If Delta is your airline of choice (it’s mine), carrying one or more Delta-branded credit cards can earn you handsome rewards on future flights. However, with a half-dozen card options from brand partner American Express to choose from, it can be challenging to determine which is the best Delta credit card for your flying and spending habits to earn maximum points.
In the guide below, I will take a deep dive into the myriad of best Delta credit card options available through the American Express partnership. My goal is to help you select the credit card that offers you the most lucrative rewards while churning.
Our Picks For The Best Delta Credit Card for Churning
Delta’s American Express credit cards fall into three broad categories: basic, premium, and business. Basic cards offer discounts and perks on flights, an accelerated process for achieving elite status, and double rewards on Delta-related expenditures. Cards in the premium category offer luxury benefits, while business cards are geared toward customers using their credit line for business-related expenses and travel.
In the end, these credit cards are all wonderful options to take advantage of credit card churning for travel rewards. However, the best Delta credit card for you will be wholly dependent on your spending and your specific needs.
Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express Card
- Welcome Bonus: 50,000 SkyMiles after $2,000 spent in 3 months
- Annual Fee: $0 For the first year, $99 per year after that
- APR: 15.74% to 24.74%
- Credit Score: Excellent/Good (670-850)
Benefits of the Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express Card
The Delta SkyMiles Gold Credit Card from American Express makes the most sense for travelers who fly Delta for the majority of their air travel and value travel-related perks and savings, such as priority boarding and free checked bags.
While the Gold Delta credit card won’t move you toward elite status any faster, you will enjoy the ability to earn Delta SkyMiles with most of your purchases, including money spent at restaurants, grocery stores, and other popular retailers.
Earning Points and Redeeming Rewards
For every dollar you spend with Delta using your Delta SkyMiles Gold Credit Card, you’ll earn two miles. You’ll get the same rate for expenditures at restaurants around the world, and grocery stores within the U.S.
All other purchases earn one mile for every dollar spent. As an additional bonus, you can earn $100 off a Delta flight if you spend $10,000 using your Delta credit card in one calendar year.
Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express Card Welcome Offer
For credit churners, this card’s modest welcome offer may not seem particularly lucrative. But, average customers simply looking for a basic Delta credit card will appreciate the low spending requirement to receive the bonus. New cardholders will earn 50,000 SkyMiles as long as they spend $2,000 in the first three months of card ownership. This is a relatively easy benchmark to achieve.
SkyMiles can be redeemed for a variety of rewards, including standard and premium flights on Delta Air Lines and more than 20 of its global partners, such as Virgin Atlantic, Air France, and KLM.
You can also cash in your miles for perks like seat upgrades, Delta gift cards, purchases in the Delta SkyMiles retail marketplace, and magazine subscriptions.
Pros and Cons
As with any credit card, there are advantages and disadvantages to the Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express Card. I cover these below.
Pros
- There is a very low spending requirement to earn the associated welcome reward.
- Delta’s Pay with Miles program offers flight discounts if your miles don’t cover the full cost of the flight.
- This card comes with no foreign transaction fees, a rarity on credit cards.
- No annual fee for the first year, and only $99 per year after that.
Cons
- This card does no good to accelerating your pathway towards Delta’s elite status.
- There is no Delta Sky Club access included with card ownership.
Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card
- Welcome Bonus: 50,000 SkyMiles and 5,000 MQMs after $3,000 spent in 6 months
- Annual Fee: $250 per year
- APR: 15.74% to 24.74%
- Credit Score: Excellent/Good (670-850)
Benefits of the Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card
For travelers who fly frequently and want a faster path to Delta elite status, the Delta SkyMiles Platinum Card is an optimal choice, even with its hefty annual fee of $250.
The Delta platinum card offers significant mileage earnings on common purchases. The card also includes several enhanced benefits improve the airport and in-flight experiences.
Earning Points and Redeeming Rewards
Delta and American Express recently boosted the bonus categories for the Platinum Card, allowing cardholders to rack up miles more quickly. For every dollar you spend at hotels and on Delta purchases, you’ll earn three miles; U.S. grocery store and global restaurant purchases are worth two miles per dollar; all other purchases earn miles in a one-to-one ratio.
If you manage to spend $25,000 or more on the card within a calendar year, you’ll be rewarded handsomely with 10,000 Medallion Qualification Miles to push you toward elite status; $50,000 in purchases will give you another 10,000 MQMs, getting you within 5,000 MQMs of Silver status.
The Platinum Card offers the same reward redemption structure as the Gold Card, offering discounts on flights on Delta and its partner airlines as well as seat upgrades, Delta Sky Club membership, Delta gift cards and more.
Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card Welcome Offer
Like the Gold card, the welcome offer for the Delta SkyMiles Platinum Card is relatively easy to achieve, and the rewards are more lucrative: 50,000 bonus miles and 5,000 Medallion Qualification Miles (MQMs) in return for spending $3,000 on the account within six months of opening it.
If you make a Delta Air Lines purchase with the card during that time period, you’ll earn an additional $100 credit on your card statement. This offer may be worth the effort for credit card churners.
Pros and Cons
As with any credit card, there are advantages and disadvantages to the Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card. I cover these below.
Pros
- Unlike the Gold card above, this card comes with a very generous and lucrative 5,000 MQM provision.
- Excellent perks make traveling more pleasant. This includes a free checked bag for you and others traveling with your party.
- There is a credit towards TSA Precheck and Global Entry.
- Platinum Card holders receive access to all Delta Sky Clubs.
- This card comes with no foreign transaction fees, a rarity on credit cards.
Cons
- If you don’t fly regularly with Delta, the $250 annual fee may be detrimental to churning.
- I wish there was a higher mileage welcome bonus than 50,000 SkyMiles, the same as the Gold card above.
Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express Card
- Welcome Bonus: 50,000 SkyMiles and 10,000 MQMs after $5,000 spent in 6 months
- Annual Fee: $550 per year
- APR: 15.74% to 24.74%
- Credit Score: Excellent/Good (670-850)
Benefits of the Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express Card
For travelers desiring the most comfortable and luxurious flying experience possible, the Delta SkyMiles Reserve Credit Card from American Express is the way to go.
Cardholders will enjoy high-end benefits like access to airport lounges and priority boarding while earning points toward elite status on Delta purchases. If you have your sights set on reaching elite status as quickly as possible, the considerable annual fee on this card may be worth it.
Earning Points and Redeeming Rewards
Using the Delta SkyMiles Reserve Card on Delta purchases will earn three miles for every dollar you spend, but only one mile per dollar on all other purchases.
However, it does offer considerably more Medallion Qualification Miles (MQMs) than the other cards if you spend at high levels. You’ll bank another 20,000 MQMs every time you spend $30,000 with the card in a single calendar year. If you’re able to reach the top spending tier of $120,000, you’ll have enough MQMs to achieve Platinum Medallion Status.
The rewards program for the Reserve Card is similar to the other Delta credit cards, with miles earned on the card available for redemption on flights with Delta and more than 20 other airline partners, including Alitalia and Korean Air.
On average, each round-trip domestic economy flight will cost you a minimum of 30,000 miles, with overseas flights starting at 60,000 miles. SkyMiles can also be redeemed for Delta vacation packages, Sky Club membership, seat upgrades, private jet flights, and more.
Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express Card Welcome Offer
With virtually the same welcome offer as the Delta SkyMiles Platinum Card, the Reserve Card is a bit disappointing in this area. By spending $5,000 on the card within the first six months of opening the account, cardholders will earn 50,000 bonus miles and 10,000 Medallion Qualification Miles (MQMs).
Unless reaching elite status as quickly as possible is your sole focus, the Platinum Card may be the more valuable option, especially for credit card churning purposes. I personally have the Platinum card, and have not seen the benefits yet in upgrading to the Reserve card.
Pros and Cons
As with any credit card, there are advantages and disadvantages to the Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express Card. I cover these below.
Pros
- Membership in Delta Sky Club and entry to American Express Centurion Lounges in select cities, including Hong Kong, Houston, and Las Vegas.
- Fast-track to elite status through spending on all purchases.
- Excellent benefits for frequent flyers, including complimentary upgrades, priority boarding, free checked bags for you and your travel companions, reimbursement for TSA Precheck fees, one flight companion pass, and two Sky Club guest passes per year.
- Provides insurance coverage for cancellations, interruptions, or delays on flights purchased with the card.
- Offers refunds on purchases when the original retailer won’t accept the returned item.
Cons
- This card has an extremely high annual fee of $550 per year.
- Free access to Delta Sky Clubs and American Express Centurion Lounges is limited to same-day Delta and Delta-marketed flights. For all other flights, you’ll have to pay $39 for access.
- Low mile-earning rate on any non-Delta-based purchases.
Best Cards for Churning by Airline or Hotel
Delta SkyMiles Gold Business American Express Card
- Welcome Bonus: 50,000 SkyMiles after $2,000 spent in 3 months
- Annual Fee: $0 For the first year, $99 per year after that
- APR: 15.74% to 24.74%
- Credit Score: Excellent/Good (670-850)
Benefits of the Delta SkyMiles Gold Business American Express Card
Similar to the personal Delta SkyMiles Gold Card, the Delta SkyMiles Gold Business Credit Card represents the entry-level offering from the Delta-American Express partnership.
Cardholders with significant shipping, advertising and client meal expenses will reap the greatest rewards from this card, but if you’re not particularly loyal to Delta, other airlines’ business credit cards may deliver more bang for the buck (and better bonus offers for credit card churners).
Earning Points and Redeeming Rewards
For every dollar you spend with Delta, you’ll earn two miles; this two-for-one rate also applies to restaurant bills, domestic shipping expenditures and advertising on TV, radio and a few other media outlets.
Other purchases earn one mile for every dollar. It’s worth noting that other airline-branded cards frequently offer double miles for dollars spent on gasoline, office supplies and mass transit, so this is an area where the Delta credit falls short in comparison.
SkyMiles earned with the Delta Gold Business Card can be redeemed for full or partial flight costs on Delta and its partner airlines, seat upgrades, Delta Sky Club membership, gift cards, VIP access to concerts and other events, charitable donations and more.
Delta SkyMiles Gold Business American Express Card Welcome Offer
By spending $2,000 on your best Delta credit card in the first three months, you’ll earn 50,000 bonus miles, which is a decent offer if you’re not a heavy spender. Other airline-branded cards often require new accountholders to reach higher spending milestones in the first 90 days (albeit with a more lucrative bonus).
Pros and Cons
As with any credit card, there are advantages and disadvantages to the Delta SkyMiles Gold Business American Express Card. I cover these below.
Pros
- With this card, you get free checked bags and priority boarding privileges for yourself and up to eight companions.
- The welcome bonus is painfully easy to earn, even for those who are not credit card churning on the regular.
- You receive a $100 flight credit when you spend $10,000 in eligible purchases in a calendar year.
- The annual fee is a low $99, with the first year waived for new cardholders.
Cons
- This card does not offer double miles earned on fuel and other very common business-related expenses.
- With the Gold version of Delta’s business American Express, cardholders do not receive access to Delta Sky Club lounges.
Delta SkyMiles Platinum Business American Express Card
- Welcome Bonus: 60,000 SkyMiles and 5,000 MQMs after $3,000 spent in 3 months
- Annual Fee: $250 per year
- APR: 15.74% to 24.74%
- Credit Score: Excellent/Good (670-850)
Benefits of the Delta SkyMiles Platinum Business American Express Card
For frequent business travelers with an affinity for Delta, the Delta SkyMiles Platinum Business Card offers a respectable return on investment, with lucrative travel benefits and mileage rewards in exchange for a relatively modest annual fee.
The Delta Platinum Business Card offers significant mileage earnings on common purchases. The card also includes several enhanced benefits to improve the airport and in-flight experiences.
Earning Points and Redeeming Rewards
You’ll get the biggest bang for your buck on purchases with Delta (including flights, in-flight purchases, seat upgrades, and Sky Club access) as well as money spent directly with hotels: three miles for every dollar spent. For all single purchases greater than $5,000, you’ll earn 1.5 miles per dollar.
All other purchases earn one mile per dollar, unlike some other airline-branded cards, which frequently offer double miles for spending on gas, office supplies, and other business expenses.
Like the other Delta credit cards, you can redeem your miles for free and discounted flights on Delta and partner airlines, seat upgrades, private jet rental, vacation packages, gift cards, magazines, and more.
Delta SkyMiles Platinum Business American Express Card Welcome Offer
With the Delta SkyMiles Platinum Business American Express Card, spending just $3,000 on your card in the first three months will net you 60,000 bonus miles and 5,000 Medallion Qualification Miles (MQMs). Any Delta purchase within that time period will also earn you a $100 credit on your card statement.
This generous welcome offer is the best among the suite of Delta-branded American Express credit cards, making it by far the best option for credit card churners with significant business-related expenses.
Pros and Cons
As with any credit card, there are advantages and disadvantages to the Delta SkyMiles Platinum Business American Express Card. I cover these below.
Pros
- Cardholders receive three-for-one miles on spending through both Delta-related purchases and hotel stays.
- “Status Boost” program offers 10,000 Medallion Qualification Miles (MQMs) for every $25,000 you spend in a calendar year.
- Free checked bags and priority boarding for you and up to eight travel companions.
- Add up to 99 employee cards for no additional fee to help you earn miles and MQMs more quickly.
- Includes annual companion pass (main cabin only, only on qualifying flights).
- Insurance coverage for trip delays of 12 hours or more (up to $300 per trip on two trips per year).
Cons
- If you don’t fly regularly with Delta, the $250 annual fee may be detrimental to churning.
- This card does not offer double miles earned on fuel and other very common business-related expenses, such as office supplies.
- No complimentary Sky Lounge access included with the card any more.
Delta SkyMiles Reserve Business American Express Card
- Welcome Bonus: 60,000 SkyMiles and 10,000 MQMs after $4,000 spent in 3 months
- Annual Fee: $550 per year
- APR: 15.74% to 24.74%
- Credit Score: Excellent/Good (670-850)
Benefits of the Delta SkyMiles Reserve Business American Express Card
This top-tier Delta business credit card carries a high annual fee of $550, but if you’re entirely loyal to Delta and expect to spend large sums on business expenses in the course of a year, the travel benefits and accelerated path to elite Medallion status may be worth the investment.
Cardholders will enjoy high-end benefits like access to airport lounges and priority boarding while earning points toward elite status on Delta purchases. If you have your sights set on reaching elite status as quickly as possible, the considerable annual fee on this business credit card may be worth it.
Earning Points and Redeeming Rewards
Like the Platinum Business Card, the Reserve Business card earns three miles for every dollar spent with Delta. However, all other purchases earn miles at a one-to-one ratio until you hit the $150,000 spending threshold in a calendar year, after which point you’ll earn 1.5 miles per dollar.
That amount sounds daunting, but if you make multiple employees authorized users on the account, you might hit that target faster than you expect. You’ll also earn 15,000 MQMs for every $30,000 you spend in a year, which can help you reach Silver or Gold Medallion status in a relatively quick fashion.
SkyMiles can be redeemed for flights on Delta—which doesn’t blackout any travel dates for award flights—or any of its 20-plus partner airlines. You can also redeem miles for a partial payment on a flight, with 5,000 miles good for a $50 discount. Seat upgrades, merchandise, and charitable donations are just a few of the other rewards available in exchange for SkyMiles.
Delta SkyMiles Reserve Business American Express Card Welcome Offer
The welcome offer for miles on the Delta SkyMiles Reserve Business Card is exactly the same as the Platinum Business Card’s offer—except you’ll need to spend even more to earn it. Spend $5,000 on the card within three months of opening the account, and you’ll be credited with 60,000 miles and 10,000 Medallion Qualification Miles (MQMs). The MQM’s double is essentially the enhanced benefit.
If the value of the welcome offer is your top priority when selecting a card—as it typically is for credit churners—the Reserve Business Card probably isn’t your best option among Delta credit cards.
Pros and Cons
As with any credit card, there are advantages and disadvantages to the Delta SkyMiles Reserve Business American Express Card. I cover these below.
Pros
- Users can earn elite status quickly with substantial annual business spending.
- Free companion travel pass (economy or first class) with annual renewal.
- Complimentary Delta Sky Club and American Express Centurion Lounge access when flying on Delta.
- Insurance coverage for cancellations, interruptions, or delays on trips purchased with the card (up to $10,000 per trip for cancellations and $500 per trip for delays, each limited to two per year).
- Discounts on in-flight purchases, extended warranties, and refunds on purchases when the original merchant won’t accept returns.
Cons
- Low miles-per-dollar earning rate on non-Delta purchases.
- Very high annual fee of $550 (plus $175 for each additional authorized user). The additional authorized user piece can really add up when you have a good number of business employees on the same account.
Our Verdict On The Best Delta Credit Card for Churning
If you’re a true Delta loyalist (like I am), carrying one of the Delta-branded American Express credit cards is a no-brainer. You’ll enjoy a wide range of travel perks and earn miles redeemable for flights and merchandise, and some of the cards will even help you reach elite Medallion status in record time.
On top of that, opening a best Delta credit card account delivers a lucrative welcome bonus that puts you on your way to earning valuable rewards—so what are you waiting for?
Looking for some additional resources? Check these out:
- Manufactured Spending: A Comprehensive Guide For 2023
- Potential Credit Card Churning Risks For 2023 and Beyond
- How To Improve Credit Score: The Ultimate Guide For 2023
- What is Credit Card Churning? The Ultimate Guide For 2023
- About Churning: Learning To Travel For Free In 2023
- Credit Card Churning Pros and Cons: Our Take For 2023