What the SkyMiles Credit Card is and who issues it
The SkyMiles Credit Card is a rewards card issued by Delta Air Lines in partnership with American Express. It's designed for people who fly Delta frequently or want to earn miles toward Delta tickets. Unlike a general cash-back card, every dollar you spend earns miles in Delta's frequent flyer program instead of cash rewards.
Delta offers several versions of this card — the basic SkyMiles card, the SkyMiles Gold American Express card, and the SkyMiles Platinum American Express card. Each version has different annual fees, sign-up bonuses, and earning rates. The card you choose depends on how much you fly and how much you're willing to pay in yearly fees.
Key Takeaways
- The SkyMiles card earns miles on every purchase, but the earning rate and annual fee vary by card version — the basic card has no annual fee, while premium versions charge $95 to $550 per year.
- Sign-up bonuses typically offer 50,000 to 100,000 miles after you spend a certain amount in the first few months, which can cover one or more flights depending on the route.
- You pay interest on any balance you don't pay off each month, just like any credit card, and the interest rate depends on your credit score and creditworthiness.
- Miles expire if your account is inactive for 24 months, so you need to use the card or take at least one Delta flight every two years to keep your miles.
- The card's value depends entirely on whether you actually fly Delta — if you don't, the annual fee and miles you earn are wasted.
How earning miles works on everyday purchases
When you use the SkyMiles card to buy groceries, gas, or anything else, you earn miles instead of cash back. The basic SkyMiles card earns 1 mile per dollar spent on most purchases. The Gold version earns 2 miles per dollar on Delta purchases and 1 mile per dollar on everything else. The Platinum version earns even more on Delta purchases but costs significantly more per year.
These miles go into your Delta SkyMiles account, which is separate from your credit card account. You can see your mile balance by logging into Delta's website or app. The miles sit there until you use them to book a flight, upgrade a seat, or redeem them for other Delta products like hotel stays or car rentals.
The catch is that miles don't have a fixed dollar value. A mile might be worth 1 cent on a short flight or 2 cents on a long international flight, depending on the route and how many seats Delta has available. This means the "value" of your rewards varies and isn't may provide.
Annual fees and what they cover
The basic SkyMiles American Express card has no annual fee, which makes it the lowest-cost option if you want to earn miles without paying anything yearly. However, it also has the lowest earning rate and no extra perks.
The SkyMiles Gold card costs $95 per year. In return, you get a $100 annual Delta credit that you can use toward flights, seat upgrades, or baggage fees — which roughly offsets the annual fee if you fly at least once a year. You also earn 2 miles per dollar on Delta purchases instead of 1 mile.
The SkyMiles Platinum card costs $550 per year and is aimed at frequent Delta flyers. It includes a $200 annual Delta credit, priority boarding, free checked bags, and other perks. The higher fee only makes sense if you fly Delta multiple times per year and would pay for these benefits anyway.
Sign-up bonuses and how to evaluate them
When you open a new SkyMiles card, you typically receive a sign-up bonus of 50,000 to 100,000 miles after you spend a certain amount — usually $1,000 to $3,000 — within the first three months. This bonus is the main financial incentive to open the card, because earning that many miles through regular purchases would take months or years.
To know whether a sign-up bonus is worth it, you need to know what those miles are worth to you. A 50,000-mile bonus might cover a round-trip domestic flight in economy, or it might cover only a one-way flight depending on the route and how far in advance you book. Check Delta's website to see what flights cost in miles from your home airport before you explore.
Sign-up bonuses change frequently, so the offer you see today may not be the same next month. If you're considering the card, check Delta's official website and American Express's website to see the current offer.
Interest rates and what happens if you carry a balance
Like any credit card, the SkyMiles card charges interest on any balance you don't pay off in full each month. The interest rate — called the Annual Percentage Rate or APR — depends on your credit score and credit history. People with excellent credit might get an APR around 18%, while people with fair or poor credit might pay 24% or higher.
If you carry a $1,000 balance at 20% APR and pay only the minimum payment each month, you'll pay roughly $200 in interest charges before the balance is gone. This means the miles you earned on that $1,000 purchase are worth far less than the interest you paid.
The SkyMiles card only makes financial sense if you pay off the full balance every month. If you tend to carry balances on credit cards, this card will cost you money rather than save it.
Mile expiration and account maintenance
Delta will cancel your SkyMiles account and erase all your miles if you don't use your account for 24 months. "Using" your account means either taking a Delta flight, using the SkyMiles credit card, or redeeming miles. If you earn 50,000 miles but don't fly or use the card for two years, those miles disappear.
This is why the SkyMiles card only makes sense for people who actually fly Delta regularly. If you open the card for the sign-up bonus and then never use it, your miles will expire and you'll have wasted the opportunity.
You can keep your account active by using the card for small purchases, even if you don't fly. Some people buy a small item or make a small donation using the card every 23 months just to keep their miles from expiring.
Comparing the SkyMiles card to other rewards cards
If you don't fly Delta specifically, a general cash-back card might be better. A card that earns 2% cash back on all purchases gives you more flexibility — you can use the cash for anything, not just Delta flights. Cash back also has a fixed value, unlike miles.
If you fly multiple airlines, a card that earns points in a general rewards program (like Chase Ultimate Rewards or American Express Membership Rewards) might be better than locking yourself into Delta miles. These programs let you transfer points to multiple airlines or use them for hotels and other travel.
The SkyMiles card makes the most sense if you fly Delta at least a few times per year and would otherwise buy Delta tickets with cash. In that case, earning miles on everyday purchases and getting a sign-up bonus can reduce what you pay for flights.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use SkyMiles miles on other airlines?
No. SkyMiles are only for Delta flights and Delta-related purchases like seat upgrades and baggage fees. You cannot transfer them to other airlines or use them on non-Delta travel. This is why the card only makes sense if you specifically fly Delta.
What happens to my miles if I close the card?
Closing the card doesn't when ready erase your miles — they stay in your Delta SkyMiles account. However, if you don't use your account (by flying Delta or using another Delta product) for 24 months, the miles will expire. You can keep the miles alive without the card by taking a Delta flight occasionally.
Is the sign-up bonus worth the annual fee?
For the basic card with no annual fee, yes — there's no downside to earning the bonus. For the Gold card ($95 annual fee), the $100 Delta credit usually covers the fee if you fly once a year. For the Platinum card ($550 annual fee), you need to fly Delta frequently and use the included perks to make it worthwhile.
What credit score do I need to get approved?
American Express typically approves applicants with good to excellent credit, usually a score of 670 or higher. You can check your credit score for free through your bank or a service like Credit Karma before you explore. If your score is lower, you may be denied or offered a different card.
Can I earn miles faster by putting all my spending on this card?
Yes, but only if you pay off the balance every month. If you carry a balance and pay interest, the interest charges will cost far more than the miles are worth. The card only saves you money if you treat it like a debit card and spend only what you can pay off when ready.