Before reaching for a wallet to pay for Delta Airlines flights, you may stop and wonder what kind of credit card you want to use. Should you use one of “delta” in front, or should you pay with something else?
In many credit card decisions, you may have to sacrifice benefits to earn extra points and miles. Is this true here?
Let’s see which credit card you might use to pay for your Delta flight and the benefits associated with your choice.
Compare credit cards for Delta Airlines flights
In addition to using a Delta co-branded credit card, you can also pay with a Travel Reward Card that earns transferable points when purchasing a trip, such as your next flight reservation with Delta. Here are some of the cards you may use and what you can get when using them:
| Card name | Earning rate for Delta flights† | The value of the reward* | Benefits related to DELTA | Annual fee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DeltaSkymiles® Reserve American Express Card
and DeltaSkymiles® Reserve Business American Express Card |
3 miles per dollar | 3.75 cents | Visit the Delta Sky Club Lounge 15 times a year while traveling on the same day.
Four times Sky Club guest pass Peer Certificate of the Year $10 per medal eligible for USD, no credit card spending can earn how much MQD 2,500 MQD increase per year Priority to boarding on Delta flights 20% refund as a statement in honor of on-board purchases of food, drinks and headphones |
$650 (see rates and fees for Delta Reserves; see rates and fees for Delta Reserves operations) |
| Delta Skymiles® Platinum American Express Card
and DeltaSkymiles®PlatinumBusiness American Express Card |
3 miles per dollar | 3.75 cents | Peer Certificate of the Year
Fees per $20 are 1 MQD, and there is no limit on how much MQD you can earn with your credit card spend 2,500 MQD increase per year Priority to boarding on Delta flights 20% refund as a statement in honor of on-board purchases of food, drinks and headphones |
$350 (see rates and fees for Delta Platinum; see rates and fees for Delta Platinum business) |
| DeltaSkymiles® Gold American Express Card
and DeltaSkymiles® Gold Commercial American Express Card |
2 miles per dollar | 2.5 cents | Free first check bag available in the same booking, up to eight companions
Priority to boarding on Delta flights 20% refund as a statement in honor of on-board purchases of food, drinks and headphones Delta’s $200 incremental flight credit after spending $10,000 or more in a calendar year |
$0 introductory annual fee, followed by $150 (see Delta Gold rates and fees; see Delta Gold business rates and fees) |
| DeltaSkymiles®BlueAmerican Express Card | 2 miles per dollar | 2.5 cents | 20% refund as a statement credit for transport of food and beverages | $0 (see rates and fees) |
| American Express Platinum Card® | 5 points per dollar (up to $500,000 per year for purchases, then 1 point per dollar) | 10 cents | Delta Sky Club visit (When traveling on the same day Delta flight; qualified Platinum Card members come to Delta Sky Club every year or catch and catch and go on a trip on the same day Delta operates flight.)
Choose Delta as your preferred airline to cover the incidental statement credit limit of $200 airline per calendar year, such as checked baggage or preferred seating fee (registration is required; terms and conditions apply) |
$695 (see rates and fees) |
| Chase SapphireReserve® (see rates and fees) | 4 points per dollar (8 points per dollar if booked through Chase Travel) | 8.2 cents (or 16.4 cents) | No, but some purchases can be offset by $300 annual travel credits offered on the card | $795 |
| Capital One Venture X Reward Credit Card | 2 miles per dollar (5 miles per dollar if booked in a travel portal in the capital) | 3.7 cents (or 9.25 cents) | No, but some purchases can be made with $300 annual credit available when booking on Capital One Travel | $395 |
†On flights purchased directly on Delta
*The bonus value is based on TPG’s June 2025 valuation and does not come from the issuer.
Related: 16 Ways to Earn More Delta Skymiles from Using Credit Cards to Shopping Online
Which card should you use for Delta Airlines flights?
You don’t have to consider the real trade-offs of the Delta when it comes to enjoying benefits and as many points and miles as possible.
Related: Baggage Fees in Delta and How to Avoid Payment
Benefits like free check bags and priority boarding are attached to your Delta Skymiles number instead of the credit card you pay for. This means you can use it theoretically Amex Platinum Enjoy unrivaled income rates in its insurance benefits and flight purchases.
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However, you will still like the benefits of checked baggage and early boarding benefits. Amex Delta Reservefor example, even if you are not paying with the card.
Related: Best Credit Cards, Taxes and Fees for Paying Bonus
The only situation where you have to use a card is when you use Delta for in-car purchases. To enjoy a 20% discount (in the form of a declared credit), use a qualified Delta card to purchase self-sufficient food and beverages; if you pay with another card, you will not receive this benefit. You may also ask you to show you Delta Reserve or Delta Reserve Business Cards when accessing the lounge before flight.
Outside of flights, use the Delta card to enjoy the benefits of MQD promotion purchased on Delta Reserve and Delta Platinum cards. But this may not affect which card you use to pay for your Delta flight, provided you reach those spending thresholds through other purchases.
If you are interested in learning about these credit card-related benefits that will help you get your Delta Elite identity, read How to get your Delta Medallion Elite identity without flying.
Bottom line
Options abound; you can use many different credit cards to pay for your flights – whether it’s buying cash tickets at a premium or paying taxes and fees when redeeming miles. If you are booking with a Delta, there are many benefits in the flight by simply having a Delta credit card in your wallet.
The good news is that no matter which credit card you use for flight, you can enjoy many of these benefits. This gives you the freedom to use any card you want to enjoy the insurance protection or bonus points provided on other cards in your wallet.
Related: Current Offers on Delta Amex Card
For rates and fees for Amex Delta reserve cards, click here.
For rates and fees for Amex Delta reserve brand, click here.
For rates and fees for Amex Delta Platinum Cards, click here.
For rates and fees for Amex Delta Platinum business cards, click here.
For rates and fees for Amex Delta gold cards, click here.
For rates and fees for the Amex Delta Golden Business Card, click here.
For rates and fees for Amex Delta Blue Cards, click here.
For rates and fees for Amex Platinum cards, click here.
