How to earn up to 100,000 bonus miles with these new Delta credit card offers

Editor’s note: This article has been updated with new offers.

It’s no secret that TPGers love Delta Air Lines. With its luxe lounges and high customer satisfaction, Delta recently landed the top spot in our 2022 airline rankings.

If you’ve been thinking about adding a Delta card to your wallet, this is a great time to do it. Delta just announced new welcome offers on all of its personal and business American Express cards — just in time for your holiday travel planning.

Now, let’s dive into each offer and see which might be a good fit for you.

* Bonus value is based on TPG valuations and is not provided or reviewed by the issuer.

Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card

Welcome bonus: Earn 65,000 bonus miles after $2,000 in spending in the first six months of cardmembership. TPG values this bonus at $916.50. Offer ends Nov. 9, 2022.

Annual fee: $0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $99.

Earning rate: Earn 2 miles per dollar on eligible Delta purchases at restaurants and U.S. supermarkets and 1 mile per dollar on all other purchases.

Is this offer worth it?

This new welcome bonus is elevated compared to the standard offer. Also, it’s very easy to earn with only $2,000 in required spending over a six-month time frame to trigger the bonus miles. That alone makes the card compelling, especially since the annual fee is $0 in the first year.

The Delta Gold Amex is a solid card for travelers who occasionally fly with Delta. You’ll get a first checked bag free, priority boarding, 20% off inflight purchases and a $100 Delta flight credit after you spend $10,000 in a calendar year.

Related: Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express Card review

Official application link: Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express Card

Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card

Welcome bonus: Earn 80,000 bonus miles after $4,000 in spending in the first six months of cardmembership. TPG values this bonus at $1,128. Offer ends Nov. 9, 2022.

Annual fee: $250.

Earning rate: Earn 3 miles per dollar on eligible Delta purchases and at hotels (when booking directly), 2 miles per dollar at restaurants and U.S. supermarkets, and 1 mile per dollar on all other purchases.

Is this offer worth it?

This is among the highest welcome bonuses we’ve seen on the Delta SkyMiles Platinum Amex, as the previous bonus was a mere 50,000 miles. Even though past offers have included Medallion Qualification Miles, this new one is likely much more valuable for most travelers.

The card itself is also pretty impressive. You’ll get an annual companion certificate each renewal for main cabin, round-trip travel, 10,000 MQMs toward elite status after you spend $25,000 (up to 20,000 MQMs per year), up to $100 in statement credits for Global Entry/TSA PreCheck application fees (every four years for Global Entry and every 4 1/2 years for TSA PreCheck) and elite-like perks — including a first checked bag free, priority boarding and 20% off eligible inflight purchases.

Overall, if you fly Delta semiregularly and are looking for a way to earn miles on purchases and score MQMs for elite status, this is a great card option. However, even if you aren’t going for status, the companion voucher by itself can go a long way in making the annual fee worth it for this card.

Related: Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card review

Official application link: Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card

Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card

Welcome bonus: Earn 95,000 bonus miles after you spend $6,000 in purchases on your new card in your first six months. TPG values this bonus at $1,339.50. Offer ends Nov. 9, 2022.

Annual fee: $550.

Earning rate: Earn 3 miles per dollar on eligible Delta purchases and 1 mile per dollar on all other purchases.

Is this offer worth it?

The Delta SkyMiles Reserve is the top-tier Delta Amex card available and thus comes with a high annual fee. However, you’ll get a slew of benefits, including:

• Annual companion certificate each year upon card renewal for round-trip travel in first class, Comfort+, Premium Select or main cabin.
• Complimentary Delta Sky Club access when you fly Delta, plus two one-time guest passes each year.
• 15,000 MQMs toward status when you spend $30,000, $60,000, $90,000 and $120,000 on the card in a calendar year.
• Complimentary access to American Express Centurion Lounges when flying Delta with a ticket purchased on the card (up to two guests may also enter for a fee of $50 each).
• A Global Entry/TSA PreCheck fee credit up to $100 (every four years for Global Entry, every 4 1/2 years for TSA PreCheck).
• Access to complimentary upgrades (for non-Medallions).
• A first bag checked for free on Delta flights.
• Priority boarding.
• 20% off inflight purchases.

For loyal Delta flyers who enjoy visiting the Sky Club, this card can pay for itself with lounge access, MQM spending boosts and other benefits. However, for the occasional Delta traveler, the Platinum may be the better choice.

Related: Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express Card review

Official application link: Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express Card

The business versions of the cards currently have new welcome bonus offers, too. If you own a small business (or have a side hustle where you pay business expenses), one of these offers may be a great addition to your work wallet.

Delta SkyMiles Gold Business American Express Card

Welcome bonus: Earn 70,000 bonus miles after $3,000 in spending in the first three months of cardmembership. TPG values this bonus at $987. Offer ends Nov. 9, 2022.

Annual fee: $0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $99.

Earning rate: Earn 2 miles per dollar on eligible Delta purchases, U.S. shipping and U.S. advertising, and 1 mile per dollar on all other eligible purchases.

Other card details:

• First checked bag free on Delta flights.
• $100 Delta flight credit after spending $10,000 in a calendar year.
• Priority boarding.
• 20% off inflight purchases.

Related: Delta SkyMiles Gold Business American Express Card review

Official application link: Delta SkyMiles Gold Business American Express Card

Delta SkyMiles Platinum Business American Express Card

Welcome bonus: Earn 85,000 bonus miles after $4,000 in spending in the first three months of cardmembership. TPG values this bonus at $1,198,50. Offer ends Nov. 9, 2022.

Annual fee: $250.

Earning rate: Earn 3 miles per dollar on eligible Delta purchases, 1.5 miles per dollar on purchases over $5,000 (up to 50,000 miles per calendar year) and 1 mile per dollar on all other purchases.

Other card details:

• Annual companion certificate each year upon card renewal for main cabin, round-trip travel.
• 10,000 MQMs toward status when you spend $25,000 on the card in a calendar year, plus an additional 10,000 MQMs when you spend $50,000 in a calendar year.
• Global Entry/TSA PreCheck credit (up to $100).
• First checked bag free on Delta flights.
• Priority boarding.
• 20% off inflight purchases.

Related: Delta SkyMiles Platinum Business American Express Card review

Official application link: Delta SkyMiles Platinum Business American Express Card

Delta SkyMiles Reserve Business American Express Card

Welcome bonus: Earn 100,000 bonus miles after $6,000 in spending in the first three months of cardmembership. TPG values this bonus at $1,410. Offer ends Nov. 9, 2022.

Annual fee: $550.

Earning rate: Earn 3 miles per dollar on Delta purchases, 1.5 miles per dollar on all purchases after spending $150,000 per calendar year, and 1 mile per dollar on all other purchases.

Other card details:

• Annual companion certificate each year upon card renewal for round-trip travel in first class, Comfort+, Premium Select or main cabin.
• Complimentary Delta Sky Club access when you fly Delta, plus two one-time guest passes.
• 15,000 MQMs toward status when you spend $30,000, $60,000, $90,000 and $120,000 on the card in a calendar year (up to 60,000 MQMs total).
• Complimentary access to American Express Centurion Lounges when flying Delta with a ticket purchased on the card (up to two guests may also enter for a fee of $50 each).
• A Global Entry/TSA PreCheck fee credit (every four years for Global Entry, every 4 1/2 years for TSA PreCheck).
• Access to complimentary upgrades (including non-Medallions).
• First checked bag free on Delta flights.
• Priority boarding.
• 20% off inflight purchases.

Related: Delta SkyMiles Reserve Business American Express Card review

Official application link: Delta SkyMiles Reserve Business American Express Card

Are these business card offers worth it?

These cards mirror the consumer versions in a lot of ways. The only major ongoing differences are the spending categories — which are more business-oriented than the personal variations of the cards.

When looking at the welcome bonuses across both sets of cards, the business cards actually have more valuable offers, since they come with a higher number of SkyMiles. But, of course, choosing between a business card and a consumer version will depend on whether you have an eligible business — and whether you’re looking to maximize miles on business spending or consumer spending.

Overall, though, if you are in the market for a Delta business credit card, the current limited-time welcome offers are worth applying for.

Related: Who qualifies for a business credit card?

Which Delta credit card is right for you?

With a full lineup of Delta cards offering new bonuses, you may wonder how to pick the best card offer for your needs. While it might be tempting to go after the one with the highest bonus offer, you should also consider its long-term value in your wallet.

For example, you may enjoy Delta’s inflight experience but don’t typically fly with the airline enough in a normal travel year to justify a card with a higher annual fee. Or, if you’re primarily a solo traveler, you may not be able to consistently use the annual companion voucher that comes with the Platinum and Reserve versions of the card.

In this case, you may opt for the Delta SkyMiles Gold Amex to help earn miles and enjoy some elite-like perks that can save you time and money when flying Delta.

However, someone who is almost always flying Delta because they live near a Delta hub, such as Atlanta, Seattle or New York City, might easily be able to justify a higher annual fee, because they’ll use the benefits of the higher-tier cards more regularly. Families and couples who know they can use the annual companion ticket that comes with the Platinum or Reserve versions of the card can also easily come out ahead with those cards, depending on their exact usage.

The good news is that you can’t go wrong by applying for any of these offers.

In short:

• Occasional Delta flyers should look at the Gold.
• Regular Delta flyers who are interested in elite status, can utilize the economy companion voucher and prefer earning miles across purchases (as opposed to lounge access) should consider the Platinum.
• Delta loyalists who will regularly use Delta Sky Club and Centurion Lounge access when traveling should think about applying for the Reserve.

Related: Choosing the best credit cards for Delta flyers

Delta SkyMiles have long been considered the least valuable currency among the three legacy U.S. airlines — in part because of unannounced program devaluations over the years. However, that doesn’t mean you can’t find value in the SkyMiles program.

Also, many TPGers actually prefer flying Delta over any other U.S. carrier. Delta is well known for its customer service, which can be extremely useful when something goes wrong with your trip.

And with great new welcome bonuses, now may be a great time to apply.

Keep in mind that American Express does have a once-per-card-per-lifetime rule in place regarding earning welcome bonuses. If you’ve had one of these cards in the past, you’ll more than likely be precluded from applying for the same card again and earning the welcome bonus. This is why timing your Amex card applications is so important — you only get one shot to earn a welcome bonus for each of them, so you’ll want to make it count.

Luckily, these are some good welcome bonuses. If you’ve been considering applying for a Delta credit card, consider this your sign to apply now.

Official application link: Delta SkyMiles Gold Amex.
Official application link: Delta SkyMiles Platinum Amex.
Official application link: Delta SkyMiles Reserve Amex.
Official application link: Delta SkyMiles Gold Business Amex.
Official application link: Delta SkyMiles Platinum Business Amex.
Official application link: Delta SkyMiles Reserve Business Amex.

Additional reporting by Emily Thompson, Ryan Wilcox, Ryan Smith, Madison Blancaflor, Stella Shon, Christina Ly and Nick Ewen.

For rates and fees of the Delta Gold Amex, click here.
For rates and fees of the Delta Platinum Amex, click here.
For rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles Reserve Amex, click here.
For rates and fees of the Delta Gold Business Amex, click here.
For rates and fees of the Delta Platinum Business Amex, click here.
For rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles Reserve Business Amex, click here.