[Targeted] American Express Delta Cards: Add An Authorized User & Earn 5,000 Miles

The Offer

No direct link to offer, sent out via e-mail. Subject line is ‘Earn 5,000 Bonus Miles After You Add An Additional Card Member’

  • American Express is offering some card members 5,000 Delta miles when they add an authorized user and spend $500+ on their card within six months. Limit 4

F.A.Q

Does being added as an authorized user prevent you from getting the sign up bonus?

No, you can be added as an authorized and then sign up for the card as the primary cardholder and still receive the sign up bonus.

Who needs to spend the money to trigger the bonus?

Authorized user needs to complete the spend requirement. Keep in mind authorized users have their own unique card number so this is easy to track. It’s highly unlikely that spend completed by the primary cardholder will trigger the bonus.

Our Verdict

Easy 20,000 miles if targeted. 

Hat tip to on YT @MasteringEarlyRetirement

View Comments (14)

  • Can you get the bonus for adding an authorized user if that person already has their own Delta Amex account? I.e. my spouse has a Delta Platinum account of her own, can I add her as a user on my account and get the bonus?

  • Doesn't adding authorized users on Amex personal account counts against Chase 5/24 automatic approvals? Looks like AU would be loosing a spot in 5/24 for 5,000 Delta miles?

  • naive question: Can authorized user open the same card again as new account (may be after a year) to get the sign up bonus (80k miles) ?

    • Yes being an AU doesn't prevent them from getting a bonus. Only when they're the primary card holder (not an AU). And Delta has frequent NLL links.

    • Yes. If s/he doesn't have SSN, a foreign passport number is fine but s/he or you have to call amex to provide it. If SSN, everything will complete online.

  • I didn't get an email. But online, I see on my Delta Reserve, that I can add AU and earn 20,000 Skymiles after the AU spends $500 on the card within 6 months. Maximum is 80,000 Skymiles (4 AU's).

      • There is also $0 version - no lounge access but still qualifies for the bonus. When adding AU, you can pick one or the other

        • I just did an AI search and it says there is NOT a no annual fee version for Delta Reserve card. (I realize AI is not always right). Can you provide a screen shot of a zero dollar version?

          • The no-fee version is for the AU cards. You can an add an AU user for $175 or get the AU a no-fee version card. The main difference is with the $0 fee version, your AU does not get lounge access. When I go to add AU's, it gives me the option to pick the $175 or $0 fee version. From americanexpress.com, this is from the Delta Reserve application page under "offer terms":

            "Annual Fee
            The annual fee for the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card is $650. The annual fee for each Additional Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card is $175. There is no annual fee for Additional Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Cards."