Delta Air Lines is one of the "big three" U.S. carriers, serving nearly 300 destinations in more than 50 countries. Millions of travelers choose Delta each year and to help enhance their travel experience the airline runs a loyalty program for its members called Delta SkyMiles.

If you live in a Delta hub or fly the airline fairly regularly, you might be wondering whether getting a co-branded Delta SkyMiles credit card will help you earn special rewards and elevate your travel experience. So if you're asking yourself, "Is a Delta credit card worth it?" we've got answers for you.

Available Delta credit cards

American Express is the sole issuer of co-branded Delta SkyMiles credit cards. Let's look at the Delta cards and the welcome offers available to consumers and business owners.

Personal Delta credit cards

Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card (annual fee: $0): Earn 10,000 bonus miles after you spend $1,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months. Terms Apply.

Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card (annual fee: $0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $99): Earn 40,000 bonus miles after you spend $2,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months. Terms Apply.

Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card (annual fee: $250): Earn 50,000 bonus miles after you spend $3,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months. Terms Apply.

Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card (annual fee: $550): Earn 60,000 bonus miles after you spend $5,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months. Terms Apply.

Delta business credit cards

Delta SkyMiles® Gold Business American Express Card (annual fee: $0 intro for the first year, then $99): Earn 50,000 Bonus Miles after spending $2,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 3 months of Card Membership. Terms Apply.

Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card (annual fee: $250): Earn 60,000 Bonus Miles after spending $3,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 3 months of Card Membership. Terms Apply.

Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card (annual fee: $550): Earn 70,000 Bonus Miles after spending $5,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 3 months of Card Membership. Terms Apply.

The cards' benefits range from basic to comprehensive. If you're interested in applying for a Delta SkyMiles credit card, we recommend researching their perks and considering annual fees. We will not cover these in our analysis below.

Earn up to 100,000 bonus miles with our favorite Delta cards

Check out our nerdy picks for the best Delta credit cards and find the right card for you.

BROWSE CARDS

How Delta SkyMiles credit cards work

Provide your SkyMiles number when you apply for a Delta-branded credit and it'll be attached to your frequent-flyer account. If you don't have a member number, one will be created for you automatically.

Every time you swipe a card for purchases, you'll earn points based on the earning structure of each card. Typically, you earn a mileage multiplier on Delta purchases and in a couple of other bonus categories, such as restaurants, hotels and U.S. supermarkets.

The miles you earn are redeemable for award flights on Delta flights as well as on partner airlines, such as Air France, KLM and LATAM. Redemption rates vary based on travel dates and destination, but you should get about 1.2 cents per mile on average, according to NerdWallet’s valuation.

SkyMiles don't expire whether you hold a Delta credit card or not, as long as your SkyMiles account is in good standing.

How to determine if a Delta card is worth it

Can you foot the annual fee?

Co-branded Delta SkyMiles credit cards come with all kinds of perks, including:

Free checked bags.

TSA PreCheck or Global Entry enrollment fee credits.

And even Delta Sky Club access (with the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card).