Is a Delta SkyMiles Credit Card Worth It?

Delta Air Lines is one of the "big three" U.S. carriers, serving nearly 300 destinations in more than 50 countries. Millions of travelers choose Delta each year and to help enhance their travel experience the airline runs a loyalty program for its members called Delta SkyMiles.

If you live in a Delta hub or fly the airline fairly regularly, you might be wondering whether getting a co-branded Delta SkyMiles credit card will help you earn special rewards and elevate your travel experience. So if you're asking yourself, "Is a Delta credit card worth it?" we've got answers for you.

American Express is the sole issuer of co-branded Delta SkyMiles credit cards. Let's look at the Delta cards and the welcome offers available to consumers and business owners.

Personal Delta credit cards

Delta business credit cards

The cards' benefits range from basic to comprehensive. If you're interested in applying for a Delta SkyMiles credit card, we recommend researching their perks and considering annual fees. We will not cover these in our analysis below.

» Learn more: Which Delta Air Lines credit card should you get?

Provide your SkyMiles number when you apply for a Delta-branded credit and it'll be attached to your frequent-flyer account. If you don't have a member number, one will be created for you automatically.

Every time you swipe a card for purchases, you'll earn points based on the earning structure of each card. Typically, you earn a mileage multiplier on Delta purchases and in a couple of other bonus categories, such as restaurants, hotels and U.S. supermarkets.

The miles you earn are redeemable for award flights on Delta flights as well as on partner airlines, such as Air France, KLM and LATAM. Redemption rates vary based on travel dates and destination, but you should get about 1.2 cents per mile on average, according to NerdWallet’s valuation.

SkyMiles don't expire whether you hold a Delta credit card or not, as long as your SkyMiles account is in good standing.

» Learn more: The guide to Delta’s ‘Bags on Time’ guarantee

Can you foot the annual fee?

Co-branded Delta SkyMiles credit cards come with all kinds of perks. Depending on the card, they include:

• Free checked bags.

• TSA PreCheck or Global Entry enrollment fee credits.

• And even Delta Sky Club access (with the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card).

However, all SkyMiles credit cards, with the exception of the Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card, charge annual fees and you must decide whether the benefits outweigh the fees.

» Learn more: The best airline credit cards right now

Work out whether a card's bonus categories align with your spending patterns

Every dollar you spend on your co-branded Delta credit card turns into Delta SkyMiles, and in some cases at accelerated rates. Here's how you earn rewards by using an American Express Delta card on purchases.

Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card

• 2x miles on Delta.

• 2x miles at restaurants.

• 1x mile on everything else.

Terms apply.

Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card

• 2x miles on Delta.

• 2x miles at restaurants.

• 2x miles at U.S. supermarkets.

• 1x mile on everything else.

Terms apply.

» Learn more: Is the Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card worth its annual fee?

Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card

• 3x miles on Delta.

• 3x miles directly with hotels.

• 2x miles at restaurants.

• 2x miles at U.S. supermarkets.

• 1x mile on everything else.

Terms apply.

Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card

• 3x miles on Delta.

• 1x mile on everything else.

Terms apply.

As you can see, the earning structure on Delta cards isn't the most attractive. In addition, the bonus categories are lackluster, and these miles are stuck in your Delta SkyMiles account.

After you earn the welcome bonus, we don’t recommend using these cards for your everyday spending. Focus on credit cards that earn flexible rewards instead, such as the American Express® Green Card and the American Express® Gold Card, which earn Membership Rewards points that can be transferred to Delta SkyMiles and more than a dozen other airlines. Terms apply.

Analyze the benefits of Delta SkyMiles cards

All Delta cards come with tangible benefits that can help you offset annual membership fees. Let's take a look at the perks you can expect from a Delta credit card. The lists below are not exhaustive, but they touch on the highest-value features.

Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card

• 20% back on in-flight purchases.

• No foreign transaction fees.

Terms apply.

Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card

• $200 Delta credit after spending $10,000 on the card annually.

• Zone 5 boarding.

• First checked bag free.

• 20% back on in-flight purchases.

• $100 Delta Stays credit.

• 15% off award travel booked with Delta.

• No foreign transaction fees.

Terms apply.

Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card

• Zone 5 boarding.

• First checked bag free.

• Fee credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck.

• Companion Certificate on a main cabin round-trip flight within the U.S. and to Mexico, the Caribbean, or Central America each year after renewal of your Card.

• Up to $120 a year ($10 per month) in statement credits on eligible Resy purchases using your enrolled card.

• Up to $120 a year ($10 per month) in statement credits on U.S. rideshare purchases with select providers using your enrolled card.

• $150 Delta Stays credit.

• 20% back on in-flight purchases.

• 15% off award travel booked with Delta.

• No foreign transaction fees.

Terms apply.

Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card

• Sky Club access for primary cardmember plus four one-time guest passes per year.

• Centurion Lounge and Escape Lounge access.

• Zone 5 boarding.

• First checked bag free.

• Companion Certificate on a Main Cabin, Delta Comfort+ or first class round-trip flight within the U.S. and to Mexico, the Caribbean, or Central America each year after renewal of your Card.

• Fee credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck.

• Up to $240 a year ($20 per month) in statement credits on eligible Resy purchases using your enrolled card.

• Up to $120 a year ($10 per month) in statement credits on U.S. rideshare purchases with select providers using your enrolled card.

• $200 Delta Stays credit.

• 20% back on in-flight purchases.

• 15% off award travel booked with Delta.

• No foreign transaction fees.

Terms apply.

Many benefits are available to Delta credit card holders, and it's where these credit cards shine. However, before you ask, "Is it worth getting a Delta credit card?" you must ask, "Will I use these benefits?" Well, let's do some math.

Do you check bags?

Your first checked bag normally costs $30. That fee is waived for Medallion members and those with select Delta SkyMiles American Express cards. This perk isn't limited to just you, either. Up to eight other passengers traveling on your reservation are eligible for the benefit on all cards except for the Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card. Of course, this isn't a valuable benefit if you're Team Carry-on. Terms apply.

Do you often travel with a plus one?

Redeeming a Companion Certificate offered with the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card and the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card can help offset some or all of the annual fees, depending on how much airfare costs. Let’s say you hold the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card and save $350 using a Companion Certificate. In this case, the membership fee pays for itself.

Is lounge access important to you as a solo traveler?

Then accessing Delta Sky Clubs, The Centurion Lounges and Escape Lounges every time you fly can justify paying a high annual fee as well. Sky Club membership starts at $695 per year, which erases the annual fee on the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card, plus you get access to the other two airport lounges.

» Learn more: Which credit cards can get into the Delta Sky Club?

Assessing annual fees on credit cards is about calculating how much value you can extract from a card in exchange. If the value you get back exceeds that of the annual cost, then you've made the right decision. If not, consider a different rewards card. It's worth reevaluating your credit choices every year to avoid paying fees on cards whose benefits no longer align with your lifestyle.

Although SkyMiles credit cards offer many perks to Delta flyers, they're not benefiting all travelers equally. Consider other rewards cards if:

• Delta Air Lines or its partners have limited service to your city: No matter how you slice it, a Delta SkyMiles card won't do you any good if you can't fly the airline or its partners.

• You have Medallion status: Priority boarding and a free checked bag is already a perk for Medallion members, so some of the benefits of a Delta card are redundant.

• You prefer rewards flexibility: Delta miles are tied to the SkyMiles program and can't be transferred to another airline. If you're looking for more flexibility, get a card that earns transferable points instead.

Delta flyers can find value in co-branded Delta SkyMiles credit cards. However, the benefits that come with these cards aren't that helpful if you can't use them. Make sure to evaluate the annual fees and what you get in exchange to make an educated decision on whether a Delta card would be worth it for you. If not, sign up for a card with more flexible rewards.