Best Delta Credit Cards For Flying Of May 2024

The Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card (terms apply, see rates & fees) is an upper-mid-range card offered by Delta. Those who can take advantage of the card’s annual companion pass will likely come out ahead of the annual fee.

Rewards: Earn 3 miles on Delta purchases and purchases made directly with hotels, 2 miles at restaurants worldwide including takeout and delivery in the U.S., and at U.S. supermarkets and 1 mile per dollar on other eligible purchases.

Welcome offer: Earn 50,000 bonus miles after spending $3,000 in purchases in the first 6 months of card membership.

Annual fee: $350

Other benefits and drawbacks: Cardholders receive an annual companion certificate each year upon renewal of the card valid for a round trip flight in the U.S., Caribbean or Central America in the Main Cabin not including government taxes and fees. You also receive a free first checked bag when flying Delta, priority boarding, 20% savings in the form of a statement credit on in-flight purchases when you use your card and a 15% discount on award tickets available to card members.

The card can also help members earn elite status with the airline. Cardholders as of February 2024 will get a one-time Medallion Qualifying Dollar (MQD) headstart of $2,500 and can earn an additional 1 MQD per $20 in eligible card charges. Other changes that have just been launched with the card include up to a $120 rideshare credit and up to a $150 Delta Stays credit to be used on a prepaid stay or vacation rental through the new Delta Stays program. Finally, you’ll earn up to a $10 monthly credit on eligible purchases at Resy restaurants. Enrollment is required for select benefits.

Utilizing all of the new credits represents a $390 value, well over the $350 annual fee each year for the card. Considering the potential value from the companion pass makes the annual fee that much easier to stomach.

The Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card (terms apply, see rates & fees) is a fantastic Delta credit card for travelers who will regularly use benefits offered by the card, including an annual companion pass, a complimentary checked bag when flying Delta and Delta Sky Club lounge access (effective 2/1/25, cardholders will receive 15 Delta Sky Club visits per year; unlimited visits can be earned when total purchases exceed $75,000 in 2024 and each calendar year thereafter).

Rewards: Earn 3 miles per dollar on Delta purchases and 1 mile per dollar on all other eligible purchases.

Welcome offer: Earn 60,000 bonus miles after spending $5,000 in purchases in the first 6 months of card membership.

Annual fee: $650

Other benefits and drawbacks: This card comes with Delta Sky Club access when flying same-day with Delta. Four one-time guest passes to the Delta Sky Club are included annually. Cardholders can also visit American Express Centurion Lounges when flying Delta the same day and paying for their ticket with their Delta Reserve card.

Cardholders also receive an annual companion certificate each year valid for a round-trip flight in first class, Delta Comfort+ or main cabin plus government taxes and fees to anywhere in the U.S., Caribbean or Central America.

Another major perk exclusive to this card is upgrade priority over other Delta elite-level flyers with the same Medallion status.

Benefits include your first checked bag free when flying with Delta, priority boarding and 20% savings in the form of a statement credit after you use your card on eligible Delta in-flight purchases of food, beverages and audio headsets. As with other Delta cards, cardholders can also book award tickets for 15% fewer miles.

Reserve cardholders will also earn 1 Medallion Qualifying Dollar (MQD) per $10 in eligible card charges, helping you qualify for Delta elite status more easily.

As of February 2024, cardholders will also receive a once-annual $2,500 MQD head start toward status qualification. Other new benefits include up to a $240 Resy dining credit, up to a $120 rideshare credit and up to a $200 Delta Stays credit for a prepaid hotel or vacation rental stay. You can also get Hertz’s top rental car elite status, called President’s Circle, for extra benefits when you get to your destination. With over $560 in new credits you can nearly completely offset the high annual fee if you’re able to use all of the monthly rewards. Enrollment is required for select benefits.

The Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card (terms apply, see rates & fees) is Delta’s mid-tier card option. Its most notable benefit is that cardholders receive a free checked bag when flying Delta. This can come in handy for anyone who prefers to check a bag when they fly but doesn’t have status with Delta.

Rewards: Earn 2 miles per dollar on Delta purchases, at U.S. supermarkets and at restaurants worldwide, including takeout and delivery in the U.S. and 1 mile per dollar on other eligible purchases.

Welcome offer: Earn 40,000 bonus miles after spending $2,000 in purchases in the first 6 months of card membership.

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

Other benefits and drawbacks: The Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card offers in-air benefits such as a free first checked bag when you fly Delta, priority boarding and a 20% statement credit on eligible in-flight Delta purchases.

Cardholders can earn a $200 Delta Flight Credit toward future travel after spending $10,000 in purchases during a calendar year. While this is not as substantial as the companion offer from some other Delta cards, the Delta Gold card comes with a much lower annual fee than those cards. The card also grants access to a 15% mileage discount on award flights, which can stretch the value of your miles farther.

Through the new Delta Stays program, you can earn up to a $100 credit every year for prepaid hotel stays or vacation rentals, helping to offset the annual fee even more.

The Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card (terms apply, see rates & fees) doesn’t have much to offer in the way of Delta benefits, but it can be an option for someone who wants to start earning Delta miles but can’t justify an annual fee. It could also make sense as a downgrade option for someone who no longer wants a higher-annual fee Delta card.

Rewards: Earn 2 miles per dollar on Delta purchases, at restaurants worldwide, and takeout and delivery in the U.S. and 1 mile per dollar on all other eligible purchases.

Welcome offer: Earn 10,000 bonus miles after spending $1,000 in purchases on the card in the first 6 months.

Annual fee: $0

Other benefits and drawbacks: The Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card does not offer Delta flying benefits such as a free checked bag or preferred boarding, but it does offer a 20% statement credit on eligible in-flight purchases. The card also does not charge foreign transaction fees, which is not as common among no-annual-fee travel cards.