Does the American Express-Delta Airlines SkyMiles Credit Card Help Users Fly High or Crash and Burn

Like many people, we've been attracted to promotional offers for credit cards. We've been savvy and took advantage of the initial offers of low or no interest, used the credit cards and then cancelled before a higher, unacceptable rate kicked in. The most attractive credit cards to our family have been those that were affiliated with airlines and offered frequent flyer miles bonus incentives. For people who desire to travel for whatever reason, frequent flyers can be a big bonus. So how does American Express-Delta Airlines SkyMiles rate?

The Options for American Express-Delta Airlines SkyMiles Credit Card:

There are three options available at sign up, Standard, Gold and Platinum and each offers a difference in airline miles:

Standard: 5,000 Delta miles
Gold: 10,000 Delta miles
Platinum: 15,000 Delta miles following your first purchase

To give you a picture, it really takes 25,000 frequent flyers to earn a free domestic flight and compared to other airline flyer cards, this sign up bonus is really the best offer going.

How Can Card Holders Accumulate Miles?

Common to other airline affiliated credit cards, you can earn frequent flyer miles every time you use your American Express Delta SkyMiles credit card. The good news here is that American Express Delta goes a step further. When you make specific purchases, your miles are doubled.

The double the miles offered we have enjoyed include purchases:

*At a grocery store
*Gas station
*Drug store
*Home improvement store
*U.S. Postal Service

There is an annual limit of points for $100,000 in purchases, which usually isn't a concern for most credit card users.

American Express Delta SkyMiles Interest Rates and Fees:

The interest rate is variable and is tied to the primary rate. Whatever the current rate is, American Express adds 9.99%. Recently, our interest rate was 14.74%.

The good news is that balance transfers have a lower fixed interest rate of 9.99% for the life of the transfer if you make your transfer during the first 6 months of your card membership.

On the other hand, cash advances will cost you a little more. For cash advances the interest rate is the prime rate plus 12.99%.

Remember that cash advances or transfers do not translate into frequent flyer miles.

For the first year there is no annual fee but after the first year the annual fees apply and run between $55 to $125.00 depending on your card. Anyone that is already an American Express Member can deduct $55.00 from each of these fees. The frequent flyer miles can easily recoup additional fees for higher-level cards.

One of the cons of the American Express Delta SkyMiles Cards is that American Express is not as readily accepted as Master Card and Visa but we found it easy to rake up around 16,000 frequent flyers in our first year using it mostly for groceries. I can recommend the card for at least the first year with no annual fee.