Cards

Benefits of Delta Amex Cards: Maximize Travel Rewards

14 January 2025 at 20:38

In partnership with world-renowned hotel chains and airlines, American Express has come up with a range of travel cards specifically tailored for those who love to jet around the globe or travel frequently for business. Among these are the Delta Amex Cards, also known as Delta SkyMiles American Express Cards, designed to elevate the travel experience for frequent flyers, particularly those loyal to Delta Airlines. The perks they offer extend well beyond just earning miles, making them a valuable asset for travelers looking to maximize rewards and enjoy a smoother journey.

There are four tiers of Delta Amex Cards, including Delta SkyMiles® Blue, Gold, Platinum, and Reserve American Express Cards. Each level comes with its own perks, with benefits increasing at each tier, allowing travelers to enjoy more with every upgrade.

Check out our detailed review of the Delta Airline Credit Card benefits to figure out how these Amex plastic cards work and find out which one might be the perfect fit for your needs.

Designed with the frequent traveler in mind, these cards offer a blend of convenience, comfort, and savings at various stages of your journey, from airport check-in to your final destination. Let’s start by exploring the general travel perks of Delta Credit Card.

Airport Perks

Delta Amex cards help smooth out the pre-flight process by providing:

Priority boarding: You’ll have an opportunity to board the plane early so you can grab overhead bin space for your carry-on and settle in comfortably without a last-minute rush.
Free checked luggage: Delta Amex cardholders generally get at least one free checked bag per flight, saving you money while lightening up your load as you navigate the airport.
Delta Sky Club® lounge access: Depending on your card level, you may unlock access to exclusive airport lounges, where a calm atmosphere and added amenities await.
TCA Pre-Check and Global Entry: High-tier cardholders can count on and receive a statement credit every 4 years or 4.5 years for Global Entry and TSA Pre-Check membership, accordingly.

In-Flight Perks

Once on board, the SkyMiles Credit Card benefits continue:

In-flight savings: You’ll rake in 20% back in statement credits on in-flight purchases, such as food, beverages, and entertainment.
Potential upgrades: Delta’s Medallion® status holders are bumped up the list for complimentary seat upgrades when available, offering a chance to move from economy to more premium seating.

One of the most attractive benefits of Delta Credit Card is the ability to save on certain common travel expenses:

No foreign transaction fees: Many Delta Amex cards waive these fees, allowing you to pay abroad without worrying about extra charges on each purchase. This helps you stick to your travel budget and enjoy your worry-free experience.
Companion certificate: Available with top-tier cards, this certificate allows you to bring a travel companion at no or reduced cost, typically on domestic round-trip flights. This way, you can optimize expenses for family vacations or trips with friends.

Global Assist Hotline

When traveling internationally, Delta Amex cards provide 24/7 access to global assistance services, ready to help with anything from lost passports to medical referrals in emergencies. Though cardholders might be responsible for any charges from third-party service providers, this support can be invaluable in unfamiliar situations or foreign countries.

Earning SkyMiles With Delta Amex Cards

While enjoying various Delta Credit Card perks during your trips, you can also earn SkyMiles to further spend on travel when you make purchases:

New cardholder bonus: Depending on the card type, you can earn from 10,000 to 100,000 bonus miles when you spend between $1,000 to $6,000 on purchases during the first 6 months.
Direct Delta purchases: Earn reward miles whenever you shop on the Delta site. When you book Delta flights and Delta Vacation Packages with your card, you earn extra SkyMiles on every dollar spent.
Dining and supermarkets: Whether you’re enjoying a night out or stocking up on food for the week, you can pick up SkyMiles simply by going about your daily routine.
Hotels: Using your Delta Amex for hotel stays will also bring in more miles. This option is available across multiple hotels and bigger hotel chains worldwide.
Other eligible purchases: While doubling or even tripling your miles count per dollar in the above categories, the Delta SkyMiles card benefits ensure that you rack up a mile per each dollar spent on all eligible purchases you put on the card.

You can redeem accumulated miles in 5,000 increments ($50) for travel experiences that matter to you, including flights with Delta or its SkyTeam partners, seat upgrades, and Delta Vacation packages to round out your trips with extra perks.

Everyday Delta Card Benefits Beyond Travel

The benefits of Delta American Express don’t end with travel perks:

Purchase protection: If a valuable item you purchased with your Delta Amex is damaged or stolen within 90 days, you’ll be able to get a refund, repair, or replacement, depending on the situation.
Extended warranties: The card can automatically extend out the manufacturer warranty for bigger items like electronics, appliances, and furniture, typically by up to one additional year, on eligible purchases.
Events with Amex: All cardholders gain access to unique ticket presales and member-only events, allowing you to snap up tickets to concerts, shows, and sports events before they’re released to the public.
ShopRunner: Complementary membership will set you up with free 2-day shipping in over 100 stores.
Plan It: It’s one of the attractive Delta Card perks for those who want to spread out the cost of larger purchases over $100 by splitting them into equal installments, payable within several months.
Return protection: For top-tier Delta cards, if a retailer won’t take back your return within 90 days, Amex steps in to reimburse you for the eligible item.

Delta Amex Travel Insurance

During travel, insurance comes in handy, offering protection and peace of mind when things go awry. And solid insurance stands out among the best Delta SkyMiles Credit Card perks, backing you up with security and peace of mind during your journeys:

Rental car insurance: It will protect you against damage or theft of the rental vehicle. This coverage can help you avoid paying for costly insurance through the rental car company. More often than not, it covers up to the full value of the vehicle in the event of an accident or theft.
Lost baggage coverage: This protection covers both checked and carry-on bags, providing financial compensation for your personal belongings if the carrier can’t track down or replace them.
Trip delay insurance: It takes care of reasonable expenses if your flight is delayed for over 6 hours, provided your round trip is fully paid for with your eligible card.
Trip cancellation and interruption insurance: It pays you back for eligible prepaid travel costs if your trip is canceled or cut short for covered reasons. This protection covers up to $10,000 per trip for airfare, hotels, tours, and other pre-booked travel arrangements, with a maximum of $20,000 per 12 consecutive months.

Delta Amex Cards vs. Other Travel Cards

Feature	Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card	Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card	Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card	Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card	Chase Sapphire Preferred Card	Citi / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard	Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
Annual Fee	$0	$0 for the first year (then $150)	$350	$650	$95	$99	$95
Welcome Bonus	10,000	80,000	90,000	100,000	60,000	75,000	75,000
Earning Rate	2x miles on Delta purchases, 2x on dining, 1x on other eligible purchases	2x miles on Delta purchases, 2x on dining, 2x on groceries, 1x on other eligible purchases	3x miles on Delta purchases, 3x at hotels, 2x on dining, 2x on groceries, 1x on other eligible purchases	3x miles on Delta purchases, 1x on other eligible purchases	5x on Chase Travel purchases, 2x on other travel purchases, 3x on dining, 3x on grocery	2x American Airline purchases, 2x restaurants, 2x gas stations, 1x other eligible purchases	5x on travel-related purchases, 2x on other purchases
Free Checked Bags	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	No
Priority Boarding	No	No	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	No
Travel Insurance	Car rental insurance	Car rental and lost baggage insurance	Trip delay, car rental, lost baggage insurance	Trip delay, car rental, lost baggage, trip cancellation insurance	Trip delay, baggage delay, primary rental car insurance	Limited coverage for baggage delay	Travel accident insurance, lost luggage reimbursement
Global Entry/TSA PreCheck Credit	No	No	Yes	Yes	No	No	Yes
Foreign Transaction Fees	None	None	None	None	None	None	None
APR	20.49–29.49% variable	20.49–29.49% variable	20.49–29.49% variable	20.49–29.49% variable	21.49–28.49% variable	20.74–29.74% variable	19.99–29.99% variable

At a glance, Delta Amex cards stack up well against other travel ones available on the market, with higher annual fees for top-tier cards being fully offset by generous perks, exclusive offers, and powerful earring capabilities. The focused rewards and benefits of Delta SkyMiles cards bring unmatched value for those who prioritize flying with Delta and want to take their travel experience to the next level.

Which Is the Best Delta Card for You?

Each one caters to different spending habits and travel needs:

Delta SkyMiles® Blue Amex offers basic mile-earning opportunities with no annual fee and works well for casual travelers.
Delta SkyMiles® Gold Amex provides more travel-focused perks and is suited for those who fly a few times a year.
Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Amex is a top-tier card for frequent travelers, featuring add-ons like companion tickets and the ability to earn Medallion® Qualification Miles (MQMs) to boost your status.
Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Amex is the premium option for serious Delta travelers, loaded with exclusive benefits like Delta Sky Club® access, upgrades, and higher priority status.

January 14, 2025 20:38