It's a big news day for Delta and American Express. The bank and Atlanta-based airline kicked things off by announcing some surprising new benefits on the suite of SkyMiles cards, making them genuinely more valuable – all while leaving annual fees untouched.

But it looks like they might have saved the best news for last: For a limited time, you can now earn up to 125,000 SkyMiles after meeting the cards' minimum spending requirement, depending on which you choose. These bigger welcome offers end July 15, 2026, so you've got a full six weeks to take advantage.

Here's what's at stake with all three cards:

While each of these welcome offers is tiered (depending on how much you spend), the full sum makes them some of the biggest welcome offers we've ever seen. Best of all, it doesn't look like Amex's new “as high as” offers completely killed off the occasional limited-time welcome as we had initially feared.

And now's a great time to consider adding one of these cards to your wallet because while many travelers are quick to write Delta SkyMiles off as worthless, we wholeheartedly disagree. A recent surge of SkyMiles flash sales and even discounted Delta One seats is proof that there's still plenty of value in redeeming SkyMiles – you just have to know where to look. 

But the real value in holding a Delta credit card goes beyond the initial welcome offer. With benefits like free checked bags (including a new second checked bag benefit on domestic itineraries), a more powerful 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 Delta loyalists. Throwing in up to 125,000 SkyMiles is just a … well, it's a bonus.

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 brand-new tool designed to help beginners and experts alike choose the right card to fuel their travels!

 

In this post

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, Revel, 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

 

Delta SkyMiles® Reserve 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 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, Revel, 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

 

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.

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 this morning, and I'm 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!

The bonus SkyMiles are nice, no question. 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 miles. 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.

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

If you often fly with Delta, having a SkyMiles credit card gets you a free checked bag and priority boarding on every Delta flight worldwide – and a second checked bag on domestic itineraries. Those perks alone put these credit cards on many loyal Delta flyers' radars. Other great benefits like Sky Club access, a yearly Delta Stays credit, and annual companion certificates make them even better.

If those perks fit your travel plans and priorities, getting a big welcome offer of up to 125,000 SkyMiles is all the sweeter. Just be sure to take advantage before it's too late: These limited-time welcome offers end July 15, 2026.