What the Amex Delta card gives you

The American Express Delta SkyMiles card is a co-branded card between American Express and Delta Air Lines. It earns points called SkyMiles that you redeem for Delta flights, seat upgrades, and other travel rewards. The card comes in several versions — the Blue Basic, Blue Plus, Gold, and Platinum — each with different annual fees, earning rates, and welcome offers.

The main trade-off is straightforward: you pay an annual fee (which varies by card tier), and in return you earn miles faster on Delta purchases and get perks like checked bag credits and priority boarding. If you fly Delta regularly or plan to, the miles you earn and the fee waivers can offset the cost. If you rarely fly Delta, the annual fee becomes harder to justify.

Unlike some airline cards that let you transfer miles to hotel partners or use them broadly, Delta SkyMiles are locked to Delta redemptions. That means the card's value depends almost entirely on how much you value flying Delta specifically.

Key Takeaways

  • The Amex Delta card earns SkyMiles on every purchase, with bonus earning rates on Delta flights and American Express purchases depending on which tier you choose.
  • Each version of the card charges a different annual fee — the Blue Basic starts lower, while the Platinum charges more but includes higher benefits like a checked bag credit and priority boarding.
  • You can redeem SkyMiles only for Delta flights, seat upgrades, and Delta-related purchases; the miles do not transfer to other airlines or hotel chains.
  • The card's value depends on how often you fly Delta and whether the annual fee is offset by the miles you earn and the perks included with your tier.

The four versions and what each costs

American Express offers the Delta SkyMiles card in four tiers. The Blue Basic has no annual fee and earns 1 mile per dollar on all purchases, plus 2 miles per dollar on Delta purchases. It is the entry point if you want to test whether the card fits your spending without paying upfront.

The Blue Plus charges an annual fee (the amount varies and changes periodically) and earns 2 miles per dollar on Delta purchases and 1 mile per dollar on everything else. It also includes a checked bag credit on one bag per year when you fly Delta, which saves you money if you check luggage regularly.

The Gold charges a higher annual fee and earns 3 miles per dollar on Delta purchases and American Express purchases, plus 1 mile per dollar on everything else. It includes the checked bag credit, priority boarding, and a statement credit toward Delta purchases once per year.

The Platinum is the premium tier with the highest annual fee. It earns 3 miles per dollar on Delta and Amex purchases, includes the checked bag credit, priority boarding, and a higher annual statement credit. It also includes other perks like lounge access on Delta flights.

How earning and redeeming actually works

Every purchase you make with the card earns miles. The base rate is 1 mile per dollar, but you earn more on Delta flights (the rate depends on your card tier) and on American Express purchases like Amex gift cards or Amex travel bookings. Some cards also earn bonus miles in specific categories like restaurants or gas stations during promotional periods.

When you have accumulated miles, you log into your Delta SkyMiles account and search for flights. You can book any Delta flight using miles, though availability varies by route and date. Peak travel times (holidays, summer) have fewer award seats available. You can also use miles to upgrade a paid ticket to a higher cabin, or to cover taxes and fees on award bookings.

The redemption value of a mile is not fixed. A mile might be worth 1 cent on a short domestic flight or 2 cents on an international flight, depending on the ticket price and availability. This means the same number of miles can get you different flights at different times — a key reason to track when you are redeeming.

Annual fees and whether they pay for themselves

Each card tier charges an annual fee that renews every year on your account anniversary. The Blue Basic has no fee. The Blue Plus, Gold, and Platinum each charge a fee that American Express sets and adjusts periodically — you can find the current amount on the Amex website or by calling the number on the back of the card.

To decide if the fee is worth it, add up what you would get: the checked bag credit (worth $30 to $35 per round trip if you check bags), the annual statement credit on Delta purchases (if your tier includes one), and the miles you earn on your normal spending. If you fly Delta at least once or twice a year and check a bag, the checked bag credit alone often covers part or all of the annual fee.

If you do not fly Delta, or if you fly once every few years, the annual fee is unlikely to pay for itself. In that case, the Blue Basic with no annual fee is the only version that makes sense, and even then only if you want to earn miles on everyday spending in case you do fly Delta eventually.

Welcome offers and how to use them

When you open a new Delta SkyMiles card, American Express typically offers a welcome bonus — a large number of miles if you spend a certain amount within a set timeframe (usually three to six months). The bonus amount and spending requirement change periodically, so check the current offer on the Amex website before you explore.

The welcome bonus is often the biggest chunk of miles you will earn in the first year. If the bonus is 50,000 miles and you need 50,000 to 70,000 miles for a domestic round-trip flight, the bonus alone can cover a free ticket. To capture the bonus, you need to meet the spending requirement within the window — missing the important date means you lose the bonus.

One strategy is to time your process around a planned trip or a period when you know you will spend money anyway (moving, large purchases, paying bills). Another is to use the card for regular bills or subscriptions to reach the spending requirement without changing your habits.

SkyMiles and why they do not transfer

SkyMiles are Delta's proprietary currency. Unlike some airline credit cards that let you transfer points to hotel chains or other airlines, SkyMiles can only be used for Delta flights, Delta-operated flights, and Delta-related purchases like seat upgrades or baggage fees. You cannot convert them to cash, transfer them to another airline, or use them outside the Delta ecosystem.

This is both a strength and a weakness. The strength is that if you are a loyal Delta flyer, your miles stay focused on what you want. The weakness is that if your travel plans change or you stop flying Delta, your miles become less useful. Some cards let you gift miles to family members or donate them to charity, but the options are limited compared to cards with more flexible point programs.

Before you commit to the card, think about whether you are likely to fly Delta regularly enough to use the miles. If you are a casual flyer who uses different airlines, a general rewards card might give you more flexibility.

Comparing the Delta card to other airline cards

Other airlines offer co-branded American Express cards with similar structures: United, Southwest, and JetBlue all have Amex partnerships. The main differences are the earning rates, the perks (some include lounge access, others include statement credits), and the annual fees. United and JetBlue cards, for example, may offer different bonus categories or higher earning rates on non-airline purchases.

The choice between them comes down to which airline you fly most often and which perks matter to you. If you fly Delta 80 percent of the time, the Delta card makes sense. If you split your flying between two airlines, you might be better off with a general rewards card that earns points you can use flexibly, even if the earning rate is lower.

You can also hold multiple airline cards if you fly several carriers regularly. Some people carry both a Delta card and a United card, for example. The trade-off is managing multiple annual fees and multiple point currencies.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I have to be a Delta frequent flyer member to use the card?

No. When you open the card, American Express links it to a Delta SkyMiles account automatically. You do not need to join a separate program or pay a membership fee. Your miles are tracked in that account, and you can redeem them whenever you have enough.

What happens to my miles if I close the card?

Your miles stay in your Delta SkyMiles account. Closing the card does not erase the miles. However, you will no longer earn miles on new purchases with that card, and you will lose any perks like the checked bag credit. You can still redeem the miles you have accumulated.

Can I use my miles on partner airlines?

Delta SkyMiles can be used on Delta flights and flights operated by Delta. Some partner airlines (like Air France or KLM) allow you to book their flights using Delta miles, but the availability is limited and the redemption rates are often less favorable than booking Delta directly. Check Delta's website for the current list of partners.

How long do miles stay in my account?

Delta SkyMiles do not expire as long as you have account activity at least once every 24 months. Account activity includes earning miles, redeeming miles, or flying Delta. If your account goes inactive for more than 24 months, miles may expire. You can reactivate an account by flying Delta or earning miles again.

Is there a limit to how many miles I can earn?

No. There is no cap on the number of miles you can accumulate. Some people hold hundreds of thousands of miles. The only practical limit is how much you can spend and how much value you can extract from redeeming them before they expire due to inactivity.