Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express Card

Benefits:

• First bag checked free on Delta flights.
• Priority boarding.
• 20% off inflight purchases.
• 2 miles per dollar on eligible Delta purchases, restaurants and U.S. supermarkets and 1 mile per dollar on everything else.
• $100 Delta flight credit after $10,000 spend in a calendar year.
• No foreign transaction fees (see rates and fees).

Annual fee: $0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $99 (see rates and fees).

Welcome offer: Earn 70,000 bonus miles after you spend $2,000 in purchases on your new card in your first six months of card membership.

Related: Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express Card review

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Official application link: Delta SkyMiles Gold.

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Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card

Benefits:

• Annual companion certificate each year upon card renewal for main-cabin, round-trip travel.
• 10,000 MQMs toward status when you spend $25,000 on the card in a calendar year, plus an additional 10,000 MQMs when you spend $50,000 in a calendar year.
• Earn 3 miles per dollar on eligible Delta purchases and at hotels, 2 miles per dollar at restaurants and U.S. supermarkets and 1 mile per dollar on everything else.
• Get a first bag checked free on Delta flights.
• Priority boarding.
• 20% off inflight purchases.
• Receive a Global Entry/TSA PreCheck fee credit (every four years for Global Entry, every 4.5 years for TSA PreCheck) (up to $100).
• No foreign transaction fees (see rates and fees). 

Annual fee: $250 (see rates and fees).

Welcome offer: Earn 90,000 bonus miles after you spend $4,000 in purchases on your new card in your first six months of card membership.

Related: Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card review

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Official application link: Delta SkyMiles Platinum.

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Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express Card

Benefits:

• Annual companion certificate each year upon card renewal for round-trip travel in first class, Comfort+ or main cabin.
• Complimentary Delta Sky Club access when you fly Delta, plus two one-time guest passes.
• 15,000 MQMs toward status when you spend $30,000, $60,000, $90,000 and $120,000 on the card in a calendar year.
• Earn 3 miles per dollar on eligible Delta purchases and 1 mile per dollar on everything else.
• Complimentary access to American Express Centurion Lounges when flying Delta with a ticket purchased on the card (up to two guests may also enter for a fee of $50 each).
• A Global Entry/TSA PreCheck fee credit (every four years for Global Entry, every 4.5 years for TSA PreCheck) (up to $100).
• Access to complimentary upgrades (for non-Medallions).
• Get a first bag checked for free on Delta flights.
• Priority boarding.
• 20% off inflight purchases.
• No foreign transaction fees (see rates and fees).

Annual fee: $550 (see rates and fees).

Welcome offer: Earn 90,000 bonus miles after you spend $6,000 in purchases on your new card in your first six months of card membership.

TPG’s Staff Pick: “As a Delta Diamond Medallion, I spend a lot of time on Delta jets. The Delta Reserve card helps me maintain my status by offering bonus Medallion Qualifying Miles (MQMs), which have done a lot to help me earn and retain status. Plus, the card’s annual companion ticket is valid on first class itineraries and has helped me offset the card’s annual fee multiple years in a row.” – Andrew Kunesh, Editor

Related: Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express card review

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Official application link: Delta SkyMiles Reserve.

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Best Delta business credit cards

Delta flyers who own small businesses may benefit from the business versions of these cards. These have largely the same benefits as personal credit cards, but a business credit card can be a good choice if you want to separate expenses or leverage different bonus categories. If you’re trying to stay under 5/24 (Chase’s rule that limits credit card approvals), it’s also helpful that Amex business credit cards don’t count toward your 5/24 standing.

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Here’s an overview of the three Delta small business credit cards:

Delta SkyMiles Gold Business American Express Card

Benefits:

• First bag checked free on Delta flights.
• $100 Delta flight credit after spending $10,000 in a calendar year.
• Priority boarding.
• 20% off inflight purchases.
• 2 miles per dollar on eligible Delta purchases, restaurants, U.S. shipping and U.S. advertising and 1 mile per dollar on everything else.
• No foreign transaction fees (see rates and fees).

Annual fee: $0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $99 (see rates and fees).

Welcome offer: Earn 75,000 bonus miles after spending $3,000 in purchases on your new card in your first three months of card membership. Offer ends 3/29/23.

Related: Delta SkyMiles Gold Business American Express Card review

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Official application link: Delta SkyMiles Gold Business.

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Delta SkyMiles Platinum Business American Express Card

Benefits:

• Annual companion certificate each year upon card renewal for main-cabin, round-trip travel.
• 10,000 MQMs toward status when you spend $25,000 on the card in a calendar year, plus an additional 10,000 MQMs when you spend $50,000 in a calendar year.
• 3 miles per dollar on eligible Delta purchases and hotels and 1 mile per dollar on everything else.
• 1.5 miles per dollar on purchases over $5,000 (up to 50,000 miles per calendar year).
• Global Entry/TSA PreCheck credit (up to $100).
• First bag checked free on Delta flights.
• Priority boarding.
• 20% off inflight purchases.
• No foreign transaction fees (see rates and fees).

Annual fee: $250 (see rates and fees).

Welcome offer: 95,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $4,000 in purchases on your new card in your first three months of card membership. Offer ends 3/29/23.

Related: Delta SkyMiles Platinum Business American Express Card review

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Official application link: Delta SkyMiles Platinum Business.

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Delta SkyMiles Reserve Business American Express Card

Benefits:

• Annual companion certificate each year upon card renewal for round-trip travel in first class, Comfort+ or main cabin.
• Complimentary Delta Sky Club access when you fly Delta, plus two one-time guest passes.
• 15,000 MQMs toward status when you spend $30,000, $60,000, $90,000 and $120,000 on the card in a calendar year.
• 3 miles per dollar on Delta purchases and 1 mile per dollar on everything else.
• Earn 1.5 miles per dollar on all purchases after spending $150,000 a year.
• Complimentary access to American Express Centurion Lounges when flying Delta with a ticket purchased on the card (up to two guests may also enter for a fee of $50 each).
• A Global Entry/TSA PreCheck fee credit (every four years for Global Entry, every 4.5 years for TSA PreCheck).
• Access to complimentary upgrades (including non-Medallions).
• First bag checked free on Delta flights.
• Priority boarding.
• 20% off inflight purchases.
• No foreign transaction fees (see rates and fees).

Annual fee: $550 (see rates and fees).

Welcome offer: Earn 100,000 bonus miles after you spend $6,000 in purchases on your new card in your first three months of card membership. Offer ends 3/29/23.

Related: Delta SkyMiles Reserve Business American Express card review 

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Official application link: Delta SkyMiles Reserve Business.

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One last Delta option

There’s also the Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card. Despite carrying no annual fee (see rates and fees), you’ll still earn 2 miles per dollar on eligible Delta purchases and at restaurants worldwide and enjoy 20% off eligible inflight purchases when you travel with Delta. However, the perks end there, which is why it doesn’t make the list of the best credit cards for Delta travelers.

Nonetheless, someone just getting started with Delta may want to add this card to their wallet now, since it’s currently offering a welcome bonus of 10,000 SkyMiles after you spend $1,000 in purchases on your new card in your first six months.

Related: We got an inside look at how Delta is cleaning planes between every flight

When Delta Amex cards make sense

Overall, I think the Delta credit cards offer a fair value for their respective annual fees. The ability to earn MQMs on the Delta Platinum and Reserve cards may make them worth the higher annual fees for some Delta loyalists, especially if you’re a big credit card spender and fall short of earning elite status without a little help.

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A big plus with Platinum and Reserve cards is the offer of a companion certificate for travel on eligible Delta each year after your account anniversary. With the Platinum, you get a domestic companion certificate good for the main cabin, but with the Reserve it’s even good for first class, Delta Comfort+ or the main cabin (also with a maximum of $80 in taxes and fees).

Keep the restrictions in mind: They limit travel to within the 48 contiguous United States (although those who live in Hawaii, Alaska, Puerto Rico or the U.S. Virgin Islands can originate from their home to a destination in the 48 contiguous United States).

You can also use the Delta Platinum and Reserve credit cards to waive the Medallion Qualification Dollar (MQD) requirement for Delta elite status. If you spend $25,000 on Delta Platinum or Reserve cards in a calendar year, you’ll get an MQD waiver for status levels up to Platinum, but to get the MQD requirement waived for Diamond Medallion status, you have to spend $250,000 on Delta credit cards in a calendar year.

Needless to say, I don’t recommend going this route in most cases, especially since you can meet the MQD requirement for Diamond status by spending a much lower amount on Delta and partner flights in a calendar year. But, there will be those niche cases where it is worth it for some.

When it comes to the Delta Reserve, regular flyers on the carrier will likely appreciate the Delta Sky Club access, though it may not be enough to justify the $550 annual fee for everyone (see rates and fees). Delta has been adding amenities and opening new Sky Clubs over the last few years, along with implementing access restrictions in an effort to keep these lounges exclusive. If you fly Delta frequently and don’t have club access through another card like The Platinum Card® from American Express, this benefit could strongly appeal to you.

Additional options for Delta flyers

If you mostly fly Delta using points and miles instead of on revenue fares, there are other non-Delta cards to consider.

As previously mentioned, Amex Membership Rewards points transfer to Delta at a 1:1 ratio and cards that earn Membership Rewards aren’t the only Amex options for racking up significant SkyMiles. You can actually get a much higher return on spending with some non-Delta-branded options from Amex.

Let’s take a look at those other Amex cards:

The Platinum Card® from American Express

Benefits:

• 5 points per dollar on all airfare booked directly with airlines or via Amex Travel (on up to $500,000 in purchases per calendar year).
• 5 points per dollar on prepaid hotel bookings via Amex Travel.
• Annual airline fee incidental statement credit up to $200; enrollment required.
• Annual Uber Cash up to $200; enrollment required.
• Annual prepaid hotel statement credit up to $200 with Fine Hotels + Resorts® or The Hotel Collection bookings of two or more nights; enrollment required.
• Annual Clear membership credit up to $189; enrollment required.
• Annual digital entertainment credit up to $240; enrollment required.
• Annual Equinox credit up to $300; enrollment required.
• Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application-fee credit up to $100.
• No foreign transaction fees (see rates and fees).

Annual fee: $695 (see rates and fees).

Welcome offer: Earn 80,000 points after you spend $6,000 on purchases on the card in the first six months of card membership. 

Related:  American Express Platinum review

Check the CardMatch Tool to see if you’re targeted for up to a 125,000- or 150,000-point Platinum Card welcome offer. These offers are subject to change at any time.

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Official application link: American Express Platinum.

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American Express® Gold Card

Benefits:

• 3 points per dollar on all airfare purchased directly from the airline or via Amex Travel.
• 4 points per dollar at restaurants.
• 4 points per dollar at U.S. supermarkets up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year (then 1 point per dollar).
• Annual dining statement credit up to $120 ($10 monthly when you pay with the Gold card at  Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, Milk Bar, and select Shake Shack locations. Enrollment required.); enrollment required.
• Uber Cash up to $120 ($10 monthly credits that can be used on U.S. rides and Uber Eats when you have your Amex Gold added to your Uber account); enrollment required.

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Annual fee: $250 (see rates and fees).

Welcome offer: 60,000 points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first six months of card membership.

Related: American Express Gold review

Check the CardMatch Tool to see if you’re targeted for a 75k-point Gold Card offer. Targeted offers are subject to change at any time.

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Official application link: Amex Gold.

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FAQs about the Delta SkyMiles program

Of course, earning miles on Delta American Express credit cards (and the others above) is just one part of the equation. Here are some common questions we get here at TPG about the Delta SkyMiles program:

How much are Delta miles worth?

According to TPG’s latest point valuations, Delta SkyMiles are worth 1.41 cents each. You may get more or less value out of your SkyMiles, depending on how you redeem them.

To calculate how much value you’re getting for your miles, find the cash price of the ticket you’re redeeming for and divide it by the number of miles that ticket costs. For instance, if a flight costs $100 but you redeem 8,000 SkyMiles for it, you’d be getting about 1.25 cents per mile for that redemption. 

Alternatively, use TPG’s new awards vs. cash calculator to figure out if you’re getting a good deal with your points and miles.

Related: How to decide whether to use cash or miles for airline tickets

How do I earn Delta miles?

Delta SkyMiles can be earned in several ways, only one of which is from flying on Delta. You can also earn Delta miles by spending on Delta’s credit cards, by transferring points from American Express’ Membership Rewards program, by shopping through Delta’s SkyMiles shopping portal, by using the SkyMiles dining program and through various other promotions offered by the airline.

You can also transfer your Marriott Bonvoy points to your Delta SkyMiles account if you have some to spare.

How do I redeem Delta miles?

Although Delta SkyMiles can be redeemed in various ways, you’ll generally get the most value for your miles by redeeming them for flights. Delta is a member of the SkyTeam alliance, made up of 26 international airlines — all of which you can book by using Delta miles. You can’t transfer miles between the different airlines, but you can use Delta’s website or another SkyTeam carrier to find flights on partner airlines that can be booked using Delta SkyMiles.

Related: How to redeem miles with the Delta Air Lines SkyMiles Program

How many Delta miles does it take to get a free flight?

Delta uses dynamic pricing for award flights, so the only way to know how many miles it takes to book a particular flight is to look up that flight on Delta’s website or by calling Delta and asking an agent. Keep in mind that the number of miles required can fluctuate by the day or even by the hour.

If you find a flight at a redemption rate you’re comfortable with, don’t wait to book it; it might get more expensive later. You can also score deals with Delta SkyMiles flash deals, which offer flights for as little as 2,500 miles each way.

Related: Best travel credit cards

Bottom line

With the somewhat frequent devaluations and a lack of transparency when it comes to award travel costs, many travelers have avoided focusing on the Delta SkyMiles program for the past few years. Still, there’s no arguing that Delta offers one of the best flying experiences in the U.S. and you can find some good value with SkyMiles.

Those who are loyal Delta flyers, or even those who only fly the airline once or twice a year, but think they can leverage the card’s bonus miles and perks enough to outweigh the annual fees, should consider the Delta credit cards while the welcome bonuses are increased for a limited time.