A New Feature? The Delta Reserve Amex’s “TakeOff 15” — a 15% Discount on SkyMiles Award Travel for Card Members?!

Here’s an interesting development with the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card: it seems cardholders might (eventually?) receive 15% discounts on SkyMiles award travel.

Delta Reserve Card’s “TakeOff 15” Benefit

I’ve written about the Delta Reserve Cards for several years. This certainly is news to me — as it was a few other people familiar with the cards, too.

Mike West, a writer for our cruise-centric blog Frequent Floaters, spotted something on called “TakeOff 15” — a benefit listed as part of the Reserve Card’s benefits on American Express’ website.

TakeOff 15 is touted as “Get 15% off when booking Award Travel with miles Here’s how:

1. Visit delta.com or the Fly Delta app and log in to your Delta SkyMiles account
2. Choose “Shop with Miles” when searching for Delta flights for your itinerary
3. The 15% miles discount will automatically be reflected.

It further states that “Discount not applicable to partner-operated flights or to taxes and fees.”

(To see this for yourself, go to the Reserve Card’s landing page. Scroll down, then click “Compare Cards.” “TakeOff 15” should be listed above “Centurion Lounge Access.”)

I do not see “TakeOff 15 listed as a Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card benefit.

Is TakeOff 15 Not Yet Live?

Following TakeOff 15’s verbiage, there’s a “‡” symbol. That refers us to the “Offer & Benefit Terms.”

I opened that link. I didn’t see anything regarding TakeOff 15.

Interesting.

Then I decided to try it out on Delta.com

My wife is a Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card member. So, I logged into her account and did some fare comparisons with a non-SkyMiles member.

There’s no difference in price. René, who does not hold either Reserve card, had the same results. Are we doing something wrong?

I performed multiple Google searches and Bing searches (here’s why) for “TakeOff 15” and “Delta TakeOff 15” and “Delta Reserve TakeOff 15.” Nothing about a SkyMiles award travel discount appeared.

In fact, here’s what some of the searches turned up.

All of this makes me wonder if TakeOff 15 is a new benefit that hasn’t yet been announced or taken live — but is already listed on the American Express website. I contacted both Delta and American Express for comment. I’ll update this post when/if we receive any information.

Similar-ish to the Amex Business Platinum Card’s 35% Points Rebate with Paying With Miles

This sort of brings to mind the 35% rebate feature that’s part of The Business Platinum Card® from American Express. Cardmembers earn a 35% Membership Rewards rebate when using MRs to pay for an eligible trip on an airline they select each year or an eligible business or first class flight.

A 15% instant savings — if, in fact, that’s what TakeOff 15 would bring — is certainly a great perk to the card.

More SkyClub Overcrowding?

The Reserve card comes with complimentary Sky Club admission for the primary cardholder on the same day they fly a Delta-operated and marketed flight. Sky Club overcrowding is definitely a thing in some airports. So, if TakeOff 15 is indeed a thing, I foresee even more people getting the card. Thus, more people in Sky Clubs.

What do you make of all this?