Best Delta Credit Cards

Yes, a Delta SkyMiles credit card is worth it if you're a frequent flyer with above-average credit who mainly travels with Delta Airlines.

All Delta cards require good or excellent credit for approval, but they do offer a variety of benefits. Depending on the card of your choice you're given generous signup bonuses, annual companion certificates, as well as other travel-related benefits.

If you use more than one airline for your travels, maybe look for a rewards card that's lucrative with any airline, like the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card.

The best Delta credit card benefits include 20% savings on Delta in-flight purchases, free checked bags and priority boarding. You can also earn an initial bonus of up to 60,000 miles and bonus rewards Delta purchases.

Delta credit cards, also known as SkyMiles cards, are on the American Express network. Network benefits include purchase protection, travel insurance and a free membership to the online rewards store ShopRunner.

Benefits vary depending on the Delta card you use. Refer to Delta's Terms and Conditions page for specific details on card benefits. But first it's good to get to know the basics.

Here are the best Delta credit card benefits:

• 20% In-flight Savings

20% savings on pre-purchased meals and in-flight purchases of food, alcoholic beverages and audio headsets on Delta flights with a SkyMiles card. Savings do not apply to purchases such as in-flight wireless internet access. Additional terms, conditions, and restrictions may apply. Refer to the SkyMiles Credit Cards landing page for more details.

• First Checked Bag Free

Cardholder eligible for one free checked bag on any Delta flight. Reservation must include the cardholder's SkyMiles number. Also available for up to nine passengers traveling on same reservation. Limited to SkyMiles Gold, Platinum and Reserve cards, both business and personal.

• Priority Boarding

Reservation must be in cardholder's name. Also available for up to nine passengers traveling on same reservation. Limited to business and personal SkyMiles Gold, Platinum and Reserve cards.

• Delta Sky Club Discounts

Free access to any of Delta's 225 airport lounges worldwide with the SkyMiles Reserve or Reserve business card ($495 value). SkyMiles Gold or Platinum cardholders and up to two guests get discount rate ($39 per person per visit). Access to one club location per date of travel.

• Bonus Miles on Purchases

All SkyMiles cards give bonus rewards on purchases made directly through Delta, such as ticket purchases (both online and by phone) and upgrades. Also includes in-flight purchases of food and alcoholic beverages on Delta flights. Does not include purchases like in-flight Wi-Fi.Points redeemable for flights, hotels, cruises or other travel-related expenses. Points do not expire as long as the account remains active. Refer your card's terms for the complete list of eligible purchases.

• Earn Medallion Status

Delta's loyalty program. Limited to SkyMiles Platinum or Reserve cards and business cards. Miles earned based on distance traveled and amount spent. Miles determine Medallion Status (Silver, 25,000 MQMs; Gold, 50,000, MQMs, Platinum 75,000 MQMs, Diamond, 125,000 MQMs).

Statuses earn unlimited complimentary First Class upgrades for cardholder and a companion beginning 24 hours prior to departure (Silver); 72 hours (Gold) and 120 hours (Platinum). Diamond Status receives top priority for Complimentary Upgrades for cardholder and a companion to Delta Comfort+ shortly after ticketing and to First Class beginning 120 hours before departure.

• Lowest Hotel Rates Guarantee

Available on all Delta SkyMiles cards. Book a hotel on amextravel.com. If you find the same room at a lower price online, before taxes and fees, you'll receive a refund for the difference. Claim must be submitted prior to your stay.

• ShopRunner Membership

Online rewards store with more than 140 merchants including Staples, GNC, and Cole Haan. Cardholders eligible for free annual membership ($79 value). Free two-day shipping, free returns and exclusive deals at participating stores. For a complete list of merchants, check the ShopRunner website.

• Initial Bonus Miles
• Earn bonus miles when you meet minimum spending requirements in your first few months.
• Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card: 10,000 miles for spending $1,000 in the first 6 months
• Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card: 40,000 miles after spending $2,000 in the first 6 months
• Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card: 50,000 miles and 5,000 Medallion Qualification Miles after spending $3,000 in the first 6 months
• Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card: 50,000 miles and 10,000 Medallion Qualification Miles after spending $5,000 in the first 6 months
• Delta SkyMiles® Gold Business American Express Card: 50,000 miles after spending $2,000 in the first 3 months
• Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card: 60,000 miles and 5,000 Medallion Qualification Miles after spending $3,000 in the first 3 months
• Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card: 60,000 miles and 10,000 Medallion Qualification Miles after spending $4,000 in the first 3 months
• Return Protection: Pays up to $300 per item and $1,000 per calendar year for returned items in good, working condition not accepted by the merchant. Covered up to 90 days from date of purchase. Applies to all Delta SkyMiles cards.
• Extended Warranty: Matches original warranty on purchases up to one extra year. Covered up to $10,000 per item and $50,000 per calendar year. Applies to all Delta SkyMiles cards.
• Purchase Protection: Covers eligible purchases against theft and accidental damage for up to 90 days. Covered for $1,000 per incident up to $50,000 per calendar year. Applies to all Delta SkyMiles cards.
• 24/7 Roadside Assistance Hotline: Dispatches emergency services including towing, flat tires or battery charges with some vehicle and road restrictions. All costs associated with emergency roadside services are the responsibility of the cardholder. Applies to all Delta SkyMiles cards.

• Rental Car Insurance: Pays eligible benefits not already paid by any primary insurance. Covers eligible rental vehicles for first 30 days against damage and theft up to a maximum of $50,000 with some restrictions. Applies to all Delta SkyMiles cards.
• Travel Accident Insurance: Covers you and your family for accidental death or dismemberment while traveling on a common carrier (plane, train, boat or bus) up to a maximum $100,000 per person covered. Applies to all Delta SkyMiles cards.

Delta's SkyMiles credit cards offer a wide range of benefits for any traveler who flies its airline. Weigh your travel and spending preferences and decide which rewards and benefits would best work to your advantage. Then choose a card with a package that best suits your needs.

Yes, a Delta credit card is a good deal for frequent Delta Air Lines flyers. The best Delta credit card deal is the Delta Gold Card because it offers new cardholders 40,000 miles after spending $2,000 in the first 6 months. It also offers 2 miles per $1 on Delta purchases, 2 miles per $1 at restaurants worldwide (including takeout and delivery in the U.S.) and U.S. supermarkets, and 1 mile per $1 on all other purchases. The card comes with a $0 intro annual fee for the first year ($99 after).

The Blue Delta SkyMiles Credit Card is another good deal for people who want a Delta-branded credit card without spending a lot on fees. The Blue Delta SkyMiles Credit Card charges $0 in annual fees and offers 2 miles per $1 spent on Delta purchases, 2 miles per $1 at restaurants worldwide (plus takeout and delivery in the U.S.), and 1 mile per $1 on all other purchases. The card also comes with an introductory bonus offer of 10,000 miles for spending $1,000 within the first 6 months.

Best Delta Credit Card Deals

Delta SkyMiles are worth around $0 each, depending on how you choose to redeem them, and they don't expire as long as your account remains in good standing. To learn more, check out WalletHub's full review of the best Delta credit cards.

The Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card credit score requirement is 700 or better. That means people with good credit or better have a shot at getting approved for the Delta Reserve Credit Card.

You should note that while your credit score is an important factor, there are plenty of other things that will impact your chances of being approved for the Delta Reserve Credit Card, too. Some other key criteria include your income, existing debt load, number of open accounts, recent credit inquiries, employment status and housing status.

If you excel in other areas, you might be able to get approved with a slightly lower credit score in some cases. But it's best to wait to apply until you meet the Delta Reserve Credit Card credit score requirement. You can check your credit score for free on WalletHub.

One of the best SkyMiles credit card is the Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card because it offers an initial bonus of 40,000 miles after spending $2,000 in the first 6 months. The Delta Gold Card also has a $0 intro annual fee the first year ($99 after that), plus benefits like free checked bags and extensive ongoing rewards: 2 miles per $1 on Delta purchases, 2 miles per $1 at restaurants worldwide (including takeout and delivery in the U.S.) and U.S. supermarkets, and 1 mile per $1 on all other purchases.

Best SkyMiles Credit Cards

• Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card : Best Overall
• Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card : Best for No Annual Fee
• Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card : Best for Benefits
• Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card : Best for Big-Spenders

For big-spenders in particular, the Delta Reserve Credit Card card may wind up being the best SkyMiles credit card because of its benefits. The Delta Reserve Credit Card card comes with a welcome offer 50,000 miles and 10,000 Medallion Qualification Miles after spending $5,000 in the first 6 months. Cardholders also get complimentary access to Delta Sky Club and Amex Centurion Lounge locations for free. This card comes with a $550 annual fee, however. So much like the Amex Delta Platinum, which charges a $250 annual fee, the Delta Reserve Credit Card is a better option for big spenders who can offset these costs.

How to Decide if a SkyMiles Card is Your Best Option

If you're a Delta enthusiast who flies with 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.

Ultimately, if you're a frequent traveler who doesn't want to be tied to a specific airline, feel free to also check out our editors' picks for the best travel credit cards on the market.

The Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card credit score requirement is 700 or better. That means people with good credit or better have a shot at getting approved for the Amex Delta Platinum Card.

You should note that while your credit score is an important factor, there are plenty of other things that will impact your chances of being approved for the Amex Delta Platinum Card, too. Some other key criteria include your income, existing debt load, number of open accounts, recent credit inquiries, employment status and housing status.

If you excel in other areas, you might be able to get approved with a slightly lower credit score in some cases. But it's best to wait to apply until you meet the Amex Delta Platinum credit score requirement. You can check your credit score for free on WalletHub.

There are Delta credit cards that offer even higher initial bonuses than that. For instance, the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card offers 60,000 miles and 10,000 Medallion Qualification Miles after spending $4,000 in the first 3 months. This credit card's annual fee rings in at $550.

Here are the Delta credit cards with 40,000+ miles bonus offers:

• Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card: 40,000 miles after spending $2,000 in the first 6 months.
• Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card: 50,000 miles and 5,000 Medallion Qualification Miles after spending $3,000 in the first 6 months.
• Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card: 50,000 miles and 10,000 Medallion Qualification Miles after spending $5,000 in the first 6 months.
• Delta SkyMiles® Gold Business American Express Card: 50,000 miles after spending $2,000 in the first 3 months
• Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card: 60,000 miles and 10,000 Medallion Qualification Miles after spending $4,000 in the first 3 months.
• Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card: 60,000 miles and 5,000 Medallion Qualification Miles after spending $3,000 in the first 3 months.

Moreover, there are a few other good Delta bonus offers available, too. For example, the Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card offers 10,000 miles for spending $1,000 in the first 6 months. Although Blue Delta SkyMiles Credit Card's initial bonus is lower, this card has a $0 annual fee.

Whether you're looking for a personal credit card or a business credit card, there are some enticing offers. And several of them allow you to earn bonuses every single year if you spend enough. That's pretty rare.

One of the best Delta business credit cards is the Delta SkyMiles® Gold Business American Express Card because it has a $0 introductory annual fee the first year ($99 after) and offers a 50,000-mile bonus when you spend $2,000 in the first 3 months. Plus, you'll earn 1 - 2 miles per $1 spent, depending on the type of purchase.

All of the Delta business credit cards have a few benefits in common. They all offer a free checked bag and priority boarding on Delta flights. And they give a 20% statement credit on eligible Delta in-flight purchases.

Best Delta Business Credit Cards

Earn 50,000 miles after spending $2,000 in the first 3 months. 2 miles per $1 spent on Delta purchases, on U.S. purchases for advertising in select media, U.S. shipping, 2 miles per $1 at restaurants, 1 mile per $1 on all other purchases. $0 intro annual fee the first year ($99 after).

Earn 60,000 miles and 10,000 Medallion Qualification Miles after spending $4,000 in the first 3 months. This card also gives cardholders Delta Sky Club access. You also get 3 miles per $1 spent on Delta purchases, 1.5 miles per $1 on all other purchases (after spending $150,000 in a year, otherwise earn 1 mile per $1). But this business credit card costs $550 per year

This card boasts 60,000 miles and 5,000 Medallion Qualification Miles after spending $3,000 in the first 3 months. You also get 3 miles per $1 spent with Delta, 3 miles per $1 on purchases made directly with hotels, 1.5 miles per $1 on single purchases of $5,000+ (up to 50,000 additional miles per year), and 1 miles per $1 on all other purchases. The card's annual fee is $250.

The best Delta Business credit card for you depends on how much you're willing to pay in fees and how frequent of a traveler you are. If you're a big spender and a frequent traveler, you'll probably like the Delta Reserve Business Card's Delta Sky Club access. But if you're only an occasional flyer, the Gold Delta SkyMiles Business Credit Card is probably the way to go. The Amex Delta Platinum Business Credit Card is the perfect in-between.

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.

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.

Yes, there are several good Delta credit card deals available right now. A good example would be the initial bonus of 50,000 miles and 10,000 Medallion Qualification Miles after spending $5,000 in the first 6 months, offered by the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card. This card also offers a round-trip companion certificate every year. The Delta Reserve Credit Card charges a hefty $550 annual fee, but its rewards more than make up for it if you're frequently flying with Delta.

The Delta Reserve Credit Card, the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card and the Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card provide a free first checked bag. All Delta SkyMiles cards also offer statement credits on food, alcohol, and audio headset purchases made on Delta flights. Plus, these are just some of the Delta credit card promotions the airline currently offers.

Here are the best Delta Airlines credit card deals in 2023:

The Delta Reserve Credit Card offers 50,000 miles and 10,000 Medallion Qualification Miles after spending $5,000 in the first 6 months. In addition, you can earn accelerated Medallion Qualification Miles, getting you closer to Medallion Status. The card also offers 3 miles per $1 spent on Delta purchases and 1 mile per $1 on all other purchases.

Plus, you get Free Delta Sky Club access as a cardholder and two guest passes each year. The Delta Reserve Credit Card also offers a free companion certificate every account anniversary.

With the Amex Delta Platinum you can earn 50,000 miles and 5,000 Medallion Qualification Miles after spending $3,000 in the first 6 months. Plus, it offers accelerated Medallion Qualification Miles earnings, getting you closer to Medallion Status. The card also earns you 3 miles per $1 spent with Delta, 3 miles per $1 on purchases made directly with hotels, 2 miles per $1 at restaurants worldwide (including takeout and delivery in the U.S.) and U.S. supermarkets, as well as 1 mile per $1 on all other purchases.

In addition, you'll get Discounted Delta Sky Club rate for you and up to two guests. You will also receive a free companion certificate every account anniversary.

The Delta Gold Card offers 40,000 miles after spending $2,000 in the first 6 months. After you spend $10,000 in purchases in a calendar year, you will also receive a $100 Delta Flight Credit.

Plus, you can earn 2 miles per $1 on Delta purchases, 2 miles per $1 at restaurants worldwide (including takeout and delivery in the U.S.) and U.S. supermarkets, and 1 mile per $1 on all other purchases.

With the Blue Delta SkyMiles Credit Card you can earn 10,000 miles for spending $1,000 in the first 6 months. Plus, it offers 2 miles per $1 spent on Delta purchases, 2 miles per $1 at restaurants worldwide (plus takeout and delivery in the U.S.), and 1 mile per $1 on all other purchases.

What you should know about the Medallion Qualification Miles:

• If you're not familiar with Medallion Qualification Miles (MQMs), know that they go toward earning you Medallion status in the SkyMiles loyalty rewards program. 
• In addition to the cards' MQM spending bonuses, you also earn MQMs based on the distance flown with Delta.
• You also earn Medallion Qualification Segments (MQSs), based on your number of flights and Medallion Qualifying Dollars (MQDs), based on the money you spend on Delta flights.

Medallion Status comes in four different tiers and the higher your status, the better perks you get on Delta flights. Medallion Status benefits include travel/vacation discounts, waived fees, complimentary upgrades, and more.