Amex and Delta team up to roll out elevated, limited-time welcome offers three or four times a year on their suite of SkyMiles credit cards, and they've done it again … with one of the strangest (but still potentially lucrative) bonuses we've ever seen on its top-tier card.

All the way through Nov. 4, new applicants for the *delta reserve card* can earn a two-part welcome bonus after spending $10,000 in the first six months:

  • 50,000 SkyMiles, and
  • Two roundtrip tickets in Delta Comfort to anywhere in the mainland U.S. (excluding Hawaii and Alaska) as well as Puerto Rico or the U.S. Virgin Islands 

That's a first-of-its-kind offer – Delta typically pushes the SkyMiles bonus above 100,000 on its flagship, premium travel card and calls it good. But certificates for two roundtrip flights in Delta Comfort shouldn't be sneezed at. While there are a few restrictions to be aware of – namely you can't use them within 21 days of departure – these certificates aren't hamstrung with the same hurdles as Delta companion certificates … and they're uncapped: You could use them to book hundreds or even thousands of dollars worth of flights.

We've been loving SkyMiles more than ever lately, thanks to a recent surge of SkyMiles flash sales and even discounted Delta One seats, but this quirky bonus that throws in two roundtrip flights instead of more miles could easily go down as Delta's most valuable credit card offer of all time.

Separately, Delta is also upping the ante on its other two personal cards:

And if you're eligible for a small business card – trust us, you might be … whether you know it or not – Delta and Amex are also offering bigger bonuses, including a record-setting sum of 200,000 SkyMiles after spending a whopping $20,000 in the first six months on the card_name.

These bigger offers come on the heels of a surprising revamp earlier this summer: Delta added a second free checked bag for domestic flights and expanded rideshare credits to more cards – all without raising annual fees a dime. Combined with all the usual benefits like an annual companion certificate, Delta's TakeOff 15 benefit, and Delta Sky Club access, these cards are worth a permanent spot in the wallets of many loyal Delta flyers.

Just remember: Credit cards are serious business. No amount of SkyMiles is worth digging yourself into credit card debt. If you can't afford to immediately pay off the amount you need to spend in the first few months to earn these bonuses, it's simply not worth it.

Thrifty Tip: Not sure about these Delta cards? Check out CardPilot, our personalized tool designed to help beginners and experts alike choose the right card to fuel their travels!

 

In this post

Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card

Let's start with Delta's top-of-the-line Reserve Card, because that's where the airline is doing something truly unique.

  • bonus_miles_full
  • Check your first bag free on Delta flights worldwide and get a second checked bag free when flying domestically – a potential savings of $200 on each roundtrip flight
  • Zone 5 Priority boarding (even with a basic economy ticket)
  • Get 15 Delta Sky Club visits each year (to use between Feb. 1 and Jan. 31 of the following year) when flying Delta. You can unlock unlimited Sky Club access by spending $75,000 or more on your card in a calendar year.
    • You also get four free guest passes and can bring up to two guests in at a time. After that, each guest visit will cost an additional $50.
  • Complimentary access to the American Express Centurion® Lounges when you are flying Delta on a ticket purchased with your Reserve card
  • Get a Delta Main, Delta Comfort, or Delta First companion certificate to destinations throughout the U.S. (including Hawaii, Alaska, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico) as well as many destinations in Mexico, the Caribbean, and Central America each year upon card renewal
  • MQD Headstart: Get a head start on earning Medallion status with an automatic 2,500 Medallion Qualifying Dollars (MQDs) each year
  • Earn 1 MQD for every $10 you spend on your card
  • Earn 3x SkyMiles per dollar spent on Delta purchases
  • Earn 1x SkyMiles per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases
  • Up to a $200 Delta Stays credit: Earn up to $200 in statement credits each year when you make a Delta Stays prepaid hotel or vacation rental booking on the Delta Stays platform.
  • Up to a $120 Rideshare Credit: Get up to $120 in statement credits (doled out in $10 monthly installments) a year when you use your card to pay for a ride with Uber, Lyft, Curb, or Alto in the U.S.
  • Up to a $240 Resy Credit: Get up to $240 in statement credits each year (doled out in $20 chunks each month) when you use your card to pay for eligible purchases on Resy, Amex's restaurant reservation platform. This is also a use-it-or-lose-it benefit: Any unused balance won't roll over to the following month.
  • Get up to a $120 credit to cover the cost of Global Entry or up to $85 for TSA PreCheck 
  • Complimentary space-available upgrades, even for non-Medallion members. A great way to improve your upgrade chances.
  • Get 15% off SkyMiles award tickets with TakeOff 15 when booking on delta.com or through the Fly Delta app
  • Hertz President's Circle Status: Receive complimentary top-tier Hertz President's Circle elite status upon enrollment.
  • Enjoy 20% off in-flight purchases such as food & drinks in the form of a statement credit
  • No foreign transaction fees
  • annual_fees annual fee (see rates & fees)

*delta skymiles reserve*

Learn more about the card_name

Frequent Delta flyers flock to the Reserve card thanks to its lounge access, a jump start – and path to accelerate – for chasing Medallion Status, up to $500 or more in money-saving annual credits, and more. That said, we regularly urge travelers to think carefully before going straight to the top of Delta's pecking order – other cards are often a better fit.

But this new offer could change things, thanks to the unique inclusion of two certificates for roundtrip flights in Delta Comfort, the airline's extra-legroom economy seats. These are entirely separate from (and, for the most part, much better than) the annual companion certificate you get starting in year two with the card. 

The devil is always in the details, though … so we dug into the terms and conditions to figure out how you can actually use these roundtrip certificates:

  • There are no blackout dates, no fare restrictions (like with companion certificates), and not even a monetary limit on what you can book
  • They're only eligible for roundtrip flights within the mainland 48 U.S. states (not Hawaii or Alaska), as well as Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands
  • You cannot book within 21 days of departure
  • No matter when you open your card or earn the bonus, these tickets are good through Jan. 15, 2028 
    • You must book and complete travel by that date 
  • You're on the hook for taxes and fees on each redemption – no more than $80 total.
  • You will not earn SkyMiles or credits toward Medallion status with these flights
  • You don't have to redeem both certificates together – you can use them on separate flights as a solo flyer
  • You cannot combine a Delta Comfort certificate with a companion certificate, meaning you can't use this bonus to cover your own airfare, then also bring a companion for free
  • These Delta Comfort certificates are not transferable: the primary cardholder must book and travel

There are some obvious downsides here: Namely, not earning SkyMiles or elite status credits. Excluding Hawaii, Alaska, Mexico and the Caribbean – destinations that now work for Delta companion certificates after a change a few years back – from the list of eligible redemptions is a bummer, too.

That said, the upside is still absolutely enormous. Given what's happened with flight prices the last few months, you could easily use just one of these Comfort certificates for $600 or more of value booking a simple domestic trip. Throw in a bigger trip to Puerto Rico or the U.S. Virgin Islands or flights over the notoriously spendy holiday season, and there's a fairly easy path to $2,000 in value from these certificates alone. 

I was skeptical when we first got word Delta was going to offer up a pair of free flights in Comfort. That's unheard of, and I wondered whether these certificates would be loaded with restrictions that would make them worth less (if not worthless) on paper.

But we've seen the fine print, and I'm sold. For the right traveler, this is undeniably valuable. 

 

Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card

  • bonus_miles_full
  • Check your first bag free on Delta flights worldwide and get a second checked bag free when flying domestically – a potential savings of $200 on each roundtrip flight
  • Zone 5 Priority boarding (even with a basic economy ticket)
  • Earn 2x SkyMiles per dollar spent at restaurants worldwide (including takeout and delivery in the U.S.) and U.S. supermarkets 
  • Earn 2x SkyMiles per dollar on eligible Delta purchases
  • Earn 1x SkyMiles per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases
  • $120 rideshare credit: After your first card renewal, earn up to $10 in statement credits each month when using your SkyMiles Gold Card on U.S. rideshare purchases with select providers (enrollment required).
  • $100 Delta Stays credit: Earn up to $100 in statement credits each year when you make a Delta Stays prepaid hotel or vacation rental booking on the Delta Stays platform.
  • $200 Delta flight credit: After you spend $10,000 in purchases on your card in a calendar year, you can receive a $200 Delta Flight Credit to use toward future travel.
  • Get 15% off SkyMiles award tickets with TakeOff 15 when booking on delta.com or through the Fly Delta app
  • Get 20% off in-flight purchases such as food & drinks in the form of a statement credit
  • No foreign transaction fees
  • annual_fees (see rates & fees)

*delta skymiles gold*

Learn more about the card_name

 

Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card

  • bonus_miles_full
  • Check your first bag free on Delta flights worldwide and get a second checked bag free when flying domestically – a potential savings of $200 on each roundtrip flight
  • Zone 5 Priority boarding (even with a basic economy ticket)
  • Get a Delta Main roundtrip companion certificate to destinations throughout the U.S. (including Hawaii, Alaska, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico) as well as many destinations in Mexico, the Caribbean, and Central America each year upon card renewal
  • MQD Headstart: Get a head start on earning Medallion status with an automatic 2,500 Medallion Qualifying Dollars (MQDs) each year
  • Earn 1 MQD for every $20 you spend on your card
  • TakeOff 15: Get a 15% discount on SkyMiles award tickets when booking on delta.com or through the Fly Delta app
  • Earn 2x SkyMiles per dollar spent at restaurants worldwide (including takeout and delivery in the U.S.) and U.S. supermarkets
  • Earn 3x SkyMiles per dollar spent on eligible Delta purchases and at hotels
  • Earn 1x SkyMiles per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases
  • Up to a $150 Delta Stays credit: Earn up to $150 in statement credits each year when you make a Delta Stays prepaid hotel or vacation rental booking on the Delta Stays platform.
  • Up to $120 Rideshare Credits: Get up to $120 in statement credits (doled out in $10 monthly installments) a year when you use your card to pay for a ride with Uber, Lyft, Curb, or Alto in the U.S.
  • Up to a $120 Resy Credit: Get up to $120 in statement credits each year (doled out in $10 chunks each month) when you use your card to pay for eligible purchases on Resy, Amex's restaurant reservation platform. This is also a use-it-or-lose-it benefit: Any unused balance won't roll over to the following month.
  • Get up to a $120 credit to cover the cost of Global Entry or up to $85 for TSA PreCheck 
  • Join the complimentary upgrade queue: Even if you don't have Delta Medallion status, your Platinum Card makes you eligible for complimentary upgrades to Delta One (within the U.S.), first class, and Delta Comfort Plus on tickets purchased
  • Hertz Five Star Status: Get complimentary Hertz Five Star elite status upon enrollment.
  • Get 20% off in-flight purchases such as food & drinks in the form of a statement credit
  • No foreign transaction fees
  • annual_fees annual fee (see rates & fees)

*delta skymiles platinum*

Learn more about the card_name

 

What About Delta Business Cards?

Got a small business? Even if you don't know it, you might just be eligible. And you're in luck: There are big offers available with each of these cards as well – including the biggest bonus we've ever seen on a Delta card.

Already got the personal version of one of these cards? You could still earn the bonus on one of these small business cards, too.

And don't forget: These business cards also qualify for Delta's TakeOff 15 benefit, giving you a 15% discount when redeeming SkyMiles for Delta-operated award flights.

Read more: Are You Eligible to Open a Small Business Credit Card? Everything You Need to Know

 

New Benefits, Same Fees

The full suite of SkyMiles cards got a makeover in June, and we're not just talking about the fresh new card design. 

The biggest addition is a second free checked bag on domestic Delta-operated flights for Delta SkyMiles Gold, Platinum, and Reserve cardholders (including business versions). With Delta now charging $55 each way for a second checked bag on many domestic itineraries, that benefit alone could save frequent travelers hundreds of dollars per trip.

There is one important catch, though: Unlike the longstanding first checked bag benefit, which extends to up to eight additional travelers on the same reservation, the second bag benefit is much more limited. Only the primary cardholder and other eligible SkyMiles cardholders booked on the same reservation receive a second bag free.

A person holding a Delta SkyMiles Card and two pieces of luggage
Courtesy of American Express

Delta also expanded its rideshare credits to the Delta SkyMiles Gold Card (and Gold Business Card). Beginning after your first renewal, cardholders can earn up to $120 annually in statement credits on eligible rideshare purchases, distributed in up to $10 monthly credits. Eligible rideshare services include Uber, Lyft, Curb, and Alto.

It's a similar rideshare perk to what was previously reserved for the more expensive Platinum and Reserve cards. While it stinks that new cardholders don't get access to this in the first year, it is a little extra reason to keep your card around in year two and beyond. And existing cardholders benefit right off the bat.

Finally, Delta and Amex rolled out refreshed card designs across the portfolio to mark 30 years of partnership, including a sharp new slate-gray look for the premium Reserve cards.

 

Should You Upgrade Your Existing Delta Credit Card?

If you already hold a Delta SkyMiles Gold or Platinum Card, does it make sense to upgrade your card to the next tier? The short answer is … almost always no.

Delta and American Express constantly push cardholders to upgrade. But upgrading your current Delta card is typically not a smart move, as it will make you ineligible to earn the welcome offers these cards have.

delta credit card offers

Instead, you can simply apply outright for a new account to earn a huge SkyMiles bonus offer. So long as you do it in the right order, American Express lets you earn a welcome offer on all of the Delta cards once per lifetime. And as silly as it may seem, having multiple Delta cards can be advantageous, as it means extra statement credits and an easier path to Delta Medallion elite status, depending on which versions of the card you have. 

For example, you can apply for the *delta platinum* even if you've already got the *delta gold* in your wallet. If you take the upgrade offer, you'd make yourself ineligible for the big SkyMiles welcome offer.

We have seen some compelling upgrade offers in the past, with a combination of some bonus miles with a statement credit to upgrade from the Gold to the Platinum card, or Platinum to Reserve. Still, it's almost always a much better deal to apply for a new card outright.

Already got a Delta credit card in your wallet? You might be able to apply for a different Delta card and earn another bonus!

 

Who Are These Offers Right For?

SkyMiles get a bad rap and may not be the best for booking fancy business class seats, but they're still far from worthless.

From domestic roundtrips for 9,000 SkyMiles (or less!) to Europe and back for under 30,000 SkyMiles, we've seen a steady stream of Delta SkyMiles flash sales over the last year or so. There's even been a recent resurgence in cheaper Delta One business class award fares!

Read more: From Worst to First? Delta SkyMiles are Quietly Becoming the Best in the US

The bonus SkyMiles are nice, no question. The Delta Comfort certificates on the Reserve Card are arguably even better. And if you're already in the market for a Delta credit card, now is a great time to apply.

But the real reason to get a Delta card has nothing to do with the bonus. If earning miles is your goal, there are far better options than opening (and repeatedly swiping) a co-branded Delta card. No, these credit cards really are best for Delta fans and frequent flyers who can make the most of the additional travel benefits.

Getting a free checked bag on every Delta flight – a savings of at least $90 on each roundtrip – can go a long way to offset even the cards' higher annual fees. The math works out even better if you're flying with family or a travel companion, as this benefit extends to up to eight other passengers booked on the same reservation. Primary cardholders will also get a second checked bag for free – but only on domestic itineraries and only for eligible cardholders. Even still, these checked bag benefits (combined) amount to $200 in savings on a roundtrip and can be reason enough to pay an annual fee year in and year out. 

With the Platinum and Reserve cards, you'll also get an annual companion ticket. Exactly what you get with that companion ticket depends on which card you've got:

  • The *delta skymiles platinum card* companion certificate is good for one Delta Main roundtrip fare to destinations throughout the U.S. (including Hawaii, Alaska, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico) as well as many destinations in Mexico, the Caribbean, and Central America
  • The *delta skymiles reserve* companion ticket can be used for Delta Main, Delta Comfort, or Delta First airfare to the same destinations.

With either companion ticket, you essentially get a once-a-year BOGO ticket for flights within the mainland U.S. after your first full year with the Platinum or the Reserve card. And remember: This companion certificate is in addition to the Delta Comfort flights for new Reserve cardholders.

Related Reading: Struggling to Use Your Delta Companion Certificate? Read This Guide

delta credit card offers

With the Delta Reserve card, one of the top-selling points is that it gets you into Delta Sky Clubs (when flying Delta) 15 days per year (Feb. 1 to Jan. 31 of the following year). If you spend $75,000 (or more) on your card in a calendar year, you'll earn unlimited Sky Club visits. You also get four one-time passes to the Sky Club so that you can bring along a friend or family member when they're traveling with you.

Delta Sky Clubs aren't the only lounge you'll have access to with the Reserve Card, though. You'll also get complimentary access to American Express Centurion® Lounges when you are flying Delta on a ticket purchased with your Reserve card, and there's no limit on the number of visits here. At these lounges, you can bring up to two guests for a fee of $50 per person.

Deciding whether the Gold, Platinum, or Reserve Card is right for you can be tough. Do the math on the benefits and decide which one makes the most sense for your wallet.

After that, earning a bigger SkyMiles bonus is just a sweetener.

 

Bottom Line

Delta got seriously creative with this latest round of elevated welcome offers on its SkyMiles cards, and we are here for it. 

For the first time, you can earn a combination of some bonus miles and two roundtrip flights in Delta Comfort with the Delta Reserve Card. It's one of the quirkiest welcome offers we've ever seen … but could easily dwarf the value you get from a bigger bonus of miles alone.