Best Delta credit card offers: Earn bonus SkyMiles with new cardmember offers

Advertiser disclosure: Cards and Points has partnered with CardRatings for our coverage of credit card products. Cards and Points and CardRatings may receive a commission from card issuers. Some or all of the card offers that appear on this site are from advertisers. Compensation may affect how and where card products appear on the site. The site does not include all card companies or all available offers. Opinions, reviews, analyses & recommendations are the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, endorsed or approved by any of these entities. Terms apply to all credit card benefits.

October 24, 2024: The limited-time welcome offers on the Delta SkyMiles® credit cards have ended. The current best offers available are listed below.

You might consider getting a Delta credit card for benefits like a first free checked bag or the Delta ridesharing credit. If you open a new Delta credit card, you can earn a new cardmember welcome bonus when you meet minimum spending requirements.

Here are the details on the current Delta Air Lines credit card welcome offers.

Current Delta Air Lines credit card welcome offers

Here are the current welcome offers available on Delta Air Lines American Express credit cards.

• Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card: bonus_miles_full
  Annual fee: annual_fees (See Rates and Fees)
• Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card: bonus_miles_full
  Annual fee: annual_fees (See Rates and Fees)
• Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card: bonus_miles_full
  Annual fee: annual_fees (See Rates and Fees)
• Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card: bonus_miles_full
  Annual fee: annual_fees (See Rates and Fees)
• Delta SkyMiles® Gold Business American Express Card: bonus_miles_full
  Annual fee: annual_fees (See Rates and Fees)
• Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card: bonus_miles_full
  Annual fee: annual_fees (See Rates and Fees)
• Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card: bonus_miles_full
  Annual fee: annual_fees (See Rates and Fees)

My take on the Delta credit card welcome offers

I don’t usually get excited about credit cards ending limited-time offers and reverting to regular bonuses, but there’s a silver lining this time around. The new “standard” bonuses on all of the Delta cards with an annual fee are offering 10,000 more miles than they previously were. This is a welcome change.

Of all the Delta welcome offers available, I find the offers on the Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card and Delta SkyMiles® Gold Business American Express Card to be the most compelling. This is both because these cards offer the most miles per dollar spent while earning the welcome bonus and because the cards both offer a $0 introductory annual fee for the first year. If you are eligible for a business card, the Delta SkyMiles® Gold Business American Express Card is the better pick, in my opinion.

Keep in mind that the Delta cards recently added Amex lifetime family language to the terms of the welcome offers. On the Delta cards, if you’ve had the same or a higher-tier card before, you are ineligible for a welcome offer. If you’ve never had any Delta card, going for the Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card welcome offer first will preserve your ability to earn a bonus on a Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card or Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card card later.

Amex considers the Delta business and personal cards to be separate product lines when it comes to welcome offer eligibility. Having previously had a personal Delta credit card won’t impact your ability to earn a welcome bonus on a small business card.

Historically Delta and American Express have promoted increased limited-time welcome offers every few months. Given that the current offers are the business-as-usual offers, it might make sense to wait around for a limited-time offer.

A few notes on applying for American Express credit cards

Here are a few things that you should know about applying for American Express cards.

• Amex will let you know if you’re ineligible for the new cardmember welcome offer when applying. If you don’t qualify for a welcome offer for any reason, American Express will inform you during the application process and let you withdraw your application before they perform a “hard pull” on your credit report. If you withdraw your application, the withdrawn application will have no impact on your credit score.
• No hard pull if they deny you. If Amex denies your credit card application, they usually won’t issue a hard pull on your credit report. This means that your credit score won’t decrease because of the denied application.
• One welcome offer per card per “lifetime”. Most Amex card terms say that you’re ineligible for a welcome offer if you’ve ever had the card before. Some targeted offers do not have this lifetime language. Readers and other blogs have reported that Amex may internally define “lifetime” as 7 years—if it’s been 7 years since you’ve had a card, you might be eligible to get a welcome offer again.
• Some cards allow one welcome offer per card “family”. Some American Express cards, like the personal Platinum card or the Charles Schwab Platinum card have language that prohibits you from earning a welcome bonus if you’ve ever had a card from the same card family before.
• Maximum 5 Amex credit cards and 10 pay-over-time cards. You can have a maximum of 5 American Express credit cards at one time. In addition, you can hold up to 10 American Express pay-over-time cards (like the Platinum, Gold, and Green cards.) These limits are known to occasionally be flexible for some cardmembers, some of the time.
• You might be able to get a better welcome offer than the public offer. American Express offers some customers targeted offers. See our post on how to get the best welcome offers from American Express and try those methods before applying for an American Express card. You might be able to get an elevated welcome offer.
• Check your application status online. You can check the status of your American Express card application online through the Amex website.

More about each of the Delta Air Lines credit cards

Here’s a bit more about each of the Delta Air Lines credit cards so that you can pick the card that is best for you. You can compare the benefits, rewards, and perks of all of theses cards side-by-side in our overview of the Delta credit cards.

Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card: Mediocre earnings and few benefits

The Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card is the only Delta credit card with no annual fee (See Rates and Fees) but it also offers almost no benefits. The only substantive benefit you’ll get from the card when flying Delta is a 20% savings in the form of a statement credit when you use your card for in-flight purchases of food and beverages.

When to pick this card: In most cases, you get an airline credit card for the benefits—airline credit cards typically offer less in reward value than either cash back or transferable points cards. But the Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card offers very little in the way of benefits. There’s little reason to get this card.

Learn how to apply.
Annual fee: annual_fees
(See Rates and Fees)

Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card welcome bonus

bonus_miles_full

The Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card offers paltry rewards and little in the way of substantive benefits. Delta flyers will want to consider a higher tier of Delta credit card.

More about this card

Benefit highlights:
20% back on in-flight purchases.
Pay with miles.

Rewards:
2x on dining at restaurants worldwide, including takeout and delivery in the U.S.
2x on Delta purchase made directly with Delta.
1x on other eligible purchases.
Rewards are earned as Delta SkyMiles®.

Learn more:
Learn more about the current Delta welcome bonuses.
Compare this card to other Delta cards in our overview of Delta credit cards.

Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card: TakeOff 15 and a first checked bag free

If you fly on Delta a few times a year without frequent flyer status, the Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card is the card you should consider. The card offers a first free checked bag benefit, plus the TakeOff 15 benefit and a statement credit for booking hotels through Delta Stays with the card.

When to pick this card: Think of the Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card as a way to buy a first checked bag for you and up to 8 other people traveling on the same reservation with you. If that benefit is worth the card’s annual fee (annual_fees See Rates and Fees) then get the card. For most people, this or the Delta SkyMiles® Gold Business American Express Card will be the best Delta card. However, if you can get value out of a companion certificate or lounge access, consider a higher-tier card.

How to get the most value out of the Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card

• Save money when you avoid checked bag fees, thanks to the card’s first checked bag free benefit.
• Book award tickets for 15% fewer miles (on Delta marketed and operated flights) with the TakeOff 15 benefit.
• You’ll get a $200 Delta flight credit after spending $10,000 in purchases on your card in a calendar year.
• Book at least one hotel stay through Delta Stays using your card each calendar year to earn up to $100 in Delta Stays statement credits.

Learn how to apply.
Annual fee: annual_fees
(See Rates and Fees)

Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card welcome bonus

bonus_miles_full

This is the card to get if you want to get a free first checked bag on Delta flights.

More about this card

Benefit highlights:
TakeOff 15.
First checked bag free.
$100 Delta Stays credit.
$200 Delta flight credit after spending $10,000 in purchases on your card in a calendar year.

Rewards:
2x on Delta purchases made directly with Delta.
2x on dining at restaurants, including takeout and delivery in the U.S.
2x on groceries at U.S. supermarkets.
1x on other eligible purchases.
Rewards are earned as Delta SkyMiles.

Learn more:
Compare this card to the other Delta credit cards or see all Delta credit card welcome bonuses.

Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card: A companion certificate and lots of statement credits

The headline benefit of the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card is the annual companion certificate you’ll get on your cardmember anniversary, starting on your first cardmember anniversary.

When to pick this card: With the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card, you’re effectively buying a Main Cabin companion certificate each year for the card’s annual fee of annual_fees. (See Rates and Fees) If you travel consistently with a companion on Delta, this benefit is likely to pay off. You’ll also likely be able to make use of the card’s statement credits for hotel stays booked through Delta Stays.

How to get the most value out of the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card

• Use the card’s annual companion certificate to book a ticket for a companion on a Main Cabin domestic, Caribbean, or Central American roundtrip flight each year.
• Save money when you avoid checked bag fees, thanks to the card’s first checked bag free benefit.
• Book award tickets for 15% fewer miles (on Delta marketed and operated flights) with the TakeOff 15 benefit.
• Use your card for dining and rideshare purchases. You can earn up to $120 in statement credits each year ($10 monthly) for U.S. Resy restaurant purchases and up to $120 in statement credits each year ($10 monthly) for U.S. rideshare purchases with select providers.
• Book at least one hotel stay through Delta Stays using your card each calendar year to earn up to $150 in Delta Stays statement credits.

Learn how to apply.
Annual fee: annual_fees
(See Rates and Fees)

Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card welcome bonus

bonus_miles_full

Get this card if you want an annual companion certificate every year after your first cardmember anniversary.

More about this card

Benefit highlights:
Annual Main Cabin companion certificate.
MQM Headstart.
MQD Boost.
$150 Delta Stays credit.
$120 Resy credit. Enrollment required.
$120 rideshare credit. Enrollment required.
First checked bag free.
TakeOff 15.
Fee credit for Global Entry or TSA Precheck®

Rewards:
3x on Delta purchases made directly with Delta.
3x at hotels, on purchases made directly with hotels.
2x on dining at restaurants worldwide, including takeout and delivery in the U.S.
2x on groceries at U.S. supermarkets.
1x on other eligible purchases.
Rewards are earned as Delta SkyMiles.

Learn more:
Compare all of the Delta credit cards or check out our article on every Delta credit card welcome bonus.

Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card: A card for lounge access and Delta frequent flyers

For Delta frequent flyers, the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card is the card you want to get if you want access to the Delta Sky Club or spend your way to earning a higher tier of Medallion frequent flyer status.

When to pick this card: If you fly Delta frequently and want Delta Sky Club access, you’ll want either this card or the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card. Plan to use the card’s annual companion certificate (awarded each year after your first cardmember anniversary and good for First Class, Delta Comfort+®, or Main Cabin domestic, Caribbean, or Central American roundtrip flights) to get enough value to justify paying an annual fee of annual_fees. (See Rates and Fees) If you’re counting on spending on the card to earn Medallion® Qualifying Dollars to boost your Delta status, consider the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card instead, as it offers more rewards for spending.

How to get the most value out of the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card

• Make use of the card’s complimentary access to the Delta Sky Club when flying on Delta. Be aware that there are changes coming to this benefit. See below for details.*
• Use the card’s annual companion certificate to book a ticket for a companion on a First Class, Delta Comfort+®, Main Cabin domestic, Caribbean, or Central American roundtrip flight each year.
• Use your card for dining and rideshare purchases. You can earn up to $240 in statement credits each year ($20 monthly) for U.S. Resy restaurant purchases and up to $120 in statement credits each year ($10 monthly) for U.S. rideshare purchases with select providers.
• Book at least one hotel stay through Delta Stays using your card each calendar year to earn up to $200 in Delta Stays statement credits.
• Book award tickets for 15% fewer miles (on Delta marketed and operated flights) with the TakeOff 15 benefit.

*Effective 2/1/25, Reserve Card Members will receive 15 Visits per year to the Delta Sky Club; to earn an unlimited number of Visits each year starting on 2/1/25, the total eligible purchases on the Card must equal $75,000 or more between 1/1/24 and 12/31/24, and each calendar year thereafter. Once all 15 Visits have been used, Eligible Card Members may purchase additional Delta Sky Club Visits (including Grab and Go) at a per-Visit rate of $50 per person using the Card.‡

Learn how to apply.
Annual fee: $650
(See Rates and Fees)

Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card welcome bonus

bonus_miles_full

This is the card to get if you want access to the Delta SkyClub.

More about this card

Benefit highlights:
Annual first class companion certificate upon renewal.
MQD Headstart.
MQD Boost.
$240 Resy credit.
Complimentary Delta Sky Club® Access.
Rideshare credit. (Enrollment required.)
TakeOff 15.
Fee credit for Global Entry or TSA Precheck®

Rewards:
3x on Delta purchases made directly with Delta.
1x on other eligible purchases.
Rewards are earned as Delta SkyMiles.

Learn more:
Compare the Delta Reserve card against other Delta Amex cards in our overview of Delta credit cards.

Delta SkyMiles® Gold Business American Express Card: A larger welcome offer and better rewards for business categories.

If you are a small business owner who flies on Delta a few times a year, you don’t have frequent flyers status, and you want a free first checked bag when flying on Delta, the Delta SkyMiles® Gold Business American Express Card is the card to get.

When to pick this card: If you’re looking at the Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card for its first free checked bag benefit, the Delta SkyMiles® Gold Business American Express Card is likely a better choice. The card offers similar benefits to the personal version of the card, but you’ll get a larger Delta Stays credit (up to $150/year in statement credits) for the same annual fee. (annual_fees See Rates and Fees)

How to get the most value out of the Delta SkyMiles® Gold Business American Express Card

• Save money when you avoid checked bag fees, thanks to the card’s first checked bag free benefit.
• Book award tickets for 15% fewer miles (on Delta marketed and operated flights) with the TakeOff 15 benefit.
• You’ll get a $200 Delta flight credit after spending $10,000 in purchases on your card in a calendar year.
• Book at least one hotel stay through Delta Stays using your card each calendar year to earn up to $150 in Delta Stays statement credits.

card_name welcome bonus:

bonus_miles_full

Click here to learn more and apply.

Our take on the welcome bonus: The current welcome offer is the business-as-usual offer. You’ll earn more SkyMiles with the welcome bonus on the Delta SkyMiles® Gold Business American Express Card than you will with the Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card, so this is probably the better offer.

The link above is our affiliate link. We always show you the best offer, and this is the best offer we know about on this card.

Delta SkyMiles® Gold Business American Express Card at a glance:
Annual fee: $0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $150.
Rewards: 2x on Delta purchases. 2x at restaurants. 2x on up to $50k of U.S. purchases for advertising in select media. 2x on up to $50k of U.S. shipping purchases. 1x on other eligible purchases.
Benefits: First checked bag free. $200 Delta flight credit after $10k in purchases in a year. Up to $150 annually in Delta Stays credits.

Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card: A companion certificate and a larger Delta Stays credit.

You’ll get the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card for its annual companion certificate (awarded every year after your cardmember anniversary when you renew your card), but you might be able to get additional marginal value out of the card’s Delta Stays credit, which is bigger than the credit offered on the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card.

When to pick this card: Other than the rewards you’ll earn in a few bonus categories, the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card is very similar to the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card. But, the business variant offers $50 more in Delta Stays credits (up to $200 annually) than the personal card. If you use the credit, consistently, that makes it much easier to justify the card’s annual fee, annual_fees. (See Rates and Fees)

How to get the most value out of the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card

• Use the card’s annual companion certificate to book a ticket for a companion on a Main Cabin domestic, Caribbean, or Central American roundtrip flight each year.
• Save money when you avoid checked bag fees, thanks to the card’s first checked bag free benefit.
• Book award tickets for 15% fewer miles (on Delta marketed and operated flights) with the TakeOff 15 benefit.
• Use your card for dining and rideshare purchases. You can earn up to $120 in statement credits each year ($10 monthly) for U.S. Resy restaurant purchases and up to $120 in statement credits each year ($10 monthly) for U.S. rideshare purchases with select providers.
• Book at least one hotel stay through Delta Stays using your card each calendar year to earn up to $200 in Delta Stays statement credits.

card_name welcome bonus:

bonus_miles_full
(See Rates and Fees)

Click here to learn more and apply.

Our take on the welcome bonus: The current welcome bonus is the business-as-usual offer on this card.

The link above is our affiliate link. We always show you the best offer, and this is the best offer we know about on this card.

Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card at a glance:
Annual fee: $350.
Rewards: 3x on Delta purchases and eligible hotel purchases. 1.5x on single eligible purchases of $5k or more (terms and mile cap apply.) 1.5x on up to $100k of eligible transit. 1x on other eligible purchases.
Benefits: First checked bag free. Annual Main Cabin companion certificate upon renewal. MQD Headstart. MQD Boost

Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card: The more rewarding Delta Reserve card.

If you’re spending your way to Delta Medallion® status, the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card could be the best card for you. Like the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card, the card earns one Medallion Qualification Dollar for every $10 in purchases you make using the card.

But unlike the personal variant, you’ll earn more rewards with the Business Delta Reserve. The Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card earns 1.5 SkyMiles per dollar spent on eligible transit, U.S. shipping & office supply store purchases, plus 1.5 SkyMiles on eligible purchases after you spend $150,000 in purchases in your card in a calendar year.

When to pick this card: If you fly Delta frequently and want Delta Sky Club access, the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card is the card you want. The rewards are more generous on this card than on the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card. This could come in especially useful if you plan to spend your way to Delta Medallion® status. The lounge access, plus the card’s annual companion certificate (awarded each year after your first cardmember anniversary and good for First Class, Delta Comfort+®, or Main Cabin domestic, Caribbean, or Central American roundtrip flights) is likely enough value to justify paying an annual fee of annual_fees (See Rates and Fees).

How to get the most value out of the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card

• Make use of the card’s complimentary access to the Delta Sky Club when flying on Delta. Be aware that there are changes coming to this benefit. See below for details.*
• Use the card’s annual companion certificate to book a ticket for a companion on a First Class, Delta Comfort+®, Main Cabin domestic, Caribbean, or Central American roundtrip flight each year.
• Use your card for dining and rideshare purchases. You can earn up to $240 in statement credits each year ($20 monthly) for U.S. Resy restaurant purchases and up to $120 in statement credits each year ($10 monthly) for U.S. rideshare purchases with select providers.
• Book at least one hotel stay through Delta Stays using your card each calendar year to earn up to $250 in Delta Stays statement credits.
• Book award tickets for 15% fewer miles (on Delta marketed and operated flights) with the TakeOff 15 benefit.

*Effective 2/1/25, Reserve Card Members will receive 15 Visits per year to the Delta Sky Club; to earn an unlimited number of Visits each year starting on 2/1/25, the total eligible purchases on the Card must equal $75,000 or more between 1/1/24 and 12/31/24, and each calendar year thereafter. Once all 15 Visits have been used, Eligible Card Members may purchase additional Delta Sky Club Visits (including Grab and Go) at a per-Visit rate of $50 per person using the Card.‡

card_name welcome bonus:

bonus_miles_full
(See Rates and Fees)

Click here to learn more and apply.

Our take on the welcome bonus: The current welcome bonus is the business-as-usual offer on this card. For the amount of SkyMiles you get, the spending requirement is quite high. Unless you’re getting this card specifically for its suite of benefits, going for the welcome bonus on the Delta SkyMiles Gold Business card is probably a better bet.

The link above is our affiliate link. We always show you the best offer, and this is the best offer we know about on this card.

Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card at a glance:
Annual fee: $650.
Rewards: 3x on Delta purchases. 1.5x on U.S. shipping, U.S. office supply stores, and eligible transit. 1.5x on eligible purchases for the rest of the year after you spend $150,000 on your card. 1x on other eligible purchases.
Benefits: Sky Club access. Annual first class companion certificate upon renewal. MQD Headstart. MQD Boost.

Frequently asked questions

Rates and fees for Delta Air Lines credit cards

• For rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card, please visit this link: See Rates and Fees; terms apply
• For rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card, please visit this link: See Rates and Fees; terms apply
• For rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card, please visit this link: See Rates and Fees; terms apply
• For rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card, please visit this link: See Rates and Fees
• For rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles® Gold Business American Express Card, please visit this link: See Rates and Fees
• For rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card, please visit this link: See Rates and Fees
• For rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card, please visit this link: See Rates and Fees

Advertiser disclosure: Cards and Points has partnered with CardRatings for our coverage of credit card products. Cards and Points and CardRatings may receive a commission from card issuers. Some or all of the card offers that appear on this site are from advertisers. Compensation may affect how and where card products appear on the site. The site does not include all card companies or all available offers. Opinions, reviews, analyses & recommendations are the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, endorsed or approved by any of these entities. Terms apply to all credit card benefits.