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Editor’s note: Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Enrollment may be required for select American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more.
Delta SkyMiles credit cards from American Express already have a ton of benefits for frequent Delta travelers — but these cards just got even better.
Following some major changes to the SkyMiles program this year, Delta has boosted the welcome bonus on several popular cards. That means new Delta cardholders can more easily earn miles, get upgrades, and further maximize value.
The new welcome offers are:
Here’s an overview of these popular travel credit cards:
Annual fee: $0 for the first year, then $150 (see rates and fees)
Welcome offer: Earn 40,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $2,000 in your first 6 months
Rewards:
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2x miles on Delta purchases
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2x miles at U.S. supermarkets
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2x miles at restaurants worldwide (including U.S. takeout and delivery)
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1x miles on everything else
Other benefits:
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Annual credit: You get a $200 flight credit when you spend $10,000 on purchases in a calendar year.
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Delta Stays benefit: Earn up to $100 back in annual statement credits on eligible prepaid bookings through Delta Stays.
Annual fee: $350 (see rates and fees)
Welcome offer: Earn 50,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $3,000 in your first 6 months
Rewards:
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3x miles on Delta purchases
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3x miles on hotel purchases (directly with hotels)
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2x miles at restaurants worldwide (including U.S. takeout and delivery)
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2x miles at U.S. supermarkets
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1x miles on everything else
Other benefits:
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Companion certificate offer: The companion certificate awards one companion ticket each account year, and applies to a Main Cabin round trip flight to domestic, Caribbean, or Central American destinations (not including taxes and fees).
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MQDs: Get $2,500 Medallion Qualification Dollars each Medallion Qualification Year (find out more about gaining status with MQDs on Delta’s site).
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Resy credit: Earn up to $120 ($10 per month in statement credits) annually on eligible Resy purchases.
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Rideshare credit: Earn up to $120 ($10 per month in statement credits) annually on select U.S. rideshare services (enrollment required).
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Delta Stays benefit: Earn up to $150 back in annual statement credits on eligible prepaid bookings through Delta Stays.
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Upgrades: Get added to the complimentary upgrade list with an eligible flight ticket, even if you’re not a Medallion member
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Hertz status: Get Hertz Five Star Status when you enroll in the rewards program with your card.
Read more:
Annual fee: $650 (see rates and fees)
Welcome offer: Earn 60,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $5,000 in your first 6 months
Rewards:
Other benefits
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Companion certificate offer: This card’s companion certificate can apply not only to Main Cabin fare but also First Class or Delta Comfort+. You can get a companion round-trip ticket on your choice fare class to domestic, Caribbean, or Central American destinations (not including taxes and fees).
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MQDs: Get $2,500 Medallion Qualification Dollars each Medallion Qualification Year.
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Resy credit: Earn up to $240 ($20 per month in statement credits) annually on eligible Resy purchases.
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Rideshare credit: Earn up to $120 ($10 per month in statement credits) annually on select U.S. rideshare services (enrollment required).
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Upgrades: Get added to the complimentary upgrade list with an eligible flight ticket, even if you’re not a Medallion member; Medallion members with a Reserve card get upgrade priority over other members at the same Medallion level and fare class
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Delta Stays benefit: Earn up to $200 back in annual statement credits on eligible prepaid bookings through Delta Stays.
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Hertz status: Get Hertz President’s Circle Status when you enroll in the rewards program with your card.
Should you get a Delta SkyMiles American Express card?
We’ve seen a lot of changes from Delta over the past few months, from its overhauled SkyMiles program to revamped Sky Club access and ways to earn Medallion status. But we still think the Delta SkyMiles American Express travel credit cards can offer a lot of potential value.
For one, some benefits apply to spending beyond Delta bookings and flights, which is good for everyday savings. Rideshare and Resy credits can help you maximize nights out at home or on vacation. But frequent flyers will also enjoy travel-related perks, from complimentary upgrades to enhanced companion passes and a boost toward Medallion status.
If you’re already considering opening a Delta SkyMiles card, the new welcome offers alone could be enough incentive to apply. We don’t know how long the increased offers will last, but they’re some of the best we’ve seen from these cards. No matter which card you choose, you can get hundreds of dollars back in flight value from Delta.
Keep in mind, these new benefits are only useful if you fly frequently enough to take advantage and Delta is your preferred airline. If you’re not a regular traveler or you prefer to shop around for flight deals over staying loyal to a single airline, you may be better off with a more general (and potentially lower-cost) travel credit card.
As always, make sure you compare your regular spending with the potential value you can get from a Delta Amex card. If you won’t use enough of the benefits to outweigh the annual fee or spend enough with Delta to maximize the miles you’ll earn, you may want to look elsewhere.
This article was edited by Rebecca McCracken
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