I recently met the $10,000 spending requirement on my Delta SkyMiles® Gold Business American Express Card, which unlocks a $200 Delta eCredit. The timing was quick — as soon as the charge that put me over the threshold posted, the credit showed up in my Delta account under Certificates, eCredits & Vouchers.
Now that I have the eCredit in hand (or at least in my account), I took a close look at the rules — and it works almost exactly like other Delta eCredits, such as those you might get for volunteering your seat on an oversold flight.
Which Delta Amex Cards Offer the $200 Flight Credit?
This $200 Delta flight credit is only available on the Gold-level cards:
Both versions offer the same benefit: spend $10,000 in purchases in a calendar year, and you’ll receive a $200 Delta Flight Credit. The credit is issued to your SkyMiles account, usually within days of the qualifying transaction posting.
Expiration & Travel Dates
- The credit is valid for one year from the date it’s issued.
- You don’t have to travel before it expires — you just need to book by the expiration date.
Redemption Rules
- Redeem online at Delta.com with no transaction fee.
- No mixing with miles: You can’t combine the flight credit with mileage redemptions, whether for a full award ticket or a Miles + Cash fare.
- Currency conversion: If your ticket is issued in a currency other than USD, Delta will convert the credit value using the Bankers Rate of Exchange at the time of ticketing.
- No extensions: The expiration is firm. If you combine multiple eCredits with different expiration dates, the earliest expiration will govern the whole amount.
What You Can & Can’t Use the eCredit For
The eCredit can only be applied toward the base airfare and any taxes, fees, and surcharges that are part of the ticket price.
- ✅ You can use it to buy a fare that includes premium seats or checked bags (for example, Delta Premium Select or Main Cabin fares with bags included).
- ❌ You cannot use it for separate seat upgrade charges — including Delta Comfort+, Preferred Seats, or exit row fees — even if you select them during booking.
- ❌ You cannot use it for checked bag fees, priority boarding, or other ancillary charges purchased separately.
- ❌ You cannot use it for the taxes and fees on award tickets.
Partial Use & Leftover Balance
If your ticket costs less than the eCredit value, you won’t lose the rest. Delta’s official policy says:
If the value of a Delta eCerts Credit Voucher is greater than the transportation purchased, a new certificate for the remaining value will be issued to the original recipient, and the remaining value will be stored in Delta’s electronic database which may be used for the purchase of a future ticket.
Keep in mind: if you combine that new eCredit with another one that expires sooner, the earlier expiration date will apply to the entire combined amount.
Transfer Rules
- The eCredit is non-transferable between SkyMiles accounts, but you can apply it toward someone else’s ticket.
- The designated traveler does not need to fly with the voucher owner.
- Certificates may not be transferred for cash or any other consideration.
Final Thought
The $200 flight credit from the Delta SkyMiles® Gold Amex cards is straightforward and flexible — essentially the same as other Delta eCredits — but it comes with a few important restrictions. The one-year booking window gives you time to plan, and the ability to apply it toward someone else’s ticket adds flexibility.
Just remember: it can’t be used for upgrades, standalone ancillary fees, or award ticket taxes, and it can’t be combined with miles. Keep an eye on the expiration date, and you’ll have no trouble getting full value from it.
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This post first appeared on Your Mileage May Vary