Delta and American Express just announced two new perks for Delta SkyMiles credit cardholders: Priority boarding and discounted in-flight amenities.
The perks are available for fliers with Gold and Platinum credit cards, and join the much publicized free checked bag for cardholders and as many as eight of their travel companions.
Like the baggage perk, people traveling with eligible cardholders can also board early.
The 20 percent discount is available on all purchases of in-flight food, drinks and entertainment, so long as the SkyMiles credit card is used to pay. Both perks start on Sept. 1.
These are the latest benefits announced in the competitive travel rewards space. SkyMiles and FlexPerks, the Visa issued by U.S. Bank after the Northwest merger killed the Worldperks Visa card, have been competing for customers since the merger nearly three years ago. FlexPerks tends to have a better reputation for offering more flexibility for booking reward flights.
FlexPerks' latest perk was announced back in June, when it launched a so-called "dual-interface" card, which offers a traditional magnetic stripe and an EMV chip. EMV chip cards are the norm in Europe. Some international travelers have had trouble with their old-fashioned credit cards being turned down by retailers with the newer EMV technology.
The card also includes a third way to pay - a contactless payment chip similar to the one in the VITAband from U.S. Bancorp that I just wrote about.
