Earn 3X miles per dollar on Delta purchases made directly with Delta and 1X miles per dollar on all other eligible purchases.
American Express partners with many brands, including Delta, to give you more bang for your buck when it comes to earning rewards. As of October 2024, the company offers seven Delta credit cards with annual fees ranging from $0 to $650, making it easier than ever to earn Delta SkyMiles based on your spending habits.
We reviewed all seven American Express Delta cards to determine if it’s worth adding one to your wallet. The short answer? Yes. Each card has fees and benefits, but all of them allow you to earn SkyMiles on everyday purchases. You may even qualify for Delta flight credit, luggage insurance*, or other benefits.
Learn more about the pros and cons of each card and discover which one we recommend for your circumstances.
Earn 3X miles per dollar on Delta purchases made directly with Delta and 1X miles per dollar on all other eligible purchases.
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The $650 annual fee on this card is a lot to digest but for the luxury traveler who is loyal to Delta when flying, it holds plenty of value.
Earn 2X miles on restaurant purchases (plus takeout and delivery in the U.S.), 2X miles at U.S. supermarkets and on Delta purchases, and 1X miles on all other eligible purchases.
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The perks this card delivers can easily make up for the annual fee but may not be worth it if you aren’t a Delta enthusiast.
Earn 3X miles on Delta purchases and purchases made directly with hotels, 2X miles at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets, and 1X miles on all other eligible purchases.
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The $350 annual fee is a bit high, but if you fly Delta with a traveling buddy at least once per year, the annual Companion Pass can easily make up for the fee.
Earn 2X miles on Delta purchases, 2X miles at restaurants worldwide (including takeout and delivery in the U.S.), and 1X miles on other eligible purchases.
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It’s not the highest-earning card out there, but for no annual fee, the rewards are decent for an occasional traveler.
Earn 5X Membership Rewards® points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel (on up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year), 5X points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel, and 1X points on other eligible purchases.
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This is quite a spectacular card with incredibly valuable benefits, but the annual fee is objectively very high.
Earn 2X miles on Delta flights and at restaurants. Earn 2X miles on eligible shipping and advertising purchases on up to $50,000 of purchases per category, per year. Earn 1X miles per dollar on all other eligible purchases.
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The perks this card delivers can easily make up for the annual fee but may not be worth it if you aren’t a Delta enthusiast.
Earn 3X miles on Delta flights and eligible hotel purchases, 1.5X miles on eligible transit and U.S. shipping purchases, plus single eligible purchases of $5,000 or more (up to $100,000 spent per year, 1 mile per dollar thereafter), and 1X miles on other eligible purchases.
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If you travel frequently for your business and take a traveling buddy with you at least once per year, it’s easy to make up for this card’s $350 annual fee.
Earn 3X miles on all Delta purchases and 1X miles on other eligible purchases. If you spend $150,000 in a calendar year, you’ll earn 1.5X miles per dollar on non-Delta purchases for the rest of the year.
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For the right business traveler, one who flies almost exclusively with Delta and can take advantage of luxury benefits, this card could be well worth the $650 a year.
The best Delta-branded Amex card for you depends on your lifestyle, financial circumstances, and travel habits.
All Delta-branded airline credit cards come with generous intro offers and plenty of travel perks, but they all have unique benefits.
To help you decide which is the best credit card for you, let’s take a closer look at what these travel credit cards have to offer.
The Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express Card® is best for road warriors who want to earn elite status a little faster. Although the annual fee is $650, this Delta credit card gives you access to more than 50 Sky Club locations. Every Sky Club has complimentary food and beverages available, giving you a quiet place to relax before a flight or during a layover.
The Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express Card® is best for travelers who want to earn double miles on grocery and restaurant purchases. Unlike the SkyMiles Reserve Card, which gives you 3X on Delta flights and 1X on other eligible purchases, the SkyMiles Gold Card comes with 2X miles at U.S. supermarkets and restaurants worldwide.
The Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card® has a $350 annual fee, but you get 3X miles on Delta flights, 2X at U.S. supermarkets and restaurants worldwide, and 1X on other eligible purchases. This credit card is best for people who enjoy traveling with a spouse, best friend, or other companion, as it entitles you to a free round-trip companion ticket once per year. The free ticket is good for a seat in the Main Cabin section of the flight.
The Delta SkyMiles Blue American Express Card® is best for budget-conscious travelers who want to earn miles without paying an annual fee. The no-annual-fee credit card gives you 20% back on in-flight purchases, 2X miles on dining and Delta flights, and 1X miles on other purchases.
If you own a business, consider getting a Delta credit card to earn rewards based on your travel habits.
The Delta SkyMiles Gold Business American Express Card® is best for small businesses, as it has the lowest annual fee. It may even be a good fit if you’re a freelancer who travels to attend conferences or meet with clients. This business credit card gives you 2X miles on Delta flights, restaurants and eligible shipping and advertising purchases. You also earn 1 mile per dollar on other purchases.
The Delta SkyMiles Platinum Business American Express Card® is the mid-range option. It has an annual fee of $350, but it gives you 3X miles on Delta flights and eligible hotel purchases, 1.5X on each purchase of $5,000 or more (max of 50,000 miles per year) and 1X on other purchases.
The Delta SkyMiles Reserve Business American Express Card®is best for frequent travelers who want to reach elite status quickly. You earn 3X miles on all Delta purchases and 1X miles on other eligible purchases. If you spend $150,000 in a calendar year, you’ll get 1.5 miles per dollar on non-Delta purchases for the rest of the year.
If you have a Delta SkyMiles card, you may qualify for some of the following benefits:
The business and personal SkyMiles Reserve cards come with complimentary access to Delta Sky Clubs.
When you use a Delta SkyMiles credit card to make a purchase, you get Purchase Protection, giving you extra peace of mind if the item is stolen or damaged. Depending on which card you have, American Express may reimburse you as much as $10,000 per incident.
If you use a Delta credit card to reserve a rental car, you’ll also get insurance for your rental. This insurance kicks in if you get into an accident or someone steals the vehicle. Card Members also qualify for baggage insurance, which reimburses you under certain conditions. For example, you may receive compensation if your luggage is lost or damaged on a Delta flight.
Most Amex SkyMiles cards allow you to check one bag for free every time you fly with Delta. Currently, Delta charges $35 each way for a standard checked bag. Therefore, you can save $70 on each round-trip Delta flight.
You may be eligible for priority boarding on Delta-operated flights, allowing you to board the plane and get settled before passengers in other boarding groups.
You may be eligible for the TakeOff 15 benefit, which gives you a 15% discount on Award Travel booked via Delta.com or the FlyDelta app.
Some cardholders qualify for a free companion certificate once per year. If you have the SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card, the companion ticket is good for a seat in Delta’s Main Cabin. SkyMiles Reserve American Express cardholders can use each companion certificate to purchase a seat in Main Cabin, Comfort+ or First Class.
When you apply through an authorized enrollment provider, you get a $120 statement credit for your Global Entry fee or an $85 statement credit for your TSA PreCheck fee. You can get the Global Entry credit every 4 years or the TSA PreCheck credit every 4.5 years.
*Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions, and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by Amex Assurance Company.
Let’s examine how you can earn and redeem American Express Delta SkyMiles.
With Delta-branded American Express credit cards, you earn miles on every eligible purchase.
The number of miles earned depends on which card you have. For example, the personal and business versions of the SkyMiles Reserve Card give you 3X miles on all Delta flights and other Delta purchases. If you fly a lot, getting this card is the best way to leverage your travel spending.
Each Delta mile is worth about 1.3 cents.
Therefore, if you have 50,000 miles, they’re worth about $650 (50,000 x 0.013). However, Delta occasionally has SkyMiles sales, increasing the value of your miles on certain routes. The airline also has last-minute deals on short-haul flights, making it easier to stretch your miles.
Once you accumulate enough miles, you can use them to:
The SkyMiles program even allows you to transfer your miles to one of Delta’s travel partners or donate them to a charitable organization.
If Delta is your favorite airline, you can maximize your travel benefits by pairing a SkyMiles credit card with the American Express Platinum or Gold Card.
The Platinum Card® from American Express offers 5X Membership Rewards Points on eligible prepaid hotels and flights (up to $500,000 in flights per calendar year). You also earn up to a $200 hotel credit (given in statement credits), up to a $200 airline fee credit (given in statement credits), up to $200 in Uber Cash, and up to a $240 digital entertainment credit (given in statement credits). Cardholders have access to the American Express Global Lounge Collection and premium status with Hertz Presidents Circle, Avis Preferred and National Car Rental Emerald Club. Although the Platinum Card doesn’t have any foreign transaction fees, it does have an annual fee of $695.
Read more in our comprehensive comparison of Delta Reserve vs. Amex Platinum.
If you don’t fly often enough to justify the $695 annual fee for the Platinum Card, consider getting the American Express Gold Card. Not only do you earn rewards on Delta purchases, but you can earn 3X Membership Rewards Points on any flight booked directly with an airline or with AmexTravel.com. The Gold Card also gives you 4X points on U.S. restaurants and supermarkets. Like the Platinum Card, the Gold Card doesn’t have any foreign transaction fees. Its annual fee is just $250 (see rates and fees).
A Delta-branded American Express card is absolutely worth it if you make frequent Delta purchases.
You can use one of these cards to earn rewards on airfare, Delta gift cards, in-flight purchases and more. Delta credit cards are also ideal for people who live near one of Delta’s hubs. A Delta-branded card may also be worth it if you make frequent trips overseas, as American Express doesn’t charge any foreign transaction fees.
You can apply online for a Delta Amex card from the comfort of your own home.
To apply online for a Delta Amex card, select the “learn more” button next to your chosen card at the top of this page and apply if you decide a Delta Amex card is right for you.
You’ll need to provide all of the required information to submit your application, including:
Keep in mind that due to strict credit requirements, Delta Amex credit cards are somewhat hard to get. Even though American Express does not publish minimum scores, cardholders have commented that you need at least a 670 to qualify.
Note: Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Enrollment may be required for select American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more.
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For rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card, please visit this page.
For rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card, please visit this page.
For rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles® Gold Business American Express Card, please visit this page.
For rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card, please visit this page.
For rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card, please visit this page.
For rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card, please visit this page.
For rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card, please visit this page.
For rates and fees of The Platinum Card® from American Express, please visit this page.
You don’t automatically get Delta Medallion status, but you may be able to reach your target status a little faster. For example, some cards give you MQMs after spending a certain amount of money in a calendar year. These MQMs may give you a boost to the Silver, Platinum or Diamond level.
The Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express Card gives you complimentary access to Delta Sky Clubs and American Express Centurion Lounges.
When you apply for a credit card, the issuer assigns a credit limit based on your income, credit score, and other factors. Some customers have limits as low as $1,000, but if you have a strong credit profile, you may qualify for a much higher spending cap.
These cards have annual fees ranging from $0 to $650.
Amex Delta cards are somewhat hard to get due to the strict credit requirements. American Express doesn’t publish minimum scores, but based on comments from cardholders, you need at least a 670 to qualify. To increase your approval odds, hold off on applying until you have a 700 or higher.
It’s easy to earn SkyMiles, as each Delta card allows you to earn anywhere from 1X to 5X miles on travel, dining, grocery shopping, and other categories.
None of the Delta SkyMiles credit cards have foreign transaction fees, so you’re free to use them as you please when traveling outside of the U.S.!
* Opinions expressed here are those of LA Times Compare and have not been reviewed or approved by any advertiser or entities included within this content. See our editorial policy for more details.
All products or services are presented in this content without warranty. The information, including card details such as rates and fees, is accurate at the time of publication. Please visit each bank's website directly for the most current information.