Best Delta SkyMiles credit cards
Best Delta SkyMiles credit cards Which Delta SkyMiles card is best for you? The choice depends on how frequent a Delta flyer you are and what types of benefits you value By Holly Johnson
Delta Air Lines partners with American Express to offer a wide range of credit cards for frequent flyers who want to earn rewards. These cards let you earn miles and other types of awards within the Delta SkyMiles frequent flyer program, and some offer special perks such as airport lounge access and free checked bags.
Delta’s offerings include several personal credit cards, one of which has no annual fee. Business owners can also sign up for cobranded Delta cards for business, which may make it possible for them to earn miles on their business-related purchases and expenses.
Here’s a rundown of the Delta credit cards you should consider: Delta SkyMiles credit cards 2 miles per dollar on U.S. restaurant purchases and direct Delta purchases 1 mile per dollar on other purchases 10,000 miles if you spend $500 in first 3 months $0 2 miles per dollar on direct Delta purchases 1 mile per dollar on other purchases 30,000 miles if you spend $1,000 in first 3 months $50 statement credit if you make a Delta purchase in first 3 months with your card $95, $0 first year 2 miles per dollar on direct Delta purchases 1 mile per dollar on other purchases 35,000 miles and 5,000 Medallion Qualification Miles (MQMs) if you spend $1,000 in first 3 months $195 2 miles per dollar on direct Delta purchases 1 mile per dollar on other purchases 40,000 miles and 15,000 Medallion Qualification Miles if you spend $3,000 in first 3 months $450 2 miles per dollar on direct Delta purchases 1 mile per dollar on other purchases 30,000 miles if you spend $1,000 in first 3 months $50 statement credit if you make a Delta purchase in first 3 months with your card $95, $0 first year 2 miles per dollar on direct Delta purchases 1 mile per dollar on other purchases 35,000 miles and 5,000 Medallion Qualification Miles (MQMs) if you spend $1,000 in first 3 months $100 statement credit if you make a Delta purchase in first 3 months with your card $195 2 Miles per dollar spent on direct Delta purchases 1 mile on per dollar on other purchases 40,000 miles and 10,000 MQMs if you spend $3,000 in first 3 months $450 Entry-level card
The Blue Delta SkyMiles card from American Express is a solid option for beginners since it doesn’t charge an annual fee. You can sign up for this card and earn an initial sum of 10,000 bonus miles after you spend $500 on your card in your first three months.
Plus, you’ll get 2 miles per dollar on U.S. restaurant and direct Delta purchases and a 20-percent in-flight savings in the form of a statement credit when you use your card for food, beverages and audio headsets on Delta flights. Premium credit cards
If you fly Delta or its partners often enough, you may want to consider upgrading to one of the airline’s premium travel credit cards. The Gold Delta SkyMiles credit card is a good option since it has a $95 annual fee that is waived the first year. This gives you a year to try out the card’s benefits without paying for the privilege.
Signing up for the card also makes it possible to earn 2 miles dollar on Delta purchases and 1 mile per dollar on all other purchases. You also get a free checked bag on Delta flights for you and your travel companions along with Priority Boarding that gets you on the plane sooner.
The Gold Delta SkyMiles Business Credit Card offers the same introductory bonus and earning structure. Either option could be a smart one depending on whether you prefer a consumer credit card or one for your business. Cards that help you earn elite status
The Platinum Delta SkyMiles credit card from American Express and the Platinum Delta SkyMiles Business credit card from American Express are aimed at Frequent Delta flyers.
Both cards come with a pricy annual fee of $195, which may be hard to justify if you don’t fly Delta often. In exchange, however, you get a strong introductory bonus and an initial $100 statement credit when you make a Delta purchase within three months of account opening.
More importantly for Delta flyers is the fact that you get 10,000 miles and 10,000 MQMs (Medallion Qualification Miles) if you spend $25,000 or more in a calendar year, 20,000 miles and 20,000 MQMs (total) if you spend $50,000 or more in a calendar year, and a free companion ticket. You also get a free checked bag, priority boarding and discounted entry into Delta Sky Clubs.
These benefits make getting a Platinum card a better deal if you’re a frequent Delta flyer who is seeking elite status. Still, you need to consider the fact that you’ll need to spend a lot on the card to earn the additional Medallion Qualification Miles. It’s also worth noting that, since the Platinum Delta cards only offer 1 mile per dollar on regular purchases, they may not be best for everyday spending. Cards for Sky Club lounge access
Other credit cards that could be ideal for frequent Delta flyers include the Delta Reserve for Business credit card and the Delta Reserve credit card . These cards come with a high annual fee of $450 but also offer automatic access to Delta Sky Clubs — a perk that normally costs $495 per year. Paying the fee for this card makes sense if you already planned to purchase a Delta Sky Club membership.
Both Delta Reserve cards also come with an annual companion certificate, free checked bags, priority boarding, a 20-percent discount on in-flight purchases and no foreign transaction fees.
They can also help you climb the ladder toward elite status with Delta faster. You earn 15,000 MQMs and 15,000 bonus miles after you spend $30,000 on purchases with your card within a calendar year. You can earn an additional 15,000 MQMs and an additional 15,000 bonus miles after you spend $60,000 on purchases with the same card in a calendar year.
If you plan to use these cards to reach elite status faster, keep in mind that you need to spend tens of thousands of dollars with them to earn the additional MQMs. Since you only earn 1 mile per dollar on regular purchases (outside of bonus miles), there is an opportunity cost to be considered here. Even with the benefits of elite status considered, you could be better off putting your spend on another travel credit card. Which Delta credit card should I get?
The right Delta credit card for you depends on your needs. Before you decide, consider your average spending, how often you fly with Delta and whether you are comfortable paying an annual fee.
See Related: What are Delta SkyMiles worth? , Best ways to earn Delta SkyMiles , Best ways to redeem Delta SkyMiles , Delta SkyMiles partners , Delta elite status benefits , Delta Sky Club lounges , How to book a flight with Delta SkyMiles Join the discussion We encourage an active and insightful conversation among our users. Please help us keep our community civil and respectful. For your safety, do not disclose confidential or personal information such as bank account numbers or social security numbers. Anything you post may be disclosed, published, transmitted or reused. If you are commenting using a Facebook account, your profile information may be displayed with your comment depending on your privacy settings. By leaving the ‘Post to Facebook’ box selected, your comment will be published to your Facebook profile in addition to the space below. The editorial content on CreditCards.com is not sponsored by any bank or credit card issuer. The journalists in the editorial department are separate from the company’s business operations. The comments posted below are not provided, reviewed or approved by any company mentioned in our editorial content. Additionally, any companies mentioned in the content do not assume responsibility to ensure that all posts and/or questions are answered. Three most recent Products stories: How to book a flight with Delta SkyMiles – Our guide to booking flights with SkyMiles shows you the ins and outs of searching for flights, rules, restrictions and tips for getting the best deal … Delta SkyMiles partners – See the full list of Delta SkyMiles partners for redeeming miles and using your elite benefits, as well as partners that allow you to earn bonus SkyMiles … A guide to Delta Sky Club membership – Our guide to lounge access on Delta Air Lines gives an overview of the rules, benefits and ways of getting access to Delta Sky Club lounges …