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We’re approaching the end of the year, and another real-world example inspired me to write about something more people need to know.
The Delta Stays statement credit features that are part of six Delta SkyMiles® American Express Cards can help you save substantial money during a hotel stay. You might even get a night (or two) for free.
From chatting with people and spending time in online chat forums, the Delta Stays statement credit seems to fly under the radar. And it’s really something more Delta Amex cardholders should consider using.
(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.)
Which Cards Offer the Delta Stays Amex Credit?
Here are the eligible Delta Amexes and their respective Delta Stays statement credit figures:
- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card: up to $250 each calendar year
- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card: up to $200 each calendar year
- Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card: up to $200 each calendar year
- Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card: up to $150 each calendar year
- Delta SkyMiles® Gold Business American Express Card: up to $150 each calendar year
- Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card: up to $100 each calendar year
Note that each card’s statement credit amount is for cumulative spend — not per night. But you can still save a bunch of money off a hotel night or two, depending on your card and what rates you find.
Again: the statement credits apply to bookings made during a calendar year — not stayed during that year. For example, you can book something now for 2025 and have the credit applied to 2024.
Delta Stays = Found Money?
A friend of mine is taking Delta Air Lines’ inaugural Boston (BOS) to Honolulu (HNL) flight this week. He’s flying to Boston the day before and needed somewhere to stay for a night.
He wanted a hotel close to Logan International Airport and already holds the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card. He hadn’t yet used the card’s Delta Stays credit for 2024 (up to $250). So, he used that for a “free” night at a Hilton.
In this instance, it’s basically found money — or a found hotel night, as it were. He’s a longtime Reserve Business Card member, multi-Million Miler, Diamond Medallion, and frequent Delta traveler. He’d hold the Delta Business Amex Reserve regardless of whether or not it featured Delta Stays. (His Reserve card will probably be buried with him.) So, why not use the Delta Stays credit for a night?
Because Delta Stays is an online travel agency, you don’t earn loyalty points from the property where you stay. You also aren’t entitled to any elite status benefits you usually receive when booking directly through the hotel or its central reservation system.
But most people l know are happy to forgo a room upgrade or free breakfast in exchange for a significantly discounted or free hotel night. That’s perfectly fine with me! (That said, my friend above is a Hilton Diamond. Just for grins, he called the property and they told him they would honor his Diamond status benefits. We’ll see if it actually happens. Fingers crossed for him!)
The Delta Stays credit isn’t THE benefit of the Delta Reserve or Delta Platinum card suite. Like, I wouldn’t get one of those cards just for the Delta Stays credit. But it certainly adds substantial value to the cards.
It can really make a difference in the annual fees for the Delta Gold Amex and Delta Business Gold Amex. Both are $0 for the first year, then $150. (See Rates and Fees for the Delta Gold Amex. See Rates and Fees for the Delta Business Gold Amex.) The Delta Gold Amex’s statement credit is up to $100 a year. The Delta Business Gold’s is up to $150 each year.
Think Outside of the Box
I really like the example of using the Delta Stays credit for a decent airport hotel. Some airport hotels — especially those actually on an airport’s grounds — cost a pretty penny. The Delta Stays credit can help you save money and, in these instances, time commuting to and from the airports.
If you want to use your Stays credits for a vacation, you can book a night (or two) using the statement credit then use points, certificates, cash, or whatever for the rest of your stay. (Which you’ll probably book through different channels.) You’ll have two separate reservations but as long as you book the same room type, you can merge the reservations and not have to move rooms. (You might have to get new keys one day but it’s worth it to save money!)
In fact, my family used three different Delta Stays credits for three separate nights during a long weekend in Minneapolis. Everything worked out fine.
One of my friends and his wife used their Delta Stays credit for a “staycation” at a hotel about an hour away and made a fun overnight trip out of it.
Final Approach
If you hold a Delta Amex, consider using your Delta Stays credit. It can come in very handy for airport hotel stays, staycations, or even to save a few bucks on a vacation. It’s not necessary the marquee feature of the Delta Amexes but definitely adds to their value.
For rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card, please visit this link.
For rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card, please visit this link.
For rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum 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 Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card, please visit this link.
For rates and fees of Delta SkyMiles® Gold Business American Express Card, please visit this link.
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To me, I think this only makes sense if you’re looking for a hotel in a market where your preferred hotel loyalty program doesn’t have a good option. Or maybe there’s a real solid independent hotel. But otherwise, I would never really consider booking through Delta for a hotel because (a) you’ll be among the first to get walked in an oversell and (b) you’ll probably get the worst room overlooking the HVAC units.
@FNT – I have found real value using these for lower end hotels that include breakfast and has free parking. At that price point elite perks are often just a bottle of water anyway.
To each their own, but I don’t want to stay at a low end hotel. I won’t even consider a Holiday Inn Express in a bigger city. Holiday Inn Expresses in a small town or the middle of nowhere are generally the best option. But a Holiday Inn Express in, say, Detroit or Chicago? No thanks.
I’m fine staying a night in a room that looks into a brick wall if it saved me a substantial amount of money. (I’ve stayed in old hotels in NYC where that’s pretty much the view anyway.)
I did use Delta stays to book one night for a little over the $200 that I would’ve gotten on the Delta reserve AMEX. The process was pretty easy and I did get the credit a couple days afterwards. But note, this is a pre-pay Situation so if you’re planning a trip in the future, you have to pay for at least the Delta stays night immediately. And therefore nonrefundable and I believe not changeable. essentially an Expedia experience.
It’s a great benefit. Between my wife and I we have 5 AX DL cards with the credit. I’ve already used them all up on bookings for early next year.
In regards to be non-refundable it depends on the property and the rate. I always see the option to pay a little more for a refundable rate. Yes I’ve had to book and then cancel and re-book in some cases as there is no change option but it works just fine.
Can you the Delta Stays credit toward a Delta Vacations booking? Looking at whether it can combine with the Delta Vacation Choice benefit in a single booking.
No. Per Amex: “Bookings through Delta Vacations and products other than prepaid hotels and vacation rentals booked through Delta Stays will not qualify for statement credits. Statement credits may not be received or may be reversed if the booking is cancelled or modified.”
Hi Chris:
My husband is a Sky Miles member with DL however, he has no status. He holds the AMEX Platinum Card and does not fly that much, but the miles for mileage tickets come in handy when we are in a cash pinch. So, how to get status without actually winging it?
BTW, I like and appreciate your column.
William Torrey
DL Diamond
1 (yr) Million Miler
AMEX Reserve Card
Hi, William. Thanks for your kind words. Check out this post for some ideas. The Delta Amex route is the fasted and most economical.
So, you book on the Delta Stays (Expedia-based), pay with your Delta Amex Reserve Card, and you’ll automatically receive the Amex statement credit? Is it automatic or is there something in particular you need to do when booking.
Thanks in advance. I’ve never taken advantage of this benefit so any information is helpful.
“So, you book on the Delta Stays (Expedia-based), pay with your Delta Amex Reserve Card, and you’ll automatically receive the Amex statement credit? Is it automatic or is there something in particular you need to do when booking.”
Correct! Easy peasy. The statement credit might take up to a week to post to your account. But when it does, it should post as the date you made the purchase.
Thanks Chris. I’m headed to the DTW Westin now which will be much convenient for a 7am flight to FLL tomorrow. Much appreciated!
Of course! Enjoy your trip.