New Cardmembers Every 30 Seconds! 6 Reasons Delta Credit Cards Are So Popular

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Some of our readers swear by Delta, and others think Delta miles are just “meh”.

In either case, it’s impossible to ignore the sheer fact that Delta miles are some of the most sought after miles in the airline industry.  Delta and AMEX partnered to bring us Delta-branded credit cards, like:

• Gold Delta SkyMiles® Credit Card from American Express
• Platinum Delta SkyMiles® Business Credit Card from American Express
• Delta Reserve for Business Credit Card

Since then, AMEX has added a new cardmember every 30 seconds.  That’s over 1 million cardmembers per year!

Here’s what to know if you’re considering the Delta credit cards.

6 Reasons Delta Credit Cards Are so Popular

1.   There’s a Delta Credit Card for Everybody

There are a total of 7 Delta credit cards from American Express.  Four are personal cards and 3 are Business cards.  That might be the most cards out there of any loyalty program.  You’ve got:

• Blue Delta SkyMiles® Credit Card from American Express
• Gold Delta SkyMiles® Credit Card from American Express
• Gold Delta SkyMiles® Business Credit Card from American Express
• Platinum Delta SkyMiles® Business Credit Card from American Express
• Platinum Delta SkyMiles® Credit Card from American Express
• Delta Reserve® Credit Card from American Express
• Delta Reserve for Business Credit Card

2.   First Checked Bag Free

Aside from the Blue Delta SkyMiles® Credit Card, each Delta credit card offers the first checked bag free for you and up to 8 companions on the same reservation.

At $30 per bag per one-way trip, that could total $540 savings for round-trip flights for 9 folks on the same reservation.  Best part is, you don’t have to pay with your Delta card to receive this benefit!

3.   Low Cost Award Flights

It’s extremely easy to get great value out of your Delta miles.  Delta flies (almost) everywhere, and they often have enticing sales on award routes.

For example, Delta often has sales for international flights to Europe for as low as 32,000 miles.

Team member Andrew was able to find some popular routes at low rates too:

• 4,000 Delta miles + ~$6 fees for a one-way short-haul flight from Los Angeles to San Francisco
• 7,500 Delta miles + ~$6 fees for a one-way medium-haul flight from Los Angeles to Dallas
• 11,000 Delta miles + ~$6 fees for a one-way long-haul flight from Los Angeles to New York

So you shouldn’t have any trouble getting a big value from your Delta miles!

4.   Priority Boarding

Every Delta credit card, except the Blue Delta SkyMiles® Credit Card, comes with complimentary Priority Boarding.

This allows you to board the plane sooner and stow your bag with plenty of time to spare.  And like the First Checked Bag Free perk, this applies to up to 8 additional companions booked on the same reservation!

5.   20% In-Flight Savings

Each Delta credit card grants you 20% back for in-flight purchases.

Purchases include things like:

• Food
• Beverages
• Entertainment

Credits to your statement should hit between 6 and 8 weeks from purchase with your Delta card.

6.   Annual Companion Certificate

With either the AMEX Delta Reserve cards or AMEX Delta Platinum cards, you’ll earn a companion certificate each year.

Every time you renew your card (pay the annual fee), you will receive a digital companion certificate that allows you to add a second passenger to your domestic round-trip flight reservation (within the contiguous 48 US states) by only paying the taxes and fees for that passenger.

Depending on the route, you can save significantly!  Flights from New York City to Los Angeles can easily top $500, meaning you could save at least $500 when adding a companion to your flight and using this certificate.

Bottom Line

Delta credit cards have become extremely popular over the past couple of years.  A new cardmember is added every 30 seconds!

Whether it’s the free checked bag, 20% in-flight savings, priority boarding, or just the welcome bonus, everyone has their reasons for loving Delta cards.

If you’re having trouble figuring out what card might be right for you, check out our post on best credit cards for earning Delta miles.  And let me know your favorite in the comments.