Delta and American Express have a portfolio of co-branded credit cards. We’ve just see some big new welcome offers rolled out on these cards, which are among the best offers we’ve seen on these products. This also coincides with a second checked bag free benefit being added to these cards, which I’m sure will make them more interesting to some people.
While Delta SkyMiles is far from my favorite mileage currency, I appreciate that miles in the program have a “floor” value, based on all the ways there are to redeem SkyMiles for at least one cent each toward Delta purchases. In addition to having Delta’s “Pay With Miles” feature, there’s also the “TakeOff 15” benefit, whereby cardmembers can get a 15% discount on award tickets.
In this post:
What are the current Delta Amex welcome offers?
We’ve just seen some excellent welcome offers rolled out on Delta’s suite of co-branded credit cards, so if you’re interested, this would be a great time to apply. Let’s go over the offers, from least premium to most premium.
Delta Gold Personal Amex: up to 90,000 SkyMiles
The Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card has the following limited time welcome offer:
- Earn 70,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $3,000 in purchases with your new Card, and an additional 20,000 bonus miles after you make an additional $2,000 in purchases on the Card, both within your first 6 months. Ends 07/15/2026.
- The card has a $0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $150. (Rates & Fees)
The Gold Delta Amex (both business and personal) offers perks like two free checked bags on domestic itineraries, priority boarding, savings on inflight purchases, 15% savings on select award flights, an annual rideshare (enrollment required), and more.
Read a full review of the Gold Delta Amex.
Delta Gold Business Amex: 90,000 SkyMiles
The Delta SkyMiles® Gold Business American Express Card has the following limited time welcome offer:
- Limited Time Offer: Earn 90,000 Bonus Miles after spending $6,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Offer ends 7/15/26.
- The card has a $0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $150 (Rates & Fees)

Delta Platinum Personal Amex: up to 100,000 SkyMiles
The Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card has the following limited time welcome offer:
- Earn 80,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $4,000 in purchases with your new Card, and an additional 20,000 bonus miles after you make an additional $2,000 in purchases on the Card, both within your first 6 months. Ends 07/15/2026.
- The card has a $350 annual fee (Rates & Fees)
The Platinum Delta Amex (both business and personal) offers perks like an annual companion certificate, the ability to earn status through credit card spending, a Global Entry or TSA PreCheck credit (every 4.5 years for TSA PreCheck, or every four years for Global Entry), two free checked bags on domestic itineraries, priority boarding, savings on inflight purchases, 15% savings on select award flights, an annual rideshare and Resy credit (enrollment required), and more.
Read a full review of the Platinum Delta Amex.
Delta Platinum Business Amex: 100,000 SkyMiles
The Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card has the following limited time welcome offer:
- Limited Time Offer: Earn 100,000 Bonus Miles after spending $8,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Offer ends 7/15/26.
- The card has a $350 annual fee (Rates & Fees)

Delta Reserve Personal Amex: up to 125,000 SkyMiles
The Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card has the following limited time welcome offer:
- Earn 100,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $6,000 in purchases with your new Card, and an additional 25,000 bonus miles after you make an additional $3,000 in purchases on the Card, both within your first 6 months. Ends 07/15/2026.
- The card has a $650 annual fee (Rates & Fees)
The Reserve Delta Amex (both business and personal) offers perks like an annual companion certificate, the ability to earn status through credit card spending, a Global Entry or TSA PreCheck credit (every 4.5 years for TSA PreCheck, or every four years for Global Entry), two free checked bags on domestic itineraries, savings on inflight purchases, 15% savings on select award flights, an annual rideshare and Resy credit (enrollment required), and more.
Read a full review of the Reserve Delta Amex.
Delta Reserve Business Amex: 125,000 SkyMiles
The Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card has the following limited time welcome offer:
- Limited Time Offer: Earn 125,000 Bonus Miles after spending $15,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Offer ends 7/15/26.
- The card has a $650 annual fee (Rates & Fees)

How many Delta Amex cards are you eligible for?
If you’re considering applying for a Delta co-branded credit card, then Amex’s general application restrictions apply. Each of these Delta American Express cards is considered a separate product, and you’re potentially eligible for the bonus on each card once.
However, you’ll want to be strategic about the order in which you apply for personal cards. Essentially, you can only earn the bonus on a particular card if you haven’t had that exact Delta card, or a more premium Delta card. So the less premium the card, the more restrictions. Here’s a rundown, ranked from most premium card to least premium card:
- You’re not eligible for the welcome offer on the Delta Reserve Amex if you’ve had that exact card before
- You’re not eligible for the welcome offer on the Delta Platinum Amex if you’ve had that exact card before, or if you’ve had the Delta Reserve Amex
- You’re not eligible for the welcome offer on the Delta Gold Amex if you’ve had that exact card before, or if you’ve had the Delta Reserve Amex or Delta Platinum Amex

Which Delta Amex welcome offer is best?
Which Delta Amex offer is best depends entirely on what you’re looking for and what your travel profile is like. As far as my general advice goes:
- If you’re just a casual Delta flyer, it’s hard to go wrong with the big bonuses and introductory annual fees on the Delta Gold cards
- For those who fly Delta a bit more often, the Delta Platinum cards are great, given the annual companion certificate
- For the frequent Delta flyer who is going for status, the Delta Reserve cards are the best cards for earning status, and also offer the most compelling perks
- If you’re deciding between a personal and business card (and don’t want both), then I’d generally recommend a business card, given that the welcome offers are a bit better
Keep in mind that Delta’s “Pay With Miles” feature allows you to redeem your SkyMiles for at least one cent each toward the cost of a Delta ticket. That means 125,000 SkyMiles will get you a minimum of $1,250 worth of airfare. With the 15% discount on awards for cardmembers, you can often do even better than that by just outright redeeming for awards.

Delta Amex welcome offer frequently asked questions
Bottom line
We’ve just seen excellent new limited time welcome offers rolled out on Delta’s suite of co-branded Amex cards. This also coincides with the cards getting some new perks, including a two free checked bag benefit.
While SkyMiles might not be a great currency for aspirational redemptions in long haul premium cabins, there’s still lots of value to be had with these offers, as SkyMiles are incredibly useful for domestic and short haul international awards. SkyMiles also have a very high floor value, unlike some other currencies. They’re also useful for premium cabin awards when not touching the United States.
If you’re at all interested in a Delta co-branded credit card, now is the time to apply.
Do you plan on picking up a Delta Amex with these welcome offers?
The following links will direct you to the rates and fees for mentioned American Express Cards. These include: Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card (Rates & Fees), Delta SkyMiles® Gold Business American Express Card (Rates & Fees), Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card (Rates & Fees), Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card (Rates & Fees), Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card (Rates & Fees), and Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card (Rates & Fees).
Delta's miles redemptions have been a joke for several years.
Haha. Come on to those naysayers. Tim and Sean would tell you it is your honor of doing business with the world’s most premium airline and premium is solely measured on higher yields and it has nothing to do with passenger experience. So, even if DL offers a subpar experience crossing the Atlantic, that should not matter since it is still premium and you just got a premium lackluster service. In other words, why not...
Haha. Come on to those naysayers. Tim and Sean would tell you it is your honor of doing business with the world’s most premium airline and premium is solely measured on higher yields and it has nothing to do with passenger experience. So, even if DL offers a subpar experience crossing the Atlantic, that should not matter since it is still premium and you just got a premium lackluster service. In other words, why not go for the premium yields that DL can offer you in Delta One instead of the premium passenger experience that SQ can offer you in business or first cabin.
So, you’ll need 4 of these SUBs to get one-way J to Europe… lame.
Even a used car salesman would cringe at promoting this card. And yet, here it is ...
"...given that the welcome offers are a bit better."
Uh...aren't they the same this time, just requiring more spend for the business cards?
Sorry, you talked me into the Citi AA Globe card so now I gotta figure out how to spend $5,000 to get their 90,000 mile bonus. Can't do both.
@KingBob Book a flight to Hong Kong and hang out a few days and pay the hotel stay using your Globe card. On departure use your Globe card for complimentary access to the Taste By Priceless lounge opened from 6 am to 12 am near gate 40.
Hi Lucky,
I have no idea where to write this. I’ve been a multi-daily visitor to your site for over a decade. I never comment, but I do read almost every article. I think you’re the best aviation/travel blogger on the web. But over the last year, I’ve noticed that the mobile experience has become borderline unusable. The amount of pop-up ads, banner ads, full screen ads and general site crashing has made the blog...
Hi Lucky,
I have no idea where to write this. I’ve been a multi-daily visitor to your site for over a decade. I never comment, but I do read almost every article. I think you’re the best aviation/travel blogger on the web. But over the last year, I’ve noticed that the mobile experience has become borderline unusable. The amount of pop-up ads, banner ads, full screen ads and general site crashing has made the blog very hard to read.
I fully support your efforts to monetize your content and understand the reasoning behind it. I recall a post you had in the past discussing the future of OMAAT and you had mentioned potentially offering a paid ad free version. I don’t think anything ever came of it, but I’d be a major supporter of it. Would love to hear what your plans are for the future regarding monetization.
Thanks for all your content!
A grand welcome gift,
Yet a fraction of the fare;
Check it on FlightAware.
wow...
125k skypesos will buy me about 25% of the Delta 739 flight I want on LAX-JFK.
Before you ask, Tim, Yes. Delta flies the 739 on LAX-JFK. You can find it on flightaware ;)
Awesome! I've got to get one of those cards...
... and use the points to book my flight on a Delta 737-900ER, SFO-JFK.
I found that flight on flightaware.
thanks for letting me steal your joke ;)