Best Delta Credit Cards of September 2025

If you’re looking for an airline credit card that can help you earn miles and other perks for flying on Delta, you have a lot of choices. American Express, an advertising partner, issues several co-branded Delta credit cards that offer day-of-travel benefits. Cards that earn American Express Membership Rewards® are another good option, because they allow you to transfer points to Delta SkyMiles at a 1:1 ratio.

We’ll break down how to pick the best Delta credit card for your situation.

Quick Overview: Best Delta Credit Cards

  Our Choice For Credit Range Annual Fee Highlights
Rates and Fees | Terms Apply
Value-Minded Delta Flyers
Good – Excellent
$0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $150.
Free first checked bag on Delta flights
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More Details
Rates and Fees | Terms Apply
Frequent Delta Flyers
Good – Excellent
$350
Annual companion certificate and statement credits
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More Details
Rates and Fees | Terms Apply
Premium Perks for Delta flyers
Good – Excellent
$650
Lounge access, annual companion certificate, statement credits and more
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More Details
Rates and Fees | Terms Apply

American Express® Gold Card

4.1
CardCritics™ Rating

CardCritics™ uses a 5-star rating system determined by our editorial team. The comparison factors include annual fees, APRs, bonus offers, ongoing rewards, accessibility, redemption options, and more. These factors are then weighted by importance to focus on key features that are most important in each specific category.

Elevated Rewards
Good – Excellent
$325
Access to incredible statement credit opportunities
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More Details
Rates and Fees | Terms Apply

The Platinum Card® from American Express

4.0
CardCritics™ Rating

CardCritics™ uses a 5-star rating system determined by our editorial team. The comparison factors include annual fees, APRs, bonus offers, ongoing rewards, accessibility, redemption options, and more. These factors are then weighted by importance to focus on key features that are most important in each specific category.

Premium Perks & Benefits
Good – Excellent
$895
Massive welcome offer opportunity plus several annual statement credits, lounge access and other premium benefits You may be eligible for as high as 175,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $8,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.
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More Details
Generous Bonus Miles + Free Checked Bag On Delta Flights
Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card
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Top Feature

Earn 80,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $3,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Offer Ends 10/29/2025.

Purchase APR

19.99%-28.99% Variable

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CardCritics™ Opinion

The Amex Delta Gold Card is an affordable choice for occasional and regular Delta flyers alike. It offers a generous range of perks, including a free first checked bag and priority boarding on Delta flights and a manageable

Recommended Credit Score

Good – Excellent

Annual Fee

$0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $150.

Rewards

1X – 2X Earn 2X Miles on Delta purchases, at U.S. Supermarkets and at restaurants worldwide, including takeout and delivery in the U.S. Earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases.

Card Details From Issuer

  • Earn 80,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $3,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Offer Ends 10/29/2025.
  • Enjoy a $0 introductory Annual Fee for the first year, then $150.
  • Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express 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.
  • $200 Delta Flight Credit: After you spend $10,000 in purchases on your Card in a calendar year, you can receive a $200 Delta Flight Credit to use toward future travel.
  • When you use your Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card, you can earn: 2X miles on Delta Purchases, 2X miles at restaurants, 2X miles at U.S. supermarkets, 1X miles on all other eligible purchases. Every mile you earn brings you closer to the places you want to go. Turn them into your next trip, use them for seat upgrades, and more.
  • Enjoy your first checked bag free on Delta flights and save up to $70 per person on a round-trip Delta flight.
  • Receive Zone 5 Priority Boarding on Delta flights; board early, stow your carry-on bag and settle in sooner.
  • $100 Delta Stays Credit: Get up to $100 back per year as a statement credit after using your Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card to book prepaid hotels or vacation rentals through Delta Stays 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. Enjoy international travel without additional fees on purchases made abroad.
  • 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.
  • Apply with confidence. Know if you’re approved for a Card with no impact to your credit score. If you’re approved and you choose to accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.
  • Terms Apply.
Huge Bonus Miles + Free Checked Bag On Delta Flights
Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card
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Top Feature

Earn 90,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $4,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Offer Ends 10/29/2025.

Purchase APR

19.99%-28.99% Variable

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CardCritics™ Opinion

Frequent travelers who prefer Delta or its partner airlines may enjoy the perks of the Delta Platinum. It’s a good mid-tier option amongst Delta’s Amex cards, providing benefits such as a free first checked bag and priority boarding

Recommended Credit Score

Good – Excellent

Annual Fee

$350

Rewards

1X – 3X Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and purchases made directly with hotels.

Earn 2x miles on dining at restaurants, including takeout and delivery in the U.S.

Earn 2x miles at U.S. supermarkets.

Earn 1x miles on other purchases.

Card Details From Issuer

  • Earn 90,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $4,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Offer Ends 10/29/2025.
  • Receive a Companion Certificate on a Delta Main round-trip flight to select destinations each year after renewal of your Card. The Companion Certificate requires payment of government-imposed taxes and fees of between $22 and $250 (for itineraries with up to four flight segments). Baggage charges and other restrictions apply. Delta Basic experiences are not eligible for this benefit.
  • Receive $2,500 Medallion® Qualification Dollars with MQD Headstart each Medallion Qualification Year and earn $1 MQD for each $20 in purchases on your Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card with MQD Boost to get closer to Status next Medallion Year.
  • Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card Members get 15% off when using miles to book Award Travel on Delta flights through delta.com and the Fly Delta app. Discount not applicable to partner-operated flights or to taxes and fees.
  • Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and purchases made directly with hotels.
  • Earn 2X Miles at restaurants worldwide including takeout and delivery in the U.S., and at U.S. supermarkets.
  • Earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases.
  • $120 Resy Credit: Get up to $10 in statement credits each month after you pay with your enrolled Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases.
  • $120 Rideshare Credit: earn up to $10 in statement credits each month after using your Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card on U.S. rideshare purchases with select providers. Enrollment required.
  • Enjoy your first checked bag free on Delta flights and save up to $70 per person on a round-trip Delta flight.
  • Receive either a $120 statement credit every 4 years for a Global Entry application fee or a statement credit up to $85 every 4.5 years for a TSA PreCheck® (through a TSA official enrollment provider) application fee, when charged to your Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card. Card Members approved for Global Entry will also receive access to TSA PreCheck at no additional cost.
  • 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.
  • No Foreign Transaction Fees.
  • $350 Annual Fee.
  • Apply with confidence. Know if you’re approved for a Card with no impact to your credit score. If you’re approved and you choose to accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.
  • Terms Apply.
Massive Bonus Miles + Airport Lounge Access
Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card
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Top Feature

Earn 125,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Offer Ends 10/29/2025.

Purchase APR

19.99%-28.99% Variable

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CardCritics™ Opinion

Frequent Delta flyers should definitely consider getting this card as it includes access to exclusive airport lounges and the opportunity to earn elite status faster. However, its high annual fee may outweigh the benefits for those who don’t

Recommended Credit Score

Good – Excellent

Annual Fee

$650

Rewards

1X – 3X Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases.

Card Details From Issuer

  • Earn 125,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Offer Ends 10/29/2025.
  • Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card Members receive 15 Visits per Medallion® Year to the Delta Sky Club® when flying Delta and can unlock an unlimited number of Visits after spending $75,000 in purchases on your Card in a calendar year. Plus, you’ll receive four One-Time Guest Passes each Medallion Year so you can share the experience with family and friends when traveling Delta together.
  • Enjoy complimentary access to The Centurion® Lounge when you book a Delta flight with your Reserve Card.
  • Receive $2,500 Medallion® Qualification Dollars with MQD Headstart each Medallion Qualification Year and earn $1 MQD for each $10 in purchases on your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card with MQD Boost to get closer to Status next Medallion Year.
  • Enjoy a Companion Certificate on a Delta First, Delta Comfort, or Delta Main round-trip flight to select destinations each year after renewal of your Card. The Companion Certificate requires payment of government-imposed taxes and fees of between $22 and $250 (for itineraries with up to four flight segments). Baggage charges and other restrictions apply. Delta Basic experiences are not eligible for this benefit.
  • $240 Resy Credit: When you use your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card for eligible purchases with U.S. Resy restaurants, you can earn up to $20 each month in statement credits. Enrollment required.
  • $120 Rideshare Credit: Earn up to $10 back in statement credits each month after you use your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card to pay for U.S. rideshare purchases with select providers. Enrollment required.
  • Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express 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 Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card, receive upgrade priority over others with the same Medallion tier, product and fare experience purchased, and Million Miler milestone when you fly with Delta.
  • Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases.
  • No Foreign Transaction Fees. Enjoy international travel without additional fees on purchases made abroad.
  • $650 Annual Fee.
  • Apply with confidence. Know if you’re approved for a Card with no impact to your credit score. If you’re approved and you choose to accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.
  • Terms Apply.
Huge Rewards Earnings Plus A Welcome Offer Opportunity
American Express® Gold Card
4.1
CardCritics™ Rating

CardCritics™ uses a 5-star rating system determined by our editorial team. The comparison factors include annual fees, APRs, bonus offers, ongoing rewards, accessibility, redemption options, and more. These factors are then weighted by importance to focus on key features that are most important in each specific category.

Read Full Review

Top Feature

You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.

Purchase APR

See Pay Over Time APR

Read Full Review

CardCritics™ Opinion

If you are looking to level up your credit card rewards, but aren’t quite ready to commit to platinum-level annual fees then the American Express® Gold Card is likely a great fit for you. It is geared toward

Recommended Credit Score

Good – Excellent

Annual Fee

$325

Rewards

1X – 4X Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.

Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.

Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.

Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.

Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.

Card Details From Issuer

  • You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
  • Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
  • Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
  • Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
  • Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
  • Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
  • $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
  • $84 Dunkin’ Credit: With the $84 Dunkin’ Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin’ locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
  • $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That’s up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
  • $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
  • Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
  • No Foreign Transaction Fees.
  • Annual Fee is $325.
  • Terms Apply.
Huge Premium Rewards and Perks
The Platinum Card® from American Express
4.0
CardCritics™ Rating

CardCritics™ uses a 5-star rating system determined by our editorial team. The comparison factors include annual fees, APRs, bonus offers, ongoing rewards, accessibility, redemption options, and more. These factors are then weighted by importance to focus on key features that are most important in each specific category.

Read Full Review

Top Feature

You may be eligible for as high as 175,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $8,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.

Purchase APR

See Pay Over Time APR

Read Full Review

CardCritics™ Opinion

A large annual fee on a card often means it comes with valuable perks to make it worthwhile and that is most definitely the case for The Platinum Card® from American Express. You may be eligible for as

Recommended Credit Score

Good – Excellent

Annual Fee

$895

Rewards

1x – 5x 5 Membership Rewards points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel®, on up to $500,000 spent per year.

5 points per dollar on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel®.

1 point per dollar on all other purchases.

Terms apply.

Card Details From Issuer

  • You may be eligible for as high as 175,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $8,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
  • Get more for your travels with 5X Membership Rewards® points on all flights and prepaid hotel bookings through American Express Travel®, including Fine Hotels + Resorts® and The Hotel Collection bookings. You earn 5X points on flights purchased directly from airlines or through American Express Travel® on up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year.
  • More Value! With over 1,550 airport lounges – more than any other credit card company on the market* – enjoy the benefits of the Global Lounge Collection®, over $850 of annual value, with access to Centurion Lounges, 10 complimentary Delta Sky Club® visits when flying on an eligible Delta flight (subject to visit limitations), Priority Pass Select membership (enrollment required), and other select partner lounges. * As of 07/2025.
  • More Value! $200 Uber Cash + $120 Uber One Credit: With the Platinum Card® you can receive $15 in Uber Cash each month plus a bonus $20 in December when you add your Platinum Card® to your Uber account to use on rides and orders in the U.S when you select an Amex Card for your transaction. Plus, when you use the Platinum Card® to pay for an auto-renewing Uber One membership, you can get up to $120 in statement credits each calendar year. Terms apply.
  • More Value! $300 Digital Entertainment Credit: Get up to $25 in statement credits each month after you pay for eligible purchases with the Platinum Card® at participating partners. Enrollment required.
  • More Value! $600 Hotel Credit: Get up to $300 in statement credits semi-annually on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts® or The Hotel Collection* bookings through American Express Travel® using the Platinum Card®. *The Hotel Collection requires a minimum two-night stay.
  • New! $400 Resy Credit + Platinum Nights by Resy: When you use the Platinum Card® to pay at U.S. Resy restaurants and to make other eligible purchases through Resy, you can get up to $100 in statement credits each quarter with the $400 Resy Credit benefit. Plus, with Platinum Nights by Resy, you can get special access to reservations on select nights at participating in demand Resy restaurants with the Platinum Card®. Simply add your eligible Card to your Resy profile to book and discover Platinum Nights reservations near you, enrollment required.
  • More Value! $209 CLEAR® Plus Credit: CLEAR® Plus helps get you to your gate faster by using unique facial attributes to verify you are you at 50+ airports nationwide. You can cover the cost of a CLEAR Plus Membership* with up to $209 in statement credits per calendar year after you pay for CLEAR Plus with the Platinum Card®. *Excluding any applicable taxes and fees. Subject to auto-renewal.
  • $200 Airline Fee Credit: Select one qualifying airline and then receive up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year when incidental fees, such as checked bags and in-flight refreshments, are charged by the airline to the Platinum Card® Account*. American Express relies on airlines to submit the correct information on airline transactions to identify incidental fee purchases. If you do not see a credit for a qualifying incidental purchase on your eligible Card after 8 weeks, simply call the number on the back of your Card. Qualifying airlines are subject to change. See terms & conditions for more details.
  • Start your vacation sooner, and keep it going longer. When you book Fine Hotels + Resorts® through American Express Travel®, enjoy noon check-in upon arrival, when available, and guaranteed 4PM check-out.
  • New! $300 lululemon Credit: Enjoy up to $75 in statement credits each quarter when you use the Platinum Card® for eligible purchases at U.S. lululemon retail stores (excluding outlets) and lululemon.com. That’s up to $300 in statement credits each calendar year. Enrollment required.
  • $155 Walmart+ Credit: Receive a statement credit* for one monthly Walmart+ membership (subject to auto-renewal) after you pay for Walmart+ each month with the Platinum Card®. *Up to $12.95 plus applicable local sales tax. Plus Ups not eligible.
  • $100 Saks Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits annually for purchases at Saks Fifth Avenue or saks.com on the Platinum Card®. That’s up to $50 in statement credits from January through June and up to $50 in statement credits from July through December. No minimum purchase required. Enrollment required.
  • Whenever you need us, we’re here. Our Member Services team will ensure you are taken care of. From lost Card replacement to statement questions, we are available to help 24/7.
  • $895 annual fee.
  • Terms Apply.

Delta is one of the world’s largest airlines, and earning Delta miles can help you fly to many different locations. But there’s a lot more to consider than just the airline miles. From airport experiences, fee waivers, elite status and more, there’s plenty to love about the extra perks that come with Delta SkyMiles credit cards.

Rewards and Earning Structure

On top of the perks you can get when you book a flight through Delta or buy a snack on the plane, some of the cards offer bonus rewards for your everyday purchases. 

For example, the Amex Delta Gold and Delta Platinum cards both earn 2x miles at U.S. supermarkets, while the Amex Gold Card earns 4x points (on up to $25,000 in purchases per year, then 1x). It doesn’t stop with airlines and groceries, though. Depending on the card you choose, you can earn extra points on dining, hotels and more. 

If you’re aiming for elite status, the type of card you hold matters. Both the Platinum and Reserve versions of the Delta SkyMiles cards earn a $2,500 Medallion® Qualification Dollars (MQD) Headstart each year, meaning that you’ll be closer to hitting elite status. If you have both cards, you’ll earn a boost for both. 

Travel Perks and Benefits

Delta SkyMiles cards come with perks like free checked bags and priority boarding. Getting a free first checked bag each time you fly Delta can save up to $70 round-trip for you and each of up to eight additional companions flying on the same reservation. 

Plus, the Delta Platinum and Delta Reserve cards come with an annual companion certificate, allowing you the chance to fly your companion for just the cost of taxes and fees once a year. Depending on the destination and time of year, this could mean hundreds or thousands of dollars in savings.

Airport Lounge Access

Airports can be chaotic, and having a space to relax, grab a drink, have a few bites to eat and chill before your flight makes all the difference in the world. The Delta Reserve and the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card both come with Delta Sky Club access when flying Delta. While access is limited to 15 complimentary visits a year, you can unlock unlimited Sky Club airport lounge access by spending $75,000 in purchases on your card in a calendar year.

If you decide to go with the Amex Platinum Card, you’ll get 10 complimentary visits annually to Delta Sky Clubs when you fly Delta, with the ability to earn unlimited visits by meeting the same annual spending threshold. The card also gives access to other American Express Global Lounge Collection® locations, including Centurion Lounges and Priority Pass lounges (enrollment required), allowing you to visit more than 1,000 airport lounges across the globe. 

Status Boost and Medallion Benefits

On top of the annual $2,500 MQD boost, the Delta Platinum and Delta Reserve cards award MQDs for your everyday spending. The Delta Platinum will give you 1 MQD for each $20 spent, while the Delta Reserve offers 1 MQD for each $10 spent on the card.

If you have the card and you’re looking to snag an upgrade, you’ll be higher on the list than those who don’t have the card. While the chances of being upgraded depend on the day you’re flying, the route and a myriad of other factors, this benefit can make it more likely.

Redemption and Mileage Value

With most co-branded Delta credit cards (except the no-annual-fee Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card), you’ll have access to TakeOff 15, a 15% discount on the price of an award ticket when using your SkyMiles. This will only work on Delta flights that you book through the website or app (no phone calls allowed) and not on partner airlines like Aeromexico, Air France and KLM.

If you choose to earn Membership Rewards via the Amex Gold or Amex Platinum cards, not only can you transfer your points to Delta SkyMiles, but you can also transfer them to partners Air France-KLM Flying Blue and Virgin Atlantic Flying Club, in addition to over a dozen other Amex transfer partners. Award prices vary depending on the airline program you use, so it always pays to double-check before booking.

Welcome Offer

The best part of opening a new card is the miles you can earn if you meet the minimum spending requirement. Most of the time, you’ve got between three and six months to hit the spend requirement.

Pick a card that has a spending requirement you can achieve without going into debt, then meet it as soon as possible. Many of these cards come with high annual percentage rates (APRs) if you carry a balance; you don’t want to pay that because you were trying to get a welcome offer.

Annual Fees

Each of these cards comes with an annual fee that can reach hundreds of dollars a year. Before you apply, make sure that the benefits the card offers justify the fee. 

Take these pros and cons into account before applying for a Delta credit card:

Pros

  • If you fly Delta Air Lines often, the value of the benefits can outweigh the annual fee
  • You’ll rack up Delta SkyMiles for your everyday spending
  • Earning MQD towards status each year becomes easier

Cons

  • You might limit yourself to only flying with Delta Air Lines
  • There are few bonuses for spending outside of Delta Air Lines
  • Annual fees can be prohibitive if you’re a casual flyer

While you might think that the best card for Delta flights is a Delta credit card, you should think outside of the box as well. Some of the best cards for flying on Delta, or their partners, might not even be on your radar.

  • Chase Sapphire Reserve®: One of the most well-known travel credit cards, the Sapphire Reserve, makes a compelling case for Delta flyers. While you can’t convert the Chase Ultimate Rewards® points to Delta SkyMiles, you can transfer points to Delta’s partners Air France-KLM Flying Blue and Virgin Atlantic, then use miles from those programs to book Delta flights. You can also book Delta flights with Ultimate Rewards through Chase Travel℠, where your points can be worth up to 2 cents apiece with Chase’s Points Boost feature. Any flights you book through the travel portal will also be eligible to earn miles, meaning that you can redeem your points for flights and still earn Delta SkyMiles in return. 
  • Wells Fargo Autograph Journey℠ Card: The Autograph Journey Card has one of the strongest points-earning rates out there: 5x points on hotels, 4x points on airlines and 3x points on dining. You can redeem Wells Fargo Rewards points for travel through the bank’s portal, including on Delta Air Lines. Also, since Wells Fargo partners with Air France-KLM, you can move your rewards points over to the Flying Blue program and potentially redeem for flights on Delta Air Lines, as they’re all part of the SkyTeam alliance.

Because the best Delta credit cards are premium cards with high annual fees, you’ll need a good to excellent credit score to be eligible to apply. Keep in mind that banks look at other factors, including other credit cards you have and your overall financial picture, when evaluating your application.

The information related to Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card and Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card was collected by CardCritics™ and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of this product/card. Product details may vary. Please see issuer website for current information. CardCritics™ does not receive a commission for these products.

How much are SkyMiles worth? 

Delta SkyMiles don’t have a fixed value, and award prices fluctuate based on factors like time of year, route, demand and paid ticket price. It is possible to find good deals, especially if you’re using your miles during an award sale or taking advantage of the TakeOff 15 pricing.

Are flexible rewards better than SkyMiles?

In general, flexible travel rewards like Membership Rewards or Ultimate Rewards can be a better value, as you’re able to do more with them. Earning only SkyMiles will lock you into redeeming inside the Delta ecosystem, whereas flexible currencies allow you to transfer to partners and redeem for flights on nearly any airline.

Is there a Delta credit card with no annual fee?

Yes, the Amex Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card Card has no annual fee, but its benefits are limited. You won’t get free checked bags for example, and there is no TakeOff 15 discount. For most flyers, the Delta Gold Card is a better choice, especially since it has a $0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $150. This gives you time to see how often you use the benefits and whether it’s worth it to keep it long term.

Can I get into the Delta lounges with a credit card? 

Yes, the Delta Reserve and Delta Reserve Business cards both come with 15 complimentary Sky Club visits each year (when you’re flying Delta). The Amex Platinum allows you 10 complimentary visits per year when flying Delta, along with access to Priority Pass and Centurion Lounges.


How Do Our Critics Evaluate the Cards?

All of the credit cards featured on CardCritics™ are assessed using the same criteria. Our critics evaluate fees, interest rates, balance transfer options, introductory bonuses, rewards, additional benefits and the average credit score required for approval.

Read Full Editorial Guidelines

Editorial Note: Any opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed are those of the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any card issuer.
*CardCritics™ references a FICO® 8 score, which is one of many different types of credit scores. A financial institution may use a different score when evaluating your application.