Insider’s experts choose the best products and services to help make smart decisions with your money (here’s how). In some cases, we receive a commission from our 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.
Insider’s Featured Rewards Credit Cards
Earn unlimited 3x points on restaurants, travel, gas stations, transit, popular streaming services and phone plans. Earn 1x points on other purchases.
30,000 bonus points when you spend $1,500 in purchases in the first 3 months from account opening
Earn 3x ThankYou® points at restaurants and supermarkets. Earn 3x ThankYou® points at gas stations, air travel, and hotels. Earn 1x ThankYou® points on all other purchases
80,000 bonus ThankYou® Points after you spend $4,000 in purchases within the first 3 months of account opening
Earn 5x points on all travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards. Earn 3x points on dining, including eligible delivery services, takeout, and dining out. Earn 3x points on select streaming services. Earn 3x points on online grocery purchases (excluding Target, Walmart, and wholesale clubs). Earn 2x points on other travel. Earn 1x point per dollar on everything else.
60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening
Luckily, you have no shortage of options to consider; Delta has seven credit cards that are co-branded with American Express, ranging from the no-annual-fee Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card to the premium Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card with a $550 annual fee and annual companion certificate perk.
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 guide to the best airline credit cards.
Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card
Intro offer
40,000 bonus miles after you spend $1,000 in purchases on your new card in your first 3 months
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
$0 intro for the first year, then $99
Annual Fee
Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card
Intro offer
40,000 bonus miles after you spend $1,000 in purchases on your new card in your first 3 months
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
$0 intro for the first year, then $99
Annual Fee
$0 intro for the first year, then $99
Annual Fee
On American Express’s website
Card 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
40,000 bonus miles after you spend $1,000 in purchases on your new card in your first 3 months
Recommended Credit
Good to Excellent
Regular APR
17.99%-26.99% Variable
Pros & Cons
Highlights
Additional Reading
Delta SkyMiles® Gold Business American Express Card
Intro offer
50,000 bonus miles after spending $2,000 in purchases on your new card in your first 3 months of card membership
Rewards
Earn 2x Miles on Delta 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.
$99 (with a $0 intro for the first year)
Annual Fee
Delta SkyMiles® Gold Business American Express Card
Intro offer
50,000 bonus miles after spending $2,000 in purchases on your new card in your first 3 months of card membership
Rewards
Earn 2x Miles on Delta 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.
$99 (with a $0 intro for the first year)
Annual Fee
$99 (with a $0 intro for the first year)
Annual Fee
On American Express’s website
Card Details
Rewards
Earn 2x Miles on Delta 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
50,000 bonus miles after spending $2,000 in purchases on your new card in your first 3 months of card membership
Recommended Credit
Good to Excellent
Regular APR
17.99% – 26.99% Variable
Pros & Cons
Highlights
Additional Reading
Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card
Intro offer
50,000 bonus miles and 5,000 Medallion® Qualification Miles (MQMs) after you spend $2,000 in purchases on your new card in your first 3 months
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 SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card
Intro offer
50,000 bonus miles and 5,000 Medallion® Qualification Miles (MQMs) after you spend $2,000 in purchases on your new card in your first 3 months
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.
On American Express’s website
Card 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.
Intro offer
50,000 bonus miles and 5,000 Medallion® Qualification Miles (MQMs) after you spend $2,000 in purchases on your new card in your first 3 months
Recommended Credit
Good to Excellent
Regular APR
17.99% – 26.99% Variable
Pros & Cons
Highlights
Additional Reading
Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card
Intro offer
60,000 bonus miles and 5,000 Medallion® Qualification Miles (MQMs) after spending $3,000 in purchases on your new card in your first 3 months of card membership
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
Intro offer
60,000 bonus miles and 5,000 Medallion® Qualification Miles (MQMs) after spending $3,000 in purchases on your new card in your first 3 months of card membership
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.
On American Express’s website
Card Details
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.
Intro offer
60,000 bonus miles and 5,000 Medallion® Qualification Miles (MQMs) after spending $3,000 in purchases on your new card in your first 3 months of card membership
Recommended Credit
Good to Excellent
Regular APR
17.99% – 26.99% Variable
Pros & Cons
Highlights
Additional Reading
Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card
Intro offer
50,000 bonus miles and 10,000 Medallion® Qualification Miles (MQMs) after you spend $3,000 in purchases on your new card in your first 3 months
Rewards
Earn 3x Miles on Delta purchases made directly with Delta. Earn 1X Miles on all other purchases.
Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card
Intro offer
50,000 bonus miles and 10,000 Medallion® Qualification Miles (MQMs) after you spend $3,000 in purchases on your new card in your first 3 months
Rewards
Earn 3x Miles on Delta purchases made directly with Delta. Earn 1X Miles on all other purchases.
On American Express’s website
Card Details
Rewards
Earn 3x Miles on Delta purchases made directly with Delta. Earn 1X Miles on all other purchases.
Intro offer
50,000 bonus miles and 10,000 Medallion® Qualification Miles (MQMs) after you spend $3,000 in purchases on your new card in your first 3 months
Recommended Credit
Good to Excellent
Regular APR
17.99% – 26.99% Variable
Pros & Cons
Highlights
Additional Reading
Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card
Intro offer
60,000 bonus miles and 10,000 Medallion® Qualification Miles (MQMs) after spending $4,000 in purchases on your new card in your first 3 months of card membership
Rewards
Earn 3x miles on Delta purchases made directly with Delta. 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
Intro offer
60,000 bonus miles and 10,000 Medallion® Qualification Miles (MQMs) after spending $4,000 in purchases on your new card in your first 3 months of card membership
Rewards
Earn 3x miles on Delta purchases made directly with Delta. Earn 1.5x miles after you spend $150K on your card in a calendar year. Earn 1x miles on all other purchases.
On American Express’s website
Card Details
Rewards
Earn 3x miles on Delta purchases made directly with Delta. Earn 1.5x miles after you spend $150K on your card in a calendar year. Earn 1x miles on all other purchases.
Intro offer
60,000 bonus miles and 10,000 Medallion® Qualification Miles (MQMs) after spending $4,000 in purchases on your new card in your first 3 months of card membership
Recommended Credit
Good to Excellent
Regular APR
17.99% – 26.99% Variable
Pros & Cons
Highlights
Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card
Intro offer
10,000 miles after you spend $500 in the first 3 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.
Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card
Intro offer
10,000 miles after you spend $500 in the first 3 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.
On American Express’s website
Card 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.
Intro offer
10,000 miles after you spend $500 in the first 3 months from account opening
Recommended Credit
Good to Excellent
Regular APR
17.99% – 26.99% Variable
Pros & Cons
Highlights
Additional Reading
Compare the best Delta credit cards
Delta SkyMiles are worth, on average, 1.1 cents apiece based on Insider’s 2022 points and miles valuations. Be sure to check out our guide to earning and redeeming Delta miles to find out the best ways to make the most of your rewards.
Delta miles aren’t just good for booking flights on Delta. You can redeem them for award tickets on other SkyTeam alliance carriers, including Air France, KLM, Korean Air, and other non-alliance partners like Virgin Atlantic and WestJet.
Best for occasional Delta flyers: Delta SkyMiles Gold cards
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 40,000 bonus miles after you spend $1,000 in purchases on your new card in your first 3 months. That’s worth $440 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 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.
Review: Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express card review
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 50,000 bonus miles after spending $2,000 in purchases on your new card in your first 3 months of card membership. You should have no trouble getting an average of $550 from this bonus, per Insider’s valuations.
Review: Delta SkyMiles Gold Business card review
Best for frequent Delta flyers: Delta SkyMiles Platinum cards
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 50,000 bonus miles and 5,000 Medallion® Qualification Miles (MQMs) after you spend $2,000 in purchases on your new card in your first 3 months. That’s worth an average of $550 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 application fee credit of up to $100, and it gets cardholders access to Sky Club lounges at a discounted rate of $39.
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.
Review: Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express card review
If you’re a frequent Delta flyer and you want a small-business 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 60,000 bonus miles and 5,000 Medallion® Qualification Miles (MQMs) after spending $3,000 in purchases on your new card in your first 3 months of card membership. That’s worth $660 in travel, according to Insider’s valuations.
Review: Delta SkyMiles Platinum Business card review
Best for airport lounge access: Delta SkyMiles Reserve cards
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 50,000 bonus miles and 10,000 Medallion® Qualification Miles (MQMs) after you spend $3,000 in purchases on your new card in your first 3 months. That’s worth an average of $550 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 their high-end complimentary food and drink, 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 a number of 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.
Review: Delta SkyMiles Reserve card review
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 60,000 bonus miles and 10,000 Medallion® Qualification Miles (MQMs) after spending $4,000 in purchases on your new card in your first 3 months of card membership. This is worth $660 in travel, on average (per Insider’s valuations).
Review: Delta SkyMiles Reserve Business card review
Best with no annual fee: Delta SkyMiles Blue 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 miles after you spend $500 in the first 3 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 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.
Review: Delta SkyMiles Blue American Express card review
Delta credit card frequently asked questions (FAQ)
All but one Delta credit card come with an annual fee.
While 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 worth the annual fee.
To be approved for a Delta credit card, you’ll need at least a good credit score. That means a FICO score of at least 670, or a VantageScore of at least 700.
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.
Delta credit cards regularly offer intro bonuses between 35,000 and 50,000 miles after meeting minimum spending requirements. American Express tends to boost these offers a handful of times each year.
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.
Your Delta Amex account and your Delta 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.
Insider’s experts choose the best products and services to help make smart decisions with your money (here’s how). In some cases, we receive a commission from our 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.
Insider’s Featured Rewards Credit Cards
Earn unlimited 3x points on restaurants, travel, gas stations, transit, popular streaming services and phone plans. Earn 1x points on other purchases.
30,000 bonus points when you spend $1,500 in purchases in the first 3 months from account opening
Earn 3x ThankYou® points at restaurants and supermarkets. Earn 3x ThankYou® points at gas stations, air travel, and hotels. Earn 1x ThankYou® points on all other purchases
80,000 bonus ThankYou® Points after you spend $4,000 in purchases within the first 3 months of account opening
Earn 5x points on all travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards. Earn 3x points on dining, including eligible delivery services, takeout, and dining out. Earn 3x points on select streaming services. Earn 3x points on online grocery purchases (excluding Target, Walmart, and wholesale clubs). Earn 2x points on other travel. Earn 1x point per dollar on everything else.
60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening
Luckily, you have no shortage of options to consider; Delta has seven credit cards that are co-branded with American Express, ranging from the no-annual-fee Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card to the premium Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card with a $550 annual fee and annual companion certificate perk.
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 guide to the best airline credit cards.
Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card
Intro offer
40,000 bonus miles after you spend $1,000 in purchases on your new card in your first 3 months
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
$0 intro for the first year, then $99
Annual Fee
Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card
Intro offer
40,000 bonus miles after you spend $1,000 in purchases on your new card in your first 3 months
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
$0 intro for the first year, then $99
Annual Fee
$0 intro for the first year, then $99
Annual Fee
On American Express’s website
Card 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
40,000 bonus miles after you spend $1,000 in purchases on your new card in your first 3 months
Recommended Credit
Good to Excellent
Regular APR
17.99%-26.99% Variable
Pros & Cons
Highlights
Additional Reading
Delta SkyMiles® Gold Business American Express Card
Intro offer
50,000 bonus miles after spending $2,000 in purchases on your new card in your first 3 months of card membership
Rewards
Earn 2x Miles on Delta 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.
$99 (with a $0 intro for the first year)
Annual Fee
Delta SkyMiles® Gold Business American Express Card
Intro offer
50,000 bonus miles after spending $2,000 in purchases on your new card in your first 3 months of card membership
Rewards
Earn 2x Miles on Delta 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.
$99 (with a $0 intro for the first year)
Annual Fee
$99 (with a $0 intro for the first year)
Annual Fee
On American Express’s website
Card Details
Rewards
Earn 2x Miles on Delta 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
50,000 bonus miles after spending $2,000 in purchases on your new card in your first 3 months of card membership
Recommended Credit
Good to Excellent
Regular APR
17.99% – 26.99% Variable
Pros & Cons
Highlights
Additional Reading
Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card
Intro offer
50,000 bonus miles and 5,000 Medallion® Qualification Miles (MQMs) after you spend $2,000 in purchases on your new card in your first 3 months
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 SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card
Intro offer
50,000 bonus miles and 5,000 Medallion® Qualification Miles (MQMs) after you spend $2,000 in purchases on your new card in your first 3 months
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.
On American Express’s website
Card 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.
Intro offer
50,000 bonus miles and 5,000 Medallion® Qualification Miles (MQMs) after you spend $2,000 in purchases on your new card in your first 3 months
Recommended Credit
Good to Excellent
Regular APR
17.99% – 26.99% Variable
Pros & Cons
Highlights
Additional Reading
Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card
Intro offer
60,000 bonus miles and 5,000 Medallion® Qualification Miles (MQMs) after spending $3,000 in purchases on your new card in your first 3 months of card membership
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
Intro offer
60,000 bonus miles and 5,000 Medallion® Qualification Miles (MQMs) after spending $3,000 in purchases on your new card in your first 3 months of card membership
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.
On American Express’s website
Card Details
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.
Intro offer
60,000 bonus miles and 5,000 Medallion® Qualification Miles (MQMs) after spending $3,000 in purchases on your new card in your first 3 months of card membership
Recommended Credit
Good to Excellent
Regular APR
17.99% – 26.99% Variable
Pros & Cons
Highlights
Additional Reading
Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card
Intro offer
50,000 bonus miles and 10,000 Medallion® Qualification Miles (MQMs) after you spend $3,000 in purchases on your new card in your first 3 months
Rewards
Earn 3x Miles on Delta purchases made directly with Delta. Earn 1X Miles on all other purchases.
Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card
Intro offer
50,000 bonus miles and 10,000 Medallion® Qualification Miles (MQMs) after you spend $3,000 in purchases on your new card in your first 3 months
Rewards
Earn 3x Miles on Delta purchases made directly with Delta. Earn 1X Miles on all other purchases.
On American Express’s website
Card Details
Rewards
Earn 3x Miles on Delta purchases made directly with Delta. Earn 1X Miles on all other purchases.
Intro offer
50,000 bonus miles and 10,000 Medallion® Qualification Miles (MQMs) after you spend $3,000 in purchases on your new card in your first 3 months
Recommended Credit
Good to Excellent
Regular APR
17.99% – 26.99% Variable
Pros & Cons
Highlights
Additional Reading
Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card
Intro offer
60,000 bonus miles and 10,000 Medallion® Qualification Miles (MQMs) after spending $4,000 in purchases on your new card in your first 3 months of card membership
Rewards
Earn 3x miles on Delta purchases made directly with Delta. 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
Intro offer
60,000 bonus miles and 10,000 Medallion® Qualification Miles (MQMs) after spending $4,000 in purchases on your new card in your first 3 months of card membership
Rewards
Earn 3x miles on Delta purchases made directly with Delta. Earn 1.5x miles after you spend $150K on your card in a calendar year. Earn 1x miles on all other purchases.
On American Express’s website
Card Details
Rewards
Earn 3x miles on Delta purchases made directly with Delta. Earn 1.5x miles after you spend $150K on your card in a calendar year. Earn 1x miles on all other purchases.
Intro offer
60,000 bonus miles and 10,000 Medallion® Qualification Miles (MQMs) after spending $4,000 in purchases on your new card in your first 3 months of card membership
Recommended Credit
Good to Excellent
Regular APR
17.99% – 26.99% Variable
Pros & Cons
Highlights
Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card
Intro offer
10,000 miles after you spend $500 in the first 3 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.
Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card
Intro offer
10,000 miles after you spend $500 in the first 3 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.
On American Express’s website
Card 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.
Intro offer
10,000 miles after you spend $500 in the first 3 months from account opening
Recommended Credit
Good to Excellent
Regular APR
17.99% – 26.99% Variable
Pros & Cons
Highlights
Additional Reading
Compare the best Delta credit cards
Delta SkyMiles are worth, on average, 1.1 cents apiece based on Insider’s 2022 points and miles valuations. Be sure to check out our guide to earning and redeeming Delta miles to find out the best ways to make the most of your rewards.
Delta miles aren’t just good for booking flights on Delta. You can redeem them for award tickets on other SkyTeam alliance carriers, including Air France, KLM, Korean Air, and other non-alliance partners like Virgin Atlantic and WestJet.
Best for occasional Delta flyers: Delta SkyMiles Gold cards
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 40,000 bonus miles after you spend $1,000 in purchases on your new card in your first 3 months. That’s worth $440 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 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.
Review: Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express card review
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 50,000 bonus miles after spending $2,000 in purchases on your new card in your first 3 months of card membership. You should have no trouble getting an average of $550 from this bonus, per Insider’s valuations.
Review: Delta SkyMiles Gold Business card review
Best for frequent Delta flyers: Delta SkyMiles Platinum cards
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 50,000 bonus miles and 5,000 Medallion® Qualification Miles (MQMs) after you spend $2,000 in purchases on your new card in your first 3 months. That’s worth an average of $550 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 application fee credit of up to $100, and it gets cardholders access to Sky Club lounges at a discounted rate of $39.
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.
Review: Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express card review
If you’re a frequent Delta flyer and you want a small-business 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 60,000 bonus miles and 5,000 Medallion® Qualification Miles (MQMs) after spending $3,000 in purchases on your new card in your first 3 months of card membership. That’s worth $660 in travel, according to Insider’s valuations.
Review: Delta SkyMiles Platinum Business card review
Best for airport lounge access: Delta SkyMiles Reserve cards
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 50,000 bonus miles and 10,000 Medallion® Qualification Miles (MQMs) after you spend $3,000 in purchases on your new card in your first 3 months. That’s worth an average of $550 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 their high-end complimentary food and drink, 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 a number of 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.
Review: Delta SkyMiles Reserve card review
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 60,000 bonus miles and 10,000 Medallion® Qualification Miles (MQMs) after spending $4,000 in purchases on your new card in your first 3 months of card membership. This is worth $660 in travel, on average (per Insider’s valuations).
Review: Delta SkyMiles Reserve Business card review
Best with no annual fee: Delta SkyMiles Blue 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 miles after you spend $500 in the first 3 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 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.
Review: Delta SkyMiles Blue American Express card review
Delta credit card frequently asked questions (FAQ)
All but one Delta credit card come with an annual fee.
While 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 worth the annual fee.
To be approved for a Delta credit card, you’ll need at least a good credit score. That means a FICO score of at least 670, or a VantageScore of at least 700.
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.
Delta credit cards regularly offer intro bonuses between 35,000 and 50,000 miles after meeting minimum spending requirements. American Express tends to boost these offers a handful of times each year.
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.
Your Delta Amex account and your Delta 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.