When it comes to co-brand airline credit cards, each carrier has a target customer base. The most advertised card is the one that costs $85-$150 a year and provides some of the same benefits as those provided to those with entry-level status. If you travel with an airline a few times a year, these cards can come in handy and will pay for themselves after 1-2 trips.
With Orlando as our base, we have an interesting situation. There’s no one airline that dominates the airport. It’s not like we live in Atlanta, Newark, or Dallas, where you’re stuck with one major airline. While this has its positives, it also means we’ll never travel exclusively on a single airline. If we want to get benefits on our travels, we have to hold credit cards from several airlines. For my money, the one that saves us the most is a Delta co-branded American Express card.
Here are five reasons occasional Delta passengers should consider having one of these cards in their wallet:
Free Checked Bags
Delta offers a free checked bag for the cardholder and up to eight other people traveling on the same reservation. You don’t need to pay for the ticket with your Delta co-branded AMEX card, but the cardholder’s SkyMiles number must be on the reservation.
Here are the current prices for checked bags on Delta for a domestic flight.
Delta now charges $35 for the first checked bag per person each way for domestic flights. With a family of four, that adds up to $280 round-trip—easily covering the annual fee of most cards. Unlike some other benefits I only use because I have them, like lounge access, I would check a bag regardless of whether it was free.
TakeOff 15
One of the most valuable perks is the ability to save 15% on award tickets booked with SkyMiles. Known as TakeOff 15, this discount applies to award tickets on all Delta flights, with no blackout dates. For frequent award travelers, these savings can add up fast.
We saved 8,600 SkyMiles on one trip, which is worth at least $86. This feature makes award tickets stretch further, a fantastic benefit for those looking to maximize their SkyMiles.
20% In-Flight Savings.
You’ll receive 20% back as a statement credit on eligible pre-purchased meals, in-flight food, alcoholic beverages, and audio headsets on Delta-operated flights. To activate the savings, pay with your Delta co-branded AMEX card.
Priority Boarding
The primary cardmember and eight companions on the same reservation will be invited to board Delta-operated flights before general boarding. This boarding is with Zone 5 that includes the following:
- Silver Medallion Members
- Delta Corporate Travelers
- Gold, Platinum and Reserve Delta SkyMiles credit card members
- Flying Blue Silver members
- Virgin Atlantic Flying Club Silver members
- SkyTeam Elite
- LATAM Pass Gold+ Elite
- WestJet Rewards Silver Elite
It’s nice to know that you will likely not be asked to gate-check your carry-on bag regardless of your seating position.
Pay With Miles
This little-known benefit allows you to pay for part (of all) of your ticket with your SkyMiles. This will enable you to use your miles at a penny per point to pay for a cash ticket on Delta. You redeem miles in increments of 5,000 miles for $50. Since you can redeem points at 5,000-mile increments, it’s a useful way to redeem them if you’re not earning a bunch by flying or with credit card spend. To find out more about this benefit, check out the Delta website.
Final Thoughts
Between the free checked bag benefit, discounted award tickets, and priority boarding, a Delta co-branded AMEX card quickly pays for itself if you fly Delta a few times a year. While the specific perks and additional benefits vary between card tiers, all versions of the card offer significant value for occasional Delta flyers.
As long as Delta remains one of our go-to airlines, we’ll always keep one of these cards in our wallet.
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1 comment
Does the Delta amex benefits apply to international travels? Delt operated flights work better within the USA. Outside it their staff seems undedicated. I was returning to the US with Delta operated flights from Africa and I told the agent checking me in that my first bag is free and she was arguing with me that I can’t check three bags free on Delta premium select.