{"id":116748,"date":"2024-08-06T19:00:06","date_gmt":"2024-08-06T19:00:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/2024\/08\/06\/the-best-credit-cards-to-use-for-delta-air-lines-flights-the-points-guy\/"},"modified":"2024-08-06T19:00:06","modified_gmt":"2024-08-06T19:00:06","slug":"the-best-credit-cards-to-use-for-delta-air-lines-flights-the-points-guy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/2024\/08\/06\/the-best-credit-cards-to-use-for-delta-air-lines-flights-the-points-guy\/","title":{"rendered":"The best credit cards to use for Delta Air Lines flights – The Points Guy"},"content":{"rendered":"


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Before you reach for your wallet to pay for a Delta Air Lines<\/a> flight, you might pause to wonder which credit card to use. Should you use the one that says “Delta” on the front, or should you pay with something else?<\/p>\n

In many credit card decisions, you may have to sacrifice benefits to earn additional points and miles. Does that hold true here?<\/p>\n

Let’s look at which credit cards you might use to pay for a Delta flight and the benefits associated with your options.<\/p>\n

Related: 16 easy ways to earn more Delta SkyMiles<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

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Comparing credit cards for Delta Air Lines flights<\/h2>\n

In addition to using a Delta Air Lines cobranded credit card<\/a>, you also could pay with a travel rewards card<\/a> that earns transferable points<\/a> on travel purchases, such as your next flight reservation with Delta. Here are some cards you might pay with and what you could get when using these cards:<\/p>\n

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\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Card name<\/strong><\/th>\nEarning rate on Delta Air Lines flights<\/strong><\/th>\nValue of the rewards earned*<\/strong><\/th>\nDelta-related benefits from the card<\/strong><\/th>\nAnnual fee<\/strong><\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
Delta SkyMiles\u00ae Reserve American Express Card<\/a><\/span> and Delta SkyMiles\u00ae Reserve Business American Express Card<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/td>\n3 miles per dollar<\/td>\n3.45 cents<\/td>\nUnlimited access to Delta Sky Club lounges<\/a> when traveling on a same-day, Delta-marketed or Delta-operated flight. Starting in February 2025, that will change to 15 free annual visits.<\/p>\n

Four one-time Sky Club guest passes<\/a><\/p>\n

Annual companion certificate<\/p>\n

1 MQD for every $10 spent with no limit on how many MQDs can be earned through credit card spending<\/p>\n

MQD boost of 2,500 MQDs each year<\/p>\n

Priority boarding on Delta flights<\/p>\n

20% back as a statement credit on inflight purchases of food, beverages and headsets<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

$650 (see rates and fees<\/a> for the Delta Reserve; see rates and fees<\/a> for the Delta Reserve Business)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Delta SkyMiles\u00ae Platinum American Express Card <\/a><\/span>and\u00a0Delta SkyMiles\u00ae Platinum Business American Express Card<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/td>\n3 miles per dollar<\/td>\n3.45 cents<\/td>\nAnnual companion certificate<\/p>\n

1 MQD for every $20 spent with no limit on how many MQDs can be earned through credit card spending<\/p>\n

MQD boost of 2,500 MQDs each year<\/p>\n

Priority boarding on Delta flights<\/p>\n

20% back as a statement credit on inflight purchases of food, beverages and headsets<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

$350 (see rates and fees<\/a> for the Delta Platinum; see rates and fees<\/a> for Delta Platinum Business)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Delta SkyMiles\u00ae Gold American Express Card <\/a><\/span>and\u00a0Delta SkyMiles\u00ae Gold Business American Express Card<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/td>\n2 miles per dollar<\/td>\n2.3 cents<\/td>\nFree first checked bag for you and up to eight companions on the same reservation<\/p>\n

Priority boarding on Delta flights<\/p>\n

20% back as a statement credit on inflight purchases of food, beverages and headsets<\/p>\n

$200 Delta flight credit after spending $10,000 or more on your card within a calendar year<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

$0 introductory annual fee, then $150 (see rates and fees<\/a> for the Delta Gold; see rates and fees<\/a> for the Delta Gold Business)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Delta SkyMiles\u00ae Blue American Express Card<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/td>\n2 miles per dollar<\/td>\n2.3 cents<\/td>\n20% back on inflight purchases of food and beverages<\/td>\n$0 (see rates and fees<\/a>)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
The Platinum Card\u00ae from American Express<\/a><\/span><\/td>\n5 points per dollar (up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year, then 1 point per dollar)<\/span><\/td>\n10 cents<\/td>\nDelta Sky Club access (when traveling on same-day Delta flights; effective February 1, 2025: eligible Platinum Card Members will receive 10 Visits per eligible Platinum Card per year to the Delta Sky Club or to Grab and Go when traveling on a same-day Delta-operated flight.)<\/p>\n

Choose Delta Air Lines as your preferred airline to cover up to $200 per year in airline incidental statement credits<\/a> for things like checked baggage or preferred seat fees<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

$695 (see rates and fees<\/a>)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Chase Sapphire Reserve\u00ae<\/a><\/strong><\/td>\n3 points per dollar (or 5 points per dollar if booked via Chase Travel\u2120)<\/span><\/td>\n6.15 cents (or 10.25 cents)<\/td>\nNone, but some purchases can be offset by the $300 annual travel credits<\/a> offered on the card<\/td>\n$550<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/td>\n2 miles per dollar (or 5 miles per dollar if booked in the Capital One Travel portal)<\/td>\n3.7 cents (or 9.25 cents)<\/td>\nNone, but some purchases can be offset by the $300 annual credit<\/a> available when booking with Capital One Travel<\/a><\/td>\n$395 (see rates and fees<\/a>)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

*Bonus value is based on TPG’s July 2024 valuations<\/a> and does not come from the card issuer.<\/em><\/p>\n

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Which card should you use for Delta Air Lines flights?<\/h2>\n

Unlike the dilemmas when booking United Airlines<\/a> flights, there are no real trade-offs you must consider with Delta when it comes to enjoying benefits and earning as many points and miles as possible.<\/p>\n

Related: Delta baggage fees and how to avoid paying them<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

Benefits like free checked bags<\/a> and priority boarding<\/a> are attached to your Delta SkyMiles<\/a> number, not the credit card you pay with. That means you could theoretically pay for your Delta flight with the Amex Platinum Card<\/a><\/span> to enjoy its insurance benefits<\/a> and its unparalleled earning rates on flight purchases<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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However, you would still enjoy checked bag benefits and early boarding benefits that come from having the Amex Delta Reserve<\/a><\/span>, for example \u2014 even though you didn’t pay for your flight with that card.<\/p>\n

Related: The best credit cards for paying taxes and fees on award tickets<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

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