Retention Call Time! Checking on My Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card

The annual fee just hit for my Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card, so I did something I almost always do: consider canceling the card but first place a retention call to the issuer. I like to kick the tires and see where they are in terms of keeping me as a customer.

Here’s how this one went.

Did I Plan to Keep the Card Anyway?

Unless I’m really upset about a card’s changes or there’s no way I can recoup its annual fee ($650 in this case, see Rates and Fees) then I consider dumping it. I’ve done that a few times during the years.

But the Delta Reserve Business Amex has several features I like:

•  I earn $2,500 MQD just for holding the card.
• We still find some value in the Companion Certificate.
• I have unlimited Sky Club visits when traveling on a same-day Delta-operated or -marketed trip.
  • Effective 2/1/25, Reserve Card Members will receive 15 Visits per year to the Delta Sky Club; to earn an unlimited number of Visits each year starting on 2/1/25, the total eligible purchases on the Card must equal $75,000 or more between 1/1/24 and 12/31/24, and each calendar year thereafter. Once all 15 Visits have been used, Eligible Card Members may purchase additional Delta Sky Club Visits (including Grab and Go) at a per-visit rate of $50 per person using the Card.
    • A “Visit” is an entry to one or more Delta Sky Clubs or usage of the Delta Sky Club “Grab and Go” feature, at one or more airports, for a period of up to 24 hours starting upon the first Delta Sky Club entry or Grab and Go usage, during an Eligible Card Member’s travel on a same-day Delta-marketed or Delta-operated flight. A single Visit permits usage of Delta Sky Club(s) in multiple airports during the 24-hour period.
• $250 Delta Stays credit. This can save you a chunk of change on at least one hotel night, provided you don’t go wild and start booking penthouse suites at Ritz-Carltons.
• I like the that I can earn up to $20 each month in statement credits for purchases made with U.S. Resy restaurants. This is something I wrote about recently.

My Reasons for Cancelling the Card

I recommend writing down the exact reasons why you want to cancel a card — before you call customer service. Saying, “I want to cancel because A, B, C, D…” is more effective (and polite) than a general “Because it sucks!”

Here are my reasons:

The Sky Club Changes

As I mentioned above in the required fine print, Sky Club visits get knocked down to just 15 days per year, starting February 2025. No premium airline card does this — especially after an annual fee hike. (See Rates and Fees.)

Card Membership Downgraded for Upgrades

Holding a Delta Reserve card currently puts Medallion members fourth in the hierarchy for complimentary upgrades. It was third last year. (Upgrades are not even that plentiful these days.)

Atrocious Points Earnings

The Delta Reserve Business Amex earns 3X on Delta purchases and 1X on all other eligible purchases.

That’s horrible.

LOL: MQD Earnings

The card earns $1 MQD for $10 spent on eligible purchases. C’mon, man.

Companion Certificate Availability

A Reserve Card’s Companion Certificate can be a big money saver — when you find eligible fares for dates that work with your schedule.

I tried booking a trip for my wife and daughter to visit Grand Cayman in March. There was zero availability. And that’s one area where the card really needs to improve. In fact, maybe that’s a separate post altogether. What do you think?

Rideshare Credits

Delta Reserve Business Amex members can earn up to $10 in statement credits each month (up to $120 annually). I maybe get $20-30 out of this perk.

Here’s How the Call Went

With the exception of maybe once or twice, I consistently receive excellent and friendly service whenever I call American Express. (Then again, I usually don’t call about major problems or issues.) This call continued the streak.

The Amex rep gave me the usual, Oh, we’re sorry to see you go! Why are you unhappy with your card?… when I told him I wanted to cancel the card.

I gave him my reasons listed above. He suggested that I could downgrade to the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card. That carries a $350 annual fee. (See Rates and Fees)

I actually thought long and hard about that. I’d still get to keep my $2,500 MQD. Two other cards — my The Platinum Card® from American Express and The Business Platinum Card® from American Express get me Sky Club access, albeit with only 10 visit days each next year.

I asked if there were any statement credit offers or spending challenge opportunities.

After two years of being shut out during retention calls, I was offered something.

If I spend $3,000 on eligible purchases within 90 days, I’ll receive 10,000 bonus SkyMiles.

I can probably knock that down fairly quickly. So, I agreed to keep the card.

Final Approach

The annual fee posted to my Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card (see Rates and Fees) and I made my yearly retention call. The rep almost talked me into downgrading the card to the Delta Business Platinum Card — which I might do next year. I’ll see how much Delta flying I do this year. If I don’t use the Sky Club visits — especially considering the other cards I hold — that might be a good option.

If you already gave Amex a holler, did you receive a retention offer? If so, what was it? Please share in the Comments section below!

For rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card, please visit this link.
For rates and fees of Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card, please visit this link.
For rates and fees of The Platinum Card® from American Express, please visit this link.
For rates and fees of The Business Platinum Card® from American Express, please visit this link.