What the American Express Delta card offers

The American Express Delta SkyMiles card is a co-branded card issued by American Express and Delta Air Lines. It earns points on purchases that you can redeem for Delta flights, seat upgrades, and other travel rewards. The card comes in several versions — the Blue Basic, Blue Plus, and Platinum — each with different annual fees, earning rates, and sign-up bonuses.

Unlike some airline cards that earn points only on airline purchases, the Delta card earns miles on everyday spending: groceries, gas, restaurants, and online shopping. You also earn bonus miles on Delta purchases and when you use the card to buy tickets directly from Delta.

The card is designed for people who fly Delta regularly or want to accumulate miles toward a free ticket. It is not the right card if you rarely fly or prefer cash back over airline miles.

Key Takeaways

  • The Delta card earns miles on all purchases, with higher earning rates on Delta flights and Delta purchases made through the card.
  • Each version of the card has a different annual fee, ranging from no annual fee to over $500, and offers different sign-up bonuses.
  • You can redeem miles for Delta flights, seat upgrades, checked bag fees, and other travel-related expenses through the SkyMiles program.
  • The card includes benefits like a free checked bag for you and one companion on Delta flights, priority boarding, and other perks that vary by card tier.
  • Miles do not expire as long as your account remains active, but the card's annual fee and earning rates mean you should use it regularly to get value.

The three versions and what each costs

American Express offers the Delta SkyMiles card in three tiers. The Blue Basic has no annual fee and earns 1 mile per dollar on all purchases, plus 2 miles per dollar on Delta purchases. The Blue Plus costs $95 per year and earns 1.5 miles per dollar on all purchases and 3 miles per dollar on Delta purchases. The Platinum costs $550 per year and earns 3 miles per dollar on all purchases and 5 miles per dollar on Delta purchases.

Each card also offers a sign-up bonus in the form of miles after you spend a certain amount in the first few months. The bonus amount changes regularly, so check the current offer before you explore. The higher-tier cards typically offer larger bonuses to offset their annual fees.

To decide which version makes sense for you, think about how much you spend per year and how much of that is on Delta. If you spend $10,000 per year and half of it is on Delta, the Blue Plus would earn you 15,000 miles per year from spending alone (7,500 from non-Delta purchases at 1.5 miles per dollar, plus 7,500 from Delta purchases at 3 miles per dollar). Whether the $95 annual fee is worth it depends on whether you can redeem those miles for a flight that costs more than $95 in cash.

How to earn miles and what they are worth

You earn miles every time you use the card, whether you are buying a plane ticket or paying for groceries. The earning rate depends on the card version and the type of purchase. All three cards earn bonus miles on Delta purchases — flights, seat upgrades, baggage fees, and tickets bought directly from Delta. Purchases made through third-party travel sites or airline booking apps may not earn the bonus rate.

Miles are worth different amounts depending on how you redeem them. A mile is typically worth between 0.5 and 2 cents, depending on the flight you book and the time of year. A domestic flight that costs $300 in cash might cost 25,000 miles, making each mile worth 1.2 cents. A premium flight or one during peak travel season might cost more miles relative to its cash price, making each mile worth less.

You can also use miles to pay for seat upgrades, checked baggage fees, and other Delta services. These redemptions often give you better value than booking a full flight, so it is worth checking what else you can buy before you book a ticket.

Benefits that come with the card

All three Delta SkyMiles cards include a free checked bag on Delta flights for you and one companion traveling on the same ticket. This benefit alone saves you $30 to $40 per round trip, which can offset the annual fee on the higher-tier cards if you fly twice a year.

The Blue Plus and Platinum cards also include priority boarding, which lets you board before most other passengers. The Platinum card adds additional perks like a $100 annual Delta credit (which you can use toward flights or fees), a companion ticket every year after you spend a certain amount, and lounge access at some Delta Sky Club locations.

All three cards waive foreign transaction fees, which is useful if you book international flights or use the card while traveling abroad. The Platinum card also includes travel insurance and other protections that come with premium American Express cards.

How to redeem your miles

You redeem miles through your Delta SkyMiles account online or through the Delta app. Log in, go to the booking section, and search for flights the same way you would for a cash booking. The system will show you the mile cost for each flight alongside the cash price. You can book a flight, pay the full cost in miles, or use a combination of miles and cash if you do not have enough miles for the full ticket.

You can also transfer miles to a companion's account if you want to book them a ticket, or use miles to upgrade a cash ticket to a higher cabin. Some redemptions, like upgrading a seat or paying a baggage fee, happen at the airport or through your Delta account rather than through the booking system.

Miles do not expire as long as your SkyMiles account stays active. Your account stays active as long as you earn or redeem miles at least once every 24 months. If you close the card, your miles remain in your SkyMiles account, so you do not lose them if you stop using the card.

When the card makes financial sense

The Delta card is worth using if you fly Delta at least once or twice per year and spend enough on the card to earn miles that cover the annual fee. For the Blue Basic with no annual fee, there is no threshold — you benefit from earning miles on every purchase, even if you never redeem them.

For the Blue Plus ($95 per year), you need to earn at least 95,000 miles per year to break even, assuming each mile is worth 0.1 cents. That means spending about $63,000 per year on the card if half your spending is on Delta (earning 1.5 miles per dollar on non-Delta and 3 miles per dollar on Delta). If you spend less than that, the annual fee is hard to justify unless the sign-up bonus is large enough to cover it.

For the Platinum ($550 per year), the math is more complex because of the $100 annual Delta credit and the companion ticket benefit. If you use both of those benefits, the effective annual fee drops to $350, which is easier to justify if you fly Delta frequently or spend heavily on the card.

how the process works and what happens next

You can explore for the Delta SkyMiles card through the American Express website or through Delta's website. The process takes about 10 minutes and asks for your name, address, income, and Social Security number. American Express will make a hard inquiry on your credit report, which may lower your credit score by a few points temporarily.

You will receive a decision within minutes or a few business days. If you are approved, the card will arrive in the mail within 7 to 10 business days. Once you receive it, set up it through the American Express app or website, then add it to your digital wallet if you want to use it for contactless payments.

After you receive the card, you have a set period (usually 3 months) to spend a certain amount to earn the sign-up bonus. The spending requirement varies by card and current offer, but typically ranges from $500 to $3,000. Only purchases made with the card count toward the requirement — balance transfers and cash advances do not.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use Delta miles on other airlines?

No. Delta SkyMiles can only be redeemed for Delta flights and Delta-related expenses like seat upgrades and baggage fees. You cannot transfer miles to other airline programs or use them on partner airlines, though Delta does have partnerships with some international carriers that may allow you to book their flights with Delta miles in certain cases.

What happens to my miles if I close the card?

Your miles stay in your SkyMiles account even after you close the card. You can continue to redeem them for flights as long as your account remains active. Your account stays active as long as you earn or redeem miles at least once every 24 months.

Do I have to pay the annual fee every year?

Yes, the annual fee posts to your account every year on the anniversary of when you opened the card. If you decide the card is no longer worth it, you can close it anytime. Some people close the card after using the sign-up bonus and the annual benefits, then reapply later for another bonus.

Can I earn miles on a business purchase if I use my personal card?

Yes. Miles are earned based on the card you use, not the type of purchase. If you use your personal Delta card to buy something for work, you still earn miles at the normal rate. However, if you have a separate Delta business card, purchases on that card earn miles into a separate business SkyMiles account.

What is the difference between a sign-up bonus and miles I earn from spending?

A sign-up bonus is a one-time award of miles you receive after you meet the spending requirement in the first few months. Miles you earn from spending are awarded every time you use the card. Both types of miles go into the same SkyMiles account and can be redeemed the same way.