Are Delta Credit Cards Worth It for Your Wallet?

Delta credit cards can be a great way to earn rewards, especially if you're a frequent flyer. With the Delta SkyMiles credit card, you can earn 2 miles per dollar spent on Delta purchases.

The Delta SkyMiles credit card offers a sign-up bonus of 30,000 miles after spending $1,000 in the first 3 months. This can be a great way to start earning miles quickly.

Traveling with Delta can be expensive, but with the right credit card, you can earn miles that can be redeemed for flights, hotel stays, and more.

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Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express Cardholders get complimentary unlimited access to Delta Sky Clubs and American Express Centurion Lounges, and will receive four one-time-use guest passes each year.

The unlimited access benefit will be reduced to 15 visits per year unless you spend $75,000 or more in eligible purchases on the Delta SkyMiles Reserve card between January 1, 2024, and December 31, 2024.

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Cardholders will receive a $2,500 head start toward the threshold for earning Medallion Qualification Dollars (MQDs) each year, and will earn one additional MQD for every $10 spent on the card.

The MQD thresholds range from $5,000 MQDs for Silver Medallion status to $28,000 for Diamond Medallion status.

Cardholders receive an annual companion certificate for a free domestic, Caribbean, or Central American roundtrip flight in First Class, Delta Comfort+, or Main Cabin for a friend booked on the same flight.

Here are some of the other benefits you can look forward to:

You can earn miles with the Delta credit cards, with the Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express Card offering 3 miles for every dollar spent on Delta purchases, and the Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express Card offering 2 miles per dollar spent on Delta purchases.

The Delta SkyMiles program also lets you redeem miles for flights on Delta or their airline partners to over 1,000 destinations worldwide, with round-trip domestic flights starting at less than 20,000 miles and some international flights starting at 60,000 miles in economy class.

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You can also earn extra miles through the Delta SkyMiles Shopping portal, where you can earn at least one mile per dollar spent, and up to 9 miles per dollar spent with certain retailers.

New applicants can currently earn 70,000 bonus miles after spending $5,000 in eligible purchases on their new card in the first six months of card membership.

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You can earn miles with the Delta SkyMiles credit cards by making purchases on Delta or through the Delta SkyMiles Shopping portal.

The Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express Card earns 3 miles for every dollar spent on Delta purchases and 1 mile for all other eligible purchases. This card also allows you to "double dip" on certain buys within the Delta SkyMiles Shopping portal, where you can earn at least one mile per dollar spent, and sometimes up to 9 miles per dollar.

Cardholders can also earn miles by using the Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express Card, which earns 2 miles per dollar spent on Delta purchases. The Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card earns 3 miles per dollar spent on Delta purchases as well.

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Here's a breakdown of the earning rates for the Delta SkyMiles credit cards:

By understanding how to earn miles with the Delta SkyMiles credit cards, you can maximize your rewards earnings and get the most out of your card.

The companion certificate is a valuable perk offered by some Delta credit cards, which can help offset the annual fees. It allows you to bring one companion with you on a Delta-operated round-trip flight within the U.S. and to Mexico, the Caribbean, or Central America for free, with only taxes and fees to pay.

To be eligible for the companion certificate, you need to renew one of the eligible cards, such as the Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card or the Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express Card. The type of companion certificate you receive depends on the card you have.

Here's a breakdown of the companion certificates offered by each card type:

This perk can be a great way to make your travel more enjoyable and share the experience with a companion.

If you can't justify the annual fee, it's not worth paying. The annual fee of a credit card should be offset by the value you get from it.

The Delta SkyMiles Blue American Express Card has a $0 annual fee, but it doesn't offer the same benefits as other Delta credit cards. It has a lower earning rate on purchases and doesn't give you the TakeOff 15 award booking discount.

The value of a credit card's annual fee depends on the benefits you want and how much you're willing to pay for them. If you're a frequent flyer, you might find that the benefits of a credit card like the Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express Card easily cover its $150 annual fee.

The Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express Card allows cardholders and up to eight companions to check their first bag for free, which can save you $140 per year if you use this benefit four times a year.

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The Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express Card has a $650 annual fee, but it offers enhanced benefits like access to SkyClubs and an enhanced companion pass. These perks can easily offset the cost of the fee if you're a frequent flyer.

If you're not loyal to one airline, you might find that a more general travel rewards card like the American Express Gold Card offers more value than a Delta credit card.

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Delta credit cards offer a range of perks and discounts that can make your travel experience more enjoyable and cost-effective. One of the most valuable benefits is the 15% discount on all Delta-operated flights booked with SkyMiles, available to cardholders with the Delta SkyMiles Gold, Platinum, and Reserve credit cards.

Cardholders also receive 20% back in the form of a statement credit when they purchase in-flight food and beverages with Delta, with no limit to the amount back they can receive each year.

Delta credit cards also offer a range of other discounts and credits, including up to $200 in credits toward Delta Stays bookings, up to $120 in rideshare credits, and up to $240 in statement credits for Resy purchases.

Here are the details of the Delta Stays credit:

These credits can be used to book hotels through Delta Stays, and can help offset the annual fee of the card.

Complimentary upgrades might be a thing of the past, especially for those without Delta Medallion status. They're not always guaranteed, even for cardholders.

Delta SkyMiles Platinum and Reserve Cards can help you move to the front of the plane with complimentary space-available upgrades. However, these upgrades have gotten fewer and farther between due to exploding travel demand.

As a cardholder, you'll be prioritized over Platinum Cardholders, but behind Delta's lowest-tier Silver Medallion members. Don't count on getting upgraded very often.

In theory, holding one of these cards can get you an upgrade, but in practice, it's not a sure thing. The upgrade list is long, and other Medallion status members take priority.

If you're a frequent Delta flyer, you're in luck. The 15% off benefit, also known as TakeOff 15, is one of the best perks of having a Delta credit card.

This benefit gives you a 15% discount on all Delta-operated flights booked with SkyMiles when you book through Delta.com or the Fly Delta app. The discount is applied automatically, so you don't have to do anything extra.

The TakeOff 15 benefit is available with both the consumer and business versions of the Delta SkyMiles Gold, Platinum, and Reserve credit cards. Unfortunately, only cardholders with the no-annual-fee *delta blue* miss out on this savings.

You can use this benefit for any fare, whether it's a basic economy award ticket or a Delta One business class fare. And the best part? There's no limit on the number of times you can use it.

Here's a quick rundown of the cards that qualify for this benefit:

Just make sure you're logged into your Delta SkyMiles account and you'll see the TakeOff 15 pricing reflected automatically when you search for SkyMiles award tickets on Delta's website or the mobile app.

With the Delta credit cards, you'll get a range of airport and travel benefits that can make your flying experience more enjoyable and convenient.

You'll get free checked bags with your Delta credit card, which can save you up to $60 per bag for domestic flights. This benefit applies to the primary cardholder and up to eight other passengers traveling on the same reservation.

Delta credit card holders also get a credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck, which can save you up to $120 every four years. This is a great benefit if you plan on doing any international travel in the next five years.

Here are some of the airport and travel benefits you can expect with a Delta credit card:

Note that the Delta Reserve Card offers unlimited complimentary Sky Club access, but this will change in 2025, when cardholders will be limited to 15 visits per year unless they spend $75,000 or more per year on the card.

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Traveling with a lot of luggage can be a real hassle, but did you know that some credit cards offer free checked bags? All co-branded Delta cards, with the exception of the Delta SkyMiles Blue American Express Card, offer this perk.

This means that if you have a co-branded Delta card, you can check your bags for free, and so can up to eight other passengers traveling on the same reservation. Just make sure your card is linked to your SkyMiles number, and you're good to go.

Global Entry or TSA PreCheck can save you time in airport lines, with the added benefit of receiving up to $120 application fee credit back when you pay with the right Delta American Express card.

You can apply for either Global Entry or TSA PreCheck to save time in airport lines, and receive up to $120 application fee credit back when you pay with the Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card, the Delta SkyMiles Platinum Business American Express Card, the Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express Card, or the Delta SkyMiles Reserve Business American Express Card.

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These credit cards will give you a credit of up to $120 every four years to cover the cost of either Global Entry or TSA PreCheck, which is a great perk for frequent travelers.

Membership in either program is good for five years, so you'll be set for a while.

If you're a Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express Card holder, you'll get complimentary Sky Club membership, allowing you to access any Delta airport lounge whenever you fly with the airline.

Delta Sky Club membership costs $695 per year, which is more expensive than the credit card's annual fee.

Starting in 2025, Platinum and Reserve card members will receive 10 and 15 days, respectively, of Delta Sky Club access. Each "day" includes all visits to Sky Clubs within a 24-hour period after check-in.

Cardholders who spend more than $75,000 a year will receive unlimited access to Delta Sky Clubs for the remainder of the current Medallion year and the following year.

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You can also purchase additional Sky Club visits at $50 per person after exhausting your 15 visits.

Here are some key details about Sky Club access:

If you're considering a Delta credit card, it's essential to weigh the benefits against the annual fee. The Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express Card has a $0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $150, while the Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card has a $350 annual fee.

The Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express Card has a $650 annual fee, which might seem steep, but it includes perks like access to SkyClubs and an enhanced companion pass. This card can be a good deal for frequent flyers who use these benefits.

The Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express Card offers a free checked bag for the cardholder and up to eight companions, which can save $35 per bag, or $140, for four trips per year. This benefit alone can offset the annual fee.

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To make an informed decision, compare the Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express Card to other travel credit cards, such as the American Express Gold Card, which has a $325 annual fee and offers a welcome offer of 60,000 points.

Here's a comparison of the Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express Card and the American Express Gold Card:

Ultimately, the decision to get a Delta credit card depends on your individual needs and preferences. Consider which perks are most important to you and whether the benefits outweigh the annual fee.