Our experts answer readers’ credit card questions and write unbiased product reviews (here’s how we assess credit cards). In some cases, we receive a commission from our partners; however, our opinions are our own. Terms apply to offers listed on this page.
If you fly Delta Air Lines often, having a Delta credit card can help you earn enough miles for your next award flight and enjoy other perks with the airline, such as a free checked bag and priority boarding. Luckily, you have no shortage of options to consider.
Best Delta Credit Cards
Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card: Best card for occasional Delta flyers
Delta SkyMiles® Gold Business American Express Card: Best business card for occasional Delta flyers
Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card: Best card for frequent Delta flyers
Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card: Best business card for frequent Delta flyers
Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card: Best card for airport lounge access
Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card: Best business card for airport lounge access
Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card: Best with no annual fee
Read on to learn more about the various Delta cards for consumers, and see which one is best for you. If you’re not locked into a particular airline, make sure to check out our guides to the best airline credit cards and best travel rewards credit cards.
Compare Delta Credit Cards
Best for occasional Delta flyers
Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card
4.1/5
$0 intro for the first year, then $99
Annual Fee
Intro offer
65,000 bonus miles after you spend $2,000 in purchases on your new card in the first six months of card membership
Rewards
Earn 2x Miles on dining at restaurants worldwide, and for takeout and delivery in the U.S. Earn 2x Miles on groceries at U.S supermarkets. Earn 2x Miles on Delta purchases made directly with Delta. Earn 1X Miles on all other purchases
65,000 bonus miles after you spend $2,000 in purchases on your new card in the first six months of card membership
Rewards
Earn 2x Miles on dining at restaurants worldwide, and for takeout and delivery in the U.S. Earn 2x Miles on groceries at U.S supermarkets. Earn 2x Miles on Delta purchases made directly with Delta. Earn 1X Miles on all other purchases
This card is a great pick for frequent and occasional Delta flyers who want elite-like perks without paying an exorbitant annual fee. Cardholders receive a free checked bag, priority boarding, and inflight discounts on Delta flights, but if you’re looking for upscale benefits like airport lounge access, you’ll want to look at Delta’s premium cards instead.
Details
Rewards
Earn 2x Miles on dining at restaurants worldwide, and for takeout and delivery in the U.S. Earn 2x Miles on groceries at U.S supermarkets. Earn 2x Miles on Delta purchases made directly with Delta. Earn 1X Miles on all other purchases
Annual Fee
$0 intro for the first year, then $99
Intro offer
65,000 bonus miles after you spend $2,000 in purchases on your new card in the first six months of card membership
Recommended Credit
Good to Excellent
Regular Annual Percentage Rate (APR)
20.74% – 29.74% Variable
Editor’s Rating
4.1/5
4.1 out of
5 Stars
Pros & Cons
Pros
Earns bonus miles at restaurants and US supermarkets
Intro annual fee is $0 for the first year (then $99)
You get a free checked bag and Main Cabin 1 Priority Boarding on Delta flights
Cons
Doesn’t go above and beyond in terms of benefits beyond Delta perks
Highlights
More Information
Earn 65,000 bonus miles after you spend $2,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months.
Enjoy a $0 introductory Annual Fee for the first year, then $99.
Enjoy your first checked bag free on Delta flights.
New: Card Members get 15% off when using miles to book Award Travel on Delta flights through delta.com and the Fly Delta app. Discount not applicable to partner-operated flights or to taxes and fees.
Earn 2X Miles on Delta purchases, at U.S. Supermarkets and at restaurants worldwide, including takeout and delivery in the U.S.
Earn 1X Mile on all other eligible purchases.
$100 Delta Flight Credit: After you spend $10,000 in purchases on your Card in a calendar year, receive a Credit to use toward future travel.
Want even more flexibility? Take up to $50 off the cost of your flight for every 5,000 miles you redeem with Pay with Miles when you book on delta.com.
Receive a 20% savings in the form of a statement credit on eligible Delta in-flight purchases after using your Card.
No Foreign Transaction Fees.
With Send & Split®, you can send money and split your Card purchases with any other Venmo or PayPal user, directly from the Amex App. Enroll today.
Terms Apply.
Additional Reading
Read our review
Best business card for occasional Delta flyers
Delta SkyMiles® Gold Business American Express Card
4/5
$99 (with a $0 intro for the first year)
Annual Fee
Intro offer
70,000 bonus miles after you spend $3,000 in purchases on your new card in the first three months of card membership (offer ends 8/2/23)
Rewards
Earn 2x Miles on eligible purchases made directly with Delta. Earn 2x Miles on dining at restaurants worldwide, and for takeout and delivery in the U.S. Earn 1X Miles on all other purchases.
Delta SkyMiles® Gold Business American Express Card
4/5
$99 (with a $0 intro for the first year)
Annual Fee
Intro offer
70,000 bonus miles after you spend $3,000 in purchases on your new card in the first three months of card membership (offer ends 8/2/23)
Rewards
Earn 2x Miles on eligible purchases made directly with Delta. Earn 2x Miles on dining at restaurants worldwide, and for takeout and delivery in the U.S. Earn 1X Miles on all other purchases.
Earn 2x Miles on eligible purchases made directly with Delta. Earn 2x Miles on dining at restaurants worldwide, and for takeout and delivery in the U.S. Earn 1X Miles on all other purchases.
Annual Fee
$99 (with a $0 intro for the first year)
Intro offer
70,000 bonus miles after you spend $3,000 in purchases on your new card in the first three months of card membership (offer ends 8/2/23)
Recommended Credit
Good to Excellent
Regular Annual Percentage Rate (APR)
20.74% – 29.74% Variable
Editor’s Rating
4/5
4 out of
5 Stars
Pros & Cons
Pros
Intro annual fee is $0 for the first year (then $99)
Earns bonus miles on select business-related purchases as well as on Delta purchases
Get a free checked bag and Main Cabin 1 Priority Boarding on Delta flights
Cons
Doesn’t earn bonus miles on common expenses like dining
Highlights
More Information
Limited Time Offer: Earn 70,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $3,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 3 months of Card Membership. Offer Ends 8/2/23.
Save 15% On Award Travel With TakeOff 15. Eligible Card Members now enjoy exclusive savings on Delta flights. Not applicable to partner-operated flights or to taxes and fees.
Check or stow your bag with ease: First Checked Bag Free on Delta Flights + Main Cabin 1 Priority Boarding.
Earn 2 Miles on every dollar spent on eligible purchases made directly with Delta, on every dollar spent on eligible U.S. purchases for advertising in select media, on every dollar spent on eligible U.S. shipping purchases, on every eligible dollar spent at restaurants. Earn 1 Mile on every eligible dollar spent on other purchases.
Additionally, receive a $100 Delta Flight Credit to use toward future travel after you spend $10,000 in purchases on your Card in a calendar year.
Pay no foreign transaction fees when you travel overseas.
$0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $99.
Terms and limitations apply.
Additional Reading
Read our review
Best for frequent Delta flyers
Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card
4.3/5
$250
Annual Fee
Intro offer
85,000 bonus miles after you spend $4,000 in purchases on your new card in the first six months of card membership
Rewards
Earn 3x Miles on Delta purchases made directly with Delta. Earn 3x Miles at hotels when purchase made directly with the hotel. Earn 2x Miles on dining at restaurants worldwide, and for takeout and delivery in the U.S. Earn 2x Miles on groceries at U.S supermarkets. Earn 1X Miles on all other purchases.
85,000 bonus miles after you spend $4,000 in purchases on your new card in the first six months of card membership
Rewards
Earn 3x Miles on Delta purchases made directly with Delta. Earn 3x Miles at hotels when purchase made directly with the hotel. Earn 2x Miles on dining at restaurants worldwide, and for takeout and delivery in the U.S. Earn 2x Miles on groceries at U.S supermarkets. Earn 1X Miles on all other purchases.
Delta’s mid-tier card is a good choice for frequent flyers who can take advantage of money-saving benefits like a free checked bag and priority boarding on Delta flights, an annual companion certificate, and a statement credit for the TSA PreCheck or Global Entry application fee. However, if you’re unlikely to maximize these perks or you don’t fly Delta that often, a travel credit card with a lower annual fee is a better choice.
Details
Rewards
Earn 3x Miles on Delta purchases made directly with Delta. Earn 3x Miles at hotels when purchase made directly with the hotel. Earn 2x Miles on dining at restaurants worldwide, and for takeout and delivery in the U.S. Earn 2x Miles on groceries at U.S supermarkets. Earn 1X Miles on all other purchases.
Annual Fee
$250
Intro offer
85,000 bonus miles after you spend $4,000 in purchases on your new card in the first six months of card membership
Recommended Credit
Good to Excellent
Regular Annual Percentage Rate (APR)
20.74% – 29.74% Variable
Editor’s Rating
4.3/5
4.3 out of
5 Stars
Pros & Cons
Pros
Earns bonus miles at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets
Annual companion certificate can help you recoup most, if not all, of the annual fee
You get a free checked bag and priority boarding on Delta flights
Cons
High annual fee
Highlights
More Information
Earn 85,000 bonus miles after you spend $4,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months.
Receive a Domestic Main Cabin round-trip companion certificate each year upon renewal of your Card. Payment of the government imposed taxes and fees of no more than $80 for roundtrip domestic flights (for itineraries with up to four flight segments) is required. Baggage charges and other restrictions apply. See terms and conditions for details.
Enjoy your first checked bag free on Delta flights. Plus enjoy Main Cabin 1 Priority Boarding and settle into your seat sooner.
Card Members get 15% off when using miles to book Award Travel on Delta flights through delta.com and the Fly Delta app. Discount not applicable to partner-operated flights or to taxes and fees.
Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and purchases made directly with hotels.
Earn 2X Miles at restaurants worldwide including takeout and delivery in the U.S., and at U.S. supermarkets.
Earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases.
Get access to Delta Sky Club® at a rate of $50 per person per visit for you and up to two guests when traveling on a Delta flight.
Fee Credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck® after you apply through any Authorized Enrollment Provider. If approved for Global Entry, at no additional charge, you will receive access to TSA PreCheck.
Earn up to 20,000 Medallion® Qualification Miles (MQMs) with Status Boost® per year. After you spend $25,000 in purchases on your Card in a calendar year, you can earn 10,000 MQMs up to two times per year, getting you closer to Medallion® Status. MQMs are used to determine Medallion® Status and are different than miles you earn toward flights.
No Foreign Transaction Fees.
$250 Annual Fee.
Terms Apply.
Additional Reading
Read our review
Best business card for frequent Delta flyers
Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card
4/5
$250
Annual Fee
Intro offer
90,000 bonus miles after you spend $4,000 in purchases on your new card in the first three months of card membership (offer ends 8/2/23)
Rewards
Earn 3x Miles on Delta purchases made directly with Delta. Earn 1.5x Miles on purchases over of $5,000 or more everywhere else, up to 50K additional miles per calendar year. Earn 1x Miles on all other purchases.
Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card
4/5
$250
Annual Fee
Intro offer
90,000 bonus miles after you spend $4,000 in purchases on your new card in the first three months of card membership (offer ends 8/2/23)
Rewards
Earn 3x Miles on Delta purchases made directly with Delta. Earn 1.5x Miles on purchases over of $5,000 or more everywhere else, up to 50K additional miles per calendar year. Earn 1x Miles on all other purchases.
Earn 3x Miles on Delta purchases made directly with Delta. Earn 1.5x Miles on purchases over of $5,000 or more everywhere else, up to 50K additional miles per calendar year. Earn 1x Miles on all other purchases.
Annual Fee
$250
Intro offer
90,000 bonus miles after you spend $4,000 in purchases on your new card in the first three months of card membership (offer ends 8/2/23)
Recommended Credit
Good to Excellent
Regular Annual Percentage Rate (APR)
20.74% – 29.74% Variable
Intro Annual Percentage Rate (APR)
N/A
Editor’s Rating
4/5
4 out of
5 Stars
Pros & Cons
Pros
Annual companion certificate benefit helps you recoup the annual fee
You can earn MQMs toward Delta elite status by meeting annual spending thresholds
Application fee credit of up to $85 for TSA PreCheck and up to $100 for Global Entry
Cons
Doesn’t earn bonus miles on everyday purchase categories like dining and office supply stores
Highlights
More Information
Limited Time Offer: Earn 90,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $4,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 3 months of Card Membership. Offer Ends 8/2/23.
Save 15% On Award Travel With TakeOff 15. Eligible Card Members now enjoy exclusive savings on Delta flights. Not applicable to partner-operated flights or to taxes and fees.
You can receive a domestic Main Cabin round-trip companion certificate each year upon renewal of your Card. Take a friend or family member when you fly Delta. Payment of the government imposed taxes and fees of no more than $80 for roundtrip domestic flights (for itineraries with up to four flight segments) is required. Baggage charges and other restrictions apply. See terms and conditions for details.
Earn more miles on big purchases with 1.5 miles per dollar on single eligible purchases of $5,000 or more (that’s an extra half mile per dollar), up to 50,000 additional miles per year. If your purchase qualifies for a category that has a higher mileage accelerator, only the higher accelerator will apply (ex. you would earn 3X miles on purchases made directly with Delta and hotels instead of 1.5X).
Delta Sky Club® Access – Get access to Delta Sky Club® at a rate of $50 per person per visit for you and up to two guests while flying together on Delta.
With Status Boost®, earn 10,000 Medallion® Qualification Miles (MQMs) after you spend $25,000 in purchases on your Card in a calendar year, up to 2x per year getting you closer to Medallion Status. MQMs are used to determine Medallion Status and are different from the Miles you earn towards flights.
Terms and limitations apply.
Additional Reading
Read our review
Best for airport lounge access
Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card
4.1/5
$550
Annual Fee
Intro offer
85,000 bonus miles after you spend $6,000 in purchases on your new card in the first six months of card membership
Rewards
Earn 3x Miles on Delta purchases made directly with Delta. Earn 1X Miles on all other purchases.
Earn 3x Miles on Delta purchases made directly with Delta. Earn 1X Miles on all other purchases.
Annual Fee
$550
Intro offer
85,000 bonus miles after you spend $6,000 in purchases on your new card in the first six months of card membership
Recommended Credit
Good to Excellent
Regular Annual Percentage Rate (APR)
20.74% – 29.74% Variable
Editor’s Rating
4.1/5
4.1 out of
5 Stars
Pros & Cons
Pros
Annual companion certificate benefit, which is valid for domestic first class and Comfort+ as well as the main cabin
Access to Delta Sky Clubs and American Express Centurion Lounges when you’re flying Delta
Earns 3x miles on Delta purchases
Cons
Very high annual fee
Doesn’t offer bonus miles on non-Delta purchases
Highlights
More Information
Earn 85,000 bonus miles after you spend $6,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months.
Complimentary access to the Delta Sky Club® for you when traveling on a Delta flight.
Enjoy complimentary access to The Centurion® Lounge when you book a Delta flight with your Reserve Card.
Earn up to 60,000 Medallion® Qualification Miles (MQMs) With Status Boost® per year. After you spend $30,000 in purchases on your Card in a calendar year, you can earn 15,000 MQMs up to four times per year, getting you closer to Medallion® Status. MQMs are used to determine Medallion Status and are different from the miles you earn towards flights.
Card Members get 15% off when using miles to book Award Travel on Delta flights through delta.com and the Fly Delta app. Discount not applicable to partner-operated flights or to taxes and fees.
Receive a domestic First Class, Delta Comfort+® or domestic Main Cabin round trip companion certificate each year upon renewal of your Card. Payment of the government imposed taxes and fees of no more than $80 for roundtrip domestic flights (for itineraries with up to four flight segments) is required. Baggage charges and other restrictions apply. See terms and conditions for details.
With your Card receive upgrade priority over other Medallion Members within the same Medallion level and fare class.
Fee Credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck® after you apply through any Authorized Enrollment Provider. If approved for Global Entry, at no additional charge, you will receive access to TSA PreCheck.
Enjoy your first checked bag free on Delta flights.
Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases.
Earn 1X Mile on all other eligible purchases.
No Foreign Transaction Fees.
$550 Annual Fee.
Terms Apply.
Additional Reading
Read our review
Best business card for airport lounge access
Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card
4.1/5
$550
Annual Fee
Intro offer
100,000 bonus miles after you spend $6,000 in purchases on your new card in the first three months of card membership (offer ends 8/2/23)
Rewards
Enjoy 3x miles on eligible Delta purchases. Earn 1.5x miles after you spend $150K on your card in a calendar year. Earn 1x miles on all other purchases.
Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card
4.1/5
$550
Annual Fee
Intro offer
100,000 bonus miles after you spend $6,000 in purchases on your new card in the first three months of card membership (offer ends 8/2/23)
Rewards
Enjoy 3x miles on eligible Delta purchases. Earn 1.5x miles after you spend $150K on your card in a calendar year. Earn 1x miles on all other purchases.
This premium Amex card is a good choice for small-business owners who fly Delta very frequently and can take advantage of upscale perks like Delta Sky Club and Amex Centurion Lounge access, an annual companion certificate, and complimentary upgrades. However, it has the highest annual fee of any Delta business card, so if you aren’t able to use these benefits, it won’t be worth it.
Details
Rewards
Enjoy 3x miles on eligible Delta purchases. Earn 1.5x miles after you spend $150K on your card in a calendar year. Earn 1x miles on all other purchases.
Annual Fee
$550
Intro offer
100,000 bonus miles after you spend $6,000 in purchases on your new card in the first three months of card membership (offer ends 8/2/23)
Recommended Credit
Good to Excellent
Regular Annual Percentage Rate (APR)
20.74% – 29.74% Variable
Intro Annual Percentage Rate (APR)
N/A
Editor’s Rating
4.1/5
4.1 out of
5 Stars
Pros & Cons
Pros
Annual companion certificate that works in domestic first class
Access to Delta Sky Club and American Express Centurion Lounges when you’re flying Delta
Earns 3x miles on eligible Delta purchases
Cons
Very high annual fee
No bonus miles on non-Delta purchases
Highlights
More Information
Limited Time Offer: Earn 100,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $6,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 3 months of Card Membership. Offer Ends 8/2/23.
Save 15% On Award Travel With TakeOff 15. Eligible Card Members now enjoy savings on Delta flights. Not applicable to partner-operated flights or to taxes and fees.
With complimentary access into Delta Sky Club®, you can relax before your Delta flight, or find downtime between connections. You’ll also receive two Delta Sky Club One-Time Guest Passes each year so you can share the experience with others when you’re traveling together.
When you purchase a Delta flight with your Delta SkyMiles Reserve Card, you will receive complimentary access to The Centurion® Lounge or Escape Lounge – The Centurion® Studio Partner.
After you spend $150,000 on your Card in a calendar year, you earn 1.5 miles per dollar (that’s an extra half mile per dollar) on eligible purchases the rest of the year. If your purchase qualifies for a category that has a higher mileage accelerator, only the higher accelerator will apply (ex. you would earn 3X miles on purchases made directly with Delta instead of 1.5X).
Enjoy 3x miles per dollar on eligible Delta purchases.
With Status Boost®, earn 15,000 Medallion® Qualification Miles (MQMs) after you spend $30,000 in purchases on your Card in a calendar year, up to 4x per year getting you closer to Medallion Status.
Terms and limitations apply.
Additional Reading
Read our review
Best with no annual fee
Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card
3.5/5
$0
Annual Fee
Intro offer
10,000 bonus miles after spending $1,000 in purchases on your new card in the first 6 months from account opening
Rewards
Earn 2x Miles on dining at restaurants worldwide, and for takeout and delivery in the U.S. Earn 2x Miles on Delta purchases made directly with Delta. Earn 1X Miles on all other purchases.
10,000 bonus miles after spending $1,000 in purchases on your new card in the first 6 months from account opening
Rewards
Earn 2x Miles on dining at restaurants worldwide, and for takeout and delivery in the U.S. Earn 2x Miles on Delta purchases made directly with Delta. Earn 1X Miles on all other purchases.
If you want a credit card that earns Delta miles for your everyday spending but absolutely don’t want to pay an annual fee, this card is worth considering. While it doesn’t offer travel perks like a free checked bag or priority boarding, cardholders do get 20% back as a statement credit on Delta inflight purchases and access to Delta’s Pay With Miles feature. For most Delta flyers, however, a Delta card with an annual fee and more benefits will prove more valuable.
Details
Rewards
Earn 2x Miles on dining at restaurants worldwide, and for takeout and delivery in the U.S. Earn 2x Miles on Delta purchases made directly with Delta. Earn 1X Miles on all other purchases.
Annual Fee
$0
Intro offer
10,000 bonus miles after spending $1,000 in purchases on your new card in the first 6 months from account opening
Recommended Credit
Good to Excellent
Regular Annual Percentage Rate (APR)
20.74% – 29.74% Variable
Intro Annual Percentage Rate (APR)
N/A
Editor’s Rating
3.5/5
3.5 out of
5 Stars
Pros & Cons
Pros
No annual fee
Earns bonus miles at US restaurants
Cons
Doesn’t offer benefits like a free checked bag when you fly Delta
Highlights
More Information
Earn 10,000 bonus miles after you spend $1,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months.
No Annual Fee.
Earn 2X Miles per dollar at restaurants worldwide, plus takeout and delivery in the U.S.
Earn 2X Miles per dollar spent on Delta purchases, and 1X Mile on all other eligible purchases.
Pay with Miles: take up to $50 off the cost of your flight for every 5,000 miles you redeem with Pay with Miles when you book on delta.com.
Receive a 20% savings in the form of a statement credit after you use your Card on eligible Delta in-flight purchases of food, beverages, and audio headsets.
No Foreign Transaction Fees.
Terms Apply.
Additional Reading
Read our review
Delta Credit Card Frequently Asked Questions
Are American Express Delta cards worth it?
Delta credit cards are worth it if you fly Delta Air Lines and like to earn and redeem Delta miles. While all but one Delta credit card comes with an annual fee, these annual fee-incurring cards have a variety of Delta-centric benefits. The one with the most measurable value is its free first checked bag for the cardholder and up to eight companions. If you fly Delta and check bags, this perk alone can make having a card more than worthwhile.
What credit score do you need for a Delta Airlines credit card?
You’ll need at least a good credit score to be considered for a Delta card, which means a FICO score of at least 670.
Can you upgrade a Delta Amex card?
It’s possible to upgrade and downgrade your Delta personal card to a different Delta personal card. And it’s possible to do the same from one Delta business card to another. You can often achieve this simply through the Amex chat feature.
However, you may forfeit a welcome bonus offer by product changing your Delta card. American Express occasionally will target cardholders for valuable bonuses when upgrading their card, but there is no guarantee you will ever receive one of these offers. Therefore, it’s usually better to apply for a new Delta card instead of product changing.
What are the normal Delta credit card offers?
Delta credit cards regularly offer intro bonuses between 40,000 and 50,000 miles after meeting minimum spending requirements. American Express tends to boost these offers a handful of times each year.
Are there other ways to enter Delta Sky Club without having a Delta Amex card?
Holding an Amex Delta Reserve card is the cheapest way for those without Delta elite status to gain unlimited access to Delta Sky Clubs whenever you fly with Delta. However, The Platinum Card® from American Express
and The Business Platinum Card® from American Express
also offer Delta Sky Club access whenever you fly with Delta and carry your Platinum card.
Where is the Delta American Express login page?
Your Delta Amex account and Delta SkyMiles airline account are completely separate. If you want to pay your credit card bill, you’ll need to head to your American Express account page — not the Delta website.
Best for Occasional Delta Flyers
Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card
The Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card is the best option for someone who flies Delta a couple of times a year but doesn’t travel regularly enough to use the heftier cards’ perks (more on that later). Right now, it’s offering an intro bonus of 65,000 bonus miles after you spend $2,000 in purchases on your new card in the first six months of card membership. That’s worth $715 in travel, per Insider’s valuations.
One of the biggest perks: The card offers a free first checked bag on Delta flights for the cardholder and up to eight companions on the same reservation. Delta charges $30 each way for the first checked bag, so this can save up to $60 per person on a round-trip itinerary.
Cardholders and travel companions also get Main Cabin Zone 1 priority boarding. This means you can board the plane sooner, giving you plenty of time to settle into your seat or find overhead space for any carry-on luggage. Zone 1 is after most Delta elite frequent flyers and premium-cabin passengers, but is usually within the first half of passengers to board.
Other perks include 15% off Delta award flights, a 20% discount on inflight purchases (in the form of a statement credit), such as food or drinks, a $100 Delta flight credit after you spend $10,000 on the card in a calendar year, and no foreign transaction fees.
Gold Delta SkyMiles Amex Card Review
Delta SkyMiles® Gold Business American Express Card
If you’re a small-business owner, you might want to consider the business version of this card — the Delta SkyMiles® Gold Business American Express Card — which also has an annual fee of $99 (with a $0 intro for the first year).
The main difference is that the business version offers 2x miles on eligible U.S. purchases for advertising in select media and on eligible U.S. shipping purchases rather than on purchases at U.S. supermarkets. Both versions offer 2x miles on Delta purchases and restaurant purchases.
The Delta SkyMiles® Gold Business American Express Card is currently offering an intro bonus of 70,000 bonus miles after you spend $3,000 in purchases on your new card in the first three months of card membership (offer ends 8/2/23). You should have no trouble getting an average of $770 from this bonus, per Insider’s valuations.
American Express Delta Gold Business Card Review
Best for Frequent Delta Flyers
Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card
If you fly Delta somewhat regularly, the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card is a better option, thanks to an often-overlooked benefit that can completely cover the annual fee each year. This card offers an intro bonus of 85,000 bonus miles after you spend $4,000 in purchases on your new card in the first six months of card membership. That’s worth an average of $935 in Delta flights, according to Insider’s valuations.
The Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card has most of the same perks as the Gold version, like priority boarding and free checked bags on Delta flights. The card also offers a Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee credit of up to $100, and it gets cardholders access to Sky Club lounges at a discounted rate of $50.
However, the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card comes with another huge perk. After your first year with the card, you’ll get an annual domestic companion certificate each year at your cardmember anniversary. A Delta companion certificate is essentially a buy-one-get-one-free coupon. When you book an economy-class flight for yourself anywhere within the continental US, you can get a second ticket for free, other than minimal taxes and fees.
The companion pass can easily cancel out the card’s $250 annual fee. Plus, each year that you spend $25,000 or more on the card, you earn a bonus of 10,000 Medallion® Qualification Miles (MQMs) — up to two times — and have the Medallion Qualifying Dollar (MQD) requirement for most elite status levels waived.
When you have Medallion status, you can enjoy things like free upgrades to first class or extra-legroom seats whenever you fly, subject to availability.
Platinum Delta Amex Card Review
Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card
If you’re a frequent Delta flyer and you want a small-business credit card, check out the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card, which also has a $250 annual fee. One unique benefit of this card is the ability to earn 1.5 miles per dollar on single eligible purchases of $5,000 or more (up to 50,000 additional miles per calendar year).
Right now, the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card welcome bonus offer is 90,000 bonus miles after you spend $4,000 in purchases on your new card in the first three months of card membership (offer ends 8/2/23). That’s worth $990 in travel, according to Insider’s valuations.
Delta American Express Platinum Business Card Review
Best for Airport Lounge Access
Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card
The Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card has a higher $550 annual fee, but it has a few additional perks that can make it worthwhile for some frequent flyers. Right now, it’s offering an intro bonus of 85,000 bonus miles after you spend $6,000 in purchases on your new card in the first six months of card membership. That’s worth an average of $935 in travel, per Insider’s valuations.
Like the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card, it offers an annual domestic companion certificate. However, the Delta Reserve’s pass can be used for first-class tickets, not just economy.
Additionally, the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card offers access to Delta Sky Club airport lounges whenever the cardholder is flying with Delta. Plus, Reserve cardholders can now access Amex Centurion Lounges when they’re flying Delta and pay for their ticket with a US-issued American Express card. Centurion Lounges are known for high-end complimentary food and drinks, so this is a great added value.
Other recently added benefits include two Delta Sky Club one-time guest passes, up to $100 for a Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee credit, and access to complimentary upgrades for non-elite Delta members.
The Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card has one other major perk, which can be crucial for travelers who hold Delta Medallion elite status. Delta Medallion members are eligible for complimentary, space-available upgrades to first class and Delta One on flights within the US and the region, including Mexico and Central America, and extra-legroom seats on international flights.
Upgrades clear in a hierarchical order based on several factors, including each passenger’s status level, the original fare class they booked, and a few other factors. The first tiebreaker for people with the same Medallion level and fare class is whether they hold the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card. Reserve cardholders will be prioritized over those without it. If there’s only one seat left and two members are still tied and both have the Reserve, it continues down the list of tiebreakers.
For travelers who fly a lot and frequently find themselves one or two upgrade-list spots away from getting that first-class seat, holding the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card can be extremely valuable.
Delta Reserve Review
Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card
There’s also the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card, which offers similar benefits for small-business users, but there’s a difference in earning rates. With the business version, after you spend $150,000 in purchases on your card in a calendar year, you can earn 1.5 miles per dollar on eligible purchases for the rest of the calendar year.
The Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card offers an intro bonus of 100,000 bonus miles after you spend $6,000 in purchases on your new card in the first three months of card membership (offer ends 8/2/23). This is worth $1,100 in travel, on average (per Insider’s valuations).
Amex Business Delta Reserve Card Review
Best With No Annual Fee
Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card
If you want to earn Delta miles on your everyday spending without paying an annual fee, the Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card could be worth a look, with a bonus of 10,000 bonus miles after spending $1,000 in purchases on your new card in the first 6 months from account opening.
It offers relatively limited benefits, but it waives foreign transaction fees, and you’ll get 20% off eligible inflight purchases on Delta when you pay with the card.
If you already have an American Express card that earns Amex Membership Rewards points, like The Platinum Card® from American Express or The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express, remember that you can transfer your points to Delta at a 1:1 ratio, so you may not need a Delta co-branded card if you don’t want the additional perks offered by the options with annual fees.
Delta SkyMiles Blue Amex Card Review
Jasmin Baron, CEPF
Editor
Jasmin Baron is an editor at Insider, responsible for credit card coverage on Personal Finance Insider. She is also a Certified Educator in Personal Finance (CEPF).Before joining the Insider team, she was a senior editor at The Points Guy and Million Mile Secrets, covering credit cards, points and miles, and loyalty programs. Her expertise in maximizing travel rewards grew from over two decades of experience in the aviation industry, including 18 years working as a pilot and flight instructor in her native Canada.You can reach Jasmin at jbaron@insider.com. Learn more about how Personal Finance Insider chooses, rates, and covers financial products and services »
Angela Fung
Marketing Compliance Manager
Angela Fung is the marketing compliance manager at Personal Finance Insider, overseeing a team that ensures content accuracy and editorial independence so readers are always getting up-to-date and objective financial advice. She is the primary contact for credit cards compliance and has experience managing content and partnerships for the banking, loans, and investment verticals as well. The compliance team’s mission is to provide readers with stories that are fact-checked and current, so they can make informed financial decisions. The team also works to minimize risk for partners by making sure language is clear, precise, and fully compliant with regulatory and partner marketing guidelines that align with the editorial team.
Eligible customers can earn up to $250 with qualifying direct deposit through 12/31/2023. Plus, earn up to 4.30% APY on savings accounts with direct deposit.
American Dollar Exchange Rate