Best cards at Delta Air Lines
Discover it Cash Back earns the most at Delta Air Lines right now at 5%.
Rankings use issuer rates verified as of August 16, 2026.
#15%5%Discover it Cash Back
Discover · Discover · No annual fee · up to $1,500/qtr (combined) · Lower rate after the cap
#25x5xThe Platinum Card from American Express
American Express · Amex · $895/yr · up to $500,000/yr · Lower rate after the cap
#34x4xU.S. Bank Altitude Connect Visa Signature Card
U.S. Bank · Visa · No annual fee
#44x4xU.S. Bank Business Altitude Connect Visa Signature Card
U.S. Bank · Visa · Business · $95/yr · up to $150,000/yr (combined) · Lower rate after the cap
#54x4xWells Fargo Autograph Journey Visa Card
Wells Fargo · Visa · $95/yr
#64x4xChase Sapphire Reserve
Chase · Visa · $795/yr
#73x3xAir France KLM Visa Signature Credit Card
Bank of America · Visa · $89/yr
#83x3xDelta SkyMiles Platinum Business American Express Card
American Express · Amex · Business · $350/yr
#93x3xDelta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card
American Express · Amex · $350/yr
#103x3xDelta SkyMiles Reserve Business Card
American Express · Amex · Business · $650/yr
Good to know at Delta Air Lines
Delta accepts every major card network, online and at the counter, so this ranking comes down to pure earn rates. The Platinum Card from American Express leads at 5x, but it carries an $895 annual fee and a spending cap, with a lower rate once you pass it. Discover it Cash Back matches that 5% with no annual fee, though only in quarters you activate.
Both 5% leaders come with fine print: spending caps, a lower rate after the cap, and quarterly activation on the Discover card. Chase Sapphire Reserve earns a caveat-free 4x, but at $795 a year. The sleeper is the Air France KLM Visa Signature Credit Card: a 3x rate our valuations put near 3.6% in cash terms, for an $89 annual fee.
If none of the premium cards are in your wallet, the no-fee tier holds up well: Wells Fargo Autograph Card earns 3x and both Costco Anywhere Visa cards earn 3%, none of them with caps or activation steps in our data. And since the ranking is identical whether you book online or pay at the airport, one decision covers every channel.
The math
Spend $250 a month at Delta Air Lines and Discover it Cash Back returns about $150 a year at our valuations — a flat 2% card returns $60.
Common questions
- What is the best credit card at Delta Air Lines?
- Discover it Cash Back earns the most at Delta Air Lines right now at 5%.
- How does SwipeCaddy pick the best card at Delta Air Lines?
- We rank each card by its reward rate times a conservative cash value of its points or miles — no inflated transfer valuations — and apply Delta Air Lines's card-acceptance rules, so the "best" card is one you can actually use at the register.
- Can I pay for Delta flights with a Discover card?
- Yes. Delta takes all major card networks, both online and in person, so Discover works anywhere you buy a ticket. That matters because Discover it Cash Back sits second in this ranking at 5% with no annual fee; just remember it only earns that rate in quarters you activate, and a combined spending cap applies. Check your activation before you book.
- Do I need an annual-fee card to earn well on Delta?
- No. Discover it Cash Back reaches 5% with no annual fee if you activate each quarter and stay under the combined cap. If you would rather skip the tracking, the Wells Fargo Autograph Card earns 3x and the Costco Anywhere Visa Card by Citi earns 3%, both fee-free with no caps or activation listed. An annual fee here buys you out of activation chores, not a higher top rate.
Rates reflect each card's best case at this merchant and can change; check the issuer's terms before applying.