Delta Air Lines and American Express have had a partnership for years, and Amex has saved the airline a couple of times by extending billions to the airline to buy miles in the future. Amex also issues Delta’s co-branded credit cards. EDIT: See the update below.
Something is, however, changing on August 31, 2021, because select members are seeing a message of transfer partnership from Amex Membership Rewards Points to Delta SkyMiles ending on that date. But, again, it is unclear t which markets this change applies to.
You can access Delta here.
EDIT: We received the following tense statement from American Express after publishing this piece:
I’ve noticed that you have posted information about our partnership with Delta that is patently false. I expect you to correct your piece with the correct information. Happy to speak live, if that is helpful.
The Delta SkyMiles program will continue to be an airline point transfer partner for the Membership Rewards program.
The change that we did make is follows:
Platinum Private Jet Program
The removal of the Delta Sky Miles benefit on the Platinum Card is related the Platinum Private Jet Program benefit.
Effective July 1, the Premium Private Jet Program fulfilled by Delta Private Jets, Inc. is no longer be available. Delta Private Jets was acquired by Wheels Up and as of July 1, 2021, and the new Private Jet program is now operated by Wheels Up Partners LLC (“Wheels Up”).
Because of this change, Platinum Card Members will no longer have the ability to earn Delta Medallion status and other SkyMiles benefits as part of the Platinum Private Jet Program.
I then probed if there is a change to Amex MR & Delta partnership in any markets (Amex MR transfer partners vary by country):
There are no change to Delta in any market.
The screen shot is completely fake.
And further Elizabeth Crosta sent a third email in fifteen minutes:
The page is fake and the news is false.
Delta continues to be a transfer partner in all existing markets.
I would not convert MR points to SkyMiles, considering the number of Delta miles required for premium awards and other transfer partners Amex has.
You have to remember that the partners that Amex MR members can convert their points to are market-specific.
Perhaps Delta feels that Amex provides more value to members who sign up for Amex-branded cards instead of those cobranded with the airline.
Conclusion
Delta probably makes more money from co-branded credit cards than Membership Rewards points to miles conversions and wants to end this in some of all markets.
The number of miles required for most premium awards on Delta and its partners is ridiculous, and I would not use them as an airline to convert Amex points.
EDIT: We received the screenshot from a reader that American Express claims to be false. We couldn’t independently verify this at the time of publication and hence we had the question (?) mark on the title.
American Express has different transfer partners for its Membership Rewards program in various markets.
