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If you’re a Delta flyer, even occasionally, carrying one of their co-branded American Express credit cards can help make your travels much more rewarding. And waiting for the right time to apply can make a big difference in how much value you’ll get from the card.
So if you’ve been eyeing a Delta SkyMiles® American Express Card, this is your green light to apply. 🟢
The new cardmember welcome offers that Delta and American Express just dropped are some of the most valuable we’ve seen.
The marquee offer is on the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card. Starting now through November 4, 2026, new cardmembers can earn two round‑trip Delta Comfort Flight Certificates valid for travel to the U.S. 48, Puerto Rico, or the U.S. Virgin Islands, along with 50,000 bonus miles after you spend $10,000 in purchases on your new Card in the first 6 months. A 21+ day advance purchase is required, no blackout dates. Taxes and fees up to $80 per person apply. Flight Certificates valid for Delta Comfort or Delta Main. Terms and other restrictions apply.
Yes, that’s 2 roundtrip, Delta Comfort tickets PLUS 50,000 bonus miles! A Delta Comfort ticket gives extra legroom, Priority Boarding and dedicated overhead bin space.
Yes, that’s 2 roundtrip, Delta Comfort tickets PLUS 50,000 bonus miles! A Delta Comfort ticket gives extra legroom, Priority Boarding and dedicated overhead bin space.
Here’s why we love the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card for frequent travelers.
5 ways the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card packs big value
As a travel rewards expert, I hear from many travelers about their wish list of perks to make travel days easier. And the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card checks so many boxes:
✅ Airport lounge access: Cardmembers get 15 Visits per Medallion® Year to the Delta Sky Club® when flying Delta and access to The Centurion® Lounge when your Delta flight is booked with the card, plus, four One-Time Guest Passes each Medallion Year when traveling Delta together.
✅ Companion Certificate: If you plan on flying at least once a year with a friend, partner or family member, the Delta Companion Certificate can provide huge value. With your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card, you’ll get an annual Companion certificate each year after card renewal that's good even in Delta First. The Companion Certificate is available on roundtrip flights within the U.S., Mexico, Caribbean or Central America. Terms apply. The Companion Certificate requires payment of government-imposed taxes and fees of between $22 and $250 (for itineraries with up to four flight segments). Baggage charges and other restrictions apply. Delta Basic experiences are not eligible for this benefit. Terms apply.
✅ Elevated status: It’s not automatic, but holding a Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card gives cardmembers a serious shortcut. Each Medallion Qualification Year, cardmembers receive a headstart of $2,500 Medallion® Qualification Dollars (MQDs). Plus. earn $1 Medallion® Qualification Dollar for each $10 of purchases made on your Delta Reserve Card in a calendar year and get a boost toward achieving elevated Medallion Status for next Medallion Year.
Elevated status with Delta is earned based on the number of MQDs you rack up each calendar year. All Delta Medallion members, cardmembers or not, will earn MQDs at a rate of $1 MQD per $1 spent on airfare with Delta and partner airlines (excluding basic economy tickets, which don't earn MQDs).
There are four elite tiers, each with their own MQD requirement:
Silver Medallion: $5,000 MQDs.
Gold Medallion: $10,000 MQDs.
Platinum Medallion: $15,000 MQDs.
Diamond Medallion: $28,000 MQDs.
Gold Medallion: $10,000 MQDs.
Platinum Medallion: $15,000 MQDs.
Diamond Medallion: $28,000 MQDs.
You’ll get halfway to Silver Medallion status just for holding this card. Talk about a shortcut.
Depending on your elite tier, you can qualify for elite benefits like faster accrual of award miles, priority upgrades and boarding, free preferred seat selection, and faster mileage accrual on paid flights.
✅ Upgrade priority: Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card holders have priority over other travelers within their Medallion tier for eligible complimentary upgrades when flying Delta. In addition, cardholders without Medallion status will still be added to the upgrade list, and they would clear after all other Medallion members have cleared. That’s quite a benefit to earn elite-status benefits even without status.
✅ Skip the airport lines: Get a $120 statement credit for a Global Entry application or up to $85 back for TSA PreCheck® every 4 years when charged to your card. (Global Entry approvals include TSA PreCheck at no additional cost.)
The Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card carries an annual fee of $650, but it’s easy to see how much value Delta flyers can get. (Terms apply, see rates and fees page.)
Especially when you add in these statement credits…
Especially when you add in these statement credits…
Unlock statement credits worth up to $560 annually
Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card holders can access up to $560 in statement credits annually, including:
🍴Up to $240 annual Resy Credit. Delta Reserve members can earn up to $20 in statement credits each month at over 10,000 qualifying U.S. Resy restaurants after paying with their Card for eligible purchases. These statement credits are issued on a monthly basis (up to $20 per month). Credits don't roll over, so you'll need to use your card each month to maximize the benefit. Enrollment required.
With more than 10,000 bookable Resy restaurants, this one is easier to take advantage of than you may think. You don’t even need to remember to make a reservation. Just eat at an eligible Resy restaurant, pay the bill with your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card and you’ll get up to $20 back in statement credit each month.
🚗 $120 annual Rideshare Credit. Enroll and earn up to $10 in statement credits each month after using your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card on U.S. rideshare purchases with select providers – just use the card as payment for your rideshare.
🏨 $200 annual Delta Stays Credit. Elevate your travel experience with an annual statement credit of up to $200 after using your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card to book prepaid hotels or vacation rentals through Delta Stays on delta.com.
I love the flexibility of this credit. Unlike some hotel credits, there’s not a requirement to book a stay for multiple nights to trigger the benefit. That means you can book a stay that works for your travel plans, whether it's for seven nights or just one night.
🏨 $200 annual Delta Stays Credit. Elevate your travel experience with an annual statement credit of up to $200 after using your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card to book prepaid hotels or vacation rentals through Delta Stays on delta.com.
I love the flexibility of this credit. Unlike some hotel credits, there’s not a requirement to book a stay for multiple nights to trigger the benefit. That means you can book a stay that works for your travel plans, whether it's for seven nights or just one night.
Outstanding benefits these 3 Delta American Express cards all share
Delta Air Lines has a robust credit card line-up with great options for nearly every category of Delta flyer.
While I’m so excited about the value that flyers can get from the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card – especially right now thanks to this new welcome offer – there’s a Delta SkyMiles American Express Card for everyone based on your travel lifestyle needs. If you won’t make use of the lounge access or the annual Companion Certificate, another Delta card may be a better fit.
The Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card and the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card are two other valuable options. (More details on those below.)
All 3 of these Delta credit card options share these valuable benefits:
🧳 Free first checked bag for you and up to 8 traveling companions when flying Delta, plus a second free checked bag for the cardmember on domestic Delta flights.
🏷️ Automatic 15% savings off every Delta award flight you book, a benefit called TakeOff 15. (Not applicable to partner-operated flights or to taxes and fees.)
✈️ Priority boarding in Zone 5.
💳 20% back on all eligible Delta in-flight purchases.
The Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card and the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card are two other valuable options. (More details on those below.)
All 3 of these Delta credit card options share these valuable benefits:
🧳 Free first checked bag for you and up to 8 traveling companions when flying Delta, plus a second free checked bag for the cardmember on domestic Delta flights.
🏷️ Automatic 15% savings off every Delta award flight you book, a benefit called TakeOff 15. (Not applicable to partner-operated flights or to taxes and fees.)
✈️ Priority boarding in Zone 5.
💳 20% back on all eligible Delta in-flight purchases.
» MORE: Is a Delta credit card worth it?
Delta Gold and Delta Platinum: 2 rewarding alternate card picks
Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card
Annual fee: $0 intro for the first year, then $150.
Welcome bonus (Apply and find out your offer): As High As 80,000 Bonus Miles + Earn a $250 Statement Credit after you spend $3,000 in purchases on your new Card within the first 6 months of Card Membership. You may not be eligible for the maximum welcome offer amount. Offer ends 11/04/2026. Terms Apply.
Welcome bonus (Apply and find out your offer): As High As 80,000 Bonus Miles + Earn a $250 Statement Credit after you spend $3,000 in purchases on your new Card within the first 6 months of Card Membership. You may not be eligible for the maximum welcome offer amount. Offer ends 11/04/2026. Terms Apply.
Rewards: Earn 2 miles per $1 spent at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarket purchases; 1x on all other eligible purchases. Terms apply.
Delta Stays benefit: Get up to $100 back per year as a statement credit after using your Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card to book prepaid hotels or vacation rentals through Delta Stays on delta.com.
Why you should consider it: Even if you travel only a few times a year, the Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card may help offset the annual fee, depending on your spending and travel habits. The strong welcome offer, a generous checked-bag benefit and bonus miles on everyday spending make it worth considering. The $100 Delta stays credit adds even more value toward your travels. Terms apply.
Delta Stays benefit: Get up to $100 back per year as a statement credit after using your Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card to book prepaid hotels or vacation rentals through Delta Stays on delta.com.
Why you should consider it: Even if you travel only a few times a year, the Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card may help offset the annual fee, depending on your spending and travel habits. The strong welcome offer, a generous checked-bag benefit and bonus miles on everyday spending make it worth considering. The $100 Delta stays credit adds even more value toward your travels. Terms apply.
Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card
Annual fee: $350.
Welcome bonus (Apply and find out your offer): As High As 90,000 Bonus Miles + Earn a $300 Statement Credit after you spend $4,000 in purchases on your new Card within the first 6 months of Card Membership. You may not be eligible for the maximum welcome offer amount. Offer ends 11/04/2026. Terms Apply.
Rewards: Earn 3 miles per $1 spent on eligible purchases made directly with Delta; 3 miles per $1 spent directly with hotels; 2 miles per $1 spent at restaurants worldwide; 2 miles per $1 spent at U.S. supermarkets; 1 mile per $1 spent on all other eligible purchases. Terms apply.
Status benefit: Earn $1 Medallion® Qualification Dollar for each $20 in purchases on your Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card in a calendar year, getting you closer to Medallion Status for next Medallion Year quicker.
Why you should consider it: Along with the strong welcome offer, a first checked bag free for you and up to eight others on your reservation and Zone 5 priority boarding, you get a fee credit for either Global Entry or TSA PreCheck and an opportunity to earn points toward elite status. One of its most valuable benefits, though, is the Companion Certificate each year you receive after you renew. The Companion Certificate is available on roundtrip flights within the U.S., Mexico, Caribbean or Central America in Delta Main cabin. The Companion Certificate requires payment of government-imposed taxes and fees of between $22 and $250 (for itineraries with up to four flight segments). Baggage charges and other restrictions apply. Delta Basic experiences are not eligible for this benefit. Terms apply.
Bottom line: Is a Delta SkyMiles American Express card worth it?
For any traveler looking to earn valuable rewards and benefits to help cover the cost of flights, the answer is a resounding yes.
With three options to choose from, there’s a great choice for every kind of flyer. The Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card comes with a slew of valuable credits and benefits that can easily help offset the cost of the fee. The Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card is best for casual travelers, especially those checking bags. And the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card hits a sweet spot right in the middle.
With three options to choose from, there’s a great choice for every kind of flyer. The Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card comes with a slew of valuable credits and benefits that can easily help offset the cost of the fee. The Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card is best for casual travelers, especially those checking bags. And the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card hits a sweet spot right in the middle.
These valuable, limited time offers on all three cards end November 4, 2026.
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