How to Decide Which AMEX Delta Cards Are Best for Your Situation

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With the limited-time sign-up bonuses on the 4 AMEX Delta SkyMiles cards, you might be thinking of applying.

The card that’s best for you depends on how much you fly Delta and your spending habits.

And while it’s possible to get more than 1 AMEX Delta credit card (for example a Gold and a Platinum), you might not want to because you can only have 5 AMEX credit cards at one time.

If you have NOT yet opened ~5 or more credit cards in the past 24 months, you might consider applying for the AMEX Delta Skymiles Gold or Platinum small business cards.  Because AMEX small business cards do NOT appear on your personal credit report and won’t hinder your ability to be approved for Chase cards.

How To Decide Which AMEX Delta Cards Are Best For Your Situation
Considering the AMEX Delta Cards? I’ll Help You Figure Out Which Is Best Depending on the Type of Traveling You’d Like to Do

I’ll explain what to consider when deciding between the different AMEX Delta cards!

Use the 60,000 Delta Miles Sign-Up Bonus

Gold Versus Platinum AMEX Delta SkyMiles Cards

Link:   Gold Delta SkyMiles® Credit Card  

Link:   Platinum Delta SkyMiles Card From American Express

Link:   Delta SkyMiles Medallion Elite Program 

You can earn 50,000 Delta miles with the Gold Delta SkyMiles personal card, and 60,000 Delta miles with the Platinum Delta SkyMiles card after you spend $2,000 on purchases in the first 3 months of opening your account.

How To Decide Which AMEX Delta Cards Are Best For Your Situation
The 60,000 Delta Miles From the Platinum Delta SkyMiles Sign-Up Bonus Is Just About Enough Miles to Get You a One-Way International Business Class Award Ticket

On both cards, you’ll get:

  • $100 statement credit when you make a Delta purchase in the first 3 months
  • 1 free checked bag for yourself and up to 8 traveling companions on the same reservation
  • 2 miles per $1 you spend on Delta
  • 1 mile per $1 you spend on everything else
  • 20% discount on certain Delta in-flight purchases
  • Priority boarding
  • Discount on Delta SkyClub lounge passes
  • Pay With Miles
  • No foreign transaction fees

There are 3 extra benefits when you get the Platinum Delta SkyMiles card including:

  • 10,000 Medallion Qualifying Miles (MQMs) after meeting minimum spending requirements
  • 10,000 bonus Delta miles when you spend more than $25,000 in a calendar year.  And an additional 10,000 MQMs and 10,000 bonus miles when you spend $50,000 in the same timeframe
  • Domestic round-trip companion certificate each year on your card anniversary

Interested in Elite Status?

With Delta elite status you’re eligible for perks like seat upgrades and priority check-in and priority boarding.  If you want to earn Delta elite status, the 10,000 MQMs can help towards getting Delta’s lowest-tier status, Silver Medallion, which requires 25,000 MQMs.

And if you’re a Big Spender, the bonus Delta miles and MQMs you get when you spend lots of money in a calendar year can be valuable.

But also consider the annual fees:

If you’re looking to earn Delta elite status, the Platinum Delta SkyMiles card is the way to go.  Or if you already have the Gold Delta SkyMiles, you can get the Platinum Delta card to earn the 60,000 Delta miles sign-up bonus.

The extra 10,000 Delta miles you get with the Platinum Delta card sign-up bonus could be worth ~$200 or more if you get more than 2 cents per mile for an award flight.

The extra Delta miles, free checked bag for you and companions, and companion certificate could make the Platinum Delta card worth the $195 annual fee.  And with the $100 statement credit, the annual fee is effectively ~$95.

Family Flights

Some folks use the Platinum Delta card perks to take a family vacation.  They pay for 1 domestic round-trip ticket and use the companion certificate for a family member.  Then use Delta miles from the sign-up bonus to book award flights for the rest of the family.

If you’re not interested in Delta elite status or a $195 annual fee, the Gold Delta SkyMiles card with a $100 statement credit is a great way to earn 50,000 Delta miles.  And the $95 annual fee is waived the first year.  You’ll also get a free checked bag for you and companions and no foreign transaction fees!

Emily and I don’t earn a commission from the better offer for the Gold Delta AMEX card, but we’ll always share the best deals!

Who Should Consider the AMEX Delta Business Cards?

Link:   Gold Delta SkyMiles Card From American Express (Business)  

Link:   Platinum Delta SkyMiles® Business Credit Card

Link:   How to Fill Out a Business Credit Card Application 

The sign-up bonuses and benefits on the Delta SkyMiles small business cards are the same as the personal cards.

One extra benefit you’ll get with AMEX small business cards is AMEX OPEN discounts.  This means you can save money or earn extra Membership Rewards points at companies that participate in the OPEN Savings Program.  This includes 1-800-Flowers, FedEx, Hertz, and HP.com.

And remember, AMEX small business cards do NOT appear on your personal credit report.

So, if you like to earn miles and points with Chase, an AMEX small business card account will NOT count towards the Chase card limits.

How To Decide Which AMEX Delta Cards Are Best For Your Situation
Earning Miles and Points With Small Business Cards Means More Ways to Travel!

And you don’t have to have a huge company to get a small business credit card.

For example, you might qualify if you:

  • Have a local food truck
  • Sell on eBay or Amazon
  • Tutor

Here’s a list of 10 for-profit things you might already be doing to qualify for business cards.

Bottom Line

The best Delta SkyMiles card for you depends on how much you fly Delta and your spending habits.

The Platinum Delta SkyMiles Card can help you earn elite status with Delta.  And it might be worth the $195 annual fee because you’ll make it back with the $100 statement credit, annual companion certificate, and free checked bags.

If you’re just looking for extra Delta miles, the Gold Delta AMEX card has a 50,000 Delta miles sign-up bonus.  And the offer includes a $100 statement credit! 

The Delta SkyMiles small business cards can be a great option if you’re still able to qualify for Chase cards.  Because they won’t appear on your personal credit report.

Editorial Note: We're the Million Mile Secrets team. And we're proud of our content, opinions and analysis, and of our reader's comments. These haven’t been reviewed, approved or endorsed by any of the airlines, hotels, or credit card issuers which we often write about. And that’s just how we like it! :)

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