Delta and Amex Celebrate 30 Years With New Card Benefits — and No Annual Fee Increases

The rumors are true.

A few weeks ago, rumors started circulating that Delta and American Express were planning changes to their co-branded credit card lineup, including the addition of a second checked bag for cardholders. Those rumors have turned out to be true — and the timing makes sense.

This year marks the 30th anniversary of the Delta-Amex partnership, and the companies are using the milestone to roll out a handful of new perks across the portfolio, along with refreshed card designs.

The good news is that your card’s annual fee isn’t going up with these changes.

New Benefits on Delta’s Credit Cards

The biggest addition for most cardholders is the complimentary second checked bag on U.S. domestic, Delta-operated flights. This change doesn’t apply to the Delta SkyMiles^® Blue American Express Card, unfortunately. It does apply to these, cards however:

• Consumer credit cards: Delta SkyMiles^® Gold American Express Card, Delta SkyMiles^® Platinum American Express Card, and Delta SkyMiles^® Reserve American Express Card
• Small-business credit cards: Delta SkyMiles^® Gold Business American Express Card, Delta SkyMiles^® Platinum Business American Express Card, and Delta SkyMiles^® Reserve Business American Express Card

The first checked bag is free for the cardholder and up to 8 additional passengers on the same reservation. The second checked bag perk only provides a free checked bag for the cardholder, though — not the other passengers on the ticket.

For Delta Gold card and Delta Gold Business cardholders specifically, there’s another new perk: a $120 annual ride-hailing credit (available after card renewal). This perk comes as up to $10 in monthly statement credits on eligible U.S. ride-hailing purchases with certain providers. It’s a useful addition for travelers who rely on ride-hailing services to and from the airport.

On the aesthetic side, Delta and American Express are refreshing the card designs across the full lineup. The Delta Reserve card and Delta Reserve Business card are getting a new slate gray look, which is a nice upgrade, from a premium positioning standpoint.

And here’s the part that doesn’t get said enough when credit card benefits improve: None of these cards will see an increase in the annual fee. That’s genuinely rare. Adding perks without bumping fees is something worth calling out, especially as we’ve watched the broader credit card industry trend in the opposite direction over the past several years.

Why the Changes?

Delta and Amex commissioned a study to coincide with this announcement, and the data offers context for why the second checked bag benefit in particular makes sense right now.

Nearly two-thirds of travelers say they spend more time deciding what to pack than planning their actual trip. And 64% of Gen Z travelers say they’ve left important items at home at least occasionally just to avoid paying a checked bag fee. Among small-business travelers, 41% say they’d pack more outfits if a second bag were free.

The timing — just ahead of summer travel season — is clearly intentional. These are the kinds of benefits that resonate when people are actively booking flights and thinking about what it costs to travel (and what it costs to bring another checked bag for a bigger packing list).

Final Thoughts

Delta and American Express have put together a nice set of updates to mark their 30-year partnership. The second checked bag benefit is a practical, everyday win for most cardholders, and the ride-hailing credit adds real value for Delta Gold card and Delta Gold Business cardholders. The fact that annual fees aren’t going up makes this even easier to appreciate. If you’ve been on the fence about one of these cards, the refreshed benefits lineup gives you more reason to take a closer look.