This AmEx Delta SkyMiles credit card review shows you an honest side-by-side comparison. You need to watch out because some credit card websites try hard to convince you the best SkyMiles card is the one they are advertising or the one that’s most profitable for them!

CreditCardForum takes a different approach:
  • We have an advertising relationship with American Express that allows us to promote the 3 different Delta credit cards as well as extend to you generous promotions and offers for each, when available.
  • We don’t try and convince you there is a one-size-fits-all; what is the best SkyMiles credit card will totally depend upon your specific needs.
Now let’s look at the reviews for each Delta SkyMiles card…

The Gold, Platinum, and Delta Reserve SkyMiles credit cards all have the following benefits in common:
  • Free First Checked Bag: For yourself and up to eight other people on your reservation. Just this in and of itself is an extremely useful benefit considering it saves you $50 round trip per person.
  • Earning Miles: You will earn 2 SkyMiles per dollar on Delta purchases and 1 SkyMile per dollar on all other purchases.
  • Pay With Miles: This exclusive Delta SkyMiles cardholder benefit allows you to pay for all or just a portion of your flights with miles. Either way, there will be no seat restrictions and no blackout dates when using the Pay With Miles feature.
So that’s what they have in common but here’s how they differ:

Gold Delta SkyMiles

Gold Delta SkyMiles card
Annual Fee: Normally $95, but it’s waived for the first year using the offer below
Priority Boarding: Yes, you get Zone 2 priority boarding
Built-In Miles Boost: n/a
Companion Ticket: Each year you renew your Gold Delta SkyMiles credit card you will receive a $99 companion certificate with no blackout dates and no minimum fare requirements.
Honest Advice: This is the best card for the average consumer that doesn’t travel frequently. If that’s you, then the other two cards will cost more and you will be paying for unused benefits. Also, if you have new or fair credit you will probably have the best chance with this one – I have heard of people with credit scores in the mid to high 600’s getting approved.

Special Bonus Offer: Get up to 30,000 bonus miles + annual fee waived for first year
(that's enough for a free domestic roundtrip flight)

Platinum Delta SkyMiles

Platinum Delta SkyMiles card
Annual Fee: $150
Priority Boarding: Yes, you get Zone 2 priority boarding
Built-In Miles Boost: You can get up to 20,000 bonus miles every year – 10,000 miles for spending $25,000 annually. If you spend $50,000 annually you get another 10,000 miles bonus.
Medallion Qualification Miles (MQMs): These aren’t miles you can spend on tickets, but rather “miles” that are used to determine your Delta Elite frequent flyer status (for perks like seat upgrades, priority wait list, etc). If you’re a frequent flyer you already know all about these. With the Platinum Delta SkyMiles credit card you can get an extra MQM boost of 20,000 miles annually – 10,000 just for having the card and another 10,000 for spending $25,000+ per year.
Companion Ticket: You get a free companion ticket certificate each year when you renew (compared to the Gold card which charges you $99 for it).
Honest Advice: This is the best SkyMiles card for the moderate traveler who spends at least $50,000 per year (so you can get the bonus MQMs). That being said, this credit card could definitely still make sense for a couple even if they travel infrequently – it’s only $55 more than Gold but the big difference is you get a free companion ticket every year. However the drawback is you will have to pay the annual fee the first year with the Platinum.

Special Bonus Offer: Get a bonus of 20,000 miles (5,000 of which are MQMs)

Delta Reserve SkyMiles

Delta Reserve card
Annual Fee: $450
Priority Boarding: Yes, Sky Priority lane boarding. Plus at airports which have them, you get to go through the Premium Security lines.
Built-In Miles Boost: Receive up to 30,000 bonus miles every year – Spend $30,000 annually and receive 15,000 bonus miles, reach $60,000 and receive another 15,000 miles.
Medallion Qualification Miles (MQMs): You can earn up to 30,000 bonus MQMs per year with this Delta credit card – get 15,000 MQMs for spending $30,000 annually and another 15,000 MQMs for reaching $60,000.
Companion Ticket: You receive a companion free ticket certificate that is good for both economy as well as domestic first-class. Like the credit cards mentioned above, you receive this every year when you renew.
Other Perks: Free Delta SkyClub access for you and two guests, concierge service, upgrade priority
Honest Advice: This is the best SkyMiles credit card for the most diehard business travelers and those who travel first class and are big spenders (because spending $60k+ scores the 30k bonus miles every year). If you use the companion ticket every year for first class, you are definitely getting your money’s worth.

Special Bonus Offer: Get 10,000 MQMs after your first purchase