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Best Delta credit cards 2022

Choose the right card for priority boarding, companion certificates and more.

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Kliment Dukovski
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Delta offers a surprisingly robust selection of cobranded credit cards, at least doubling the number you’d find from another airline. There’s a Delta card for nearly any type of traveler, ranging from the occasional flyer to those who like to travel in style. We weighed the pros and cons of each card to help you decide which card is best suited for your travel and spending needs.

What are the best Delta credit cards?

When choosing our top Delta picks, we looked at features such as cashback rates, annual fees, earning categories, Delta benefits and other factors that a consumer might find compelling in a travel card. Those cards that outperformed the others in a given category were chosen for our list.

Best card for the occasional Delta flyer

Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card

Finder rating 4 / 5 ★★★★★

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Terms apply, see rates & fees
If you make at least two round trips per year, the Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card could be your best choice. It takes only those two round trips to save enough money on checked bags to offset the annual fee, making everything else you earn a plus.

Best for the frequent flyer

Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card

Finder rating 4 / 5 ★★★★★

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Terms apply, see rates & fees
The Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card is aimed at the frequent Delta flyer who spends between $25,000 and 80,000 on purchases annually with their card. Spending in this range helps you reach Medallion Status faster.

Best for luxury perks

Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card

Finder rating 4.3 / 5 ★★★★★

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Terms apply, see rates & fees
Delta flyers who are frequently in the air and spend more than $30,000 on purchases per year could find the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card and its perks useful. With this card, you should be able to quickly reach a higher Medallion Status tier while enjoying luxury perks.

Best for no annual fee

Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card

Finder rating 3.6 / 5 ★★★★★

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Terms apply, see rates & fees
The Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card is the only Delta card that has no annual fee. It can be ideal for the occasional Delta flyer, though is far more simplistic than its brethren.

Best business card for the occasional Delta flyer

Delta SkyMiles® Gold Business American Express Card

Finder rating 4.4 / 5 ★★★★★

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Terms apply, see rates & fees
Like the personal card, the Delta SkyMiles® Gold Business American Express Card is a solid card for those who just occasionally travel with Delta. It's a low-cost investment that can save you cash with just a few flights.

Best business card for the frequent flyer

Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card

Finder rating 4.6 / 5 ★★★★★

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Terms apply, see rates & fees
The Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card is great for mid-sized businesses that engage in occasional travel and want to push their flight perks to the next level.

Best for luxury perks

Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card

Finder rating 4.3 / 5 ★★★★★

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Terms apply, see rates & fees
Big business spenders who fly Delta frequently will want to scope out the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card. The earning potential and luxury perks on this card make it great for traveling in style and a big value play for the price.

What’s changed in 2022

Delta refreshed the welcome offer on all of its cards.

Benefits and perks of Delta credit cards compared

Here’s a side-by-side look at the perks you’ll find in each Delta card, along with how much they cost to use each year.

Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express CardDelta SkyMiles® Gold American Express CardDelta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express CardDelta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card
Annual fee$0$0 for your first year, $99 thereafter$250$550
Free checked bags–First checked bagFirst checked bagFirst checked bag
with welcome offer; 15,000 after spending $30,000 in a calendar year. This bonus can be earned four times a year.
Companion certificate––One each year upon card renewalOne each year upon card renewal
Priority boarding–Main Cabin 1Main Cabin 1Main Cabin 1
Delta SkyClub access––Discounted entry for $39Complimentary access and two one-time guest passes each year you renew;
Complimentary Centurion lounge access if you book your flight with your Delta card
In-flight discounts20% back on food, beverages and audio headsets20% back on food, beverages and audio headsets20% back on food, beverages and audio headsets20% back on food, beverages and audio headsets
TSA PreCheck or Global Entry fee credit––$100 every four years$100 every four years
Baggage, trip delay and car rental insuranceCar rental loss and damageCar rental loss and damageBaggage delay, trip delay, and car rental loss and damageBaggage insurance, trip delay, trip cancellation, car rental loss and damage

Benefits and perks of Delta business credit cards compared

Delta offers three business cards, and they’re similar in pricing and feature structure to the airline’s personal cards.

Delta SkyMiles® Gold Business American Express CardDelta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express CardDelta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card
Annual fee$0 for your first year, $99 thereafter$250$550
Free checked bagsFirst checked bagFirst checked bagFirst checked bag
Companion certificate–One each year upon card renewalOne each year upon card renewal
Priority boardingMain Cabin 1Main Cabin 1Main Cabin 1
Delta SkyClub access–Discounted entry for $39Complimentary access and two one-time guest passes each year you renew;
Complimentary Centurion lounge access if you book your flight with your Delta card
In-flight discounts20% back on food, beverages and audio headsets20% back on food, beverages and audio headsets20% back on food, beverages and audio headsets
TSA PreCheck or Global Entry fee credit–$100 every four years$100 every four years
Baggage, trip delay and car rental insuranceBaggage insurance, Car rental loss and damageBaggage insurance, trip delay, and car rental loss and damageBaggage insurance, trip delay, trip cancellation, car rental loss and damage

Should I get a Delta credit card?

Whether you should get a Delta — or at least whether a Delta credit card would be useful in your wallet — is pretty simple to determine.

You should get a Delta card if: You exclusively fly Delta for travel, you want to earn additional miles and you want additional perks or luxuries during your flights. The higher-end Delta cards are packed with plenty of value. In fact, the annual companion certificates included on the Platinum essentially pays for the cost of the card. Add on the other perks, such as Sky Club discounts, travel coverage and free checked bags, and you’ll have no trouble justifying adding a Delta card to your wallet.

You should pick something else if: you don’t fly Delta very often or you want to use your credit card rewards on more than just flights. Like most cobranded cards, picking up a Delta card is a little harder to justify if you tend to fly with a variety of airlines.

How to choose the best Delta credit cards

To choose the right Delta credit card, ask yourself:

  • How often do I fly Delta? If you make at least two round trips annually, the Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card should be enough. With the first-checked-bag-free perk, you’ll offset your annual fee and earn Delta perks and miles along the way. Note that some benefits apply to all Delta credit cards, such as discounts on in-flight meals.
  • Do I want a Delta card without an annual fee? Only the Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card has no annual fee.
  • How much do I spend annually? If you spend less than $25,000 with your card each year, the Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card or Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card could be the right choice. If you spend $25,000 or more annually, the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card is worth considering. And if you spend $30,000 or more annually and want the ultimate Delta perks, the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card could be worth adding to your wallet.
  • Will I use these features? To make the annual fees of the higher tier Delta credit cards worth it, you have to reliably make use of each card’s perks each year. If you don’t see yourself using those perks, you might want to choose a card with a less expensive annual fee and fewer perks.

How do I earn more miles on Delta flights?

There are many strategies to earn Delta SkyMiles quickly. When you book a flight, enter your SkyMiles number and earn additional 5x miles on Delta flight purchases. Also, once you reach Medallion Status, you can earn from seven to 11 additional miles per dollar, depending on your Medallion Status tier. You can find more information about moving through these elite tiers at our Delta SkyMiles guide.

For the best ways to spend your newly earned miles, check out our SkyMiles redemption guide to squeeze the most value from your redemptions.

Delta SkyMiles program noteworthy features

The Delta SkyMiles program offers several features, many affected by the type of credit card you have. Here are the most common features you’re likely to encounter and our corresponding guides.

  • Companion certificate. A Delta companion certificate allows you to bring one companion along on a flight you’ve booked, for the cost of just taxes and fees.
  • Free checked bags. Most Delta credit cards grant you one free checked bag per flight.
  • Priority boarding. Priority boarding allows you to move to the front of the Delta waiting line for seating.
  • Flight upgrades. You can upgrade your Delta seating and flights using cash or Delta SkyMiles.
  • Skyclub lounges. Chill out at a Delta SkyClub lounge before your flight and enjoy food, beverages and comfortable seating.
  • In-flight meals. Several Delta cards offer discounts on your in-flight meals.
  • SkyMiles Dining. The Delta dining program allows you to earn Delta SkyMiles when you dine at participating restaurants.
  • SkyMiles Shopping. Similar to the SkyMiles Dining program, this program allows you to earn Delta SkyMiles when you make purchases at participating retailers.

Compare Delta credit cards

Compare the perks and features of Delta credit cards to find the one with the highest value for your wallet.

1 - 3 of 5
Name Product Welcome Offer Rewards Annual fee Filter values
Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card
Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card
80,000 bonus miles after you spend $4,000 in purchases in your first 6 months
3x miles on Delta purchases and purchases made directly with hotels. Earn 2x miles at restaurants worldwide including takeout and delivery in the US, and at U.S. supermarkets. Earn 1x miles on all other eligible purchases
$250
Earn 80,000 bonus miles and 5,000 Medallion® Qualification Miles (MQMs) after you spend $4,000 in your first 6 months. Terms apply, see rates & fees
View details
Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card
Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card
Earn 95,000 bonus miles and 10,000 Medallion® Qualification Miles (MQMs) after you spend $6,000 in your first 6 months
3x miles on eligible purchases made directly with Delta and 1x miles on other eligible purchases
$550
Earn 95,000 bonus miles and 10,000 Medallion® Qualification Miles (MQMs) after you spend $6,000 in your first 6 months. Terms apply, see rates & fees
View details
Delta SkyMiles® Gold Business American Express Card
Delta SkyMiles® Gold Business American Express Card
70,000 Bonus Miles after spending $3,000 in purchases in your first 3 months
2x miles on eligible direct Delta purchases, U.S. shipping, select U.S. advertising and at restaurants and 1x miles on all other eligible purchases
$0 intro annual fee for the first year ($99 thereafter)
Earn 70,000 Bonus Miles after spending $3,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 3 months of Card Membership. Terms apply, see rates & fees
View details
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Alternatives to Delta SkyMiles cards

Amex Membership Rewards cards allow you to transfer your Amex points to Delta at a 1:1 ratio, in increments of 1,000, or you can simply redeem your points for a Delta flight. The main benefit to picking an Amex reward card over the Delta cobranded card is in a greater earning and redeeming flexibility. The two most popular credit card choices are:

  • The Platinum Card® from American Express. This card costs $695 annually, but it comes with premium perks like a $200 annual airline fee credit, $200 annual Uber credit, a complimentary Hilton and Marriott gold elite status after you enroll and more. On top of that, you get to earn massive rewards on flights booked directly with the airlines and on prepaid hotels. (Terms apply, see rates & fees).
  • American Express® Gold Card. This card is mostly designed for foodies because you earn a generous rewards rate at restaurants and you get $10 in monthly statement credits to use at participating restaurants when you enroll. What’s more, you also get generous rewards rates at U.S. supermarkets, and flights. The only downside is that it costs $250 annually. (Terms apply, see rates & fees).

Bottom line

Delta credit cards can be useful if you fly with the airline often. You get to enjoy travel perks while earning miles that you can redeem for flights. But to choose the right card, consider how frequently you fly Delta and how much you spend on flights.

Check out more travel credit cards if you’re still trying to figure out which card will make the best travel companion.

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