Transportation rule increases traveler protections

While inflight entertainment isn’t typically considered critical equipment by an airline, which means it’s safe to travel even if those seatback screens aren’t working, the DOT recently announced new rules that help guarantee protections and refunds for other kinds of issues in the air. 

Part of the change mean: 

• Airlines will have to automatically issue refunds within 20 days if a passenger’s flight is canceled or significantly delayed (over three hours) and they choose not to travel on alternative flights offered.
• If a traveler pays a checked bag fee and their bag is significantly delayed, they’ll be entitled to a refund of the fee. 
• If a traveler pays in advance for an ancillary service like an extra legroom seat or Wi-Fi and then does not have access to that amenity on the flight, they will have to receive a refund for those charges.

The refund policies were also coupled with another new rule that requires more upfront, clear-cut disclosure of airline fees.

“A lot of what we hear from passengers involves refunds – or the lack thereof – for passengers who experience cancellations and disruptions.” Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said in a statement announcing the new rules. “Infrequent fliers are especially vulnerable, since they may not know that we are here for them, and are often not told about their right to a refund, and too often instead offered compensation in form of a voucher or miles whose value amounts to pennies on the dollar of what they are actually owed. Or they enter the vortex of call centers and chatbots, sometimes giving up before they get their money back.”

Schrier, for example, said he had a lot of trouble getting through to EVA to file his complaint. 

It’s definitely frustrating for travelers who are on a long flight without functioning entertainment. I’m usually totally dependent on the seatback screen for my distractions while flying. But if the alternative is for a flight to get significantly delayed or canceled while technicians fix the operating system, I think I’d rather just get going. 

Zach Wichter is a travel reporter for USA TODAY based in New York. You can reach him at [email protected].

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Score Free Starbucks When You Buy a Delta Gift Card

Travelers who buy a $300 Delta gift card will get a $20 Starbucks gift card for a limited time.

Courtesy of Delta Air Lines

Buying a Delta gift card just got more rewarding with the airline’s latest promotion. “Enjoy giving the gift of travel this Mother’s Day with the Delta Gift Card,” the airline shared about the promotion in an email. “For a limited time, buy $300 or more in Delta Gift Cards to earn a $20 Starbucks eGift.” This deal ends on Monday, May 13, at 11:59 p.m. EST, but may be taken down sooner as the offer is only available to the first 7,000 buyers. It's also worth noting that travelers will only receive a $20 Starbucks eGift when purchasing gift cards directly through Delta , not a third-party site. 

The bonus Starbucks eGift will be emailed separately from the Delta gift card purchase, according to the airline. To redeem Delta gift cards, SkyMiles members can activate them on the airline’s website or by calling 1-800-225-1366. Gift cards never expire, but they’re only valid for Delta flights or Delta Vacations packages and can’t be used for ancillary expenses like baggage and upgrade fees.  Delta and Starbucks launched a unique partnership in late 2022, allowing SkyMiles members who link their accounts here first to earn 1 mile per dollar spent at the popular coffee chain. Travelers will also earn double Starbucks Stars when flying Delta on the same day, making those airport coffee runs more rewarding than ever.   The airline has a number of other partnerships where members can take advantage of earning even more miles. Delta SkyMiles members can earn miles on car rentals on Turo , reservations with Airbnb , and more.  Earlier this month, Delta launched a new, limited-time promotion with Hilton . Members who register for the deal by Monday, May 6, can earn 1,000 SkyMiles per Hilton hotel stay. However, travel must be completed by July 7 to earn up to a maximum of 3,000 miles. 

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