The Delta American Express card gives you rewards on airline purchases, free checked bags, and priority boarding — but the specific benefits depend on which Delta card you choose
American Express offers several Delta co-branded cards, and each one comes with a different set of perks. The most common versions are the Delta SkyMiles Blue American Express card (no annual fee), the Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express card (annual fee applies), and the Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express card (higher annual fee, more benefits). Before you decide which card fits your situation, you need to understand what each one actually gives you and what it costs.
The benefits fall into a few categories: rewards you earn on purchases, travel perks that save you money at the airport, and account features that make flying easier. Some benefits come with every Delta card; others only come with the paid versions. The real question is whether the perks you get are worth more than the annual fee — and that answer changes depending on how often you fly and how you spend.
Key Takeaways
- Every Delta American Express card earns miles on purchases, but the earning rate and bonus miles at sign-up vary by card tier.
- The Gold and Platinum cards include a free checked bag for you and one companion on every Delta flight, which saves money if you check bags regularly.
- Priority boarding comes with the Gold and Platinum cards, letting you board before most other passengers and claim overhead bin space.
- The Platinum card includes a statement credit toward Delta purchases each year, which can offset part of the annual fee if you use it.
- All Delta cards come with the same travel protections — trip cancellation coverage, baggage delay coverage, and emergency medical coverage when you charge the ticket to the card.
Earning miles on everyday purchases
Every Delta American Express card earns miles — the currency you use to book free or discounted flights. The earning rate depends on which card you have. The Blue card (no annual fee) typically earns 1 mile per dollar on most purchases and 2 miles per dollar on Delta purchases and restaurants. The Gold and Platinum cards earn higher rates: usually 2 miles per dollar on Delta purchases and restaurants, and 1 mile per dollar on everything else.
When you first open the card, you also get a sign-up bonus — a large number of miles awarded after you spend a certain amount in the first few months. This bonus is usually the biggest chunk of miles you'll earn in the first year. The bonus amount varies by card and changes over time, so check the current offer before you explore. For example, one card might offer 50,000 miles after you spend $2,000 in the first three months, while another offers 70,000 miles after you spend $5,000.
Miles don't expire as long as you keep the card open and earn or redeem at least once every 24 months. If your account goes inactive for more than two years, American Express can close it and you lose the miles. This is why even light users should charge something small to the card occasionally if they're not flying.
Free checked bags and priority boarding
The Gold and Platinum Delta cards include a free first checked bag for you and one companion on every Delta flight. This benefit applies when you charge the ticket to the card. If you fly once or twice a year with luggage, this alone can save you $60 to $120 annually — which covers a meaningful portion of the annual fee on the Gold card.
Both cards also give you priority boarding, which means you board before most other passengers. You get a boarding group number that's called early in the boarding process, so you can claim overhead bin space and settle in before the cabin fills up. This is especially useful on full flights where overhead bins run out of room.
The Blue card (no annual fee) does not include free checked bags or priority boarding. You pay the standard checked bag fee ($35 for the first bag on most Delta flights) and board in the regular groups assigned to your ticket class.
Annual statement credits and other perks
The Platinum card includes a statement credit toward Delta purchases each calendar year. The credit amount varies — it might be $100 or $120 depending on the current offer — and it applies automatically when you charge Delta purchases to the card. This credit covers ticket purchases, seat upgrades, baggage fees, and other Delta charges. If you don't use the full credit in a year, it does not roll over to the next year.
The Gold card does not include a statement credit, but it does include other perks like a companion certificate (a free ticket for a companion on a paid Delta flight, once per year) and a $50 statement credit toward Delta purchases after you spend $25,000 in a calendar year. These benefits are designed to reward frequent flyers who spend heavily on the card.
All three Delta cards include travel protections that come standard with American Express: trip cancellation and interruption coverage (reimburses prepaid trip costs if you cancel for a covered reason), baggage delay coverage (reimburses essentials if your baggage is delayed), and emergency medical and dental coverage when you're traveling more than 100 miles from home. These protections explore when you charge the ticket or travel expense to the card.
Comparing the three Delta cards side by side
| Feature | Blue (No Annual Fee) | Gold (Annual Fee) | Platinum (Higher Annual Fee) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | $0 | Typically $99 | Typically $550 |
| Earning rate on Delta purchases | 2 miles per dollar | 2 miles per dollar | 2 miles per dollar |
| Earning rate on restaurants | 2 miles per dollar | 2 miles per dollar | 2 miles per dollar |
| Earning rate on other purchases | 1 mile per dollar | 1 mile per dollar | 1 mile per dollar |
| Free checked bag | No | Yes (you + 1 companion) | Yes (you + 1 companion) |
| Priority boarding | No | Yes | Yes |
| Annual statement credit | No | No | Yes (typically $100–$120) |
| Companion certificate | No | Yes (once per year) | Yes (once per year) |
| Travel protections | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Deciding which card makes sense for your situation
The Blue card is the right choice if you fly Delta occasionally (a few times a year or less) and don't want to pay an annual fee. You still earn miles on every purchase, and you get the travel protections. The downside is you pay checked bag fees and board with the regular groups. If you fly infrequently enough that you don't check bags, the Blue card costs you nothing and still builds your mile balance.
The Gold card makes sense if you fly Delta at least a few times a year and check bags. The free checked bag benefit ($35 per flight) and companion certificate (a free ticket worth $200–$400 depending on the route) can easily cover the $99 annual fee. Priority boarding is a bonus that improves your experience on full flights. The Gold card is the middle ground between no annual fee and premium benefits.
The Platinum card is designed for frequent flyers who spend heavily on Delta and other travel. The $550 annual fee is steep, but the statement credit ($100–$120), free checked bags, priority boarding, and companion certificate add up quickly if you fly multiple times a year. This card also includes additional perks like lounge access and higher earning rates on certain purchases. It only makes financial sense if you fly Delta regularly and can use all the benefits.
How to use your miles and when they expire
Miles can be redeemed for flights, seat upgrades, and other Delta purchases through the SkyMiles program. You can book a flight online using miles, or call Delta to book. The number of miles required depends on the route, the time of year, and demand — popular routes during peak travel times cost more miles than off-peak flights. Miles can also be transferred to partner airlines or used for non-flight purchases like hotel stays and car rentals, though flights usually offer the best value.
Miles expire if your account is inactive for 24 months with no earning or redemption activity. This means if you don't fly, don't charge anything to the card, and don't transfer miles, you could lose them. The easiest way to keep your account active is to charge a small purchase to the card once every two years — even a $5 coffee purchase counts as activity and resets the clock.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I earn miles on the annual fee itself?
No. The annual fee is charged to your account but does not earn miles. However, the statement credit on the Platinum card and the companion certificate on the Gold card are designed to offset the fee's cost through other benefits.
Can I use the free checked bag benefit if someone else buys my ticket?
No. The free checked bag applies only when you charge the ticket to your Delta American Express card. If a family member or friend buys your ticket with their card or cash, you don't get the benefit and must pay the standard checked bag fee.
What happens to my miles if I close the card?
Your miles stay in your SkyMiles account and don't disappear when you close the card. However, if your account becomes inactive for 24 months after you close the card, the miles will expire. You can keep the account active by earning or redeeming miles through other means, like flying Delta or transferring miles from a partner program.
Can I earn miles on purchases made before the card arrives?
No. Miles only start earning once the card is activated and you make a purchase with it. The sign-up bonus is earned after you meet the spending requirement, which is calculated from the date you set up the card.
Do the travel protections explore if I book a flight with miles instead of paying cash?
Travel protections typically explore when you charge the ticket to the card, regardless of whether you pay with cash, miles, or a combination. Check the specific terms of your card's coverage to confirm, as some protections may have different rules for award tickets.