American Express closed its 125,000-mile Delta SkyMiles welcome offers at 11:59 PM ET on April 1, 2026. For applicants who waited until the final week, the Reserve's tiered spending structure was the part to get right.
This is the postmortem on that last week. The offer payout, how the tiered spend worked, and what Amex's Delta cards offer now.
What Closed on April 1
Three offers expired together. The Delta SkyMiles Reserve carried the 125,000-mile headline, structured as 100,000 miles after $6,000 in spending in six months plus an additional 25,000 miles after another $3,000 in the same window. The Delta SkyMiles Platinum offered 125,000 miles after $6,000 in six months. The Delta SkyMiles Gold offer topped out at 90,000 miles. Business versions of each card mirrored the personal-card numbers with higher spending thresholds, per the application pages Amex ran through March 31, 2026.
The Tiered-Spend Trap
A deadline is a forcing function: applicants who'd been on the fence had a reason to act in the final week.
The trap for a late applicant was the Reserve's tiered structure: $6,000 in spending for the first 100,000 miles, then another $3,000 for the 25,000-mile second tier, both inside the same six-month clock. Missing the second tier still landed 100,000 miles, but not the 125,000-mile headline.
What's Live Now
As of October 4, 2026, Amex's card pages show new limited-time offers on the Delta SkyMiles Reserve, Platinum and Gold cards, each ending November 4, 2026:
- Delta SkyMiles Reserve: two round-trip Delta Comfort Flight Certificates plus 50,000 bonus miles after you spend $10,000 in purchases on the new card in the first 6 months. The annual fee is $650. Our Delta Reserve offer breakdown covers the certificate rules.
- Delta SkyMiles Platinum: as high as 90,000 bonus miles after you spend $4,000 in purchases in the first 6 months, plus a $300 statement credit once you meet the same spend. Amex says you may not be eligible for the maximum offer. The annual fee is $350.
- Delta SkyMiles Gold: as high as 80,000 bonus miles after you spend $3,000 in purchases in the first 6 months, plus a $250 statement credit once you meet the same spend. Amex says you may not be eligible for the maximum offer. The annual fee is $0 for the first year, then $150.
Why the Sunset Matters Less Than the Headline Suggested
The April offer was one limited-time promotion, not the last: the offers above also carry Amex's limited-time label and end November 4, 2026.
For readers who didn't apply, weigh those offers against the Delta card you'd actually keep before that date.
Updated October 4, 2026: Delta card offers.
