The 7 best credit cards for Delta in 2024

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If you frequently fly with Delta, you’re likely familiar with the airline’s less-than-generous frequent flyer program and the effort it takes to earn enough miles for an award ticket. That’s why Delta Air Lines fliers know having one of their co-branded credit cards can make all the difference.

Delta cards make it easier to earn miles for free flights alongside perks like free checked bags, priority boarding, and Sky Club access.

We selected the top Delta credit cards based on factors like category bonuses on Delta, travel perks, and annual fees. 

Whether you only fly Delta occasionally or are a Platinum Medallion member, there’s a Delta card for you.

Best Delta credit cards

Our top picks for the best Delta credit cards include:

• Best for occasional travelers: Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card
• Best for frequent travelers: Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card
• Best for lounge access: Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card
• Best for no annual fee: Delta SkyMiles Blue American Express Card
• Best for business owners: Delta SkyMiles® Gold Business American Express Card
• Best for flexible points and luxury travel perks: The Platinum Card® from American Express
• Best for earning travel rewards on groceries and dining out: The American Express® Gold Card

Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card: Best for occasional travelers

Rewards: 

• 2X miles at restaurants worldwide (plus takeout and delivery in the U.S.), U.S. supermarkets, and on Delta purchases
• 1X miles on all other purchases

Annual fee: $0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $150. See rates and fees.

The Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card is a great option if you only fly Delta a few times yearly. You’ll also get free first checked bags, priority boarding, in-flight discounts, and no foreign transaction fees.

This card offers a $0 introductory fee for the first year, then $150. See rates and fees. But, the free first checked bag perk alone can save you at least $30 per flight — or $60 roundtrip. You can easily offset the fee if you travel more than twice yearly and check bags.

Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card: Best for frequent travelers

Rewards: 

• 3X miles on Delta purchases, including flights and Delta Vacations®
• 3X miles on eligible hotel purchases 
• 2X miles at U.S. supermarkets and restaurants worldwide, including takeout and delivery in the U.S.
• 1X miles on all other eligible purchases

Annual fee: $350. See rates and fees.

The next step up for those who travel regularly with Delta is the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card. The annual fee is higher at $350 but has more valuable benefits. See rates and fees.

This card offers free first checked bags, priority boarding, and a whole host of credits to offset the cost of travel. You’ll also receive $2,500 Medallion Qualification Dollars each qualification year to get closer to earning status on Delta.

Remember that some luxury perks that previously came with this card — like access to Delta airport lounges — are no longer available.

Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card: Best for lounge access

Rewards: 

• 3X miles on Delta flights and Delta Vacations
• 1X on all other purchases 

Annual fee: $650. See rates and fees.

Those who want airport lounge access should consider the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card. While it comes with a steep $650 annual fee, this card provides 15 visits to the Delta Sky Club annually. See rates and fees. You’ll also get unlimited access to Centurion Lounges.

Other perks include first checked bag free and Main Cabin 1 priority boarding. You can also earn $2,500 MQDs each Medallion Qualification Year to get closer to earning status on Delta.

Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card: Best for no annual fee

Rewards: 

• 2X miles at restaurants (including takeout and delivery in the U.S.) and on Delta purchases
• 1X on other eligible purchases

Annual fee: $0. See rates and fees.

If you want to earn miles without paying an annual fee, Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card is a good way to do so. You can earn 2X miles on dining out and on purchases made with Delta, which can add up quickly.

While you won’t find many of the perks that come with other Delta credit cards, you’ll get in-flight discounts.

Delta SkyMiles® Gold Business American Express Card: Best for business owners

Rewards: 

• 2X miles on restaurant (plus takeout and delivery in the U.S.)
• 2X miles on U.S. supermarkets
• 2X miles on Delta purchases
• 1X miles on all other purchases

Annual fee: $0 introductory annual fee for the first year, $150 after. See rates and fees.

Business owners who want to earn miles on business expenses should consider the Delta SkyMiles® Gold Business card. This card offers boosted rewards on some business expenses, along with free checked bags and priority boarding.

You can also get a $200 Delta flight credit after spending $10,000 annually on your card. These perks make this card one of the best business travel cards out there.

The Platinum Card®

from American Express: Best for flexible points and luxury travel perks

Rewards: 

• 5X points on up to $500,000 per calendar year spent on directly booked airfare, flights, and prepaid hotels through American Express Travel
• 2X points on prepaid car rentals through American Express Travel
• 1X points on all other purchases

Annual fee: $695. See rates and fees.

The Platinum Card from American Express isn't a Delta card. But it’s packed with luxury travel perks, airline fee credits, and flexible points, making it a top choice for Delta flyers. It’s also one of the best American Express cards.

You can earn 5X points on flights and hotels booked through American Express or through the airline — including Delta. This card also comes with many monthly and annual credits that offer up to $1,700 in value. You'll also get access to the Centurian Lounge, Delta Sky Club, and other Priority Pass Select locations.

With a hefty annual fee, The Platinum Card is only for big spenders. If you frequently spend on airfare and hotels and can use the card’s travel perks, it’s one of the most premium Delta companion cards available.

The American Express® Gold Card: Best for earning travel rewards on groceries and dining out

Rewards: 

• Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points on purchases at restaurants worldwide (on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points)
• Earn 4X points at US supermarkets (on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points)
• Earn 3X points on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
• Earn 2X points spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com
• Earn 1X points on all other purchases 

Annual fee: $325. See rates and fees.

The American Express® Gold Card is another rewards card for travelers to consider. This card offers elevated points at restaurants and U.S. supermarkets and credits on dining and Uber.

To earn up to $120 in Uber Cash credits, you must have downloaded the latest version of the Uber App and your eligible American Express Gold Card must be a method of payment in your Uber account. The Amex benefit may only be used in United States

You can transfer points to Delta at a 1:1 ratio — helping you score discounted flights with everyday spending. The annual fee is also reasonable for a flexible rewards card with this kind of earning potential. Plus, the airline fee credits and dining perks help offset the fee.

How to pick the best Delta credit card

When deciding between Delta cards, your best bet is to choose the card that matches your lifestyle. Frequent travelers may want a card with premium benefits, while others may consider a card with fewer perks but a lower annual fee.

Keep in mind that all Delta cards have these features:

• Discounts on in-flight purchases
• No foreign transaction fees
• Travel insurance
• Cell phone protection
• Discounts on award travel booking

Consider how often you fly with Delta. If you fly with them only a few times per year, a premium card with a $500+ annual fee probably doesn’t offer enough perks to be worthwhile.

Next, compare the bonus category earning rates. You’ll want to match the card’s earning rates to where you spend the most.

Weigh the card’s travel perks against your preferences. Do you hate paying baggage fees? Then, a free checked bag card is valuable. Love Sky Club lounges? Opt for a card with free lounge access. Assess if you can earn the sign-up bonus within the minimum spending window. There’s no point applying if you can’t unlock those extra miles.

What’s the best credit card to earn status with Delta?

To earn status with Delta, you must earn a set amount of Medallion Qualifying Dollars (MQDs). You can earn MQDs by booking flights with Delta or one of its partners or spending with a Delta credit card.

For Delta flyers focused on unlocking Medallion elite status faster, the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card and Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card are your best options. These cards come with a “headstart” feature that offers $2,500 MQDs each year.

You’ll also earn MQDs on your daily spending:

• The Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card offers $1 MQD for every $20 spent
• The Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card offers $1 MQD for every $10 spent

Maximizing MQMs from welcome bonuses and Status Boost makes unlocking the next Medallion status easier. You’ll enjoy perks like seat upgrades, lounge access, and mileage multipliers.

Remember that spending money to earn status usually doesn’t pay off financially. Make sure you’re earning bonus SkyMiles, too, by using a Delta card on Delta flights and eligible purchases.

Should I get an airline card?

“Airline credit cards are a perfect fit for those who frequently fly with a specific airline,” says Zac Hood, founder of the points and miles app Travel Freely. “These cards are designed to enhance travel with perks like miles on purchases, free checked bags, priority boarding, and lounge access.”

The biggest benefit airline credit cards offer is making earning enough miles for free flights easier. If you fly one airline frequently, this could save you hundreds (or thousands) on airfare each year.

Delta cards offer free checked bags, airport lounge access, priority boarding, and in-flight discounts. However, these perks are limited to Delta, and many Delta cards have higher annual fees than general travel cards.

Here are three questions to ask yourself when deciding on an airline credit card:

• Do you have a go-to airline you fly at least three times yearly?
• Does that airline have a major hub airport near where you live?
• Can you justify the annual fee by perks and free flights?

If you answered yes to those questions, then applying for that airline’s top co-branded credit card is likely worthwhile. Flexible travel credit cards are generally the smarter move for those not loyal to one airline.

“[Flexible travel cards] are particularly valuable for travelers who value the freedom to shop around for the best deals across various airlines and who aim for high-value redemptions like international business or first-class flights,” says Hood.

How we rated the best cards for Delta

To determine the best credit cards for Delta, we carefully evaluated a wide range of factors, including the card's sign-up bonus, rewards earning rates on purchases, added perks and benefits, annual fees, and overall value for consumers.

Our team analyzed numerous credit card offers and selected the top contenders based on these key criteria. The options on this list represent the best value, rewards, and benefits available.

Here are some of the key factors we considered:

• Rewards: Rewards are the primary reason many people use credit cards, as they allow you to earn valuable points, miles, or cash back on your everyday spending.
• Redemption flexibility: What good are rewards if they're a hassle to redeem? Flexible redemption options allow you to use your rewards in the way that best suits you, whether that's offsetting your bill with statement credits or booking a dream vacation.
• Benefits: Credit card benefits can provide significant value and make your life easier, from saving you money on checked bags to providing peace of mind with travel insurance.
• Annual fee: The annual fee is a key factor because it's a recurring cost that can eat into your rewards earnings. It's important to make sure you're getting enough value from the card to justify the fee.
• Welcome bonus: A lucrative welcome bonus can give your rewards a massive head start, especially in the first year, making it a great way to kickstart your earnings.
• Rates & other fees: High interest rates and fees can quickly negate the value of any rewards you earn, so it's important to understand these costs and how to avoid them.

The bottom line

The right Delta card for you is the one that matches your lifestyle. Whether you’re just starting out or are an experienced traveler, there are cards with benefits to match.

If you fly the same airline several times a year, a card offering free checked bags might make sense. If you fly the airline even more than that, you may want a card that offers lounge access or a path to status. Either way, run the numbers to see if a Delta credit card makes sense for your wallet.

[Disclaimer]: *Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions, and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by Amex Assurance Company 

Editorial disclosure: Opinions expressed are author's alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included in the post.