Is the Delta SkyMiles Credit Card Worth It?

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Delta is one of America's “Big Three” airlines, flying to nearly 300 destinations in more than 50 countries. Millions of travelers choose Delta every year, and to enhance their travel experience, the airline operates a loyalty program for its members called Delta SkyMiles.

If you live at a Delta hub or fly frequently with the airline, you may be wondering if purchasing a co-branded Delta SkyMiles credit card can help you earn special rewards and enhance your travel experience. So if you're wondering “Is the Delta credit card worth it?” we have your answer.

Available Delta Credit Cards

American Express is the sole issuer of the Delta SkyMiles co-branded credit card. Let's take a look at the Delta Card and welcome offers for consumers and business owners.

Personal Delta Credit Card

Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card ($0 annual fee): Earn 10,000 bonus miles after spending $500 on your new card within the first 3 months. Conditions apply.
Delta SkyMiles American Express Gold Card (annual fee: $0 introductory fee for the first year, then $99): Earn 40,000 bonus miles after spending $1,000 with the new card in the first 3 months. Conditions apply.
Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card (annual fee: $250): Earn 50,000 bonus miles and 5,000 Medallion® Qualification Miles (MQMs) after spending $2,000 with the new card in the first 3 months. Conditions apply.
Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card (annual fee: $550): Earn 50,000 bonus miles and 10,000 Medallion® Qualification Miles (MQMs) after spending $3,000 with the new card in the first 3 months. Conditions apply.

Delta Business Credit Card

Delta SkyMiles® Gold Business American Express Card (Annual Fee: $0 introductory fee for the first year, then $99): Welcome Offer: After you spend $2,000 on your new card within the first 3 months of your card membership, Earn 50,000 bonus miles. Conditions apply.
Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card (Annual Fee: $250): Welcome Offer: Earn 60,000 Bonus Miles and 5,000 Medallion® Qualification Miles (MQM). Conditions apply.
Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card (annual fee: $550): Welcome Offer: Earn 60,000 bonus miles and 10,000 Medallion® Qualification Miles (MQMs) after spending $4,000 with your new card in the first 3 months). Conditions apply.

The benefits of cards range from simple to extensive. If you are interested in applying for a Delta SkyMiles credit card, we encourage you to understand its benefits and consider the annual fee. We will not cover these in the following analysis.

How the Delta SkyMiles Credit Card Works

Provide your SkyMiles number when claiming Delta-branded points, which will be applied to your frequent flyer account. If you do not have a membership number, the system will automatically create one for you.

Every time you swipe your card to make a purchase, you earn points based on the collection structure of each card. Typically, you earn mileage multipliers on purchases on Delta and some other reward categories such as restaurants, hotels, and US supermarkets.

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Earned miles can be redeemed for Delta flights and award travel on partner airlines such as Air France, KLM and Latin America. Exchange rates vary by travel date and destination, but according to NerdWallet's review, you should earn about 1.3 cents per mile on average.

As long as your SkyMiles account is in good standing, SkyMiles will not expire whether you have a Delta credit card or not.

How to Determine if a Delta Card is Worth It

Delta SkyMiles co-branded credit cards offer a variety of benefits, including:

Free luggage checked.
Credit for TSA PreCheck or Global Entry registration fees.
Even the Delta Sky Club (with the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card).

However, with the exception of the Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card, all SkyMiles credit cards have an annual fee, and you'll need to determine if the benefits outweigh the fees.

Determine if the card's reward category aligns with your spending patterns

Every dollar you spend on a Delta co-branded credit card converts to Delta SkyMiles, in some cases at accelerated rates. How to earn rewards by shopping with the American Express Delta Card.

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Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card

Delta Air Lines 2x miles.
2 miles from the restaurant.
1x mile for everything else.

Conditions apply.

Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card

Delta Air Lines 2x miles.
2 miles from the restaurant.
2x miles to US supermarkets.
1x mile for everything else.

Conditions apply.

Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card

Delta Air Lines 3x miles.
3x miles directly to the hotel.
2 miles from the restaurant.
2x miles to US supermarkets.
1x mile for everything else.

Conditions apply.

Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card

Delta Air Lines 3x miles.
1x mile for everything else.

Conditions apply.

As you can see, the Delta Card's income structure isn't the most attractive. Plus, reward tiers are low, and those miles are stuck in your Delta SkyMiles account.

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After receiving the welcome bonus, we recommend that you do not use these cards for your daily expenses. Instead, focus on credit cards that earn flexible rewards, such as the American Express® Green Card and American Express® Gold Card, which earn loyalty points that can be transferred to the Delta SkyMiles program and more than a dozen other airlines. Conditions apply.

Analyzing the Benefits of the Delta SkyMiles Card

All Delta cards offer tangible benefits to help you offset your annual membership fee. Let's take a look at the benefits you can get from your Delta credit card.

Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card

20% off in-flight purchases.
There are no foreign transaction fees.

Conditions apply.

Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card

Earn $100 in Delta Points after spending $10,000 annually on the card.
Boarding in main cabin 1.
The first checked bag is free.
20% off in-flight purchases.
There are no foreign transaction fees.

Conditions apply.

Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card

Status promotion: 10,000 MQMs, up to twice a year.
Renew companion certificate (for domestic flights in main cabin).
Sky Club for $39.
Boarding in main cabin 1.
The first checked bag is free.
20% off in-flight purchases.
There are no foreign transaction fees.

Conditions apply.

Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card

Status promotion: 15,000 MQM, up to four times per year.
Upgrade priority for Medallion members.
Renewal Companion Certificate (applies to domestic flights in Main, Delta Comfort+ or First Class.
Main cardholders have access to Sky Club and two one-time guest passes per year.
Access to Centurion Lounge and Escape Lounge.
Boarding in main cabin 1.
The first checked bag is free.
20% off in-flight purchases.
There are no foreign transaction fees.

Conditions apply.

Delta credit card cardholders can enjoy many perks, and that's where these cards shine. But before you ask “Is it worth getting a Delta credit card”? You have to ask: “Will I take advantage of these benefits?”

Well, let's do some math. Do you check luggage? Your first checked bag is usually $30. This fee is waived for Medallion members and members with select Delta SkyMiles American Express cards. This benefit isn't limited to you, either. In addition to the Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card, up to 8 additional passengers can travel with your reservation. Of course, this isn't a valuable benefit when you're a team carry. Conditions apply.

Do you often travel with plus one? Redeeming the gift certificates offered by the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card and Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card can help offset some or all of the annual fee, depending on the cost of the ticket. Let's say you own a Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card and save $300 with a companion certificate. In this case, the membership fee paid off.

As a solo traveler, is lounge access important to you? Then using the Delta Sky, Centurion and Escape Lounges on every flight can also justify paying the hefty annual fee. Sky Club memberships start at $545 per year, which virtually waives the annual fee for the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express card and gives you access to two other airport lounges.

Calculating your credit card annual fee is all about calculating how much value you can get from your card in exchange. If you're getting more value than your annual cost, you've made the right decision. If not, consider another rewards card. It's worth re-evaluating your credit options every year to avoid paying for a credit card whose benefits no longer fit your lifestyle.

Who should give up the Delta credit card?

While SkyMiles credit cards offer many benefits to Delta passengers, they don't benefit all travelers equally. Consider using another rewards card if:
Delta Air Lines or its partners have limited service in your city: No matter how you split it, your Delta SkyMiles card will be useless if you can't fly with that airline or its partners.
You have Medallion status: Priority boarding and free checked bags have become a benefit of Medallion membership, making some of the benefits of the Delta Card redundant.
They prefer award flexibility: Delta miles are tied to the SkyMiles program and cannot be transferred to other airlines. If you're looking for more flexibility, get a card that accrues transferable points.

If you're considering a Delta credit card

Delta flyers can value the co-branded Delta SkyMiles credit card. However, the benefits these cards offer are less useful if you can't use them. Be sure to evaluate the annual fee and your considerations to make an informed decision about whether the Delta Card is worth your while. If not, sign up for a card with more flexible rewards.

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