What a Delta credit card does

A Delta credit card is a co-branded card issued by American Express or Visa in partnership with Delta Air Lines. When you use it to make purchases, you earn miles that you can redeem for Delta flights, seat upgrades, or other travel rewards. The card also comes with perks tied to Delta travel — things like checked baggage waivers, priority boarding, or lounge access — depending on which Delta card you choose.

The tradeoff is straightforward: you pay an annual fee (which varies by card tier), and in exchange you get miles on purchases plus those travel benefits. The miles themselves have no cash value — you can only use them within Delta's system or transfer them to Delta's partner airlines and hotels.

Delta offers several versions of its card, each with a different annual fee and different rewards rate. The entry-level card typically has no annual fee but earns fewer miles per dollar spent. Higher-tier cards charge $95 to $550 per year but earn more miles and unlock premium perks like free checked bags or annual companion certificates.

Key Takeaways

  • Delta cards earn miles on every purchase, but the miles can only be used for Delta flights or transferred to Delta partners — they have no cash value.
  • Each card tier has a different annual fee and different earning rate; the no-annual-fee card earns fewer miles but costs nothing to hold.
  • Travel perks like checked baggage waivers or priority boarding are included with most Delta cards and begin when ready after approval.
  • Miles expire if your account is inactive for 24 months, so you need to use the card or take a Delta flight at least once every two years.
  • The card's value depends on how often you fly Delta and whether you can use the perks; frequent flyers often recoup the annual fee through miles and benefits alone.

How miles are earned and what they're worth

You earn miles in two ways: by using the card for purchases and by flying Delta. The earning rate on purchases depends on the card. A no-annual-fee Delta card might earn 1 mile per dollar on all purchases. A premium card might earn 2 miles per dollar on Delta purchases and 1 mile per dollar on everything else. Some cards offer bonus miles when you first open the account — often 50,000 to 75,000 miles after you spend a certain amount in the first few months.

The actual value of a mile varies. Delta does not publish a fixed redemption rate. A mile might be worth roughly 1 to 1.5 cents when you redeem it for a flight, but that depends on the route, the time of year, and how many miles the flight costs. A short domestic flight might cost 25,000 miles; a long international flight might cost 70,000 or more. You can check the mile cost of a specific flight before you book, so you can decide whether the redemption is worth it to you.

Miles do not expire as long as your account remains active. "Active" means you either use the card for a purchase or take a Delta flight at least once every 24 months. If your account goes inactive for more than 24 months, your miles will be forfeited.

Annual fees and when they're worth paying

The no-annual-fee Delta card costs nothing to hold and earns miles on every purchase. It has no travel perks beyond the miles themselves. This card makes sense if you fly Delta occasionally but not regularly, or if you want to earn miles without committing to an annual fee.

The mid-tier Delta card typically costs $95 per year and includes perks like one free checked bag per trip and priority boarding. If you fly Delta at least twice a year, the checked bag benefit alone often covers the fee — checked bags normally cost $30 to $40 each way. This card also earns a higher rate of miles on Delta purchases.

The premium Delta card costs $250 to $550 per year and includes benefits like unlimited free checked bags, priority boarding, seat upgrades, and an annual companion certificate (a free ticket for someone else on a Delta flight). This card is designed for people who fly Delta frequently — typically at least six times per year — and can use all the perks. The annual companion certificate alone can be worth $300 to $500 if you use it.

Before you open a card, calculate whether the perks you'll actually use cover the annual fee. If you fly Delta twice a year and always check a bag, the $95 card pays for itself. If you fly once a year and never check bags, the no-annual-fee card is the better choice.

Travel perks that come with the card

Most Delta cards include a free checked bag on flights where you are the ticketed passenger. This benefit applies to you and up to eight companions on the same reservation. Some cards extend this to a second free checked bag. Checked bags normally cost $30 for the first bag and $40 for the second on domestic flights, so this perk alone can save you $60 to $80 per round trip.

Priority boarding is included on most Delta cards. This means you board before the general boarding group, which gives you a better chance of finding overhead bin space and settling in without a rush. The exact boarding tier depends on the card — a mid-tier card might give you priority in Group 2, while a premium card might give you priority in Group 1.

Premium cards include annual companion certificates, which let you book a free ticket for someone else on a Delta flight. The companion pays taxes and fees (usually $20 to $50 depending on the route), but the base fare is free. You can use this once per year, and it typically must be used within 12 months of issue.

Some cards include access to Delta Sky Club lounges, where you can use a shower, eat complimentary food, and work in a quiet space before your flight. Premium cards often include unlimited lounge access; mid-tier cards might include a limited number of visits per year.

How the card affects your credit and what to watch for

Opening a Delta card will trigger a hard inquiry on your credit report, which may lower your credit score by a few points temporarily. The inquiry typically stops affecting your score after about three months and disappears from your report after two years. If you open multiple cards in a short time, the cumulative effect on your score can be larger.

Once the card is open, your credit score can actually improve over time if you use the card responsibly. Paying your full balance on time every month shows lenders you can manage credit reliably. Keeping the card open also increases your total available credit, which can lower your credit utilization ratio — the percentage of your total credit limit that you're using — and that helps your score.

The risk is carrying a balance. If you charge purchases to the card and don't pay the full balance by the due date, you'll pay interest. Delta cards typically carry interest rates between 16% and 24% APR, depending on your creditworthiness. Paying interest on purchases defeats the purpose of earning miles — you'll spend more in interest than the miles are worth.

To avoid this trap, treat the Delta card like a debit card: only charge what you can pay off in full each month. If you can't do that, the rewards aren't worth the cost.

Comparing Delta cards to other airline cards

Delta is not the only airline offering co-branded credit cards. American Airlines, United, Southwest, and others all have their own cards with similar structures: annual fees, miles earning, and travel perks. The choice between them depends on which airline you fly most often and which perks matter to you.

Southwest's card, for example, includes two free checked bags for the cardholder and companions — a benefit Delta's mid-tier card does not include. United's premium card includes a $100 annual travel credit that can be used for baggage fees, seat upgrades, or other travel purchases. American's card structure is similar to Delta's.

If you fly multiple airlines, you might consider a general travel rewards card instead — one that earns points or cash back on all purchases and lets you redeem them flexibly. These cards often have lower annual fees and don't lock you into one airline. The tradeoff is that you typically earn fewer miles per dollar spent on airline purchases compared to a co-branded card.

The best choice depends on your travel habits. If you fly Delta at least four times per year, a Delta card usually makes sense. If you fly different airlines equally, a general travel card might be better.

What happens if you close the card or stop flying

If you close a Delta card, your miles remain in your account as long as you keep your account active through other means — either by using another Delta card, taking a Delta flight, or transferring miles to a partner. If you close all your Delta cards and don't fly Delta for 24 months, your miles will expire and you'll lose them.

If you decide a Delta card is no longer worth the annual fee, you have options. You can downgrade to the no-annual-fee version instead of closing the account entirely. This keeps your miles active and your account history intact, which is better for your credit score than closing the card. Downgrading typically takes one phone call to the card issuer.

If you're paying an annual fee you're not using, downgrading or closing the card makes sense. But if you have a large balance of miles you might use someday, keep the account active — even the no-annual-fee card — to prevent expiration.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use Delta miles to book flights for other people?

Yes. You can book a flight for anyone using your miles, not just yourself. The person flying doesn't need to be a family member or have any relationship to you. You'll need their name and date of birth to complete the booking. This is how people often use miles to give flights as gifts.

What if I have a balance on my Delta card when the annual fee hits?

The annual fee is charged regardless of your balance. If you carry a balance, you'll pay interest on that balance plus the annual fee. The fee itself does not accrue interest — it's a flat charge. To avoid surprises, mark your calendar for the annual fee date and plan to pay your balance before it arrives.

Do I have to use the card to keep my miles from expiring?

No. You can keep your miles active by taking a Delta flight at least once every 24 months, even if you never use the card. You can also keep the account active by using any Delta card, not necessarily the one you opened. If you downgrade to the no-annual-fee card, using that card counts toward keeping your account active.

Can I transfer my Delta miles to someone else?

Delta allows you to transfer miles to another person's account, but there are restrictions. You typically must have an active SkyMiles account and the recipient must also have one. Transfers usually cost money — Delta charges a per-mile fee, which varies. This is not a common use case; most people book flights for others rather than transfer miles.

What if I'm denied for a Delta card?

Denial usually means your credit score or credit history doesn't meet the card issuer's requirements at that moment. You can reapply after a few months, especially if you've paid down debt or corrected errors on your credit report. You can also start with the no-annual-fee card, which has less strict requirements than premium versions, and upgrade later once your credit improves.