This actually happens more than people realize. Delta and Amex quietly run targeted promos all the time. Spend challenges, retention offers, anniversary bonuses, or “use your card more” incentives that don’t always get clearly explained when they post.
If you already got your signup bonus and definitely didn’t spend your way to 25k, it’s almost certainly a targeted Amex offer that triggered automatically. Sometimes they show up in the Amex portal weeks or months earlier and people forget about them. Other times there’s literally no heads up at all.
The good news is random SkyMiles almost never get clawed back unless it’s an obvious posting error. If it’s labeled “Bonus Miles” and tied to Amex, you’re probably safe to enjoy it.
Delta chaos, but the rare good kind.
0