MoneyGeek's Take

Best Airline Credit Cards for Delta Flyers in 2023

American Express provides Delta credit cards for individuals and businesses alike. The best ones come with sizable welcome bonuses and let you earn miles faster with higher category bonuses.

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This article is part of our larger series on Best Airline Credit Cards

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Last Updated: 5/2/2023

The content on this page is accurate as of the posting date; however, some of the offers mentioned may have expired.

If you’re a frequent Delta flyer, you might benefit from getting a personal or business Delta credit card from Amex. These cards let you earn SkyMiles, although the miles-per-dollar rate depends on the card you get. All the cards from this category also give you the ability to earn spend-based welcome bonus miles.

Using Amex’s credit cards for Delta flyers outside of the U.S. is ideal, and none of them come with foreign transaction fees. However, you might need to pay an annual fee. For instance, the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card comes with an annual fee of $250.

You also need to pay attention to the airline and airport benefits you stand to enjoy, given that these vary from one Delta credit card to the next.

OUR REVIEW AT A GLANCE

Our Top 5 Picks
Summarized List of All Winners
Tips for Comparing Credit Cards

This article is part of our larger series on
Best Airline Credit Cards

MoneyGeek’s Take: Top 5 Credit Cards for Delta Flyers

Quick Summary

Just how many SkyMiles you stand to earn depends on the card you get and its bonus categories. In addition, the number of bonus miles provided through welcome offers is not the same across all cards. We’ve selected the top Delta credit cards after taking these factors into account, as well as others such as annual fees, airline/airport benefits and APRs. You may scroll further down the page to see what the other good cards from this category have to offer.

Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card
- up to 2 Miles per $1*Rewards Rate
- 20.99% – 29.99% VariableAPR
- $0Annual Fee
- Good–ExcellentRecommended Credit
We love the Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card for more than its no-annual-fee feature. This card lets you earn 2X miles on restaurants worldwide and Delta purchases. All other purchases come with 1X miles.
An welcome offer gives you the ability to earn 10,000 bonus miles. All you need to do is spend at least $1000 on purchases within the first six months.
This card comes with no international transaction fees, which makes it perfect for use when traveling overseas. Other travel benefits include earning 20% as a statement credit when you use your card on eligible Delta in-flight purchases and complimentary car rental loss and damage insurance.
Cardholders also stand to benefit through purchase and fraud protection in different scenarios.
Terms, rates and fees apply
Compare this credit card with other top travel rewards cards from our partners.
Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card
- 1–3 Miles per $1Rewards Rate
- 20.99%–29.99% VariableAPR
- $250Annual Fee
- Good–ExcellentRecommended Credit
If you're a frequent Delta flyer or business owner looking for premium travel perks, the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card could be a game-changer for you. The card's sign-up bonus alone is a head-turner and can easily cover a round-trip flight. The annual fee is offset by value-added features like annual companion tickets and discounted lounge access. Plus, it's versatile in earning miles on both everyday and large business expenses.
Terms, rates and fees apply
Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card
- 1–3 Miles per $1Rewards Rate
- 20.99% – 29.99% VariableAPR
- $250Annual Fee
- Good–ExcellentRecommended Credit
We recommend the Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card to people who fly with Delta frequently. While this card comes with a $250 annual fee, it offers a number of Delta- and SkyMiles-specific benefits.
A welcome offer gives you the ability to earn 50,000 bonus miles by spending $3,000 on purchases in the first six months. All purchases made directly with Delta earn 3X miles, as do hotel bookings made directly with hotels. A couple of categories come with 2X miles and all others with 1X miles.
Cardholders may check their first bags on Delta flights for free, and they receive one domestic main cabin round-trip companion certificate every year. You also get a fee credit for Global Entry/TSA PreCheck. Using this card outside of the U.S. makes sense as it comes with no foreign transaction fees.
Cardholders stand to benefit through different travel insurance coverage and purchase protection.
Terms, rates and fees apply
Compare this credit card with other top-rated cards from our partners.
Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card
- 1–3 Miles per $1Rewards Rate
- 20.99% – 29.99% VariableAPR
- $550Annual Fee
- Good–ExcellentRecommended Credit
If you're a frequent Delta flyer looking to amplify your travel experience, the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card could be a game-changer. This card goes beyond just earning you miles; it elevates your entire journey. With accelerated rewards for high spenders and elite status within reach, your loyalty pays off in big ways. You'll also enjoy exclusive lounge access and discounts on award travel, bringing a touch of luxury to your trips. While the annual fee and APR are on the higher side, the lavish benefits can make it well worth the investment for the right traveler.
Terms, rates and fees apply
Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card
- 1–3 Miles per $1*Rewards Rate
- 20.99% – 29.99% VariableAPR
- $550Annual Fee
- Good–ExcellentRecommended Credit
We recommend the Delta SkyMiles Reserve Amex Card to people who feel they might be able to offset its $550 annual fee by making good use of its features and benefits. For starters, it comes with a welcome offer that lets you earn 60,000 bonus miles by spending $5,000 on purchases in the first six months.
You get to earn 3X miles per dollar on Delta purchases and all other purchases come with 1X miles per dollar. All cardholders get a round-trip companion certificate each year. You get two Delta Sky Club one-time guest passes each year, as well as unlimited access to The Centurion Lounge. You also stand to benefit through priority in upgrades, checking your first bag for free and receiving statement credit toward Global Entry or TSA PreCheck fees.
Some of the other benefits include no foreign transaction fees, 20% back on in-flight purchases, purchase protection and extensive travel insurance coverage.
Terms, rates and fees apply
Compare this credit card with other top-rated cards from our partners.

Summary of the Best Airline Cards for Delta Flyers

Go through this Delta credit card comparison table to determine how all the cards from this segment fare against each other based on parameters such as who these cards work best for, the credit you need to apply, reward rates and annual fees.

Credit Card
Best For
Avg. Reward Rate
Annual Fee
Credit Needed
Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card
A great miles rewards card with no annual fees
up to 2 Miles per $1*
$0
Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card
A great card for frequent business travelers who want to enjoy Delta travel perks and pursue elite traveler status
1–3 Miles per $1
$250
Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card
An excellent card for earning Delta SkyMiles
1–3 Miles per $1
$250
Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card
A card that offers generous rewards for business travelers who fly Delta frequently.
1–3 Miles per $1
$550
Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card
A good travel card with a great rewards program for frequent Delta flyers.
1–3 Miles per $1*
$550
Delta SkyMiles® Gold Business American Express Card
Great rewards for Delta loyalists
1–2 Miles per $1
$99
Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card
A great credit card for individuals looking for basic travel perks and more opportunities to earn miles
1–2 Miles per $1
$99

MONEYGEEK EXPERT TIP

Some Delta credit cards allow you to earn Medallion Qualifying Miles (MQMs) and a spending waiver towards elite status. For big spenders, this can help you reach higher levels of status and benefits quickly. -- Lee Huffman, credit card expert at BaldThoughts.com.

How to Compare Airline Credit Cards & Intro Offers

Given the number of credit cards for Delta flyers from which you get to choose, it’s important that you pay attention to your spending patterns and specific requirements before making a decision.

Welcome offer

It’s common for Amex Delta credit cards to come with welcome offers. For example, the Amex Delta SkyMiles Platinum Card lets you earn 90,000 bonus miles and 10,000 Medallion Qualification Miles (MQMs) by spending $3,000 on purchases in the first three months. With the Amex Delta SkyMiles Platinum Business Card, you get to earn 60,000 bonus miles, 5,000 Medallion Qualification Miles (MQMs) and a $100 statement credit if you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first three months.

Miles-per-dollar rate

The miles you earn depend on the Delta credit card you get. For instance, the Amex Delta SkyMiles Blue Card offers 2x miles per $1 on dining at restaurants, including takeout and delivery, and on purchases made directly with Delta. All other purchases earn 1x miles per $1. With the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card, you earn 3x miles per $1 on purchases made directly with Delta and 1x miles per $1 on all other purchases.

Annual fee

Annual fees of the top credit cards for Delta flyers vary significantly. For example, the Delta SkyMiles Gold Business Card comes with a $99 annual fee that Amex waives for the first year. On the other hand, the Delta SkyMiles Reserve Business Card charges a $550 annual fee.

Foreign transaction fee

While the existing credit cards for Delta flyers come with no foreign transaction fees, this aspect might warrant your attention if new cards enter the picture or if there are changes in fee structures.

APR

The APR that will apply on your Delta credit card essentially depends on your creditworthiness. However, rewards credit cards usually charge higher APRs than cards without rewards, and the latter might work better for you if you plan to maintain revolving balances in your account.

Airline/airport benefits

These basically depend on the annual fee you’re willing to pay. For example, the Delta SkyMiles Reserve Card with an annual fee of $550 offers spend-based bonus Medallion Qualification Miles (MQMs) and Medallion Qualification Dollar (MQD) waivers, complimentary access to Delta Sky Club and The Centurion Lounge, companion certificates, upgrade priority, your first bag checked for free and fee credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck. Amex makes none of these benefits available through its no-annual-fee Delta SkyMiles Blue Card.

Other features/perks

Some standard features/benefits you may expect from your Amex Delta credit card include savings on in-flight purchases, purchase protection, extended warranty, fraud protection, as well as access to Global Assist Hotline and American Express Experiences.