How do Delta credit cards compare?

The best SkyMiles credit card is the Gold Delta SkyMiles Card because it offers 35,000 bonus miles for spending $1,000 in the first 3 months and waives its $99 annual fee for the first year. It also offers a $100 Delta Flight Credit for making $10,000 in purchases in a calendar year. Altogether, Gold SkyMiles has the best combination of low fees, welcome bonus miles and benefits.… read full answer

On the surface, the Platinum SkyMiles card may appear to be the best SkyMiles credit card. There’s 40,000 bonus miles for spending $2,000 in the first 3 months.

Perks such as a 20% discount on Delta in-flight purchases, priority boarding and a free checked bag on Delta flights are featured on nearly every SkyMiles credit card. Before committing to a SkyMiles card, consider whether high-end benefits such as Medallion Qualification Miles (which give perks on flights) or Delta Sky Club access are worth the cards’ high annual fees. Here are the best SkyMiles credit cards:

• Best Welcome Bonus: Gold Delta SkyMiles Card. $0 annual fee for the first year, $99 after. 35,000 miles - for spending $1,000 in the first 3 months. Bonuses worth nearly $578 in Delta airfare. Good credit required.
• Best for Everyday Purchases: Blue Delta SkyMiles Card. $0 annual fee. 2 miles per $1 at restaurants and on direct Delta purchases (1 per $1 on all other purchases). Good credit required.
• Best for Benefits: Platinum Delta SkyMiles Card. $250 annual fee. 40,000 miles. Round-trip companion certificate every year after card renewal. Good credit required.
• Best for Lounge Access: Delta Reserve Card. $550 annual fee. Access to 225 Delta Sky Club locations worldwide ($495 value). Bring up to two guests for $29 each when flying with Delta. Good credit required.

Aside from the Blue SkyMiles card, every SkyMiles credit card has an earning rate of 2 miles per $1 on Delta purchases and 1 mile per $1 on all other purchases. All of the SkyMiles credit cards offer bonuses, too. For example, the Blue SkyMiles card gives 10,000 miles for spending $500 in the first 3 months. And the Delta Reserve card offers 40,000 miles (and 10,000 MQMs) for spending $3,000 in the first 3 months.

If you’re a Delta enthusiast who flies the airline regularly, it makes good sense from a rewards perspective to keep a SkyMiles card in your wallet. If you’re not partial to Delta, SkyMiles cards are probably not your best option. Expanding your selection to include other airlines will open up travel reward card possibilities comparable to, and in some cases more attractive than, SkyMiles cards.

You need at least 6,500 Delta miles for a free one-way flight and 9,000 miles for a free round-trip flight on Delta. The exact miles you need for a free Delta flight depend on where you want to go and when. Those minimums apply to flights from Los Angeles to Las Vegas booked months in advance. Delta stopped disclosing its Award Miles Chart, so there are no published minimums and maximums for various routes.… read full answer

Examples of How Many Delta Miles Are Needed for Free Flights:

• One-way flight from Los Angeles to Las Vegas: 6,500+ award miles
• One-way flight from New York City to Chicago: 7,000+ award miles
• One-way flight from Los Angeles to New York City: 8,000+ award miles.
• One-way flight from New York City to Seattle: 8,500+ award miles
• One-way flight from Miami to Boston: 10,500+ award miles

To get a free flight for the fewest number of Delta miles, you’ll want to book the flight far in advance, and be open to different dates. In many cases, you could pay at least 10,000 miles less for a flight if you’re flexible on your departure date.

If you’re a loyal Delta flyer and looking to earn miles faster for more free flights, you should look into a Delta credit card. The Gold Delta SkyMiles Credit Card from American Express is an excellent option with a signup bonus of 30,000 miles after you spend $1,000 in the first three months. And if you make a Delta purchase within that same timeframe, you’ll earn an additional $50 statement credit. Altogether, that’s worth roughly 1-5 free Delta flights.