Our evaluations and opinions are not influenced by our advertising relationships, but we may earn a commission from our partners’ links. This content is created independently from TIME’s editorial staff. Learn more about it.
If you fly Delta, you should absolutely have a Delta credit card. You’re throwing money away if you don’t.
But there are loads of Delta credit cards. Which is the best for your situation? If you’re not sure, the card_name could be the way to go. It comes with perks that everyone will use—and it incurs a annual_fees annual fee (Rates & Fees). This gives you the ability to try the card out for a year to see if it suits your lifestyle. If not, you can cancel it without any financial loss.
Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card
Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card
Pros & Cons
Pros:
- Free first checked bag
- 15% award discount on Delta flights
- Priority boarding
Cons:
- Annual fee
- Rewards generally worth less than other airline cards
TIME’s Take
For a casual flyer, the card_name is perfectly serviceable. There are more robust Delta credit cards for frequent flyers—but they also have higher annual fees. This card is perfectly serviceable for things like free checked bags and discounted award flights, and it can even elevate your Delta experience in a couple of ways.
Pros & cons
Pros
- Free first checked bag
- 15% award discount on Delta flights
- Priority boarding
Cons
- Annual fee
- Rewards generally worth less than other airline cards
Who is the card for?
This card is a good fit for someone who flies Delta once or twice per year. It comes with Delta-focused benefits that can quite easily save you hundreds of dollars annually—such as your first checked bag free, a yearly $100 Delta flight credit (after spending $10,000), inflight purchase discounts, travel insurance, and more.
However, if you regularly fly with Delta, you might want to consider a more valuable credit card that more handsomely rewards you for Delta loyalty. For example, The card_name comes with many of the same benefits as the card_name, but with enhanced perks like:
- A Delta companion certificate after each account anniversary (valid within the contiguous 48 states).
- Various status boosts.
- More bonus miles for Delta spending.
The card_name is also a solid option for anyone skeptical about the value of award travel. Because the card’s annual_fees annual fee is waived the first year, you can kick its tires without any initial investment. And its 40,000-mile bonus after meeting minimum spending requirements is enough for a (nearly) free domestic round-trip flight or two, depending on your routes.
Rewards structure
New card_name cardholders will bonus_miles_full. While this bonus is certainly valuable, it’s worth noting that the card_name has been known to periodically offer a bonus of 60,000+ miles.
It’s wise to apply for American Express cards during elevated offers. That’s because Amex enforces a “once per lifetime” rule with its welcome bonuses. In other words, you’ve only got one chance to earn each card’s bonus—so wait for a large one.
This card also earns:
- 2 miles per dollar on Delta purchases.
- 2 miles per dollar on dining.
- 2 miles per dollar on groceries.
- 1 mile per dollar on all other eligible purchases.
You can use Delta miles for anything from vacation packages to seat upgrades to Delta gift cards. But the best value often comes when redeeming for award flights on Delta and its partners.
For example, you can book:
- A coach flight on Delta from New York (JFK) to Aruba (AUA) for 11,000 miles each way.
- A short hop in coach on Delta from Los Angeles (LAX) to Las Vegas (LAS) for 4,500 miles each way.
- A coach flight from Miami (MIA) to Lima, Peru (LIM) for 28,000 miles each way.
As a cardholder, you can also use a feature called Pay With Miles to cash in your rewards at a rate of 1 cent each (in increments of 5,000) toward the price of a Delta flight.
The fine print
The card_name comes with a annual_fees (Rates & Fees).
This card also dings you with standard credit card fees, such as:
- Interest—Pay between reg_apr,reg_apr_type APR when you carry a balance month-to-month.
- Cash advances—cash_advance_fee. You’ll also be subject to an APR of cash_advance_apr which begins accruing the day you initiate the cash advance.
- Late payment—late_payment_fee when you fail to make your minimum monthly payment.
- Returned payment—Pay up to $40 when your payment doesn’t go through due to lack of funds (or other reasons).
Fortunately, the card_name doesn’t charge a foreign transaction fee. That makes it a prime candidate to bring when you’re traveling overseas.
Additional hidden perks
Free checked bags
The card_name gives you and up to eight companions on the same reservation the first checked bag for free. This is an incredible benefit for those who travel with a family. Checked bags cost $30 one-way—meaning you could potentially save $270 each direction.
You’ll even get this benefit if you pay for your airfare with a different card. As long as your Delta account knows you hold the card_name , your first checked bag will be free.
Priority boarding
The card_name provides Main Cabin 1 boarding for you and up to eight companions on the same reservation. That means you’ll be on the plane before most other flyers—practically guaranteeing that you’ll have plenty of overhead bin space.
$100 annual flight credit
You’ll receive a $100 Delta flight credit each year you spend at least $10,000 on the card_name. You can use the credit to offset airfare on Delta (including the airfare portion of a Delta vacation package).
15% award discount
Delta credit cards offer a feature called TakeOff 15. This lowers the award price of Delta flights by 15%. You’ll see the discount at checkout. Note that your entire itinerary must be on Delta-operated flights to qualify for this discount.
Insurances
The card_name comes with a few helpful coverages that make it a good payment option for your travel:
- Rental car insurance—Free secondary insurance (which covers anything your personal insurance won’t) when you waive the rental agency’s CDW and pay for your rental with the card_name .
- Baggage insurance plan—When you use your card to pay for your fare, you’ll be covered up to $500 per person for checked baggage ($1,250 for carry-ons) against damage or loss.
You’ll also get a couple of purchase coverages:
- Purchase protection—You’re protected against loss or damage (up to $1,000 per occurrence, max $50,000 per year) for up to 90 days after your purchase date.
- Extended warranty—Receive up to one extra year on eligible U.S. manufacturer’s warranties lasting five years or less.
Amex Offers
Amex Offers are targeted rebates, discounts, and bonus rewards for everyday purchases. To use them, you must manually add them to your card_name via your online account.
Amex Offers can save you potentially hundreds of dollars per year on purchases you planned to make anyway. All American Express cards participate in Amex Offers, and it’s one of the best perks of the cards.
What could be improved
The card offers a decent value for its annual_fees price point. However, one of its best perks, TakeOff 15, is severely limited.
Again, TakeOff 15 gives you a 15% discount on award travel—but only for flights on Delta metal. That’s a shame, because the best use of Delta miles is often with partner airlines, such as Virgin Atlantic, LATAM, and Air France. If this perk were expanded to cover any award flights booked with Delta SkyMiles, this card’s stock would go up.
Additionally, the annual $100 Delta credit could stand to be more accessible to cardholders. It’s a tough ask to commit $10,000 in spending each year to a single card. Slash that number in half, and the card_name is a no-brainer for just about anyone who flies domestically once or twice each year.
Card alternatives
card_name | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Annual fees | annual_fees | annual_fees | annual_fees |
| Credit score needed | credit_score_needed | credit_score_needed | credit_score_needed |
| Bonus rewards | bonus_miles | bonus_miles | bonus_miles |
TIME Stamp: Casual Delta flyers can get big value from the Delta SkyMiles Gold Card.
With benefits like free checked bags, priority boarding, and a $100 annual Delta flight credit after meeting minimum spending requirements, even those that only fly Delta once or twice per year will find the card’s $99 annual fee well worth it.
Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card
Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card
Pros & Cons
Pros:
- Free first checked bag
- 15% award discount on Delta flights
- Priority boarding
Cons:
- Annual fee
- Rewards generally worth less than other airline cards
For rates and fees of the card_name, please visit this URL.
Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
Is getting a card_name worth it?
If you fly Delta once or twice each year, a card_name could easily be worth it. The question you must ask yourself is whether you’re getting more value from the card than you’re paying for its annual fee.
What credit score do you need for card_name?
When applying for rewards credit cards, it’s wise to have at least “good” credit when for the card_name. This means a FICO score of at least 670. However, we recommend that you wait until your credit score is at least 700 to give yourself the best odds of approval.
What is the highest credit limit for a card_name?
There is no publicly disclosed “highest” credit limit for a Delta Amex card. You’ll be extended a line of credit based on your creditworthiness. However, it’s certainly possible to receive a credit limit of many tens of thousands of dollars.
The information presented here is created independently from the TIME editorial staff. To learn more, see our About page.