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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 of 2024
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 credit cards. Delta raised annual fees on all six with-fee credit cards in February 2024, so make sure you evaluate the benefits offered to see if they’re worth the annual fee to you.
Compare the Best Delta Credit Cards
Best for occasional Delta flyers
Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card
Insider’s Rating
4.1/5
Perks
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 $150
Regular APR
20.99% – 29.99% Variable
Recommended Credit
Good to Excellent
Pros
Earns bonus miles at restaurants and US supermarkets
Intro annual fee is $0 for the first year (then $150)
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
Product Details
Earn 70,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $3,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months.
Enjoy a $0 introductory Annual Fee for the first year, then $150.
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.
Enhanced! $200 Delta Flight Credit: After you spend $10,000 in purchases in a year, you can receive a $200 Delta Flight Credit to use toward future travel.
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.
Enjoy your first checked bag free on Delta flights.
Receive Main Cabin 1 Priority Boarding on Delta flights; board early, stow your carry-on bag and settle in sooner.
New! $100 Delta Stays Credit: Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card Members can earn up to $100 back annually on eligible prepaid Delta Stays bookings on delta.com.
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.
Best business card for occasional Delta flyers
Delta SkyMiles® Gold Business American Express Card
Insider’s Rating
4/5
Perks
Earn 2x Miles on every dollar spent on eligible purchases at U.S. shipping providers and eligible U.S. advertising purchases in select media on up to $50,000 of purchases per category, per year, Earn 2x Miles on eligible purchases made directly with Delta. Earn 2x Miles on every eligible dollar spent at restaurants, Earn 1X Miles on all other purchases.
Annual Fee
$0 intro for the first year, then $150
Regular APR
20.99% – 29.99% Variable
Limited Time Offer: Earn 80,000 bonus miles
Recommended Credit
Good to Excellent
Pros
Intro annual fee is $0 for the first year (then $150)
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
Product Details
Limited Time Offer: Earn 80,000 Bonus Miles after spending $6,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Offer Ends 3/27/24.
$0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $150
Card Members save 15% when booking Award Travel with miles on Delta flights when using delta.com and the Fly Delta app. Discount not applicable to partner-operated flights or to taxes and fees.
Additionally, you can receive a $200 Delta Flight Credit to use toward future travel after you spend $10,000 in purchases in a year.
Earn 2 miles per dollar spent on purchases at U.S. Shipping providers and at U.S. providers for Advertising in select media on up to $50,000 of purchases per category, per year.
Earn 2 Miles on every dollar spent on eligible purchases made directly with Delta and on every eligible dollar spent at restaurants.
Earn 1 Mile on every eligible dollar spent on other purchases.
Check and stow your bag with ease: First Checked Bag Free on Delta Flights + Main Cabin 1 Priority Boarding.
Elevate your travel experience with an annual statement credit of up to $150 after using your Delta Gold American Express Card to book prepaid hotels or vacation rentals through Delta Stays on delta.com.
Receive a 20% savings in the form of a statement credit on eligible Delta in-flight purchases after using your Card.
Pay no foreign transaction fees when you travel overseas.
Terms and limitations apply.
Best for frequent Delta flyers
Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card
Insider’s Rating
4.3/5
Perks
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.
Regular APR
20.99% – 29.99% Variable
Recommended Credit
Good to Excellent
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
Product Details
Earn 90,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $4,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months.
Enhanced! Receive a Companion Certificate on Main Cabin domestic, Caribbean, or Central American roundtrip flights to select destinations each year after renewal of your Card. The Companion Ticket requires payment of the government-imposed taxes and fees of no more than $80 for roundtrip domestic flights and no more than $250 for roundtrip international flights (both for itineraries with up to four flight segments). Baggage charges and other restrictions apply. See terms and conditions for details.
New! Receive $2,500 Medallion® Qualification Dollars each Medallion Qualification Year and get closer to Status with MQD Headstart.
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.
New! Earn $1 Medallion® Qualification Dollar for each $20 of purchases made on your Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card in a calendar year and get a boost toward achieving elevated Medallion Status for next Medallion Year.
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 Mile on all other eligible purchases.
New! $120 Resy Credit: With the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card Resy Credit, earn up to $10 per month in statement credits on eligible Resy purchases using your enrolled Card.
New! $120 Rideshare Credit: You can earn up to $10 back in statement credits each month on U.S. rideshare purchases with select providers after you pay with your Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card. Enrollment Required.
Enjoy your first checked bag free on Delta flights. Plus enjoy Main Cabin 1 Priority Boarding and settle into your seat sooner.
Fee Credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®: Receive $100 back for Global Entry or $85 back for TSA PreCheck® after you apply through any Official Enrollment Provider. If approved for Global Entry, at no additional charge, you will receive access to TSA PreCheck.
New! Not a Medallion Member? Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card Members with an eligible ticket will be added to the Complimentary Upgrade list, after Delta SkyMiles Medallion Members and Reserve Card Members. Ticket must be purchased on or after February 1, 2024 to be eligible to receive a complimentary upgrade.
New! $150 Delta Stays Credit: Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card Members can earn up to $150 back annually on eligible prepaid Delta Stays bookings on delta.com.
New! Transform your car rental experience with Hertz Five Star® Status, compliments of your Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card. Enrollment in the Hertz Gold Plus Rewards program is required. To receive the benefit, you must add your Hertz Gold Plus Rewards Account number to your SkyMiles Account associated with your Eligible Card, register at delta.com/mypromos/eligible, and “Enroll in Promotion” at delta.com/hertz.
No Foreign Transaction Fees.
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.
$350 Annual Fee.
Terms Apply.
Best business card for frequent Delta flyers
Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card
Insider’s Rating
4/5
Perks
Earn 3x Miles on Delta purchases made directly with Delta. Earn 1.5x Miles on eligible transit and U.S. shipping purchases, plus single eligible purchases of $5,000 or more, on up to $100,000 per calendar year. Earn 1x Miles on all other purchases.
Regular APR
20.99% – 29.99% Variable
Limited Time Offer: Earn 100,000 bonus miles
Recommended Credit
Good to Excellent
Pros
Annual companion certificate benefit helps you recoup the annual fee
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
Product Details
Limited Time Offer: Earn 100,000 Bonus Miles after spending $8,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Offer Ends 3/27/24.
Enjoy a Companion Certificate each year after renewal of your Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card. The Companion Ticket requires payment of government-imposed taxes and fees of no more than $80 for roundtrip domestic flights and no more than $250 for roundtrip international flights (both for itineraries with up to four flight segments). Baggage charges and other restrictions apply. See terms and conditions for details.
Earn 1.5X miles* on eligible transit and U.S. shipping purchases, plus single eligible purchases of $5,000 or more. Terms and miles cap apply. *If your purchase qualifies for a category that has a higher mileage accelerator, only the higher accelerator will apply.
Get closer to elevated Status next Medallion® Year with MQD Headstart and MQD Boost: receive $2,500 Medallion Qualification Dollars each Medallion Qualification Year and earn $1 MQD for each $20 of purchases with your Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card.
Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card Members save 15% 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.
With the $120 Resy Credit, earn up to $10 per month in statement credits on eligible Resy purchases using your enrolled Card.
Earn up to $10 back each month after using your enrolled Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card for U.S. rideshare purchases with select providers.
Not a Medallion Member? Card Members with an eligible ticket will be added to the Complimentary Upgrade list, after Delta SkyMiles Medallion Members and Reserve Card Members. Ticket must be purchased on or after February 1, 2024 to be eligible to receive a complimentary upgrade.
Get your first checked bag free along with Main Cabin 1 Priority Boarding for you and up to 8 traveling companions booked under the same reservation on your next Delta flight. The reservation needs to include your SkyMiles number. Limitations apply. For example, oversized and overweight bags are not eligible. Also, these benefits don’t apply to Delta flights operated by other airlines.
Receive a fee credit for TSA PreCheck® or Global Entry (which includes TSA PreCheck) by using your Card. If approved for Global Entry, you will also receive access to TSA PreCheck at no additional charge.
Elevate your travel experience with an annual statement credit of up to $200 after using your Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card to book prepaid hotels or vacation rentals through Delta Stays on delta.com.
Terms and limitations apply.
Best for airport lounge access
Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card
Insider’s Rating
4.1/5
Perks
Earn 1-3 miles per dollar on purchases.
Regular APR
20.99% – 29.99% Variable
Recommended Credit
Good to Excellent
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
Product Details
Earn 100,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $6,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months.
Enjoy complimentary access to the Delta Sky Club® when traveling on a same-day Delta-marketed or Delta-operated flight. You will receive four Delta Sky Club One-Time Guest Passes each year. After that, you may bring up to two guests at a per-visit rate of $50 per person, per location. Effective 2/1/25, Reserve Card Members will receive 15 Visits per year to the Delta Sky Club; to earn an unlimited number of Visits each year starting on 2/1/25, the total eligible purchases on the Card must equal $75,000 or more between 1/1/24 and 12/31/24, and each calendar year thereafter.
Enjoy complimentary access to The Centurion® Lounge when you book a Delta flight with your Reserve Card.
New! Receive $2,500 Medallion® Qualification Dollars each Medallion Qualification Year and get closer to Status with MQD Headstart.
New! Earn $1 Medallion® Qualification Dollar for each $10 of purchases made on your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card in a calendar year and get a boost toward achieving elevated Medallion Status for next Medallion Year.
Enhanced! Receive a Companion Certificate on First Class, Delta Comfort+®, or Main Cabin domestic, Caribbean, or Central American roundtrip flights to select destinations each year after renewal of your Card. The Companion Ticket requires payment of the government-imposed taxes and fees of no more than $80 for roundtrip domestic flights and no more than $250 for roundtrip international flights (both for itineraries with up to four flight segments). Baggage charges and other restrictions apply. See terms and conditions for details.
New! $240 Resy Credit: With the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card Resy Credit, earn up to $20 per month in statement credits on eligible Resy purchases using your enrolled Card.
New! $120 Rideshare Credit: You can earn up to $10 back in statement credits each month on U.S. rideshare purchases with select providers after you pay with your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card. Enrollment Required.
Eligible 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.
With your Card receive upgrade priority over other Medallion Members within the same Medallion level and fare class.
New! Not a Medallion Member? Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card Members with an eligible ticket will be added to the Complimentary Upgrade list, after Delta SkyMiles Medallion Members and Reserve Card Members. Ticket must be purchased on or after February 1, 2024 to be eligible to receive a complimentary upgrade.
Fee Credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®: Receive $100 back for Global Entry or $85 back for TSA PreCheck® after you apply through any Official Enrollment Provider. If approved for Global Entry, at no additional charge, you will receive access to TSA PreCheck.
Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases.
Earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases.
New! $200 Delta Stays Statement Credit: Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card Members can earn up to $200 back in the form of a statement credit annually on eligible prepaid Delta Stays bookings on delta.com.
New! Transform your car rental experience with Hertz President’s Circle Status, compliments of your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card. Enrollment in the Hertz Gold Plus Rewards program is required. To receive the benefit, you must add your Hertz Gold Plus Rewards Account number to your SkyMiles Account associated with your Eligible Card, register at delta.com/mypromos/eligible, and “Enroll in Promotion” at delta.com/hertz.
No Foreign Transaction Fees.
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.
Enjoy your first checked bag free on Delta flights.
$650 Annual Fee.
Terms Apply.
Best business card for airport lounge access
Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card
Insider’s Rating
4.1/5
Perks
Earn 3x miles on eligible Delta purchases. Earn 1.5x miles on eligible transit, U.S. shipping, and U.S. office supply store purchases, plus all eligible purchases after you spend $150,000 on your card in a calendar year. Earn 1x miles on all other purchases.
Regular APR
20.99% – 29.99% Variable
Limited Time Offer: Earn 110,000 bonus miles
Recommended Credit
Good to Excellent
Pros
Annual companion certificate that works in first class
Access to Delta Sky Club and American Express Centurion Lounges when you’re flying Delta (Effective 2/1/25, Reserve card members will receive 15 visits per year to the Delta Sky Club and must spend $75,000 or more in total eligible purchases on the card to earn an unlimited number of visits each year going forward)
Earns 3x miles on eligible Delta purchases
Cons
Very high annual fee
No bonus miles on non-Delta purchases
Product Details
Limited Time Offer: Earn 110,000 Bonus Miles after spending $12,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Offer Ends 3/27/24.
Enter Delta Sky Club® at no cost and bring up to two guests or immediate family at a rate of $50 per person per visit. Effective 2/1/25, Reserve Card Members will receive 15 Visits per year to the Delta Sky Club; to earn an unlimited number of Visits each year starting on 2/1/25, the total eligible purchases on the Card must equal $75,000 or more between 1/1/24 and 12/31/24, and each calendar year thereafter.
Earn 1.5X miles on eligible transit, U.S. shipping, and U.S. office supply store purchases, plus all eligible purchases after you spend $150,000 in purchases on your Card in a year. If your purchase qualifies for a category that has a higher mileage accelerator, only the higher accelerator will apply.
Enjoy 3x miles per dollar on Delta purchases.
Get closer to elevated Status next Medallion® Year with MQD Headstart and MQD Boost: receive $2,500 Medallion Qualification Dollars each Medallion Qualification Year and earn $1 MQD for each $10 on purchases with your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card.
Receive a Companion Certificate on First Class, Delta Comfort+®, or Main Cabin domestic, Caribbean, or Central American roundtrip flights each year after renewal of your Card. The Companion Ticket requires payment of government-imposed taxes and fees of no more than $80 for roundtrip domestic flights and no more than $250 for roundtrip international flights (both for itineraries with up to four flight segments). Baggage charges and other restrictions apply. See terms and conditions for details.
With the $240 Resy Credit, earn up to $20 per month [in statement credits] on eligible Resy purchases using your enrolled Card.
Earn up to $10 back each month after using your enrolled Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card for U.S. rideshare purchases with select providers.
Save 15% On Award Travel With TakeOff 15. Card Members now enjoy savings on Delta flights. Not applicable to partner-operated flights or to taxes and fees.
Not a Medallion Member? Card Members with an eligible ticket will be added to the Complimentary Upgrade list, after Delta SkyMiles Medallion Members.
As a benefit of Card Membership, you can check your first bag free on Delta flights, saving up to $60 on a round-trip Delta flight per person. For a family of four that’s a potential savings of up to $240 per round-trip flight.
When you purchase a Delta flight with your Delta SkyMiles Reserve Business Card, you will receive complimentary access to The Centurion® Lounge or Escape Lounge – The Centurion® Studio Partner.
Receive Main Cabin 1 Priority Boarding on Delta flights; board early, stow your carry-on bag and settle in sooner.
Elevate your travel experience with an annual statement credit of up to $250 after using your Delta Reserve Business American Express Card to book prepaid hotels or vacation rentals through Delta Stays on delta.com.
Pay no foreign transaction fees when you travel overseas.
Terms and limitations apply.
Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card
Insider’s Rating
3.5/5
Perks
Earn 1-2 miles per dollar on purchases
Regular APR
20.99% – 29.99% Variable
Recommended Credit
Good to Excellent
Pros
No annual fee
Earns bonus miles at US restaurants
Cons
Doesn’t offer benefits like a free checked bag when you fly Delta
Product Details
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 and beverages.
No Foreign Transaction Fees.
Terms Apply.
Best Delta Credit Cards Frequently Asked Questions
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.
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.
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 upgrading or downgrading your existing card.
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.
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 (effective 2/1/25, Reserve card members will receive 15 visits per year to the Delta Sky Club and must spend $75,000 or more in total eligible purchases on the card to earn an unlimited number of visits each year going forward). 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 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 Delta Credit Card Reviews
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 70,000 bonus miles after you spend $3,000 in purchases on your new card in your first six months from account opening. That’s worth $770 in travel, per Personal Finance Insider’s valuations. This card comes with an annual fee of $0 intro for the first year, then $150.
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 $200 Delta flight credit after you spend $10,000 on the card in a calendar year, and no foreign transaction fees.
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 $0 intro for the first year, then $150.
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 (on the consumer card), on up to $50,000 in eligible purchases per category per year. Both versions offer 2x miles on Delta purchases and restaurant purchases.
If you fly Delta somewhat regularly, the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card is a better option, thanks to an often-overlooked benefit that gets close to covering the annual fee each year. This card offers an intro bonus of 90,000 bonus miles after you spend $4,000 in purchases on your new card in the first six months from account opening. That’s worth an average of $990 in Delta flights, according to Personal Finance 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.
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 companion certificate each year at your cardmember anniversary. A Delta companion certificate is essentially a buy-one-get-one-free coupon, although there are restrictions on how and where you can use it.
The companion pass can easily cancel out the card’s Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card annual fee of $350 if you’re able to use it effectively.
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.
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 $350 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 on up to $100,000 each year, including eligible purchases on transit and U.S. shipping.
Right now, the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card welcome bonus offer is 100,000 bonus miles after spending $8,000 in purchases on your new card in your first six months of card membership (offer ends 3/27/24). That’s worth $1,100 in travel, according to Personal Finance Insider’s valuations.
The Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card has a higher $650 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 100,000 bonus miles after you spend $6,000 in purchases on your new card in the first six months from account opening. That’s worth an average of $1,100 in travel, per Personal Finance Insider’s valuations.
Like the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card, it offers an annual 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. Reserve card members will also receive 15 visits per year to the Delta Sky Club.
Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card cardholders can now access Amex Centurion Lounges when they’re flying Delta and pay for their ticket with a U.S.-issued American Express card. Centurion Lounges are known for high-end complimentary food and drinks, so this is a great added value.
Other card 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. Delta Reserve cardmembers also get one Delta companion certificate each year, which allow them to fly a companion for free on certain qualifying flights.
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 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, with 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 carries the same premium annual fee of $650 as the consumer credit card version. To offset the cost, this card offers an intro bonus of 110,000 bonus miles after spending $12,000 in purchases on your new card in your first six months of card membership (offer ends 3/27/24), worth $1,210 in travel, on average (per Personal Finance Insider’s valuations).
If you want to earn Delta miles on your everyday spending without paying an annual fee, the Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card is an option, which comes with a modest bonus of 10,000 bonus miles after spending $1,000 in purchases on your new card in the first six months from account opening.
This card 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. That’s not bad for a no-annual-fee travel credit card.
Why You Should Trust Us: How We Chose the Best Delta Credit Cards
Our editorial team evaluates each credit card for its merits and detractors, comparing annual fees against value and benefits. When considering credit cards for Delta travelers, here are some of the criteria we considered:
Delta-specific benefits — Each of the cards listed in this guide offers special perks for Delta cardholders. Even the no-annual-fee Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card offers 20% off inflight purchases and serves as a useful card to keep on international trips, since there are no annual fees.
Value relative to cost — Some of these credit cards charge sky-high annual fees, but come with premium benefits that offset the price. Every traveler’s needs are different, which we take into consideration when presenting a range of options.
I’m the Senior Credit Cards Editor at Personal Finance Insider, and previously freelanced for Business Insider before joining the newsroom as a full-time employee. I’ve published more than 1,800 articles, guides and reviews for a diverse range of media publications including Forbes Advisor, USA TODAY Blueprint, The Points Guy, NerdWallet, LendingTree, Slickdeals Money, CreditCards.com, Bankrate and more. My areas of expertise include points and miles travel; consumer and SMB credit cards; travel insurance; personal finance; SMB technology and software; consumer real estate investing; and insurance. I’m also an experienced photojournalist who has covered Austin City Limits, South by Southwest and other global events for the Austin American-Statesman, Associated Press, Google and MSN. A proud Longhorn, I hold dual degrees in journalism and Asian American studies from the University of Texas at Austin. I began my career in the tech industry as a software sales executive before returning to my media roots. A former third-culture kid who split time between Texas and Taiwan growing up, I’m more comfortable on a plane than I am with a multi-year apartment lease. I’ve been to all seven continents as of February 2023 (yes, including the icy one). In my free time, you’ll probably find me hanging out in an airport lounge somewhere in the world; cooking Taiwanese beef noodle soup or handwrapped dumplings; splitting time between Austin and New York City; or plotting my next visit to Taiwan.
