Delta SkyMiles American Express- Your Easy Ticket to Jet-Setting

Rachel Sanchez
8 min readFeb 26, 2024

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Delta skymiles american express pin image

If you’re someone who’s always on the lookout for a great travel companion — not the kind that hogs the armrest, but a credit card that makes it better for you — then you might want to check out the Delta SkyMiles American Express Card. Trust me; this little piece of plastic might just be the golden ticket you’ve been searching for.

TLDR

Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express Card: Your Gateway to Extraordinary Travel Rewards

  1. Earn 70,000 Bonus Miles: Uncover the secrets to accumulating 70,000 bonus miles swiftly by spending $2,000 in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Your journey towards remarkable rewards begins here.
  2. Double Miles on Dining and Groceries: Elevate your dining experience with 2X miles at restaurants, including takeout and delivery, as well as on groceries at U.S. supermarkets. Maximize your miles while enjoying the flavors of life.
  3. Free First Checked Bag: The headline says it all — no checked bag fee for you!
  4. $100 Delta Flight Credit: Fuel your wanderlust by unlocking a $100 Delta Flight Credit when you reach $10,000 in purchases within a calendar year. Let your card inspire your next adventure.
  5. TakeOff 15–15% Off Award Travel: Embrace savings with TakeOff 15, offering a 15% discount when booking Award Travel with miles through delta.com or the Fly Delta app. Your journey just became more affordable.
  6. In-Flight Savings and Priority Boarding: Revel in a 20% savings on eligible Delta in-flight purchases of food and beverages. Enjoy the luxury of Main Cabin 1 Priority Boarding, ensuring a stress-free start to your Delta flight.
  7. Flexibility with Pay with Miles: Tailor your travel experience by taking up to $50 off the cost of your flight for every 5,000 miles redeemed with Pay with Miles on delta.com. Enjoy the flexibility to make your miles work for you.
  8. Travel Protection Beyond Expectations: Beyond rewards, the Delta Skymiles AMEX Card offers comprehensive travel protection, including baggage insurance, car rental loss and damage insurance, and the 24/7 Global Assist® Hotline.
  9. Shopping Benefits for Savvy Shoppers: Avail yourself of purchase protection, extended warranty, and free 2-day shipping with ShopRunner. These shopping benefits enhance the overall value of your card.
  10. Exclusive Access with American Express® Experiences: Elevate your entertainment experiences with exclusive access to ticket presales and Card Member-only events through American Express® Experiences. Enjoy privileges beyond the ordinary.

Now, let’s cut to the chase and dive into the nitty-gritty. First things first — that ominous annual fee. For the first year, you’ll have no annual fee which I think is great because it seems like most love charging it within the first 3 months, and only after that, it’ll be $150. Hey, it’s like getting a free trial for a year, and if you ask me, that’s a pretty sweet deal. It’s a $150 value.

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Benefits of the Delta Skymiles American Express Card

Earn 70,000 Bonus Miles:

The good times just keep rollin’ with a whopping 70,000 Bonus Miles. All you need to do is spend $3,000 in purchases during your first 6 months of card membership. Offer ends 3/27/24, so mark that date on your calendar.

Achieving this bonus is straightforward — spend $3,000 in purchases on your new card within the first 6 months of Card Membership. This initial boost sets the stage for a rewarding journey with Delta’s extensive network.

What’s even better is most cards make you have that level of spending in the first 3 months but now you have more time to get it and not have to worry about overspending.

Double Miles on Dining and Groceries

Now, let’s talk about earning those precious Delta SkyMiles. You’ll get 2x miles when you indulge in a bit of wining and dining. That includes restaurants, takeout, and even that cozy pizza delivery joint down the block. Your taste buds and your SkyMiles balance will thank you. Now this isn’t the greatest earning potential on this card in compared to other credit cards that have 3x miles or points in at least one category, but the card makes up for it in other ways.

Need groceries? 2x miles will grace your account when you stroll down the aisles of U.S. supermarkets. That means your grocery shopping isn’t just about filling the fridge; it’s about paying for your next trip.

And for all the Delta devotees out there, 2x miles come your way when you make those Delta purchases directly. It’s like earning miles while doing what you love — traveling.

This feature not only complements the lifestyle of many but also accelerates the accumulation of miles for future travel.

TakeOff 15

The card introduces TakeOff 15, offering a 15% discount when booking Award Travel with miles. This exclusive benefit applies when using delta.com or the Fly Delta app, providing cardholders with savings on their journeys.

Exclusive Benefits for Delta Purchases:

I bet you hate having to pay that checked bag fee that was added on a few years ago. Ever dreamed of having a free checked bag on your flights? Dreams do come true with this card — your first checked bag flies for free. It’s like getting a head start on saving money for those in-flight snacks.

In-Flight Savings and Priority Boarding

Cardholders receive a 20% savings on eligible Delta in-flight purchases of food and beverages. Moreover, Main Cabin 1 Priority Boarding ensures a seamless and comfortable start to every Delta flight.

So, whether you’re craving peanuts or a cheeky glass of wine, your wallet gets a little breather.

$100 Delta Flight Credit

Reaching $10,000 in purchases within a calendar year unlocks a $100 Delta Flight Credit, serving as an inspiring incentive for further exploration. This credit can be used towards future travel, making the Delta SkyMiles American Express Card a long-term companion for avid travelers.

Now this one might be harder to get, spending $10,000 in purchases on your card in a calendar year. If you don’t already have this level of spending in a year, I don’t recommend aiming for this.

You’ll want to be able to pay off your credit card balance every month to both help your credit score to be able to apply for new ones as well as to keep your debt balance low.

No Foreign Transaction Fees

When I travel, I see a running balance of my spending in my head, and in the past few years I’ve started to focus more on finding ways to save and travel on $50 a day. One way to save is getting rid of all the surcharges on purchases you make. Foreign transaction fees are one of those surcharges. This card equals no pesky foreign transaction fees.

Travel Protection

The card goes beyond travel rewards by offering valuable protections. This includes baggage insurance, car rental loss and damage insurance, and the Global Assist® Hotline, providing 24/7 emergency assistance and coordination services.

I recommend putting your travel purchases on the Chase Sapphire Preferred for their great travel insurance benefits.

Ever heard of the $100 Delta Stays Credit? Book your hotels or vacation rentals through Delta Stays, and get up to $100 back per year as a statement credit. It’s basically a free night in a hotel — sweet dreams indeed.

So, if you’re ready to turn your everyday spending into epic adventures, the Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card might just be your thing. Pack your bags, swipe your card, and let the SkyMiles roll in.

Flexibility with Pay with Miles

For added flexibility, cardholders can take up to $50 off the cost of their flight for every 5,000 miles redeemed with Pay with Miles when booking on delta.com. This feature enhances the overall value proposition of the Delta SkyMiles card.

Shopping Benefits

Beyond travel, the card offers purchase protection, extended warranty, and access to ShopRunner for free 2-day shipping at eligible online stores. These features contribute to a comprehensive suite of benefits for cardholders.

Exclusive Access with American Express® Experiences

Cardholders gain access to exclusive ticket presales and Card Member-only events through American Express® Experiences. This feature adds an extra layer of enjoyment for those looking to explore entertainment options.

pointsyeah portal image for free trips

Ways to Free Travel

This card is now offering 70,000 bonus SkyMiles as a sign up bonus. I use the free tool PointsYeah to check out their Dream Explorer tool that searches through hundreds of award flights for the international and local flights with the least mileage spend.

I just checked yesterday and saw a flight from Boston to Charles de Gaulle in Paris for only 12,000 points.

The free version doesn’t offer multi-leg search but it’s simple enough to to an open jaw search by typing in your departure airport and your arrival airport as “Anywhere”.

Now if you want to go from Boston to Paris to Germany you can. I saw those 3 legs for a sum total of 17,000 miles plus $200 or so in fees.

You’ll even be able to use PointsYeah to filter out only offers for Delta SkyMiles.

Ever heard of an airline alliance? Certain airlines and bank programs have partnered to form what’s called an alliance and share points throughout the alliance.

Delta is a part of the SkyTeam alliance. The following airlines are a part of this alliance:

  • AerolineasArgentinas
  • AeroMexico
  • Air Europe
  • Air France
  • China Airlines
  • Czech Airlines
  • Delta Airlines
  • Garuda Indonesia
  • ITA Airways
  • Kenya Airways
  • KLM
  • Korean Air
  • Middle East Airlines
  • Saudia
  • Tarom
  • Vietnam Airlines
  • Virgin Atlantic
  • XiamenAir

I’ve found some great Virgin Atlantic deals. This could be your partner to transfer your points to depending on when and where you want to travel.

KLM also has some great deals. PointsYeah does all the work for you.

You just filter out to only include the members of the SkyTeam Alliance then choose which destination you want for which dates — open or specific — choose the deal, then PointsYeah will direct you to the page where you should transfer your points to. It’s easy as pie.

I’ve found it’s best to be as open-ended on dates and destinations as you can be because you’ll find the best deals.

Wrapping up

In conclusion, the American Express Card Delta SkyMiles is more than just a credit card — it’s a gateway to enhanced travel experiences, exclusive savings, and valuable protections. Whether you’re a frequent flyer or an occasional traveler, this card has the features to make your journey more rewarding and enjoyable. Unlock the potential of your travels with the Delta SkyMiles AMEX Card.

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