Earn Delta SkyMiles Worth up to $840 Plus a Free Ticket

Looking to bank some Delta SkyMiles to cover the cost of an upcoming trip? Delta and American Express cobranded credit cards just got even better welcome offers, which could earn you thousands of SkyMiles. These travel credit cards come in three tiers, each with varying reward rates, benefits and annual fees.

If you are unsure of how credit cards or credit scores work, read up on our guide on how to choose a credit card for you.

What's new?

Updated bonus offers. Since our last review of these cards in September, Amex has reduced the top bonus offer from 100,000 SkyMiles to 70,000. However, the top amount you must spend in the first six months to qualify for the bonus declined from $6,000 to $5,000. So, this deal is within reach of more people. And happily, the Platinum and Reserve cards still provide annual free companion tickets.

Apply with confidence. You can now check if you are approved for one of these cards without a "hard pull," meaning your credit score won't be affected. If you choose to accept the card, of course, your credit score may decrease for a time, as would happen with any credit card application.

Quick List

In a hurry? Here's a brief overview of the cards on our list, along with quick links that let you jump down the page to read more information on each card we feature.

Why Delta SkyMiles?

Hitching your rewards wagon to just one airline can be a risk if the quality of service erodes over time. According to a report by airline analytics company Cirium, Delta was the most on-time North American airline in 2021, 2022 and 2023, demonstrating quality management over time. And you can redeem miles through many other domestic and international partner carriers. Kiplinger readers recently voted the Delta Skymiles credit card program outstanding for customer service.

According to Bankrate, Delta SkyMiles are worth 1.2 cents per mile.

Hot tip: Are you an Airbnb fan? Book your Airbnb stay through a special portal provided by the SkyMiles program and enter your SkyMiles member number. Earn one mile for each dollar spent on your Airbnb rental, excluding taxes and fees. For details, see our article Save on Airbnb with Credit Card and Airline Rewards.

Delta Skymiles Gold

Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card

This Amex card from Delta Air Lines offers two SkyMiles per dollar spent on purchases with Delta, restaurants and U.S. shipping providers, and one mile per dollar on other purchases. Cardholders also get 15% off Delta flights when booking through delta.com or the Fly Delta app using award miles. Terms apply.

The card has a solid welcome offer. Earn 50,000 Bonus Miles (worth about $600) after you spend $2,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first six months of Card Membership. Terms apply.

View Deal

• Interest rate: 20.49% to 29.49% variable APR for purchases. See rates and fees.
• Annual fee: $0 intro fee for the first year, then $150 annual fee.
• Top rewards rate: Earn two miles per dollar on Delta purchases, at restaurants worldwide, including takeout and delivery in the U.S. and at U.S. supermarkets.
• Other rewards: Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card Members get 15% off when using miles to book Award Travel on Delta flights through delta.com and the Fly Delta app. Discount not applicable to partner-operated flights or to taxes and fees.
• Free baggage checks: Check your first bag free on Delta flights, saving up to $70 on a round-trip Delta flight per person. For a family of four that’s a potential savings of up to $280 per round-trip flight.
• Redemption: Miles can be used for travel on Delta Air Lines, Delta Connection carriers (Endeavor Air, Inc., Republic Airline, and SkyWest) and on 30+ partner airlines. Want even more flexibility? Take up to $50 off the cost of your flight for every 5,000 miles you redeem with Pay with Miles when you book on delta.com.
• Intro bonus: Earn 50,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $2,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.
• Terms apply

Delta SkyMiles Platinum

Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card

This mid-tier card has an annual fee of $350, but the intro offer is a generous 60,000 miles (worth up to $720) after you spend $3,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first six months of Card Membership. You also receive a free companion ticket each year after you renew your card, with some limitations. Terms apply.

The rate of earning rewards is strong. You'll rack up three miles per dollar on Delta purchases, two miles per dollar on restaurants and U.S. supermarkets, and one mile per dollar on all other qualified purchases. Terms apply.

View Deal

• Intro offer: Earn 60,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $3,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first six months of Card Membership.
• Interest rate: 20.49% to 29.49% variable APR for purchases. See rates and fees.
• Annual fee: $350.
• Rewards rates: Earn three Miles per dollar on Delta purchases and purchases made with hotels. Earn two per dollar Miles at restaurants worldwide, including takeout and delivery in the U.S., and at U.S. supermarkets, and earn one Mile on all other eligible purchases.
• Receive a Companion Certificate: Get a Companion Certificate on a Main Cabin round-trip flight within the U.S. and to Mexico, the Caribbean, or Central America each year after renewal of your Card. The Companion Ticket requires payment of the government-imposed taxes and fees of no more than $80 for round-trip domestic flights and no more than $250 for round-trip international flights (both for itineraries with up to four flight segments). Baggage charges and other restrictions apply. See terms and conditions for details.
• 15% Discount on award trips: Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card Members get 15% off when using miles to book Award Travel on Delta flights through delta.com and the Fly Delta app. Discount not applicable to partner-operated flights or to taxes and fees.
• Free baggage check: The first checked bag is free, saving up to $70 on a round-trip Delta flight per person.
• Priority boarding: Receive Zone 5 Priority Boarding on Delta flights.
• Avoid long lines: Receive either a $120 statement credit every 4 years for a Global Entry application fee or a statement credit up to $85 every 4.5 years for a TSA PreCheck® (through a TSA official enrollment provider) application fee, when charged to your Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card. Card Members approved for Global Entry will also receive access to TSA PreCheck at no additional cost. Here's the difference between Clear vs PreCheck vs Global Entry.
• Medallion program: If you want to improve your access to the lounges with this card, you can earn $2,500 Medallion® Qualification Dollars each Medallion Qualification Year and get closer to Status with MQD Headstart. You may also earn $1 Medallion® Qualification Dollar for each $20 of purchases made on your Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card in a calendar year and get a boost toward achieving Medallion Status for the next Medallion Year.
• Redemption: Miles can be used for travel on Delta Air Lines, Delta Connection carriers (Endeavor Air, Inc., Republic Airline, and SkyWest) and on 30+ partner airlines. Want even more flexibility? Take up to $50 off the cost of your flight for every 5,000 miles you redeem with Pay with Miles when you book on delta.com.
• Terms apply
• See rates and fees.

Delta SkyMiles Reserve

Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express

This premium travel card is packed with perks. And you can earn 70,000 bonus miles (worth up to $840) after you spend $5,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first six months. Although the annual fee is $650, cardholders get an annual roundtrip companion pass, which may defray the cost for frequent travelers. This card also offers complimentary lounge access. The downside of the card is its fairly weak earnings rate of three miles for every dollar on Delta purchases and one mile on all else. If you don't spend a lot on Delta travel, you may want to consider the Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express card. Terms apply.

View Deal

• Intro offer: Earn 70,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $5,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first six months of Card Membership.
• Interest rate: 20.49% to 29.49% variable APR for purchases. See rates and fees.
• Annual fee: $650.
• Rewards rates: Earn three miles per dollar on Delta purchases and one mile per dollar on all other eligible purchases.
• Lounge access: Enjoy complimentary access to the Delta Sky Club®.
• Annual companion ticket: Receive a Companion Certificate on a Main Cabin round-trip flight within the U.S. and to Mexico, the Caribbean, or Central America each year after renewal of your Card. The Companion Ticket requires payment of the government-imposed taxes and fees of no more than $80 for round-trip domestic flights and no more than $250 for round-trip international flights (both for itineraries with up to four flight segments). Baggage charges and other restrictions apply. See terms and conditions for details.
• 15% Discount on award travel: Card Members save 15% when booking Award Travel with miles on Delta flights when using delta.com and the Fly Delta app. Discount not applicable to partner-operated flights or to taxes and fees.
• Delta Sky Club lounge access: Get complimentary access to the Delta Sky Club® when you fly Delta. Effective 2/1/25, Reserve Card Members will receive 15 Visits per year to the Delta Sky Club; to earn an unlimited number of Visits each year starting on 2/1/25, the total eligible purchases on the Card must equal $75,000 or more between 1/1/24 and 12/31/24, and each calendar year thereafter. Once all 15 Visits have been used, Eligible Card Members may purchase additional Delta Sky Club Visits at a per-visit rate of $50 per person using the Card.
• Centurion Lounge access: Get complimentary access to The Centurion® Lounge when you book a Delta flight with your Reserve Card.
• Free baggage check: Check and stow your bag with ease: First Checked Bag Free on Delta Flights.
• Skip long lines: Statement credit for either Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®. Here's the difference between Clear vs PreCheck vs Global Entry.
• Medallion program: Delta recently updated its Medallion program, which confers extra benefits to SkyMiles loyalty program participants. Delta SkyMiles Reserve cardholders receive $2,500 Medallion® Qualification Dollars each Medallion Qualification Year, helping them to get closer to Status with MQD Headstart. Also, earn $1 Medallion® Qualification Dollar for each $10 of purchases made on your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card in a calendar year and get a boost toward achieving elevated Medallion Status for next Medallion Year. Review the new ways to earn Medallion Status with the Card for more information on the Medallion program changes.
• Redemption: Miles can be used for travel on Delta Air Lines, Delta Connection carriers (Endeavor Air, Inc., Republic Airline, and SkyWest), and on 30+ partner airlines.
• Terms apply
• See rates and fees.

All three of these cards are a solid option for travelers who fly frequently on Delta Airlines. American Express cards offer attractive perks for international travelers, such as rental car insurance* and no foreign transaction fees.

Other options you might consider are travel cards from Chase and Capital One that currently have intro offers worth over $700. Both cards partner with many airline frequent flyer programs, but not with Delta. So, if Delta is your primary airline, one of the SkyMiles American Express cards profiled here may be your best bet.

Want more credit card options? Check out our other picks for travel rewards credit cards. You can use our tool below to help find the right credit card for you.

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* Eligibility and Benefit level of American Express insurance varies by Card. Terms, Conditions, and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by Amex Assurance Company.