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Editor’s note: This is a recurring post, regularly updated with new information and offers.

You may wonder whether you have a high enough credit score to be approved for a Delta SkyMiles credit card. Of course, it’s important to remember that while your credit score indicates your approval odds, it’s not an absolute science. Credit card issuers also consider many other aspects when deciding whether to approve you for a card.

So let’s take a closer look at what it usually takes to get approved for Delta consumer cards, including the Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card, Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card, Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card and Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card.

What credit score do you need to get Delta SkyMiles American Express cards?

To be approved for a Delta SkyMiles credit card, data points suggest you will generally need a credit score of 690 or higher. However, it is possible to be approved with a credit score as low as 640 if other aspects of your credit portfolio look appealing to American Express.

American Express doesn’t publish a required credit score for its cards. After all, many other factors go into qualification beyond your score. For example, Amex will likely also consider your income and the age of your credit accounts.

Related: Why the perfect credit score isn’t necessary

How many card accounts can I have open?

American Express limits cardholders to at most five Amex consumer or business credit cards. So, you likely won’t be approved if you already have five other Amex consumer or business credit cards.

Related: TPG reader credit card question: How many credit cards should I have?

Will I be eligible for a SkyMiles welcome bonus?

American Express generally restricts eligibility for a card’s welcome bonus to “one per lifetime.” The application terms and conditions for the cobranded Delta cards currently state:

Welcome offer not available to applicants who have or have had this or previous versions of this Card. We may also consider the number of American Express Cards you have opened and closed as well as other factors in making a decision on your welcome offer eligibility.

Luckily, Amex’s welcome bonus qualification tool will notify you if you are ineligible for a welcome bonus after you click to apply. If you aren’t eligible for the welcome bonus, you can either proceed without a welcome bonus or withdraw your application.

In September 2023, American Express introduced a family rule on some personal Delta credit cards, further restricting welcome bonus eligibility. The general terms state:

You also may not be eligible to receive a welcome offer based on various factors, such as your history with credit card balance transfers, your history as an American Express Card Member, the number of credit cards that you have opened and closed and other factors. If you are not eligible for a welcome offer, we will notify you prior to processing your application so you have the option to withdraw your application.

In addition to these terms, specific Delta cards issued by Amex include the updated family terms of eligibility:

• Delta Blue Amex: You may not be eligible to receive a welcome offer if you have or have had this Card, the Delta SkyMiles® Options Credit Card, the Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card, the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card, the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card or previous versions of these Cards
• Delta Gold Amex: You may not be eligible to receive a welcome offer if you have or have had this Card, the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card, the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card or previous versions of these Cards.
• Delta Platinum Amex: You may not be eligible to receive a welcome offer if you have or have had this Card, the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card or previous versions of these Cards.
• Delta Reserve Amex: The family term rules have not been added to this card as of now.

Basically, Amex will probably disqualify you from receiving the welcome bonus on a lower-tier card (like the Gold) if you’ve held a higher-tier one (like the Platinum or Reserve).

Related: Should I still apply for a card if I can’t earn the welcome bonus?

How to check your credit score

There are many ways to check your credit score for free. Many credit cards even let you check your FICO Score for free. By checking your credit score regularly, you can see where your score lies on the scale from good to bad and track your score’s progress over time. You could also easily open a free account on a site like Credit Karma that can help you track your score and its factors even better.

Related: 8 biggest factors that impact your credit score

Factors that affect your credit score

Before applying for credit cards, it’s essential to understand the factors that make up your credit score. The formula for calculating your credit score isn’t exact. But FICO states it uses the following elements and weights in its calculation:

• Payment history (35%): Whether you’ve paid past credit accounts on time
• Amounts owed (30%): The relative size of your current debt and your existing debt ratio to your available credit, also known as your credit utilization
• Length of credit history (15%): How long your credit accounts have been established (including the age of your oldest account, the age of your newest account and the average age of all your accounts) and how long it has been since you used certain accounts
• New credit (10%): How many new accounts have you opened recently
• Credit mix (10%): How many different types of credit accounts you have, such as credit cards, retail accounts, installment loans, finance company accounts and mortgage loans

Related: 7 things to understand about credit before applying for a new card

What to do if you get rejected

If Amex rejects your application, you should receive a letter stating why Amex turned down your application. You can use this information to improve your financial situation before applying again. But, you could also call Amex’s reconsideration line at 1-800-567-1083 and make your case for why Amex should take a second look at your application.

If you call the reconsideration line, you should explain to the representative that you recently applied for a Delta Amex card. Then, you’ll want to note that you were surprised to see Amex rejected your application and would like to speak to someone about reconsidering that decision. The representative will likely ask for an application reference number or your social security number.

From there, it’s up to you to build a case for why Amex should approve your application. You might have a better chance of success if Amex’s reason for rejection was something you’ve been able to rectify since your application.

Related: How bad is it to get denied for a credit card?

How long to wait before applying again

If Amex rejected your application, I wouldn’t recommend applying again for the same card until you’ve addressed the reasons Amex gave for your rejection. However, applying for a different Amex card is generally safe as long as you don’t apply for too many cards within 90 days.

American Express doesn’t publish requirements regarding how many applications you can have and how frequently you can submit applications. However, TPG has found data points suggesting the following:

• You can apply for two cards in a single day. Many reports indicate that at least one application will likely be put on hold as a fraud-prevention mechanism
• You may get approved for more than two cards in 90 days. However, the general rule is that you shouldn’t apply for three or more Amex credit cards within three months

However, it’s generally best to go more slowly. After all, applying for too many cards in a short period of time can look risky to banks. And if you’re approved, you’ll need to meet minimum spending requirements to earn welcome bonuses on each card.

Related: How does applying for a new credit card affect my credit score?

Other cards to consider

It’s difficult to suggest other cards to consider without knowing why you wanted to apply for a cobranded Delta card in the first place. So, here are some suggestions based on the main reasons travelers usually apply for cobranded Delta cards.

Related: 4 reasons why the Amex Platinum might be the ideal credit card for Delta flyers

• You want lounge access when flying Delta: The Platinum Card® from American Express is a better choice for some Delta flyers than the Delta Reserve. Not only do you still get lounge access when flying Delta, but you also get access to Centurion and Priority Pass lounges, regardless of the airline you are flying. (Note that access restrictions will be introduced in February 2025.) The Amex Platinum also offers many other benefits and perks that might make it a better fit than a Delta credit card. Enrollment is required for select benefits.
• You want free checked bags when flying Delta: Although no other cards specifically offer a checked baggage allowance with Delta, some cards offer annual travel credits or an airline-fee credit that can cover checked baggage fees.
• You want to earn Delta SkyMiles: You could get a card that earns American Express Membership Rewards or Marriott Bonvoy points and then transfer these points to Delta SkyMiles as needed.

Related: The best travel credit cards

Bottom line

According to consumer data points, you generally need a credit score of 690 to higher to be approved for a Delta Amex card. However, some have been approved with a score as low as 640 when other factors of their credit appeal to American Express.

Before applying, applicants should be aware of Amex’s welcome bonus eligibility and the inclusion of a new family language, which further restricts eligibility. Luckily, Amex offers four Delta consumer credit cards, and most people should be eligible for at least one of them to help them take advantage of great benefits when flying Delta.

Application link: Delta SkyMiles Blue American Express Card

Application link: Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express Card

Application link: Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card

Application link: Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express Card