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Delta Airlines offers a range of credit cards that offer various perks and benefits to its customers.
These cards can be an excellent way to earn rewards and travel benefits while using your credit. However, like any credit card, Delta requires a minimum credit score for approval.
In this article, we will explore what credit score is needed for Delta credit cards, how to check your credit score, and what other factors can impact your eligibility for these cards.
What Cards Do Delta Offer?
Delta Air Lines offers a range of credit cards, each designed to cater to different travel needs and preferences. Here's a general explanation of each card:
Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card: This mid-tier card is designed for travelers who fly Delta regularly and want to earn rewards.
Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card: This mid-high tier card is designed for frequent Delta travelers who want additional perks and benefits.
Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card: This card is the top-tier Delta credit card, designed for the most frequent Delta travelers.
Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card: This low tier card is a no-annual-fee option that still offers rewards for Delta purchases.
Delta SkyMiles® Gold Business American Express Card: This card is designed for small business owners who fly Delta regularly.
Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card: This card is designed for small business owners who want additional perks and benefits when traveling with Delta.
Each card has different rewards, fees, and benefits, so make sure to choose the one that best fits your travel needs and financial situation.
Card | Rewards | Annual Fee |
| 1X – 2X
2X miles on delta purchases, at restaurants worldwide (including take-out and delivery in the U.S) and at U.S. supermarkets, and 1x miles on all other eligible purchases
| $150, $0 intro first year (Rates & Fees)
|
|---|---|---|---|
| 1X – 2X
2X miles for every dollar spent at restaurants worldwide and Delta purchases and 1X miles for every dollar spent on other eligible purchases
| $0 (Rates & Fees) | |
| 1X – 3X
3X miles per dollar on eligible Delta flights and Delta Vacations® with 1X miles on all other purchases
| $650 (Rates & Fees) | |
| 1X – 3X
3X Miles on Delta purchases and purchases made directly with hotels, 2X Miles at restaurants worldwide including takeout and delivery in the U.S., and at U.S. supermarkets and 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases
| $350 (Rates & Fees) | |
| Delta SkyMiles Platinum Business American Express Card | 1x – 3x
3 miles per dollar spent on purchases made directly with Delta and hotels, 1.5 miles per dollar spent on eligible purchases of $5,000 or more, up to 50,000 additional miles per year and 1 mile per eligible dollar spent on all other purchases
| $350 (Rates & Fees) |
| Delta SkyMiles Reserve Business American Express Card | 1x – 3x
3x miles per dollar spent on purchases made directly with Delta and 1x mile per dollar spent on other purchases (1.5x miles on all purchases after spending $150,000 in a calendar year)
| $650 (Rates & Fees) |
What Credit Score is Required To Get Approved?
The credit score required to be approved for a Delta credit card can vary depending on the card and the lender's specific criteria. However, generally, you'll need a fair to excellent credit score to be considered for a Delta credit card.
Here are the different requirements per each level:
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Delta SkyMiles Blue And Gold: 650 Score May Be Enough
While the Delta SkyMiles blue is considered a low-tier card and the SkyMiles gold card is a mid-tier, you'll be able to get approved for the Gold card if you have fair credit, which means at least 640 or 650 scores.
However, you may need to meet other criteria such as preliminary experience with Amex, low credit utilization and support factors.
Here are some examples of applicants who got approved in this range:
- This guy was approved for the Delta Gold card from AMEX, with a credit limit of $1,000. He had a credit score of 651 on Experian Fico 8, one collection of $600 from 2-3 years ago, and a utilization rate of 30%. He also had 12-13 inquiries on their Experian credit report. His story is interesting: he did not go through the pre-approval process but instead applied when they saw the open account offer while booking a vacation on Delta.
- On another review, we can see a guy that went through a pre-approval site. He worked on rebuilding their credit and had a FICO 8.0 score of 648 at the time of the credit pull, which was the third inquiry on their credit report. He was approved by Amex for a credit limit of $1,000.
- The last example of approval for the Amex Delta Gold Skymiles credit card was done via the new Amex's “Apply with Confidence” approval tool, which resulted in a denial due to their credit score of 640. Despite this, this person tried again and was approved for a $1,000 credit limit with an Experian credit score of 643. The card arrived one day after receiving the denial letter from the first attempt.
-
Delta SkyMiles Platinum: Get Approved With 680 Credit Score
Whether you consider a business or a personal Delta Platinum card, the credit score needed for this mid-high tier card is at least 680.
Here are some examples:
- With an Experian Fico score of 712, this guy applied for the Amex Delta Platinum credit card and was approved, but he was disappointed to receive a credit limit of only $1,700. He mentioned that he had been an Amex cardholder for almost a year, have no missed payments, and sometimes carried a balance. However he only started building their credit 2 years ago
- This guy has a credit score is 720 on Experian and he was pre-approved and got an $8,200 limit, the highest of any card he had.
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Delta SkyMiles Reserve: At Least 680 Credit Score
Whether you consider a business or a personal Delta Reserve card, the credit score needed for this high-tier card is at least 680. The chances you'll get approved for a lower score are low (despite being possible in rare cases, as we will see now).
The Reserve card is considered as the best card Delta can offer, including luxurious benefits such as MQD Waiver, complimentary Delta Sky Club® and The Centurion® Lounge Access and Delta Reserve annual companion certificate.
As discussed, in rare cases, it can be possible to get approved even for a lower score- and here's a great example of it.
- This person was approved for a starting credit limit of $3,700 on the Delta Reserve Amex despite having a FICO score of 660. He previously got approved for the Amex Platinum card and has an income of $95,000. Other useful data points include being an authorized user on a Gold Delta Amex card with a limit of $23,200 and low utilization three years before approval.
- After successfully getting approved for Hilton and Hilton Aspire cards, this guy decided to apply for the Delta Reserve card despite not being preapproved. The reviewer suspected it would be a soft pull, and they were happy to be approved for a credit limit of $3,700. He has a 672 FICO score according to Experian, and they have been spending around $10k on their cards with less than 10% utilization.
Which Other Factors Can Boost Delta Approval Chances?
In addition to meeting the credit score requirements, there are other factors that Amex considers when approving you for a Delta credit card. These factors can include:
Income: Amex will want to ensure that you have a steady income that can support your credit card payments.
Credit history: Amex will look at your credit history to see how you've managed credit in the past, including factors such as your payment history and credit utilization.
Debt-to-income ratio: Amex will also consider your debt-to-income ratio, which is the amount of debt you have compared to your income.
Other financial obligations: Amex may also consider other financial obligations, such as your rent or mortgage payments.
Which Documents Do I Need To Provide?
When you apply for a Delta credit card, you'll typically need to provide the following documents:
Personal information: This includes your name, address, and Social Security number.
Employment information: This includes your employer's name and contact information, as well as your income and employment status.
Financial information: This includes information about your existing debts, such as credit card balances and loan payments.
Proof of identity: This can include a driver's license or passport.
Proof of income: This can include recent pay stubs or tax returns.
How To Apply For Delta Card?
To apply for a Delta credit card, follow these steps:
Research and choose the Delta credit card that best fits your travel needs and financial situation.
Visit the Amex website, and pick the Delta credit card you want to apply for.
Click on the “Apply Now” button on the card's webpage to begin the application process.
Fill out the application with your personal information, including your name, address, Social Security number, and employment information.
Provide any additional information and documents required, such as proof of income and identification.
Review the terms and conditions of the credit card, including the rewards program, fees, interest rates, and other important details.
Submit the application and wait for a decision from the Amex. This may take a few minutes to a few weeks, depending on the card and your creditworthiness.
If your application is approved, you'll typically receive your new Delta credit card in the mail within a week or two.
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