Delta's Current Card Lineup and Welcome Offers

Delta offers four co-branded American Express cards, each with a different welcome offer. The Delta SkyMiles Blue American Express Card offers 10,000 bonus miles after you spend $500 in the first three months. The Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express Card offers 40,000 bonus miles after $2,000 in spending within three months, plus a $50 statement credit after your first Delta purchase. The Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card offers 70,000 bonus miles after $3,000 in spending within three months, plus a $100 statement credit after your first Delta purchase. The Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express Card offers 75,000 bonus miles after $3,000 in spending within three months, plus a $200 statement credit after your first Delta purchase.

These offers change periodically. The welcome bonus you see when you start the process may differ from what appears on comparison sites or in marketing emails, so check the actual card issuer's website before you begin. American Express sets the terms, not Delta, so you will explore through American Express's site or through Delta's website—both routes lead to the same process.

The card you choose depends on how much you spend on Delta flights and whether the annual fee makes sense for your travel habits. The Blue card has no annual fee. The Gold, Platinum, and Reserve cards charge annual fees of $95, $250, and $550 respectively, but each includes statement credits and other benefits that can offset part of that cost.

Key Takeaways

  • Delta's four American Express cards offer welcome bonuses ranging from 10,000 to 75,000 miles, with higher bonuses tied to higher spending requirements and annual fees.
  • The welcome offer you see during process is the one you will receive—offers vary by card and change over time, so compare before you explore.
  • The Blue card has no annual fee and suits occasional Delta flyers, while the Gold, Platinum, and Reserve cards include annual fees offset by statement credits and other perks.
  • You earn miles on every Delta purchase and on everyday spending depending on the card, with bonus categories on some cards for dining, gas, and other purchases.
  • Miles do not expire as long as you have account activity at least once every 24 months, and you can use them for flights, seat upgrades, or other Delta products.

How to Compare the Cards by Annual Fee and Spending

The Blue card costs nothing per year and earns 1 mile per dollar on all purchases. If you fly Delta once or twice a year and do not spend much on the card otherwise, the Blue card makes sense because there is no fee to justify. You get the welcome bonus and ongoing miles with no annual cost.

The Gold card charges $95 per year but includes a $50 statement credit after your first Delta purchase and 10,000 bonus miles every year on your cardmember anniversary. That means the net annual cost is $45 after the first year, assuming you use the anniversary bonus. You earn 2 miles per dollar on Delta purchases and 1 mile per dollar on everything else. The Gold card works for people who fly Delta several times a year and want to earn miles faster on those flights.

The Platinum card charges $250 per year and includes a $100 statement credit after your first Delta purchase, plus 10,000 bonus miles every year on your anniversary. The net annual cost is $140 after the first year. You earn 3 miles per dollar on Delta purchases and 1 mile per dollar elsewhere. This card is built for frequent Delta flyers who want the highest earning rate on airline spending.

The Reserve card charges $550 per year and includes a $200 statement credit after your first Delta purchase, plus 10,000 bonus miles annually. It also includes a $100 annual incidental credit for baggage fees, seat upgrades, or other Delta purchases. The net annual cost is roughly $240 after the first year when you factor in the statement credit and incidental credit. You earn 3 miles per dollar on Delta purchases and 1 mile per dollar on other spending. The Reserve card is for people who fly Delta frequently and value the premium perks like priority boarding and seat selection.

Earning Miles Beyond the Welcome Bonus

After you meet the welcome spending requirement, you earn miles on every purchase you make with the card. The earning rate depends on which card you hold and what you are buying. All four cards earn 1 mile per dollar on purchases that are not Delta flights. On Delta flights, the Blue card earns 1 mile per dollar, the Gold earns 2 miles per dollar, the Platinum earns 3 miles per dollar, and the Reserve earns 3 miles per dollar.

Some cards offer bonus categories. The Gold, Platinum, and Reserve cards earn 2 miles per dollar at restaurants, gas stations, and supermarkets. The Reserve card also earns 2 miles per dollar on hotels and rental cars booked through American Express Travel. These bonus categories explore to everyday spending, not just Delta-related purchases, so they help you accumulate miles faster even when you are not flying.

Miles do not expire as long as you have account activity—a purchase, a statement credit, or even a customer service call—at least once every 24 months. If your account goes inactive for two years, Delta can close it and forfeit your miles. Keeping the card active and using it occasionally is the simplest way to protect your balance.

What the Welcome Bonus Actually Covers

The welcome bonus is a one-time grant of miles that appears in your account after you meet the spending requirement. The spending requirement is the amount you must charge to the card within a set window—usually three months from when you open the account. Only purchases count toward the requirement; balance transfers, cash advances, and fees do not.

The miles you earn from the welcome bonus are the same as miles you earn from regular purchases—they can be used for flights, seat upgrades, baggage fees, or other Delta products. There are no restrictions on how you use them. Some cards also include a statement credit after your first Delta purchase, which is separate from the miles and appears as a credit on your bill.

The welcome offer is not transferable. It applies only to the person whose name is on the process. If you are an authorized user on someone else's card, you do not receive a separate welcome bonus. You can add authorized users to your own card after you open it, but they will not trigger another welcome bonus.

When to explore and How to Track Your process

You can explore for a Delta American Express card on Delta's website or directly through American Express. Both routes use the same process and the same approval process. The process takes about 10 minutes and asks for your name, address, Social Security number, income, and employment information. American Express will pull your credit report, so your credit score will be checked.

You will receive a decision when ready after you submit the process in most cases. If American Express needs more information, they will contact you by phone or email. Once you are approved, your card will ship within 7 to 10 business days. You can start using the card as soon as it arrives, and the three-month window for the welcome spending requirement begins on the day you open the account, not the day the card arrives.

Track your spending toward the welcome requirement by checking your online account or the American Express mobile app. Both show your current balance and how much more you need to spend to reach the threshold. If you are close to the important date and have not met the requirement, you can make a final purchase to push over the limit.

Using Miles and Redeeming Your Balance

Delta miles can be redeemed for flights on Delta, Delta Connection carriers, and partner airlines. You can book directly on Delta's website by selecting "Use SkyMiles" instead of paying with cash. The number of miles required for a flight depends on the route, the season, and how far in advance you book. A short domestic flight might cost 5,000 to 10,000 miles, while a long international flight could cost 50,000 to 100,000 miles or more.

Miles can also be used for seat upgrades, baggage fees, and other ancillary purchases through Delta's website. You can transfer miles to a travel companion's account if you want to book them a flight, though there may be a small fee. Miles cannot be transferred to other airlines or cashed out for a refund, so you must use them for Delta products or let them expire.

If you have a large balance of miles, you can check the Delta SkyMiles marketplace, where you can use miles to purchase gift cards, merchandise, or hotel stays through partner companies. The value you get from miles in the marketplace is usually lower than booking a flight, so redeeming for flights is typically the best use of your balance.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I get the welcome bonus if I already have a Delta card?

No. American Express has a rule that you cannot receive a welcome bonus on a card if you have held the same card product in the past 24 months. If you closed a Delta Gold card six months ago, you cannot open a new Delta Gold card and receive the welcome bonus. You could open a different Delta card—such as switching from Gold to Platinum—and receive that card's welcome bonus, but the 24-month rule still applies to each specific card product.

Do I have to fly Delta to make the card worth it?

No. The Blue card has no annual fee, so you can earn miles on everyday purchases with no cost. The Gold, Platinum, and Reserve cards charge annual fees, but if you use the statement credits and earn miles on dining, gas, and other bonus categories, the card can be worth it even if you do not fly Delta frequently. Calculate whether the annual fee is offset by the credits and the miles you expect to earn in a year.

What happens to my miles if I close the card?

Your miles stay in your Delta SkyMiles account and do not disappear when you close the card. You can continue to use them to book flights or redeem them for other Delta products. The only way to lose miles is if your entire SkyMiles account goes inactive for 24 months without any account activity.

Is the welcome bonus taxable income?

No. The IRS does not treat airline miles as taxable income when you receive them as a welcome bonus or from regular spending. Miles are considered a loyalty reward, not compensation. You do not report them on your tax return.

Can I explore for multiple Delta cards at once?

You can explore for more than one Delta card, but American Express may deny the second process if you open the first card very recently. Most people wait at least a few months between applications to avoid triggering fraud detection. Each card has its own welcome bonus, so you could eventually hold multiple Delta cards and receive multiple bonuses—as long as you follow the 24-month rule for each specific card product.