American Express Debuts Card Constructed From Retired Boeing 747 Plane Parts

Image via American Express / Business Wire

The sky is truly the limit with the design of this all-new American Express credit card, which consists of metal from a decommissioned Boeing 747.

Having flown 68 million miles and for over 116,000 hours spanning 27 years, Delta Air Line’s #6307 airplane had run its course in 2017. That didn’t mean its life had to end.

The airline and American Express later teamed up to repurpose the aircraft’s parts into a limited-edition Delta SkyMiles Reserve card, a cool variation they’d been dreaming about for three years.

Image via American Express / Business Wire

While aviation parts are undeniably hardy, metals designed for the air aren’t quite like metals used in wallets. It’s imperative that aircraft metals are lightweight for flight and, as such, they are “softer than you think,” Jon Gantman, senior vice president and general manager of cobrand-product management at American Express, tells Bloomberg.

In contrast, credit card materials have to handle “banging around in your wallet,” Gantman adds.

It’s perhaps for this reason that the card contains just 25% of the Boeing 747’s metal. The other materials come in to ensure your credit card doesn’t cave to the turbulence.

The Delta SkyMiles Reserve card offers the same luxury perks expected of Delta members, including SkyMiles points and complimentary access to the Centurion Lounge and Delta Sky Club. The limited-edition card will be ready for takeoff for Delta SkyMiles Reserve and Reserve Business Card holders from June 16 to August 3.

[via Cool Hunting and Bloomberg, images via American Express / Business Wire]