Delta has three main credit cards, and the right one depends on how often you fly and how much you spend
Delta offers the Delta SkyMiles Blue American Express, the Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express, and the Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express. Each one earns miles on purchases, but they differ in annual cost, sign-up bonuses, and the perks you get for free. The Blue card has no annual fee. The Gold and Platinum cards charge annual fees but offer more benefits — things like free checked bags, priority boarding, and statement credits for certain purchases.
Which card makes sense for you depends on two things: whether the annual fee pays for itself through the benefits you'll actually use, and whether you spend enough to earn back the cost in miles. A person who flies Delta once a year and pays for most things with cash will get more value from the Blue card. Someone who flies Delta four or more times yearly, or who puts most household spending on the card, may come out ahead with Gold or Platinum despite the fee.
Key Takeaways
- The Delta SkyMills Blue card has no annual fee and earns miles on all purchases, making it the lowest-cost entry point for occasional Delta flyers.
- The Gold card costs $99 per year and includes benefits like a free checked bag and priority boarding that can offset the fee if you fly Delta at least twice yearly.
- The Platinum card costs $550 per year and is designed for frequent Delta flyers who can use perks like lounge access, seat upgrades, and higher earning rates.
- All three cards earn bonus miles when you meet a spending threshold in the first few months, though the bonus amount varies by card.
- You can hold more than one Delta card at the same time, so some people carry both the Blue and Gold to combine benefits.
Delta SkyMiles Blue: No annual fee, straightforward earning
The Blue card charges no annual fee and earns 1 mile per dollar on all purchases. You also earn 2 miles per dollar on Delta purchases and at restaurants. The card comes with a sign-up bonus — the exact number of miles changes, but it typically requires you to spend a set amount in the first three months.
This card works best if you fly Delta occasionally, don't need perks like free checked bags, and want to build miles without paying an annual cost. You'll earn miles on everyday spending like groceries and gas, which adds up over time. The downside is you don't get the travel perks that come with the paid cards, so you'll pay for checked bags and won't get priority boarding.
Delta SkyMills Gold: $99 annual fee with travel perks
The Gold card costs $99 per year and earns 2 miles per dollar on Delta purchases and restaurants, and 1 mile per dollar on everything else. It includes a free checked bag on Delta flights, priority boarding, and a $50 statement credit toward Delta purchases each year. The sign-up bonus is typically higher than the Blue card's bonus.
The free checked bag alone saves you $35 to $40 per round trip, so if you fly Delta twice a year, the annual fee is essentially covered. Priority boarding means you board earlier and can find overhead bin space more easily. The $50 annual credit reduces the net cost of the card to $49 per year. This card makes sense if you fly Delta at least twice yearly and want to avoid checked bag fees.
Delta SkyMiles Platinum: $550 annual fee for frequent flyers
The Platinum card costs $550 per year and is built for people who fly Delta regularly. It earns 3 miles per dollar on Delta purchases and restaurants, and 1 mile per dollar on everything else. It includes a free checked bag, priority boarding, and access to Delta Sky Club lounges (a $99 to $149 value per visit). You also get a $100 annual credit toward Delta purchases and a $200 annual credit toward airline fees like seat upgrades or baggage fees.
The Platinum card includes seat upgrade certificates and other perks that frequent flyers value. The combination of the free checked bag, lounge access, and the $100 and $200 credits can offset much of the annual fee if you use them. This card is designed for people who fly Delta at least four to six times per year and want premium benefits. If you fly less frequently or don't use lounges, the cost won't pay for itself.
How to compare the cards side by side
| Feature | Blue | Gold | Platinum |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annual Fee | $0 | $99 | $550 |
| Miles on Delta Purchases | 2x | 2x | 3x |
| Miles on Restaurants | 2x | 2x | 3x |
| Miles on Other Purchases | 1x | 1x | 1x |
| Free Checked Bag | No | Yes | Yes |
| Priority Boarding | No | Yes | Yes |
| Sky Club Lounge Access | No | No | Yes |
| Annual Statement Credits | $0 | $50 | $300 |
Sign-up bonuses and how they work
Each Delta card offers a sign-up bonus when you open the account and spend a certain amount within a set timeframe — usually three months. The bonus is paid as miles that post to your SkyMiles account after you meet the spending requirement. The exact bonus amount changes throughout the year, so the offer you see today may differ from the offer next month.
The sign-up bonus is often the biggest chunk of miles you'll earn in the first year, so it's worth factoring into your decision. If you're deciding between cards, compare the bonus on each one at the time you're ready to open an account. A higher bonus on the Gold card might make up for the $99 annual fee in the first year, even if you don't fly much.
Earning and redeeming miles
Miles earned on any Delta card go into your SkyMiles account, which you can use to book Delta flights or transfer to Delta's airline partners. You can also redeem miles for seat upgrades, baggage fees, or other travel purchases. The value you get from a mile varies — sometimes a mile is worth less than a cent, sometimes more, depending on what you're buying.
The best redemptions are usually off-peak or economy flights on Delta, where you might get 1 to 1.5 cents of value per mile. Premium cabin flights and partner airline tickets often give you less value. Paying for flights with cash and saving miles for upgrades or partner flights is often a smarter use of your miles than booking entire flights with them.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I have more than one Delta credit card at the same time?
Yes. Many people carry both the Blue and Gold cards — they use the Gold for Delta flights and restaurants to earn 2x miles and get the free checked bag, and the Blue for other everyday spending to avoid paying two annual fees. You can hold all three cards if you want, though most people find two is enough.
What happens to my miles if I close the card?
Your miles stay in your SkyMiles account. Closing the card doesn't erase your miles, but you'll lose the perks that came with it — like the free checked bag or lounge access. You can still use your miles to book flights or redeem them for other rewards.
Do I have to fly Delta to get value from these cards?
No. All three cards earn miles on everyday purchases like groceries, gas, and restaurants. If you never fly Delta, you can still earn miles and transfer them to Delta's partner airlines or use them for other rewards. However, the perks like free checked bags only help if you actually fly Delta.
How do I know which card's sign-up bonus is the best right now?
The bonus amount changes throughout the year and varies by card. Check the current offers on American Express's website or Delta's website to see what each card is offering at the moment you're ready to open an account. Compare the bonus miles against the annual fee to see which card gives you the most value in year one.
What if I don't spend enough to meet the sign-up bonus requirement?
You won't earn the bonus miles. The spending requirement is usually $1,000 to $3,000 in the first three months, depending on the card. If you can't meet it through normal spending, the bonus won't post. Only open a card if you're confident you'll spend enough to earn the bonus.