Delta has three main SkyMiles cards, each built for a different travel budget
Delta offers the SkyMiles Blue American Express, the SkyMiles Gold American Express, and the SkyMiles Platinum American Express. The Blue card has no annual fee. The Gold card charges an annual fee (the amount varies by offer). The Platinum card also charges an annual fee, higher than the Gold. Each one earns SkyMiles on Delta purchases and other spending, but the earning rates and perks differ enough that the right card depends on how much you fly and what you're willing to pay upfront.
All three are issued by American Express, so you need to be approved for an American Express card to get one. They all earn bonus miles when you first open the account — the size of that bonus changes throughout the year based on American Express promotions. The miles you earn never expire as long as your account stays open and you use the card at least once every 24 months.
Key Takeaways
- The Blue card has no annual fee and works best if you spend less than $10,000 a year on Delta flights and related purchases.
- The Gold card charges an annual fee but gives you a free checked bag on Delta flights and earns more miles per dollar on Delta purchases and restaurants.
- The Platinum card has the highest annual fee and adds benefits like priority boarding and a higher free checked bag allowance, plus the most miles per dollar on Delta spending.
- All three cards earn the same bonus miles when you first open the account, so the choice comes down to annual fees and ongoing perks.
- You can hold more than one Delta card at the same time, so some people carry both the Blue and Gold to get the free checked bag benefit plus no-fee earning on non-Delta spending.
The Blue card: no annual fee, lowest earning rate
The SkyMiles Blue American Express is the entry point. It has no annual fee, so you pay nothing to keep it open. You earn one mile per dollar on all purchases, and two miles per dollar on Delta purchases and Delta Vacations bookings. You also get a welcome bonus of miles when you meet a spending threshold in the first few months — the exact bonus amount changes with American Express promotions.
The Blue card makes sense if you don't fly Delta frequently enough to justify paying an annual fee, or if you want a no-cost way to earn miles on everyday spending like groceries and gas. You won't get perks like free checked bags or priority boarding, but you're not paying for them either. The card reports to all three credit bureaus, so it will show up on your credit report and affect your credit score the same way any credit card would.
The Gold card: annual fee, free checked bag, higher earning on Delta
The SkyMiles Gold American Express charges an annual fee (the current amount is shown when you look at the offer, and it can change). In return, you get a free first checked bag on Delta flights, which saves you money if you check a bag even once per year. You also earn three miles per dollar on Delta purchases and Delta Vacations, and two miles per dollar on restaurants and U.S. gas stations. On all other purchases, you earn one mile per dollar.
The free checked bag is the main financial benefit. Delta's checked bag fee is currently $35 for the first bag on most routes, so if you check a bag twice a year, the card pays for itself. The higher earning rate on Delta purchases also adds up if you buy Delta gift cards, book flights frequently, or use Delta for seat upgrades. The welcome bonus is the same structure as the Blue card — miles after you spend a certain amount in the first few months.
The Platinum card: highest annual fee, most perks, highest earning rate
The SkyMiles Platinum American Express charges the highest annual fee of the three. For that fee, you get a free first checked bag (same as Gold), but you also get priority boarding on Delta flights, which means you board before most other passengers. You earn four miles per dollar on Delta purchases and Delta Vacations, three miles per dollar on restaurants and U.S. gas stations, and one mile per dollar on everything else. You also get a statement credit toward a Delta purchase once per year, which can offset part of the annual fee if you use it.
The Platinum card is built for people who fly Delta regularly and want the fastest boarding and the most miles per dollar on Delta spending. The priority boarding benefit saves time at the airport, and the higher earning rate means you accumulate miles faster if you're booking multiple flights per year. Like the Gold card, the welcome bonus is miles after you meet a spending threshold in the first few months.
How to compare the three cards side by side
| Feature | Blue | Gold | Platinum |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | None | Yes (varies by offer) | Yes (higher than Gold) |
| Free checked bag | No | Yes, first bag | Yes, first bag |
| Priority boarding | No | No | Yes |
| Miles per dollar on Delta purchases | 2x | 3x | 4x |
| Miles per dollar on restaurants | 1x | 2x | 3x |
| Miles per dollar on all other purchases | 1x | 1x | 1x |
| Welcome bonus | Yes (varies) | Yes (varies) | Yes (varies) |
Which card to choose based on your travel habits
If you fly Delta fewer than two or three times per year and don't check bags, the Blue card is the logical choice. You earn miles on every purchase with no cost, and the welcome bonus gives you a head start. The trade-off is that you earn fewer miles per dollar than the paid cards, but that only matters if you're accumulating miles regularly.
If you fly Delta two to four times per year and check a bag, the Gold card usually makes financial sense. The free checked bag saves you $35 to $70 per year depending on how many times you check, and the higher earning rate on Delta purchases and restaurants adds up over time. The annual fee is worth it if you use the free checked bag benefit at least once.
If you fly Delta more than four times per year, take multiple trips per year, or value priority boarding, the Platinum card's higher earning rate and boarding benefit justify the annual fee. The statement credit toward a Delta purchase also helps offset the cost. This card is for people who are already committed to flying Delta and want to maximize miles and convenience.
Things to know before you open a Delta card
All three cards are issued by American Express, which means American Express sets the terms and handles customer service. If you already have an American Express card, opening a Delta card adds another account to your American Express relationship. You can hold all three Delta cards at the same time if you want — some people do this to get the free checked bag from the Gold card while also earning on non-Delta spending with the Blue card.
The welcome bonus is the biggest financial benefit of opening a new card, so compare the current bonus offers before you decide. The bonus changes throughout the year, so a card that offers 60,000 miles one month might offer 75,000 miles the next. Check the American Express website or the Delta website to see the current offers for each card.
Miles earned on these cards never expire as long as your account stays open and you use the card at least once every 24 months. This means you can let miles accumulate over time without worrying about losing them. However, if you close the card and don't use it for 24 months, any miles in that account will expire.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I switch from one Delta card to another?
Yes. You can close one Delta card and open another, or hold multiple Delta cards at the same time. If you close a card, any miles in that account stay with your Delta SkyMiles account as long as you have at least one other Delta card or Delta SkyMiles activity within 24 months. American Express sometimes offers a way to convert one card to another without closing the first one — check with American Express to see if that option is available.
Do I have to fly Delta to benefit from these cards?
No. All three cards earn miles on everyday purchases like groceries, gas, and restaurants, so you can accumulate miles even if you don't fly. The Gold and Platinum cards earn bonus miles on restaurants and gas, which makes them better for everyday spending. You can then use those miles for a Delta flight whenever you want to travel.
What happens to my miles if I close the card?
Your miles stay in your Delta SkyMiles account as long as you have SkyMiles activity (like another Delta card, a Delta flight, or a co-branded card purchase) at least once every 24 months. If you have no activity for 24 months, the miles expire. If you keep at least one Delta card open, your miles won't expire.
How long does it take to get approved?
American Express usually tells you within minutes whether you're approved, denied, or pending. If you're approved, the card typically arrives within 7 to 10 business days. You can start using the card as soon as it arrives, and the welcome bonus miles post to your account after you meet the spending requirement.
Can I earn the welcome bonus on more than one Delta card?
Yes, but American Express has rules about how often you can earn a welcome bonus on the same card. You typically have to wait a certain amount of time between bonuses on the same card. You can open different Delta cards (like the Blue and then the Gold) and earn a welcome bonus on each one, as long as you meet the spending requirement for each card.