What the Amex Delta card does and who it's built for

The American Express Delta SkyMiles card is a co-branded credit card that earns points toward Delta Air Lines flights and seat upgrades. You earn miles on every purchase, get bonus miles for meeting spending thresholds, and unlock perks like checked bag fee waivers and priority boarding. The card comes in several versions — the Blue Business, Gold, and Platinum — each with different annual fees and earning rates.

This card makes sense if you fly Delta regularly, either for work or personal travel, and want to accumulate miles faster than you would with a regular rewards card. It's less useful if you fly multiple airlines or rarely travel, since the miles only work on Delta flights and partner airlines.

Key Takeaways

  • The Amex Delta card earns miles on purchases and offers bonus miles when you spend a certain amount in the first few months, though the bonus amount changes throughout the year.
  • You get a checked bag fee waiver on your first checked bag, which saves $35 to $40 per round trip if you check luggage regularly.
  • The card charges an annual fee that varies by version — the Blue Business has the lowest, while the Platinum has the highest — so you need to fly enough to make the fee worth it.
  • Miles expire if your account is inactive for 24 months, so you need to use the card or take a Delta flight at least once every two years to keep your balance.
  • You can transfer miles to Delta's partner airlines, but the exchange rate is usually unfavorable compared to redeeming them directly on Delta flights.

The three versions and their annual fees

American Express offers the Delta card in three tiers. The Blue Business version has the lowest annual fee and is designed for small business owners; it earns 1 mile per dollar on most purchases and 2 miles per dollar on Delta purchases and restaurants. The Gold version costs more but earns 2 miles per dollar on Delta purchases and restaurants, plus 1 mile per dollar on everything else. The Platinum version has the highest annual fee and earns 3 miles per dollar on Delta purchases and restaurants, plus 1 mile per dollar elsewhere.

The annual fee for each version changes periodically, so you should check the current amount on American Express's website before you open an account. The fee is charged once per year, usually on your card anniversary. If you don't fly Delta at least a few times per year, the annual fee will likely cost more than the value you get from the miles you earn.

Earning miles and meeting the spending bonus

Every purchase on the card earns miles at the rate for that card version — 1, 2, or 3 miles per dollar depending on the category and which card you have. When you first open the account, American Express offers a welcome bonus that gives you a large number of miles if you spend a certain amount within a set timeframe, usually three to six months. The bonus amount and spending requirement vary throughout the year.

Beyond the welcome bonus, you earn miles on regular spending. A $100 restaurant bill on the Platinum card earns 300 miles; the same bill on the Blue Business earns 200 miles. You also earn bonus miles on Delta purchases — flights, seat upgrades, and baggage fees paid directly to Delta all count toward the higher earning rate. Some versions offer additional bonuses, like extra miles on your card anniversary or after you spend a certain amount in a calendar year.

Perks that come with the card

All Delta Amex cards waive the fee for your first checked bag on Delta flights. This saves $35 to $40 per round trip if you check luggage, which adds up quickly if you travel several times a year. The card also gives you priority boarding, which means you board before most other passengers and can stow your carry-on bag in the overhead bin instead of checking it.

The Platinum version includes additional perks like a $100 statement credit toward Delta purchases once per year, seat upgrades on certain flights, and access to Delta Sky Club lounges on some flights. These perks have real value if you fly Delta frequently, but they don't offset the annual fee unless you use them. The Gold and Blue Business versions have fewer perks but lower annual fees.

How miles expire and what that means for your account

Delta miles expire if your SkyMiles account is inactive for 24 consecutive months. Inactive means you haven't taken a Delta flight, earned miles through the credit card, or earned miles through any other Delta partner. If your account goes inactive, all your miles are deleted and you cannot recover them.

To keep your miles active, you need to either use the Delta credit card at least once every 24 months or take a Delta flight within that window. Using the card for a small purchase — even a $1 transaction — counts as account activity and resets the 24-month clock. If you travel infrequently or go through a period where you don't fly, set a calendar reminder to use the card before the 24-month mark passes.

Redeeming miles for flights and upgrades

You redeem miles through the Delta website or app by searching for flights and choosing to pay with miles instead of cash. The number of miles required for a flight varies based on the route, how far in advance you book, and how full the flight is. A short domestic flight might cost 5,000 to 7,500 miles; a cross-country flight might cost 25,000 to 50,000 miles or more. Premium cabin seats (business or first class) cost significantly more miles than economy.

You can also use miles to upgrade a paid ticket to a higher cabin class, though the cost in miles varies. Some upgrades cost as few as 5,000 miles; others cost 50,000 or more. The value you get from a mile depends on what you're redeeming it for — a mile used on a premium cabin seat is worth more than a mile used on a basic economy flight. Transferring miles to Delta's partner airlines is possible but usually gives you less value per mile than redeeming directly on Delta.

When the Amex Delta card makes financial sense

The card pays for itself if you fly Delta enough to earn miles that cover the annual fee and then some. If you fly Delta four to six times per year and check a bag each time, the checked bag waiver alone saves $140 to $240 annually, which covers or nearly covers the annual fee on the lower-tier cards. Add the miles you earn on regular spending and the welcome bonus, and you come out ahead.

The card is less valuable if you fly Delta only once or twice a year, fly multiple airlines, or never check bags. In those cases, a general-purpose rewards card that earns cash back or points on any airline might serve you better. You should also compare the annual fee to the value of the perks and miles you actually use — if you're paying $250 per year but only redeeming $150 worth of benefits, the card is costing you money.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use Delta miles to book flights on other airlines?

You can transfer Delta miles to partner airlines like Virgin Atlantic, Air France, and KLM, but the transfer rate is usually unfavorable — you typically lose 20 to 30 percent of your miles in the transfer. Redeeming miles directly on Delta flights usually gives you better value. Check Delta's partner list on their website to see which airlines accept transfers.

What happens to my miles if I close the credit card?

Closing the card does not delete your miles. Your miles stay in your Delta SkyMiles account as long as your account remains active (no 24-month inactivity period). However, you lose the perks that come with the card, like the checked bag waiver and priority boarding, so you should redeem your miles before closing the account if you're not planning to fly Delta again soon.

Do I earn miles on credit card payments or balance transfers?

No. You earn miles only on purchases of goods and services. Paying your credit card bill, transferring a balance from another card, and cash advances do not earn miles. Only transactions where you buy something count toward your mile balance.

How do I know if the welcome bonus is worth it?

Calculate the spending requirement against your normal monthly expenses. If the card asks you to spend $3,000 in three months and you normally spend $1,500 per month, you're on track to meet it with regular spending. If you'd have to make unusual purchases to hit the threshold, the bonus might not be worth the effort. Compare the bonus miles to the annual fee — if the bonus is 50,000 miles and the annual fee is $250, you need those miles to be worth at least $250 to you in value.

Can I get the welcome bonus more than once?

American Express has rules about how often you can earn a welcome bonus on the same card. Generally, you can't earn the bonus again if you've received one in the past 24 months. Check American Express's current bonus rules before you explore, as these policies change.