What the Delta credit card is and who issues it
The Delta credit card is a co-branded card issued by American Express in partnership with Delta Air Lines. It is a standard credit card that works like any other — you charge purchases, pay a bill each month, and build a credit history. The difference is that every dollar you spend earns miles toward Delta flights instead of cash back or points toward other rewards.
American Express offers several versions of the Delta card: the Blue, Gold, and Platinum tiers. Each has a different annual fee, different earning rates, and different perks tied to Delta travel. You explore through American Express, not through Delta directly, though Delta's website links to the process.
This is not a debit card, a prepaid card, or a Delta gift card. It is a credit product that reports to the three credit bureaus and affects your credit score the same way any credit card does.
Key Takeaways
- The Delta card earns miles on every purchase, but you pay an annual fee ($0 to $550 depending on the tier) to hold the card.
- Miles expire if your account is inactive for 24 months, so you must use the card or take a Delta flight regularly to keep them.
- The card requires you to have a credit score in the good to excellent range — typically 670 or higher — to be approved.
- You can redeem miles for flights, seat upgrades, or other Delta services, but the value per mile varies widely depending on what you book.
- Carrying a balance on the card charges interest at a variable rate, so paying the full bill each month saves you money.
Annual fees and what each tier includes
The Blue Delta card has no annual fee, making it the lowest-cost entry point. You earn 1 mile per dollar on all purchases and 2 miles per dollar on Delta purchases and Delta partner purchases. The card includes a $0 checked bag fee for you and one companion on Delta flights, which can save money if you travel even once a year.
The Gold Delta card costs $95 per year. You earn 2 miles per dollar on Delta and Delta partner purchases, and 1 mile per dollar on everything else. It includes the same checked bag benefit as the Blue card, plus a $100 statement credit toward Delta purchases once per year (which roughly offsets the annual fee if you use it).
The Platinum Delta card costs $550 per year. It earns 3 miles per dollar on Delta purchases, 2 miles per dollar on restaurants and travel, and 1 mile per dollar on everything else. It includes the checked bag benefit, a $200 annual statement credit toward Delta purchases, priority boarding, and other perks like lounge access. This card is designed for people who fly Delta frequently and spend heavily on the card.
The right tier depends on how often you fly and how much you spend. If you fly Delta once or twice a year, the no-fee Blue card makes sense. If you fly four or more times a year and spend on the card regularly, the Gold or Platinum may pay for itself through the statement credits and checked bag savings.
How miles are earned and what they expire
You earn miles on every purchase you make with the card, at the rate set by your tier. Some categories earn bonus miles — for example, all Delta cards earn extra miles on Delta purchases. You also earn miles when you fly Delta on any ticket, regardless of whether you paid with the card.
Miles do not expire as long as your account is active. An account is considered active if you use the card or take a Delta flight at least once every 24 months. If you do neither for 24 months, your miles expire and are lost. This means you cannot straightforward earn miles and sit on them indefinitely — you must maintain some level of activity.
You can check your mile balance anytime through your American Express account or the Delta website. Miles are tied to your Delta SkyMiles frequent flyer account, not to the credit card itself, so if you close the card your miles remain in your Delta account.
Credit score requirements and how the card affects your credit
American Express typically approves the Delta card for people with a credit score of 670 or higher, though the exact requirement varies. A score of 700 or above makes approval much more likely. If your score is below 670, you may be denied, or you may be offered the no-fee Blue card instead of the tier you applied for.
explore for the card triggers a hard inquiry on your credit report, which temporarily lowers your score by a few points. If you are approved, the new account also lowers your average account age and increases your total available credit, both of which affect your score. The impact is usually small and fades within a few months if you use the card responsibly.
Carrying a balance on the card — meaning you do not pay the full bill each month — charges interest at a variable rate that changes with the market. The rate is typically 18% to 24% annually, depending on your creditworthiness and current market conditions. Paying interest erases the value of the miles you earn, so paying the full balance each month is essential to making the card worthwhile.
How to redeem miles and what they are worth
You redeem miles through the Delta website or the Fly Delta app. You can use them to book flights, upgrade your seat, pay for baggage fees, or purchase other travel services. You can also transfer miles to Delta partner airlines, though this is usually less valuable than booking Delta flights directly.
The value of a mile depends on what you book. A mile is worth more when you use it on an expensive flight and less when you use it on a cheap one. For example, if you redeem 25,000 miles for a $300 flight, each mile is worth about 1.2 cents. If you redeem the same 25,000 miles for a $500 flight, each mile is worth 2 cents. Booking premium cabin flights (business or first class) usually gives you the best value per mile.
You can also book flights for other people using your miles, which is useful if you want to give a ticket as a gift. The person you book for does not need to be a Delta SkyMiles member, though they will need to provide their name and contact information.
Interest rates, fees, and costs beyond the annual fee
The card charges a variable APR (annual percentage rate) on any balance you carry from month to month. This rate is not fixed and changes based on the prime rate and your creditworthiness. American Express does not publish a specific range, but typical rates are 18% to 24% annually. If you carry a $1,000 balance at 21% APR, you pay about $210 in interest over a year.
Late payments trigger a late fee of up to $40 for the first late payment and up to $40 for subsequent late payments within six billing cycles. A payment more than 60 days late can cause your APR to increase to a penalty rate, which is higher than your regular rate.
There is no foreign transaction fee, which means you can use the card internationally without paying extra. There is also no balance transfer fee if you move a balance from another card, though the transferred balance accrues interest at the same variable rate as new purchases.
When the Delta card makes sense and when it does not
The Delta card is worth holding if you fly Delta at least once or twice a year and pay the full balance each month. The checked bag benefit alone saves $30 to $60 per year, and the miles you earn on everyday spending add up quickly if you use the card for most purchases. For someone who spends $20,000 per year on the card and flies Delta twice a year, the miles earned could cover one or two additional flights annually.
The card does not make sense if you never fly Delta, if you cannot pay the balance in full each month, or if you have a credit score below 670. Carrying a balance erases the value of the rewards, and paying interest on a rewards card is a net loss. If you do not fly Delta, a cash-back card from another issuer will serve you better.
If you travel frequently but split your flights between multiple airlines, a general travel rewards card may be more useful than a Delta-specific card. A card that earns points or cash back on all travel purchases gives you more flexibility than one locked into a single airline.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use the Delta card if I have fair credit?
American Express typically requires a credit score of 670 or higher for approval. If your score is lower, you can still explore, but you may be denied or offered a different card. Building your credit score to 670 or above before explore increases your chances of approval.
What happens to my miles if I close the card?
Your miles stay in your Delta SkyMiles account and do not disappear when you close the card. However, your miles will expire if you do not use the card or fly Delta within 24 months, so closing the card does not protect your miles from expiration.
Can I earn miles on purchases I make with someone else's card?
No. Miles are earned only on purchases you make with your own card or flights you book under your Delta SkyMiles account. If someone else uses your card, the miles go to your account, not theirs.
Is there a limit to how many miles I can earn?
American Express does not publish a cap on miles earned, so there is no hard limit. However, some promotions or bonuses may have limits. Your miles can accumulate to very high balances — some frequent flyers have millions of miles.
What is the difference between the Delta card and a Delta gift card?
A Delta gift card is prepaid money you load onto an account and spend on flights. A Delta credit card is a borrowing product that earns miles on every purchase. The credit card builds your credit history and offers ongoing rewards; the gift card is a one-time purchase with no credit impact.