Choosing The Right Delta American Express Card For You
Quick summary
Update: Some offers mentioned below are no longer available. View the current offers here.
Last week, American Express announced some changes to their Delta co-branded credit cards, including EMV Chip + Signature technology and that they would begin waiving foreign transaction fees starting May 1. However, they also announced an annual fee increase on the Delta Platinum card to $195 from the current $150. In addition, over the past couple years they've made tweaks to the cards, including getting rid of the Gold card companion ticket and instituting a waiver for cardholders to be exempt from the new Medallion® Qualifying Dollars program if you spend $25,000 in a calendar year on your card.
So after all of these changes, which card(s) makes the most sense for you? You've got three main options: Gold, Platinum and Reserve, and each of those have a personal and business versions - so there are actually six cards out there. They are all credit (not charge cards), and Amex will allow an individual to have up to four total credit cards open with American Express per their rules (though you may be able to get more if you request it). With all that in mind, let's look at a comparison of the three card - and be sure to check out my post for How to Get in on the Best Delta Amex Offers.
Gold Delta SkyMiles® Credit Card from American Express and Gold Delta SkyMiles® Business Credit Card from American Express
Type: Personal or Business
Current Bonus: 30,000 miles when you spend $1,000 in the first 3 months, and earn a $50 statement credit after your first Delta purchase for both cards. However you might find a higher bonus available through the Card Match Tool.
Category Spending Bonuses: 2X miles per $1 on Delta purchases, 1X miles on everything else.
Perks: Check your first bag free for you and up to 9 people on your reservation – on every Delta flight, Priority Boarding and 20% In-Flight Savings. On the Business version, save 3% to 10% automatically on business expenses from FedEx, Hertz, OfficeMax, and more with OPEN Savings.
Annual Fee: $0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $95, no annual fee for additional card.
Pros: Having this card gets you basic perks like checked bags, priority boarding, Pay With Miles (meaning you have the option of redeeming SkyMiles for 1 cents towards airfare – a $300 Delta flight can be purchased for 30,000 points, whereas you might have needed 60,000 Skymiles to redeem for it as a normal award), and the ability to buy discounted $29 SkyClub passes.
Cons: No elite mile benefit, Pay With Miles economy flights do not earn miles/elite status, companion ticket benefit was discontinued in 2013.
The Right Fit: This card is good for the casual traveler who flies Delta, but doesn't have elite status and would not benefit from the Platinum companion pass. With the first checked bag costing $25, this benefit can pay for the annual fee if you check bags on 2 roundtrips a year or more. This offer is a no brainer if you can get a targeted/CardMatch tool offer of 45,000 miles or more, but otherwise the benefits of the Platinum card may justify the $100 fee difference annually.
Platinum Delta SkyMiles Credit Card from American Express and Platinum Delta SkyMiles® Business Credit Card from American Express
Type: Personal or Business
Current Bonus: Get 5,000 Medallion Qualification Miles and 35,000 miles when you spend $1,000 within the first 3 months and a $100 statement credit when you make your first Delta purchase within 3 months.
Category Spending Bonuses: 2X miles on Delta purchases, 1X on other purchases.
Perks: First checked bag free for you and up to 8 people on your reservation. Earn up to 20,000 MQM's a year (10,000 for $25,000 in calendar year spend, and another 10,000 MQM's for a total of $50,000 in calendar year spending), Priority Boarding and 20% In-Flight Savings. On the business version, save 3% to 10% automatically on business expenses from FedEx, Hertz, OfficeMax, and more with OPEN Savings, annual Companion Certificate for one roundtrip economy ticket in the 48 contiguous United States.
Annual Fee: $195
Pros: All Gold Card benefits, plus 10,000 MQMs when you reach $25,000 in eligible purchases during a calendar year and an additional 10,000 MQMs with $50,000 in spend within the same calendar year - this can make all the difference in achieving that next tier of elite status. The card also comes with an annual companion ticket for coach domestic travel in the cheapest fare classes – this can easily save you a couple hundred dollars and the main ticket still earns miles/upgrades (the companion does not).
Cons: Companion tickets aren't eligible for upgrades (and only the paid ticket gets miles), high spend requirements for the MQM's.
The Right Fit: This card is for Medallions who value MQM's, but may already have SkyClub access through the Platinum Card from American Express or Diamond status.
Delta Reserve
Type: Personal or Business
Current Bonus: 10,000 Medallion qualifying miles and 10,000 bonus miles with the first purchase.
Category Spending Bonuses: 2X miles per $1 on Delta purchases, 1X miles on everything else.
Perks: Delta SkyClub access, up to 30,000 MQM's per calendar year with spend (15,000 at $30,000 and another 15,000 at $60,000). Free checked bag for you and up to 8 people on your reservation, Priority Boarding and 20% In-Flight Savings. On the business version, save 3% to 10% automatically on business expenses from FedEx, Hertz, OfficeMax, and more with OPEN Savings, annual Reserve Companion Certificate for first/business (or economy) travel within the 48 contiguous United States.
Annual Fee: $450
Pros: Being able to earn 30,000 MQM's per calendar year can be a huge boost to elite qualification. Delta SkyClub access is also a big value, though Delta just hacked this benefit down to just entry for the cardholder. Domestic first class companion ticket (this works for coach and discounted first class so it's actually pretty valuable) and elevated upgrade status – you outrank someone at your same Medallion level and fare class if they don't have the card.
Cons: $450 annual fee isn't bad if you value the SkyClub access, but it's hefty if you already have it as a Diamond Medallion or Amex Platinum cardholder- plus Delta will soon make you pay for guests as well.
The Right Fit: If you're a road warrior in a Delta hub city, the Reserve upgrade priority may give you the edge you need to win upgrade battles. This is also a good fit for people who value the lounge access and fly exclusively with Delta and need the MQMs to hit elite status yearly. In general, this card is for the more advanced Delta flyer who doesn't mind shelling out $450 a year for key perks. The companion pass and lounge access can easily justify the annual fee if you value those perks.
How To Get In on the Best Delta Credit and Debit Card Offers
Delta Amex Pay With Miles Program Now Gives Miles in First/Business Class
Why I Got A Delta Platinum SkyMiles Amex
Delta Reserve and Platinum American Express Companion Benefit Details
Amex OPEN Basics