As of June 21, Air France has officially opened its lounge doors at Los Angeles International Airport. The new lounge features modern and stylish design and offers travelers amenities like a bar, dining area, bathrooms and showers. A spa is set to open in September 2024.
Here’s what you can expect when you visit the Air France lounge at LAX, plus how you can get in.
Getting to the Air France lounge at LAX
Entrance to the Air France lounge at LAX. (Photo by Josh Garber)
The new Air France lounge at LAX is in Terminal B (also referred to as the Tom Bradley International Terminal) in the Midfield Satellite Concourse. While the Midfield Satellite Concourse is about a 10- to 15-minute walk past security, it’s conveniently located near the gates that Air France regularly uses for its flights to Paris and Tahiti.
Air France lounge at LAX amenities
Private area for La Première passengers in the Air France lounge at LAX. (Photo by Josh Garber)
The Air France lounge at LAX is close to 12,000 square feet and seats 172 passengers. The lounge has several different areas, including:
Dining area featuring French cuisine.
Bar with a wide selection of French wines, champagnes, and other spirits and drinks.
Bathrooms and showers.
Several seating areas, including seats with USB sockets and power outlets.
Clarins Spa treatment area (opening in September 2024).
There is also a dedicated area available specifically for La Première (first class) passengers. It is designed to emulate the onboard La Première suites.
Food and drink
The cheese selection at the Air France lounge at LAX. (Photo by Josh Garber)
The food and dining experience at the Air France lounge at LAX sets it apart.
The airline designed the lounge dining area to resemble Parisian brasseries, with individual seating, a large communal table and private alcoves.
Air France takes great pride in its food. For example, its in-flight menu features French cuisine and was designed by chef Dominique Crenn, who has three Michelin stars for her restaurant Atelier Crenn in San Francisco. Its lounge menu similarly offers diners options that highlight the gourmet flavors of France.
The crepes, kale caesar salad and selection of cheeses were especially tasty.
The Air France lounge at LAX has a chef who will prepare dishes on request in an open kitchen. Options include pan-fried prawns or cassoulet with duck confit.
The lounge also features a modern, stylish bar with French champagnes, wines and other spirits, as well as a selection of mocktails.
Bar at the Air France lounge at LAX. (Photo by Josh Garber)
If you’re craving a soft drink, there are two refrigerators filled with soda and other nonalcoholic drinks a short walk from the bar.
Seating areas and bathrooms
Seating area at the Air France lounge at LAX, including art featuring the Hollywood sign. (Photo by Josh Garber)
There are plenty of seating options at the Air France lounge at LAX, including spacious individual seats with USB ports and communal seating.
You will also have access to smaller private areas, which work well for groups traveling together or individuals trying to minimize the distractions around them.
More seating at the Air France lounge at LAX, with easy access to a snack area with coffee. (Photo courtesy of Josh Garber)
A private seating area is available for Ultimate-level elites in the airline’s Flying Blue program. It features large armchairs designed to make passengers feel at home.
Spacious, gender-neutral bathrooms are available for all lounge visitors.
The hallway where bathrooms and showers are located at the Air France lounge at LAX. (Photo by Josh Garber)
You can also hop in the shower, which is particularly helpful if you want to freshen up on a layover or before you depart.
Area for La Première customers
Champagne and liquor in the La Première private area at the Air France lounge at LAX. (Photo by Josh Garber)
Guests flying in Air France’s La Première class have access to a private area dedicated to these customers. The area can fit up to twelve guests and has a private dining area with higher-end drinks and snacks.
Once the spa opens, La Première customers will be able to book services in advance. For other passengers, treatments will be available first come, first served.
How to access the Air France lounge at LAX
The Air France lounge at LAX is open daily and can be accessed by the following guests:
Air France La Première passengers.
Flying Blue Elite Plus members (Gold and Platinum levels).
Eligible customers of KLM and SkyTeam partner airlines.
The Air France lounge at LAX follows the standard SkyTeam lounge access rules, meaning international first and business class passengers on any SkyTeam airline (which includes Delta Air Lines) as well as SkyTeam Elite Plus members traveling in economy class can access the lounge.
SkyTeam member airlines
Aerolineas Argentinas.
AeroMexico.
Air Europa.
Air France.
China Airlines.
China Eastern.
Czech Airlines.
Delta Air Lines.
Garuda Indonesia.
ITA Airways.
Kenya AIrways.
Korean Air.
MEA (Middle East Airlines).
Vietnam Airlines.
Virgin Atlantic.
Xiamen Air.
Air France lounge at LAX recapped
The Air France lounge at LAX is modern and spacious. It features delicious food, a chic bar, plenty of seating options, a soon-to-open spa and a private area dedicated to first-class passengers.
Dulles International Airport (IAD) is one of three airports servicing the U.S. capital. It is situated about 26 miles outside Washington, D.C., in the Northern Virginia suburbs.
Compared to its counterpart in Virginia, Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, Dulles’ footprint is at least 12 times larger, sitting on more than 11,000 acres.
Washington-Dulles is known for its vast international flight options, for being a major United Airlines hub, and for its iconic main terminal, designed by well-known architect Eero Saarinen (the same architect who brought the New York-JFK terminal that’s now the TWA hotel to life).
Washington-Dulles is comprised of a main terminal building which features ticketing, security and a small set of “Z” gates, plus baggage claim and customs on the bottom floor.
There are two separate midfield terminals that run parallel to the main terminal: one long building housing the A and B concourses, and another housing the C and D concourses.
Map of IAD terminals
Dulles Airport main terminal
The Washington-Dulles main terminal building is the immediately-recognizable structure most people think of when picturing the airport, with its vaulted ceiling and all-glass facade.
(Photo by Sean Cudahy)
Inside, the building is huge, spanning 1.1 million square feet, and is close to a quarter-mile in length.
The main terminal is divided two floors: departures upstairs and arrivals downstairs.
Upper level
Inside the main terminal on the upper level, there are four large islands with ticket counters for domestic and international airlines.
(Photo by Sean Cudahy)
All passengers pass through security in the main terminal, so if you’re a Clear member, you’ll be able to use the service no matter which airline you’re flying.
The standard TSA checkpoint is downstairs.
Once you pass through security, you’ll catch the Aerotrain or people movers to your specific departure terminal.
Downstairs
Downstairs on the arrivals level is baggage claim with 15 carousels, as well as the airport’s customs facilities, which include Global Entry access.
Food options
Pre-security: Cafe Americana, District Chophouse, Capitol Gounds Coffee.
Retail
International Currency Exchange, Dulles Gourmet Market.
Lounges
The main terminal building houses a brand new Capital One Lounge just beyond the TSA PreCheck lanes.
(Photo by Sean Cudahy)
Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
NerdWallet Rating
Annual fee
$395
Transportation
Since Dulles operates out of three main terminal buildings, travelers have to take transportation to move between each.
Aerotrain
(Photo by Sean Cudahy)
The most convenient option is the Washington-Dulles Aerotrain, an automated train system that runs between a few of the terminals. It’s usually a quick ride, with a maximum of two minutes between stations.
(Photo by Sean Cudahy)
You can take the Aerotrain if you have a flight in the A gates, B gates or C gates. However, note that it is a decent walk from the station to the C gates.
People movers
(Photo by Sean Cudahy)
One of Dulles’ best-known quirks is its “mobile lounges,” or “people movers.” These Star Wars-esque machines haven’t entirely been phased out with the Aerotrain.
Inside, the people movers feel like a combination of a waiting room and a bus, and they take passengers from one terminal to another.
You’ll typically ride the people movers if you’re:
Flying out of the D gates (one of United’s concourses).
Connecting between United’s D gates and Terminal A (gates A1A through A6F).
Arriving on an international flight to get to the customs area in the main terminal.
Passenger walkway
If you’d rather get some steps in, there’s also a 1,000-foot underground pedestrian walkway that connects the main terminal with Concourse B, featuring moving sidewalks in both directions.
Dulles Terminal A
(Photo by Sean Cudahy)
Airlines
United (regional United Express flights, gates A1A through A6F).
International airlines occupy the main portion of terminal.
Lounges
Air France Lounge, near gate A20.
Open daily from 10:30 a.m. until last flight
Priority Pass eligible.
Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse, across from gate A32
Open starting around four hours before Virgin Atlantic flights.
Priority Pass eligible.
Other amenities
Food and beverage
Jersey Mike’s Subs.
Smashburger.
Starbucks.
Extreme Pita.
Cacao Chaser.
Capitol City Ink.
Duty Free America.
Gen X Wireless.
Hudson News.
International Currency Exchange.
Souvenir Library.
Terminal B
(Photo by Sean Cudahy)
Airlines
American Airlines.
Delta Air Lines.
Southwest Airlines.
International carriers like Aer Lingus, ANA, Lufthana, TAP Air Portugal and others.
Lounges
British Airways Lounge, located near Aerotrain station: Open daily from 6:00 a.m. to 10:30 p.m.
Lufthansa Business Lounge, located across from gates B49 and B51: Open 1:30 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. daily. Priority Pass eligible.
Turkish Airlines Lounge, located next to gate B43: Open 7:15 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. daily. Priority Pass eligible.
Other amenities
Food and beverage
Bracket Room.
Capitol Grounds Coffee.
Carrabba’s Italian Grill.
Chick-fil-a,
Commanders Burgundy & Gold Club.
DC-3 Hot Dog Joint.
Five Guys.
Peet’s Coffee.
Potbelly Sandwich Shop.
Vino Volo.
Wendy’s.
Cacao Chaser.
Chanel & Christian Dior.
DC Marketplace.
Duty Free Americas.
Eden’s Boutique.
Estée Lauder / M.A.C. Flag World.
Gen X Wireless.
Montblanc.
Ralph Lauren Polo.
See’s Candies.
Stellar News.
Sunglass Hut.
Travel Tech.
Vera Bradley.
Vineyard Vines.
Washingtonian.
Terminal C
(Photo by Sean Cudahy)
Airlines
Lounges
United has four lounges in Concourse C:
A United Club near gate C4: Open 2 p.m. – 7 p.m. daily.
A United Club near gate C7: Open 5:30 a.m. – 10 p.m. daily.
A United Club near gate C17: Open 5:30 a.m. – 10 p.m. daily.
Other amenities
Food and beverage
Au Bon Pain.
Auntie Annie’s.
Be Right Burger.
Chef Geoff’s.
Devil’s Backbone Taproom.
Starbucks.
Brookstone.
Capitol City Ink.
Duty Free Americas
Hudson News.
International Currency Exchange
Terminal D
Airlines
Lounges
United Club near gate D8: Open 5:30 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. daily.
Food and beverage
Bistro Atelier.
Dulles Gourmet Market.
Pizza Hut.
Rusty Taco.
Starbucks.
Duty Free Americas.
Forbes News.
International Currency Exchange.
NBC4 Travel Store.
A ‘bonus’ concourse of sorts, Dulles has a small handful of Z gates located in the main terminal building. A mix of airlines service these gates, and the only food and beverage options are Dunkin and Subway.
Washington-Dulles has several parking options. The priciest are right near the terminal and in garages, and the most affordable is a cheaper, satellite economy lot requiring a shuttle. You can reserve your parking online or take your chances of finding a free spot at the airport.
Terminal parking
Located just in front of terminal.
$29 per day or $6 per hour.
Follow covered walkway to terminal (brief walk).
There’s an additional “Valet” parking option for $39 per day that allows convenient pickup in front of the terminal parking lot for ultra convenience.
Garage 1 or Garage 2 Parking
Parking garage close to terminal.
$21 per day or $6 per hour.
Walk to the terminal via an underground or covered pedestrian walkway or take a shuttle.
Garage 2 is the most convenient for international departures.
Economy parking
Satellite parking lot.
$14 per day.
Shuttle service runs every 15 minutes. Give yourself at least 15 minutes of travel time to the terminal.
Rental cars
To get to and from the rental car facilities, you’ll have to take one of the airport’s free shuttle buses, a few minutes’ ride.
Dulles has most major rental car companies, including:
Enterprise.
Washington Metro Access
Dulles has direct access to the Washington Metro system via the Silver Line station. It’s located opposite the main terminal, across the terminal parking parking facilities. You’ll take an underground path with moving walkways to get to the Silver Line station.
From there, you can catch a Metro train that will take you through Tyson’s Corner, and eventually through Rosslyn and into downtown D.C. Metro’s trip planner shows it’s a ride of more than 50 minutes to Metro Center, a key connecting station in downtown D.C.
Check Metro’s website for information on hours of operation and fares.
Uber/Lyft from Dulles
Customers hoping to use a rideshare service like Uber and Lyft when they get off the airplane can be picked up on the arrivals level outside baggage claim outside Doors 2, 4 and 6.
(Top photo courtesy of Sean Cudahy)
How to maximize your rewards
You want a travel credit card that prioritizes what’s important to you. Here are our picks for the best travel credit cards of 2024, including those best for:
If you’re traveling to southern Florida or connecting on a flight to further destinations, there’s a chance you may find yourself hanging out in the Fort Lauderdale airport.
With over 700 flights a day in and out of the airport, plenty of passengers want a calm place to relax while waiting for their flight. That’s where the lounges at Fort Lauderdale airport come in.
Find out what your Fort Lauderdale airport lounge options are — and how to access them — below.
About Fort Lauderdale airport lounges
The Fort Lauderdale airport may not be as big as its neighbor in Miami, but it was ranked the 17th busiest airport in the U.S. based on passenger traffic in 2022. It’s convenient for those in Fort Lauderdale, Pompano Beach and Boca Raton, and both Miami and Palm Beach are within an hour’s driving distance.
Four airlines have operations bases in Fort Lauderdale: Southwest Airlines, Allegiant Air, JetBlue Airways and Spirit Airlines. Several others, including Delta Air Lines, United Airlines, American Airlines, Frontier Airlines and various international carriers, also have flights in and out of the airport.
The lounges in Fort Lauderdale airport are all found within the airport’s four terminals: 1, 2, 3 and 4. With so much passenger traffic, you might expect many lounges to choose from; however, there are only three lounges in this airport, with an additional Priority Pass dining option.
Two lounges are linked to specific airlines, Delta and United, while the other options are accessible for certain credit card holders or Priority Pass members. Whichever lounge you choose to bide your time in, you’ll likely require a same-day boarding pass to enter.
Terminal 1: United Club lounge
Terminal 1 typically serves domestic carriers, such as Allegiant, Southwest and United, though some international flights also depart from here. There’s only one lounge in this terminal, and to access it you’ll need to be flying on United or one of its Star Alliance partners.
United Club Lounge
Located next to the escalators near Gate C1.
Open from 5 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily.
Must have a same-day boarding pass to enter.
Amenities include Wi-Fi, snacks and a full-service bar.
This lounge is open to those flying in a United or Star Alliance premium class cabin, Star Alliance Gold elite status holders flying on a United or Star Alliance flight and those holding a United Club membership or a one-day pass.
United Club membership allows travelers to access more than 45 United Club locations around the world. Prices begin at $650 or 85,000 miles annually. Membership is also included as a benefit if you hold the United Club℠ Infinite Card.
Terminal 2: Delta Sky Club
Terminal 2 serves American, Delta and Southwest, along with a handful of other domestic and international airlines. If you’re looking for a lounge in Terminal 2, your only option is the Delta Sky Club.
Delta Sky Club
Located between gates D2 and D3.
Open from 4:15 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. daily.
Access is limited to those with a same-day boarding pass up to three hours before the flight’s departure.
Amenities include Wi-Fi, a hot and cold buffet and a full-service bar.
There’s a wide range of travelers who are eligible to enter the Sky Club. Passengers booked in Delta One on domestic or international flights (excluding the Caribbean) or in a SkyTeam partner’s premium cabin receive lounge access, as do Diamond, Platinum and Gold Medallion and SkyTeam Elite Plus status holders.
Certain credit card holders can also gain complimentary access to the Sky Club lounge. These cards include the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card, the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card, the Centurion card and The Platinum Card® from American Express.
Those who hold the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card or the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card can access the lounge for a $50 fee per visit.
Some premium class flyers or elite status holders with LATAM, Virgin Atlantic and WestJet also can receive access to the Sky Club lounge.
Finally, annual memberships to all Delta Sky Clubs are available for purchase by Medallion status holders. Prices start at $695.00 or 69,500 SkyMiles for an individual membership. Note that even if you hold a membership, you won’t be able to access the lounge if you’re flying in basic economy — unless you also hold an eligible American Express credit card.
Terminal 3: Escape Lounge
Terminal 3 is where you’ll find gates for American, Delta and United, as well as other U.S. airlines like Southwest, JetBlue and Spirit. This terminal has one lounge — the Escape Lounge — which isn’t connected to any specific airline, and therefore is open to any traveler who wants to pay the entrance fee.
Escape Lounge
Located between the E and F gates.
Open from 5:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily.
Accessible to travelers flying on any airline.
Amenities include Wi-Fi, a hot and cold buffet, full-service bar and showers.
For most travelers, it will cost $45 to enter the lounge, or $40 if you pre-book more than 24 hours prior to your arrival.
However, access is free to anyone holding The Platinum Card® from American Express, the Centurion card or the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card.
However, those entering with the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card must be traveling on a Delta flight to receive free entry.
Terminal 4: Priority Pass dining
Terminal 4 is home primarily to Southwest airlines, among others, and is lacking an actual lounge. However, Priority Pass members do have one option available to them in the form of a restaurant discount.
Priority Pass discount: Kafe Kalik
Open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily.
Located near gate G6.
Must have Priority Pass membership card and same-day boarding pass to receive discount.
Those with certain types of Priority Pass memberships can receive a $28 discount off their restaurant bill for dine-in service. Note that those who get Priority Pass memberships through a credit card, notably some American Express and Capital One cards, may not be eligible for this benefit.
If you’d like to join Priority Pass, memberships begin at $99 annually, which includes a $35 fee every time you visit a lounge. Plans that include limited free visits begin at $329 per year. However, many travel credit cards include Priority Pass Select as a benefit, which is another way to receive membership.
Fort Lauderdale airport lounges recapped
For such a busy place, there aren’t very many lounge options available at Fort Lauderdale airport. However, if you’re flying on Delta or United and are eligible to access their lounges, you’ll have a great place to relax and recharge before your flight.
For those who aren’t able to access the airline lounges, the Escape Lounge is a good choice if you don’t mind paying to enter — or if you have a credit card that gets you free access. If you’re planning to use the Priority Pass dining benefit, make sure you check the rules of your particular membership to ensure you’re eligible for the restaurant credit.
How to maximize your rewards
You want a travel credit card that prioritizes what’s important to you. Here are our picks for the best travel credit cards of 2023, including those best for:
The Bilt World Elite Mastercard® Credit Card is best known for its unique standout feature: the ability to earn rewards with no transaction fee when paying rent. Indeed, the Bilt credit card is a game-changer for renters. Beyond rent, though, how does Bilt compare with a more traditional general-purpose credit card like the Wells Fargo Autograph℠ Card?
Both cards carry no annual fee. They both earn 3 points per $1 spent on dining, offer cell phone protection and certain travel protections, plus charge no foreign transaction fees. But in most other respects, the benefits of these two cards couldn’t be more different.
The Wells Fargo Autograph℠ Card offers a compelling sign-up bonus and introductory APR, while the Bilt World Elite Mastercard® Credit Card offers neither. But the Bilt credit card, along with its most obvious benefit for renters, earns points that can be transferred to various hotel and airline travel partners, giving the potential for outsize value. Currently, the Autograph offers no such transfers.
Let’s dig into the specifics of each card so you can make the right pick for your lifestyle.
Who doesn’t want to be rewarded?
Create a NerdWallet account for personalized recommendations, and find the card that rewards you the most for your spending.
How the cards compare
Bilt World Elite Mastercard® Credit Card
Wells Fargo Autograph℠ Card
Annual fee
Sign-up bonus
Limited Time Offer: Earn 30,000 bonus points when you spend $1,500 in purchases in the first 3 months – that’s a $300 cash redemption value.
Rewards
3 points per $1 spent on dining.
2 points per $1 spent on travel.
1 point per $1 spent on rent (up to 100,000 points annually).
1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases.
3 points per $1 spent on restaurants.
3 points per $1 spent on travel, transit, gas stations and EV charging stations.
3 points per $1 spent on popular streaming services and select phone plans.
1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases.
APR
See Terms.
0% intro APR on Purchases for 12 months from account opening, and then the ongoing APR of 20.24%, 25.24%, or 29.99% Variable APR .
Foreign transaction fee
Still not sure?
Why the Bilt World Elite Mastercard® Credit Card is better for renters and travelers
Pay rent with a credit card
The Bilt World Elite Mastercard® Credit Card‘s standout feature is its ability to earn rewards on rent payments without any transaction fees. That’s a unicorn in the credit card world, as most cards can’t be used directly toward rent payments without such fees. Previously, renters looking to pile up credit card rewards relied on intermediary services like Plastiq, whose high fees cut into any rewards earned.
Though the benefit caps out at 100,000 points per year, this still makes the Bilt World Elite Mastercard® Credit Card the obvious choice for renters looking to get more out of their biggest monthly expense. Even if you don’t live in a property that’s part of the Bilt network, you can still charge rent on the card (with no transaction fees) and they’ll mail a check to your landlord.
Transfer to travel partners
Both cards earn points, but only points earned from the Bilt World Elite Mastercard® Credit Card have the potential for higher value toward travel. Points earned from the Wells Fargo Autograph℠ Card are worth 1 cent each and can be redeemed for travel, gift cards or statement credits — or when checking out online with PayPal.
Bilt Points are also versatile and can be used toward rent, fitness classes, home decor and even a home downpayment, for varying value. But as a card with no annual fee, the Bilt World Elite Mastercard® Credit Card stands out for its ability to transfer points at a 1:1 ratio to a wide range of travel partners. Travelers often find greater value than 1 cent each for their points when they transfer this way.
This is a rare perk among no-fee cards, most of which require pairing with a higher-fee card to transfer points. For example, Chase Freedom Flex℠ cardholders can transfer points to travel partners only if they also carry a higher fee card like the $95-annual-fee Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card.
Plus, Bilt’s list of travel partners is excellent, including American Airlines, United, Hyatt and IHG. In fact, despite American Airlines issuing co-branded credit cards with both Citibank and Barclays, neither issuer allows transfers of its points to the airline. Here’s a look at the full list of available transfers:
Full list of Bilt transfer partners
Aer Lingus (1:1 ratio).
Air Canada (1:1 ratio).
Air France (1:1 ratio).
American Airlines (1:1 ratio).
British Airways (1:1 ratio).
Cathay Pacific (1:1 ratio).
Emirates (1:1 ratio).
Hawaiian Airlines (1:1 ratio).
Hyatt (1:1 ratio).
Iberia Airlines (1:1 ratio).
IHG (1:1 ratio).
Marriott (1:1 ratio).
Turkish Airlines (1:1 ratio).
United (1:1 ratio).
Virgin Atlantic (1:1 ratio).
Bonus points in several categories, with an extra boost on “Rent Day”
Beyond rent payments, the Bilt World Elite Mastercard® Credit Card earns solid rewards on a variety of everyday expenses. That includes 5x points on Lyft rides, 3x points on dining, 2x points on travel and 1x on all other purchases.
But Bilt’s biggest benefit to cardholders comes on the first day of each month, when point values double for all nonrent categories, up to a cap of 10,000 bonus points per month. On that day, Bilt World Elite Mastercard® Credit Card holders earn 6x points on dining, 4x on travel purchases and 2x on everything else.
Why you may prefer the Wells Fargo Autograph℠ Card
Snag a sign-up bonus
Like many more traditional rewards credit cards, the Wells Fargo Autograph℠ Card greets new users with an attractive new cardholder bonus: Limited Time Offer: Earn 30,000 bonus points when you spend $1,500 in purchases in the first 3 months – that’s a $300 cash redemption value.
The Bilt World Elite Mastercard® Credit Card, on the other hand, offers no bonus for new cardholders, meaning it will take longer to rack up the same level of rewards.
Pay over time with 0% introductory APR
The Wells Fargo Autograph℠ Card is also the better pick for cardholders who need to finance purchases over time. Currently, new cardholders will get 0% intro APR on Purchases for 12 months from account opening, and then the ongoing APR of 20.24%, 25.24%, or 29.99% Variable APR .
Since the Bilt World Elite Mastercard® Credit Card doesn’t offer an introductory interest rate, it’s a less attractive choice for cardholders who need some breathing room on interest.
Earn higher rewards on travel, gas stations and streaming services
Both cards earn 3x points at restaurants, but the Wells Fargo Autograph℠ Card wins by a nose on travel purchases, earning 3x points per $1 spent compared with 2x with Bilt.
The Autograph also earns 3x points on certain popular streaming services and phone plans. Bilt’s baseline earnings rate for these categories is just 1 point per $1 spent — but you can bump that up to 2x points per dollar by setting these recurring bills to be charged on the first of every month.
When it comes to fueling your vehicle, though, the Autograph really races ahead on rewards, earning 3x points at gas stations and EV charging stations. For comparison, the Bilt World Elite Mastercard® Credit Card earns a modest 1 point per dollar spent in these categories.
Potential tie-breakers
Still can’t decide which card is right for you? Here are a few minor points of distinction to consider.
Simplicity of earning rewards
A major downside of the Bilt World Elite Mastercard® Credit Card is its transaction requirement. According to the card’s terms, you must complete five transactions per billing period to earn any rewards. That means if you only make four transactions on the card one month, you won’t earn rewards on any of those purchases. There’s no minimum spend per transaction, but this does present an extra hoop to make sure you maximize your rewards.
The Wells Fargo Autograph℠ Card won’t earn you rewards on rent, but it also doesn’t include any such complicated requirements.
Metal vs. plastic
If you have strong preferences about the feel of the card, it’s worth noting that the Bilt World Elite Mastercard® Credit Card comes in a sleek metal design, adding some sophistication to your wallet. The Wells Fargo Autograph℠ Card is plastic, making it a lighter weight to carry.
Which card should you get?
The distinction here is pretty clear. If you’re a renter, the Bilt World Elite Mastercard® Credit Card is the obvious choice. No other card offers comparable rewards on rent payments, and the card’s additional rewards plus travel partners make it a good value on everyday spending as well.
Not a renter? The Wells Fargo Autograph℠ Card will provide more overall value on everyday spending.
Then again, given that both cards carry no annual fee, renters with good credit may choose to pick up one of each. Use the Bilt World Elite Mastercard® Credit Card for rent, Lyft rides and to pick up extra rewards on the first day of each month. For the rest of the month, the Wells Fargo Autograph℠ Card will earn you higher rewards in most categories, along with a strong intro APR and sign-up bonus.
The difference between the two travel cards mostly comes down to basic math: As a mid-tier travel card, the Sapphire Preferred has a$95 annual fee, but the Venture X is considered a premium travel card — and has the hefty price tag to match. The Venture X certainly delivers when it comes to luxury perks, but the card won’t be the right choice if you won’t make use of any of those benefits, or aren’t willing to pay for them.
Here’s how to decide between the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card and Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card.
At a glance
How the cards compare
Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
on Chase’s website
Annual fee
Welcome bonus
Earn 75,000 bonus miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel.
Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That’s $750 toward travel when you redeem through Chase Ultimate Rewards®.
Rewards
10X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel.
5X miles on flights booked through Capital One Travel.
2X miles on all other purchases.
Earn 5X points on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards®, excluding hotel purchases that qualify for the $50 annual Ultimate Rewards® hotel credit.
Earn 3X points on dining, including eligible delivery services, takeout and dining out.
Earn 3X points on online grocery purchases (excluding Target, Walmart and wholesale clubs).
Earn 3X points on select streaming services.
Earn 2X on travel purchases not booked through Chase Ultimate Rewards® .
Earn 1X per dollar spent on all other purchases.
Extra benefits
$300 annual credit for bookings through Capital One Travel.
$100 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck.
Get 10,000 bonus miles (equal to $100 toward travel) every year, starting on your first anniversary.
Every year, earn bonus points equal to 10% of your total purchases made the previous year.
Up to $50 in statement credits each account anniversary year for hotel stays purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards.
Still not sure?
Why Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is better for most people
Lower annual fee
Annual fees for credit cards aren’t inherently bad, and in most cases the more you pay, the more you get. Still, forking over a large fee for a travel card can be a tough pill to swallow. The annual fee for the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is several hundred dollars less than the Venture X’s. And when you consider how much value you get for the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card and its $95 annual fee, many people will find it hard to justify paying hundreds more for another travel credit card.
Better transfer partners
Transfering points to a partner airline or hotel is one of the best ways to squeeze more value out of them. While Chase has fewer transfer partners than Capital One, most travelers will find Chase’s to be more attractive. For example, only Chase partners with United and Hyatt, and Hyatt boasts perhaps the best transfer value at 2.3 cents per point, according to NerdWallet’s analysis.
Capital One also boasts an array of airline and hotel transfer partners, but they are largely foreign brands. Savvy travelers can find outsize value from Capital One’s partners, but many travelers will find Chase’s options more accessible.
Full list of Chase transfer partners
Aer Lingus (1:1 ratio).
Air Canada (1:1 ratio).
Air France-KLM (1:1 ratio).
British Airways (1:1 ratio).
Emirates (1:1 ratio).
Iberia (1:1 ratio).
JetBlue (1:1 ratio).
Singapore (1:1 ratio).
Southwest (1:1 ratio).
United (1:1 ratio).
Virgin Atlantic (1:1 ratio).
Hyatt (1:1 ratio).
InterContinental Hotels Group (1:1 ratio).
Marriott (1:1 ratio).
Full list of Capital One transfer partners
Aeromexico (1:1 ratio).
Air Canada (1:1 ratio).
Air France-KLM (1:1 ratio).
Avianca (1:1 ratio).
British Airways (1:1 ratio).
Cathay Pacific (1:1 ratio).
Emirates (1:1 ratio).
Etihad (1:1 ratio).
EVA (2:1.5 ratio).
Finnair (1:1 ratio).
Qantas (1:1 ratio).
Singapore Airlines (1:1 ratio).
TAP Air Portugal (1:1 ratio).
Turkish Airlines (1:1 ratio).
Accor (2:1 ratio).
Choice Privileges Hotels (1:1 ratio).
Wyndham Rewards (1:1 ratio).
Broader rewards structure
The rewards structure on the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card makes the card more suited for everyday spending than the Venture X. The latter has the potential to earn up to an eye-popping 10x on travel, but you’ll have to book that travel through the Capital One portal. The card earns a respectable 2x on everything.
With the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card you’ll earn 3x points on dining, including delivery services and takeout; streaming services; and online grocery purchases. If your spending habits sync with the Sapphire Preferred’s rewards structure, you’ll be able to effortlessly rack up points to pay for your next vacation.
🤓Nerdy Tip
By adding another no-fee card or two to your wallet, you can create a Chase Trifecta and supercharge your Ultimate Rewards® earnings. The Chase Freedom Flex℠ earns 5x up to $1,500 per quarter in rotating bonus categories when you activate (1x on everything else), plus 3x at drugstores.
Points worth 25% more
As major card issuers, both Chase and Capital One have their own travel portals through which cardholders can book flights, hotels and car rentals. However, Chase’s Ultimate Rewards® travel portal offers slightly better value. Points are worth 1.25 cents each when used to book through Chase while one Capital One mile is worth 1 cent.
Who might prefer the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
You want lounge access
True to its classification as a premium travel card, the Venture X grants its cardholders and two guests unlimited access to more than 1,000 airport lounges including Priority Pass lounges and Capital One lounges.
If you want lounge access but prefer Chase’s lineup of credit cards, your only option is the $550-annual-fee Chase Sapphire Reserve®.
You like Capital One’s travel portal
Booking travel through Capital One’s portal is the best way to offset most of the Venture X’s annual fee. Cardholders will receive a $300 annual credit toward travel expenses, which can be used in a single transaction or across multiple purchases. If you don’t mind booking through the portal, the $300 credit plus the 10,000 anniversary points you’ll get each year you renew (worth $100) will cover the entire annual fee of the card.
The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card offers an annual credit, too, but it’s $50 and only good for hotel bookings through the Ultimate Rewards® portal.
You want trusted traveler program credit
Skipping the line in a crowded airport can be a huge perk, and Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card cardholders get a $100 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck. The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card offers no such reimbursement. Note, though, that you must pay for the Global Entry or TSA PreCheck fee with the Venture X card, and the $100 credit renews every four years, not annually.
Which card should you get?
The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card, with its reasonable annual fee, top-tier travel partners and access to Chase’s travel portal, is the perfect entree into the world of travel credit cards. Plus, the $95 annual fee can be partly recouped by redeeming the hotel travel credit. Only if you’re after luxury perks and are comfortable paying a triple-digit annual fee should you commit to the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card.
For most people, the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is a better starting point in the travel rewards market. (There’s a reason NerdWallet describes it as “nearly a must-have for travelers.”) It offers higher rewards earnings on everyday purchases, and those rewards carry a 25% higher redemption value when used to book travel through the Chase travel portal. That’s a lot of value for a modest annual fee of $95.
The Platinum Card® from American Express is marketed as a premium travel card. Its rewards earning rates focus on select travel spending, and it carries more luxury benefits, including lounge access, high-end fitness, shopping and hotel credits. However, those premium benefits come with a premium annual fee of $695 — a hard cost to justify for many people.
Here’s a side-by-side comparison so you can decide which card is right for you.
How the cards compare
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
on Chase’s website
The Platinum Card® from American Express
Annual Fee
Welcome offer
Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That’s $750 toward travel when you redeem through Chase Ultimate Rewards®.
Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 on purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.
Terms apply.
Rewards
5 points per $1 spent on all travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards®.
3 points per $1 spent on dining (including eligible delivery services and takeout).
3 points per $1 spent on select streaming services.
3 points per $1 spent on online grocery purchases (not including Target, Walmart and wholesale clubs).
2 points per $1 spent on travel not purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards®.
1 point per $1 spent on other purchases.
Through March 2025: 5 points per $1 spent on Lyft.
Points are worth 1.25 cents apiece when redeemed for travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards®.
5 Membership Rewards points per $1 spent on flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel.
5 points per $1 spent on prepaid hotels booked through American Express Travel.
2 points per $1 spent on other eligible travel booked through AmEx.
1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases.
Other benefits
A $50 annual credit on hotel stays purchased through Ultimate Rewards®.
Each account anniversary, cardmembers will earn bonus points equal to 10% of total purchases made the previous year.
1:1 transfer partners, including United, Southwest, JetBlue, Marriott and Hyatt.
$200 annually for airline incidentals, like bag fees, on one designated airline when you enroll.
$200 annually for prepaid hotel bookings through American Express Travel at more than 2,000 hotels. (Fine Hotels and Resorts or The Hotel Collection properties.)
$189 annually for Clear membership.
$100 statement credit every 4 years for a Global Entry application fee or a statement credit up to $85 every 4.5 years for a TSA PreCheck when charged to your card.
1:1 transfer partners, including Air Canada, Air France, British Airways, Delta and Virgin Atlantic.
Terms apply.
Lounge access
Access for you and 2 guests to over 1,400 lounges worldwide from partners including Priority Pass and Plaza Premium Group. Terms apply.
Access to over 40 American Express Centurion and Escape lounges. Terms apply. Fees may apply for guest access.
Foreign transaction fee
Still not sure?
Why the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is better for most people
Lower annual fee
The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card packs a lot of punch in terms of travel rewards value, all with a manageable $95 annual fee. Compare that with The Platinum Card® from American Express’s eye-popping $695 annual fee — an intimidating figure for many travelers. While the Amex Platinum does advertise a wide range of travel and shopping credits to offset that fee, taking full advantage of those benefits can be burdensome.
More value, more dometic transfer partners
When using your points to book travel through the issuer’s portal, Chase Ultimate Rewards® are more valuable. Points earned from the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card are worth an impressive 1.25 cents per point. That’s an outsized value compared with the American Express travel portal, where Membership Rewards points are redeemed at one cent per point on flights and certain hotel bookings. Other hotel bookings made through AmEx carry a value of 0.7 cent per point.
Plus, Chase’s transfer partners include several well-known domestic airlines and hotel brands, offering easy accessibility for points redemption. American Express offers more transfer options than Chase, and savvy travelers can find outsized value for their points. But AmEx’s transfer partners are primarily foreign airlines, making Membership Rewards points more challenging to transfer for U.S.-based domestic travelers.
Full list of Chase transfer partners
Aer Lingus (1:1 ratio).
Air Canada (1:1 ratio).
Air France-KLM (1:1 ratio).
British Airways (1:1 ratio).
Emirates (1:1 ratio).
Iberia (1:1 ratio).
JetBlue (1:1 ratio).
Singapore (1:1 ratio).
Southwest (1:1 ratio).
United (1:1 ratio).
Virgin Atlantic (1:1 ratio).
Hyatt (1:1 ratio).
InterContinental Hotels Group (1:1 ratio).
Marriott (1:1 ratio).
Full list of AmEx transfer partners
Aer Lingus (1:1 ratio).
AeroMexico (1:1.6 ratio).
Air Canada. (1:1 ratio).
Air France/KLM (1:1 ratio).
ANA (1:1 ratio).
Avianca (1:1 ratio).
British Airways (1:1 ratio).
Cathay Pacific (1:1 ratio)
Delta Air Lines (1:1 ratio).
Emirates (1:1 ratio).
Etihad Airways (1:1 ratio).
Hawaiian Airlines (1:1 ratio).
Iberia Plus (1:1 ratio).
JetBlue Airways (2.5:2 ratio).
Qantas (1:1 ratio).
Qatar Airways (1:1 ratio).
Singapore Airlines (1:1 ratio).
Virgin Atlantic Airways (1:1 ratio).
Choice Hotels (1:1 ratio).
Hilton Hotels & Resorts (1:2 ratio).
Marriott Hotels & Resorts (1:1 ratio).
Better earnings rates on everyday spending
Both cards earn 5x per $1 spent on travel booked through their travel portals, but the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is the clear winner for everyday spending. It earns 3x on dining, streaming services, and online grocery purchases (excluding Walmart, Target and wholesale clubs), while the Amex Platinum earns 1x in each of those categories. Terms apply.
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Why you might want The Platinum Card® from American Express
Lounge access
In this category, there’s no competition. If airport lounge access is a high priority, you’ll be best served by The Platinum Card® from American Express.
Where the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card offers no lounge access, the AmEx Platinum is known for its top-notch airport lounge benefits, including access to over 1,400 lounges in more than 500 airports worldwide. Those include more than 40 American Express Centurion and Escape lounges, and additional access through partners like Priority Pass and Plaza Premium Group. Terms apply.
Booking with the airline
When it comes to booking flights, experienced travelers know that the way you book can make a big difference in the ease of changing or canceling your plans. So while both the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card and Amex Platinum offer 5 points per dollar spent on flights booked through their respective travel portals, The Platinum Card® from American Express has a leg up in offering that same earnings rate for flights booked directly through the airline. Terms apply.
The Sapphire Preferred, on the other hand, offers the 5x points rate only if you book your flights through the Chase travel portal. That can pose a problem in the event of a weather delay, cancellation, or any other trip interruption.
The prestige factor
Both cards are metal, but The Platinum Card® from American Express carries a certain luxury gravitas that the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card can’t compete with — and doesn’t try. That prestige has some cash value, too. When used correctly, the card’s luxury perks add up quickly to help offset its eye-popping annual fee. When you enroll, those include statement credits of up to $300 per year toward an Equinox gym membership, $50 twice per year at Saks Fifth Avenue, $200 per year in Uber cash ($15 per month plus an extra $20 in December), and $200 a year for prepaid hotel bookings through The Hotel Collection or Fine Hotels + Resorts properties, just to name a few. Terms apply.
However, if these benefits don’t match your lifestyle, you’ll be paying mostly for the cachet of pulling the famous platinum card out of your wallet. Only you can decide how much that prestige is worth.
Which card should you get?
The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card and The Platinum Card® from American Express are two of the best travel rewards cards on the market, but they have different strengths and weaknesses. Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is a great choice for travelers who want a card with a low annual fee and great rewards for everyday spending. The Amex Platinum may be the better choice for frequent travelers who value lounge access and luxury benefits — but given the card’s steep $695 annual fee, it’s important to make sure you can take full advantage of all those benefits before you sign up.
To view rates and fees of The Platinum Card® from American Express, see this page.
Rewards optimizers use the term “trifecta” to describe a combination of three credit cards from one issuer that have complimentary benefits. When combined, the cards create a rewarding synergy that helps you earn more points and get more value out of your redemptions.
Chase and American Express offer popular trifecta combinations for people seeking travel rewards. While you can mix and match different cards to create an optimal trifecta based on your spending habits, there is a recommended combination for each issuer.
In a head-to-head showdown, the Chase trifecta comes out ahead for most people — you’ll pay significantly less in annual fees, get easier-to-use travel credits, rewards and travel partners, and have broader acceptance around the world. The Chase trifecta is also more accessible for people who don’t qualify for a small-business credit card.
At a glance
Here’s a look at the rewards-earning rates for each trifecta. (For details about specific benefits and statement credits offered by each card, check out the individual review pages linked above.)
Chase trifecta
AmEx trifecta
Rewards earning rates
Chase Sapphire Reserve®:
10 points per dollar spent on hotels and car rentals booked through Chase and Chase Dining purchases.
5 points per dollar spent on flights booked through Chase.
3 points per dollar spent on travel and dining.
1 point per dollar on all other spending.
Chase Freedom Flex℠:
5% cash back on up to $1,500 in combined purchases each quarter on bonus categories that you activate (1% back after).
5% back on travel booked through Chase.
3% back at restaurants and drugstores.
1% back on all other non-bonus-category spending.
Chase Freedom Unlimited®:
5% back on travel booked through Chase.
3% back at restaurants and drugstores.
1.5% on all other spending.
The Platinum Card® from American Express:
5 points per dollar for flights booked directly with airlines or through AmEx Travel (on up to $500,000 per calendar year, then 1x).
5 points per dollar for prepaid hotels booked with AmEx Travel.
1 point per dollar on all other purchases.
American Express® Gold Card:
4 points per dollar at restaurants, including takeout and delivery in the U.S.
4 points per dollar at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 per calendar year in purchases, then 1x).
3 points per dollar on flights booked directly with airlines or through AmEx Travel.
1 point per dollar on all other purchases.
The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express:
2 points per dollar on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year (then 1x).
Terms apply.
Overall annual fees
$945. Terms apply.
Why the Chase trifecta is better for most people
Lower annual cost
The collective annual cost of the Chase trifecta is $550, with the Chase Sapphire Reserve® having the only annual fee.
That’s 42% cheaper than the $945 annual cost of the AmEx trifecta, which includes annual fees of $695 on The Platinum Card® from American Express, $250 on the American Express® Gold Card and $0 on The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express.
Sure, the AmEx trifecta offers hundreds of dollars worth of coupon-book style credits for services like Uber and Walmart+ that can help offset the higher annual cost. But the catch is that many of these credits are limited in scope: the $240 annual entertainment credit, for example, is doled out in $20 monthly increments and applies to a handful of entertainment subscriptions only. You may have to go out of your way to optimize the potential value of the credits.
Easier-to-use travel credits
The Chase Sapphire Reserve® comes with a $300 annual travel credit that applies to all eligible travel purchases. It doesn’t get any easier — simply book travel like hotel, airfare or rental car with your card, and receive a statement credit.
By comparison, The Platinum Card® from American Express comes with an annual $200 airline fee credit (enrollment required), but it too has several caveats. You must select only one airline from a short list of options to apply the credit. It only applies to incidental charges like in-flight refreshments and checked baggage, and the charge must be made separately from the ticket purchase. The card also comes with an annual $200 hotel credit, but that only applies to specific luxury hotels that are prepaid through the American Express travel portal. Since prepaid hotels are often nonrefundable, you could incur a significant out-of-pocket expense if your plans change. Terms apply.
More valuable rewards
All three cards in the Chase trifecta earn Chase Ultimate Rewards®. These rewards can be combined into your Chase Sapphire Reserve® account, where they are redeemable through the Chase Ultimate Rewards® travel portal at a rate of 1.5 cents each. That makes 6,666 Ultimate Rewards® worth $100 in travel.
American Express Membership Rewards points are worth 1 cent each when booking airfare and 0.7 cent a piece when booking hotels through the AmEx travel portal. It would cost 10,000 points for $100 in airfare, or 14,286 points for a $100 hotel stay. That’s significantly less value than you can get for the same number of Ultimate Rewards®.
🤓Nerdy Tip
Though classified as cash back cards, the Chase Freedom Flex℠ and Chase Freedom Unlimited® earn Ultimate Rewards® points. But if you hold just those cards, the points are worth 1 cent each toward travel booked through Chase and are unable to be transferred to travel partners. Adding the Chase Sapphire Reserve® unlocks the ability to transfer to partners and increases the value of the points to 1.5 cents each.
More accessible travel partners
Both Chase and AmEx have a broad list of airline and hotel transfer partners — American Express has 21 travel partners compared with Chase’s 14. But more isn’t always better.
In this case, Chase wins for many travelers with quality over quantity. Ultimate Rewards® can be transferred to partners like United Airlines, Southwest Airlines and Hyatt at no cost.
While American Express boasts more partners, the majority of them are international airlines and not as familiar to many. Transferring points to these airlines can yield impressive value, but can also cause more headaches and confusion to navigate. The biggest domestic transfer partner for AmEx is Delta Airlines — however, you’ll pay an excise tax for transferring points to Delta (and a few others).
Full list of Chase transfer partners
Aer Lingus (1:1 ratio).
Air Canada (1:1 ratio).
Air France-KLM (1:1 ratio).
British Airways (1:1 ratio).
Emirates (1:1 ratio).
Iberia (1:1 ratio).
JetBlue (1:1 ratio).
Singapore (1:1 ratio).
Southwest (1:1 ratio).
United (1:1 ratio).
Virgin Atlantic (1:1 ratio).
Hyatt (1:1 ratio).
InterContinental Hotels Group (1:1 ratio).
Marriott (1:1 ratio).
Full list of AmEx transfer partners
Aer Lingus (1:1 ratio).
AeroMexico (1:1.6 ratio).
Air Canada. (1:1 ratio).
Air France/KLM (1:1 ratio).
ANA (1:1 ratio).
Avianca (1:1 ratio).
British Airways (1:1 ratio).
Cathay Pacific (1:1 ratio)
Delta Air Lines (1:1 ratio).
Emirates (1:1 ratio).
Etihad Airways (1:1 ratio).
Hawaiian Airlines (1:1 ratio).
Iberia Plus (1:1 ratio).
JetBlue Airways (2.5:2 ratio).
Qantas (1:1 ratio).
Qatar Airways (1:1 ratio).
Singapore Airlines (1:1 ratio).
Virgin Atlantic Airways (1:1 ratio).
Choice Hotels (1:1 ratio).
Hilton Hotels & Resorts (1:2 ratio).
Marriott Hotels & Resorts (1:1 ratio).
No business cards required
Our recommended Chase trifecta consists of all personal credit cards. That makes it broadly accessible to anyone with a credit profile that qualifies for the three cards. However, you’ll have to be eligible for a small-business credit card to craft the ideal AmEx trifecta.
The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express and its ability to earn 2 points per dollar for all purchases on up to $50,000 annually is the glue that really holds the AmEx trifecta together, since the other cards only earn 1x on non-bonus spending. If you don’t qualify for a small-business card, the Chase trifecta is the easy choice. Terms apply.
Better international acceptance
All Chase credit cards carry the Visa or Mastercard logo, making them usable nearly anywhere credit cards are accepted throughout the globe. American Express has closed the acceptance gap domestically, but still lags behind Visa and Mastercard abroad. If you’re looking to use your card internationally, your surefire bet is the Chase trifecta.
Why you might want the AmEx trifecta
Big grocery and restaurant spend
The American Express® Gold Card offers a sky-high 4 points per dollar spent at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 in annual spend) and restaurants. The Chase trifecta earns an everyday 3 points per dollar at restaurants, and the potential to earn 5 points per dollar on up to $1,500 in quarterly spend if grocery stores are selected as a rotating bonus category on the Chase Freedom Flex. If you have an outsized budget for dining out or groceries, the math may have you leaning toward the AmEx trifecta. Terms apply.
Elite status and luxury perks
You might prefer the AmEx trifecta if you value elite status and exclusivity. By holding The Platinum Card® from American Express, you’ll get complimentary gold elite status with Hilton and Marriott (enrollment required), President’s Circle status with Hertz, Emerald Club Executive status with National, 24-hour access to a concierge for those hard-to-access reservations or tickets, and access to members-only VIP experiences at prestigious events like Wimbledon and the Kentucky Derby. Terms apply.
If you value these perks, the AmEx trifecta may be worth the added annual cost.
Airport lounge access
If you’re a frequent flyer and often find yourself in airports, lounge access can be a great way to escape the commotion of the terminal. In addition to a Priority Pass Select membership (which the Chase trifecta also has), the AmEx trifecta also lets you access AmEx Centurion and International Lounges, Delta Sky Clubs (only when flying Delta) and Plaza Premium, Escape and Airspace network lounges.
That’s a huge footprint that includes complimentary access to over 1,400 airport lounges. If you want lounge access, the AmEx trifecta may be better for you.
🤓Nerdy Tip
The Chase Sapphire Reserve® offers a dining credit (normally $28 each) for you and a guest at participating Priority Pass restaurants. The Priority Pass access granted by AmEx cards excludes these restaurants.
Which trifecta should you get?
Most people will do better with the Chase trifecta. The annual cost is significantly lower, the benefits and rewards are more transparent and easy to use, and your points are worth more when booking travel through the Chase travel portal. The AmEx trifecta could be a good choice for those who value a broader airport lounge footprint and luxury benefits, but realize you’ll be paying a lot more for those perks.
To view rates and fees of The Platinum Card® from American Express see this page.To view rates and fees of the American Express® Gold Card, see this page.To view rates and fees of The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express, see this page.
A message from our partner: Your miles are now worth at least 15% more with the new Delta Vacations. Click here to learn more about redeeming miles for your next getaway.
Since Delta eliminated its award charts in 2015, the SkyMiles program has become notably more unpredictable and, at times, outrageously expensive. With business-class flights on long-haul routes often priced at over 450,000 SkyMiles, it’s understandable to feel like your SkyMiles balance holds little value.
But if you have a stockpile of Delta miles, they are far from worthless. There are still excellent redemptions available, particularly during the carrier’s award sales.
So, let’s explore some strategies for maximizing the value of your Delta SkyMiles.
Redeem on Delta flights
ZACH GRIFF/THE POINTS GUY
You can use your Delta SkyMiles to book Delta, Delta Connection and Delta Shuttle flights. Since Delta uses dynamic pricing, award rates can vary significantly. For example, in November, one-way main cabin award rates from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) to Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) range between 16,000 and 49,000 miles.
DELTA.COM
Even though Thanksgiving travel skews award prices over these dates, significant price volatility is normal. If you want to maximize your SkyMiles, flexibility is important.
Taxes and fees are generally reasonable on Delta tickets. Expect to pay $5.60 per person in taxes and fees on most domestic tickets and international tickets departing the U.S. However, Delta adds carrier-imposed surcharges on many awards that start outside the U.S., most notably those originating in Europe.
Keep an eye out for SkyMiles deals
A great option for redeeming Delta miles is taking advantage of SkyMiles deals. These deals typically apply to specific city pairs, so it may be necessary to book positioning flights to fully maximize these promotions.
Last year, Delta offered a flash sale with round-trip flights for just 5,000 SkyMiles. The airline recently offered round-trip airfare to Auckland Airport (AKL) from most major U.S. airports for just 37,400 SkyMiles round-trip.
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If you have no immediate use for your SkyMiles, you may be best off saving them for the next big SkyMiles deal. Just be sure to keep an eye on Delta’s SkyMiles deals page.
Save at least 15% with select Delta credit cards
If you have an eligible Delta credit card, you can save 15% on Delta-operated award flights when you use your miles and pay the taxes and fees with the card. This can be a great option to reduce the price you pay on Delta award tickets — and a major reason to open (and keep) a Delta card in your wallet.
Read more: Best Delta credit cards
Rebook when prices drop (or cancel when your plans change)
Once you’ve used your miles on a Delta flight, be sure to keep your eyes on the award rates. As long as you’re not on a basic economy ticket, Delta offers the ability to rebook flights when prices drop, and you’ll receive the mileage difference back in your account. You should even be able to do this right from the Delta App.
And if your plans change, you should be able to cancel your flight for a full refund of both the miles and the taxes and fees — again, unless you’re on a basic economy ticket.
Related: Complete guide to changing and canceling award tickets
Redeem on partner flights
Air France is a partner of Delta. ZACH GRIFF/THE POINTS GUY
Delta is a member of the SkyTeam alliance and has three non-alliance airline partners. This gives you more flexibility to redeem your SkyMiles on various airlines and routes across the globe. Here is the complete list of Delta’s airline partners:
SkyTeam partners
Aerolinas Argentinas
Aeromexico
Air Europa
Air France
China Airlines
China Eastern Airlines
Czech Airlines
Delta Air Lines
Garuda Indonesia
ITA Airways
Kenya Airways
KLM
Korean Air
Middle East Airlines
Saudia
Tarom
Vietnam Airlines
Virgin Atlantic
Xiamen Air
Non-alliance partners
Cape Air
Hawaiian Airlines
WestJet
Although there are no online award charts, partner awards generally have a specific price range. For example, one-way business-class airfare from San Francisco International Airport (SFO) to Mexico City International Airport (MEX) ranges between 42,000 and 44,000 miles.
DELTA.COM
Another great option is WestJet-operated flights from the U.S. to Canada. Round-trip award tickets in economy class still clock in at 25,000 miles plus ~$60 in taxes and fees, and availability is relatively widespread, especially when you book in advance.
DELTA.COM
These flights routinely cost more than $500, giving you a redemption value of more than 2 cents per miles.
Delta also has some appealing non-U.S. partner sweet spots.
For example, Dubai International Airport (DXB) to Paris-Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG) on Air France business class generally costs around 42,500 miles plus 120 United Arab Emirates Dirham (around $32). In comparison, Tokyo’s Narita International Airport (NRT) or Haneda Airport (HND) to Hong Kong International Airport (HKG) costs 35,000 miles plus up to 6,910 Japanese Yen (around $50) for a connecting business-class Korean Air or China Airlines flight.
1 of 2
DELTA.COM
Delta can increase these rates at any time, and they have done so on multiple occasions. To obtain the current award price, you will need to contact Delta directly or search the website.
While Delta has tried to improve its website to display partner awards, it may still have limitations, particularly when booking mixed-cabin itineraries. The website often prioritizes Delta-operated flights, which may not be ideal if you have specific flight requirements. We recommend searching for flights segment by segment and being prepared to call Delta if the website doesn’t offer the desired trip options.
Related: The best websites for searching SkyTeam award availability
Redeem for upgrades
You can redeem your SkyMiles for upgrades to Delta One. ZACH GRIFF/THE POINTS GUY
You can also use your SkyMiles for upgrades to a higher class of service. If you have a confirmed Delta-marketed and operated flight, you should have the option to pay cash or use miles to upgrade your flight directly on Delta’s website.
If you redeem your miles for an upgrade using this method, you’ll generally get around 1 cent per mile, which is lower than our 1.41 cent valuation of Delta SkyMiles. This could be a viable option if you have a surplus of SkyMiles and no immediate plans for their use. However, we generally recommend prioritizing award flight redemptions, as discussed in previous sections.
You can also use Delta miles to upgrade specific flights operated by Air France, KLM, Virgin Atlantic or Aeromexico. This option is subject to fare class requirements and is available only on select routes each partner operates. For more details, please refer to Delta’s “upgrade with miles” page.
You’ll also want to make sure there’s upgrade inventory available. Fortunately, all four partner airlines mentioned above publish business-class award inventory on ExpertFlyer (owned by TPG’s parent company, Red Ventures), allowing easy searching and setting up alerts if the desired seats are unavailable when you book your flight.
Related: All the tips and tricks you need to use Delta Upgrade Certificates
Redeem for Delta Vacations
You can sometimes maximize SkyMiles redemptions at luxury hotels through Delta Vacations. DAN HAM/WALDORF ASTORIA ORLANDO/FACEBOOK
Delta Vacations recently enhanced redemption rates for SkyMiles members looking to use their rewards for vacations. You’ll get at least 1.15 cents when you use your miles to cover a Delta Vacation.
In practice, however, you can occasionally find better redemption rates.
A two-day escape from Los Angeles to Hawaii with lodging at the Moana Surfrider, A Westin Resort & Spa, Waikiki Beach costs $1,797.90. Alternatively, you can redeem 143,832 SkyMiles to book this vacation (a 1.25-cent redemption rate).
DELTA.COM
In this example, Delta also includes a round-trip transfer from the airport to the hotel, whether you pay with miles or cash.
Related: Delta Vacations enhances earning rates and redemption value for SkyMiles members
How to earn Delta miles quickly
ZACH GRIFF/THE POINTS GUY
You’ll need to have SkyMiles to take advantage of the redemptions mentioned above. Fortunately, there are several ways to increase your balance. One of the simplest ways to earn Delta miles is by using Delta’s cobranded American Express credit cards (terms apply). Here are some of the current welcome offers available for these cards:
Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card: Earn 65,000 bonus miles after you spend $2,000 in purchases on your new card in your first six months of card membership. Offer ends Aug. 2, 2023. The card has a $0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $99 (see rates and fees).
Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card: Earn 85,000 bonus miles after you spend $4,000 in purchases on your new card in your first six months of card membership. Offer ends Aug. 2, 2023. The card has a $250 annual fee (see rates and fees).
Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card: Earn 85,000 bonus miles after you spend $6,000 in purchases on your new card in your first six months of card membership. Offer ends Aug. 2, 2023. The card has a $550 annual fee (see rates and fees).
Delta SkyMiles® Gold Business American Express Card: Earn 70,000 bonus miles after spending $3,000 in purchases on your new card in your first three months of card membership. Aug. 2, 2023. The card has a $0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then a $99 annual fee (see rates and fees).
Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card: 90,000 bonus miles after you spend $4,000 in purchases on your new card in your first three months of card membership. Aug. 2, 2023. The card has a $250 annual fee (see rates and fees).
Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card: Earn 100,000 bonus miles after you spend $6,000 in purchases on your new card in your first three months of card membership. Aug. 2, 2023. The card has a $550 annual fee (see rates and fees).
Remember that any of these cards include access to the TakeOff 15 benefit, which will save you at least 15% on Delta-operated award flights.
You can also transfer American Express Membership Rewards points from cards like the American Express® Gold Card and The Platinum Card® from American Express to Delta SkyMiles at a 1:1 ratio. However, you’ll be subject to an excise tax offset fee. And Marriott Bonvoy points transfer to Delta SkyMiles at a 3:1 ratio.
Related: Points of View: Which credit card should you use for Delta Air Lines flights?
Bottom line
Although the value of Delta SkyMiles has decreased in recent years, there are still excellent deals to be found. While the program has been moving toward a redemption value of 1 cent per mile, you can still surpass that, especially with SkyMiles deals and Delta Vacations.
Additional reporting by Ethan Steinberg.
For rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles Gold Card, click here. For rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles Reserve Card, click here. For rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles Platinum Card, click here. For rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles Gold Business Card, click here. For rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles Reserve Business Card, click here. For rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles Platinum Business Card, click here.
A message from our partner: The new Delta Vacations is even more rewarding than before. Click here to learn more and start planning your next trip.
Using Delta SkyMiles can be complex and frustrating due to frequent changes and a lack of award charts. However, once you accumulate enough miles and gain the necessary knowledge to navigate the program, you can extract significant value from them.
Historically, Delta has offered flash sales where round-trip tickets cost as little as 5,000 SkyMiles. They’ve also run flash sales for flights to Europe, including economy round-trip flights for 32,000 SkyMiles.
While it requires effort to understand and utilize SkyMiles effectively, many consider Delta’s inflight experience to be the best among domestic carriers — as does the data powering TPG’s own annual report on the best U.S. airlines (Delta took the top spot for the fifth straight year in 2023).
Today, we will explore five key things you need to know about Delta SkyMiles to maximize their value.
There’s no published award chart
ZACH GRIFF/THE POINTS GUY
Delta removed award charts from its website in 2015. If you want to save miles for a future award flight, you must search for your desired route on different dates to get an idea of the approximate number of miles required. However, it’s important to note that this range can change unexpectedly.
Another aspect to consider is the wide range of SkyMiles needed for the same route. For example, a domestic flight that costs 10,000 miles one day could be half that price just a few days later. To illustrate this, let’s look at the varying prices over one week for a short flight from New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) to Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport (ORD).
DELTA.COM
The variance can be even more significant when it comes to international routes, especially in premium cabins. Within a week one-way, business-class flights from JFK to Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion Airport (TLV) range between 237,500 and 480,000 SkyMiles.
DELTA.COM
Availability with award programs is always a challenge. Still, without set prices, these significant variances force you to plan your trip schedule around availability rather than SkyMiles rewarding you with your desired schedule.
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Finally, with no fixed prices, last-minute SkyMiles award tickets function like revenue tickets: They tend to be significantly more expensive.
This is a major drawback to collecting SkyMiles compared to other legacy carrier miles. In this Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) to Cancun International Airport (CUN) example, close-in award tickets are roughly double than tickets a week or more out:
DELTA.COM
That said, it’s worth noting that you can reticket most Delta award flights (excluding basic economy) when the price drops. Many times, this can be accomplished right in the Delta app.
TPG director of content Nick Ewen did this twice on a one-way award ticket from Orlando International Airport (MCO) to Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC) for him and his family earlier this year. He initially booked three tickets at 25,000 miles apiece, but the price dropped to 20,500 miles and then 19,500 miles. Both times he was able to rebook his flight, ultimately putting 16,500 miles back in his SkyMiles account.
Related: Complete guide to changing and canceling award tickets
Adding segments can lower your award ticket price
ZACH GRIFF/THE POINTS GUY
Surprisingly, longer flights can sometimes result in lower award rates for a Delta award ticket. Delta tends to have limited competition on routes originating from its main hubs.
As an example, here’s a search from Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW) to San Francisco International Airport (SFO) in economy class:
DELTA.COM
When you shift your origin to JFK, which is served by more carriers, the prices drop significantly — with many itineraries on these days connecting in Detroit:
DELTA.COM
Related: How to redeem Delta SkyMiles for maximum value
Partner award prices are now higher
DELTA
In late 2022, award rates skyrocketed on partner flights booked through SkyMiles, as pricing was largely brought in line with itineraries entirely operated by Delta.
In short, it now costs a lot more to fly with partner airlines on flights to and from the U.S. — especially for business-class awards.
For example, Virgin Atlantic flights to and from the U.S. now cost around 210,000 miles when there’s award space — instead of the previous 86,000-mile price.
DELTA.COM
For reference, you can typically book this same business-class award for 47,500 Virgin Atlantic Flying Club points plus $926.70 — though it’s even cheaper (33,200 points) through Sept. 30 thanks to Virgin’s 30% discount on award redemptions this summer.
You’ll see similar increases on Aerolineas Argentinas, Aeromexico, China Airlines, China Eastern and Korean Airlines flights originating from the U.S.
Related: Leisurely luxury: A review of Virgin Atlantic’s A350 leisure configuration in Upper Class from Manchester to Orlando
Keep an eye on SkyMiles sales
ZACH GRIFF/THE POINTS GUY
Delta routinely offers SkyMiles sales. One of its most recent was round-trip airfare to Auckland Airport (AKL) from most major U.S. airports for just 37,400 SkyMiles round-trip. Last year, the airline offered round-trip awards from JFK to various gateways in the Caribbean and the Bahamas for just 8,000 miles round-trip.
We even saw select flights from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) to beach destinations at just 2,500 miles each way back in Feb. 2021.
Keep an eye on Delta’s SkyMiles sales page to find these deals.
Related: The ultimate guide to Delta One Suites
You can earn elite status without ever flying
ZACH GRIFF/THE POINTS GUY
Delta SkyMiles lets you earn Medallion status without flying.
If you have both of the Delta cobranded cards issued by American Express that earn Medallion Qualification Miles (either the consumer or business versions of each card), you could spend your way to upper-level Platinum Medallion status without ever setting foot on a Delta plane.
Here are the four cards and the Medallion Qualification Miles (MQMs) they allow you to earn:
Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card: Earn 10,000 MQMs after you spend $25,000 in purchases on your Card in a calendar year, up to two times. Thus, you can earn a total of 20,000 MQMs by spending $50,000 in a year. The card’s annual fee is $250 (see rates and fees).
Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card: Earn 10,000 MQMs after you spend $25,000 in purchases on your Card in a calendar year, up to two times. Thus, you can earn a total of 20,000 MQMs by spending $50,000 in a year. The card’s annual fee is $250 (see rates and fees).
Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card: Earn 15,000 MQMs after you spend $30,000 in purchases on your Card in a calendar year, up to four times. Thus, you can earn a total of 60,000 MQMs by spending $120,000 in a year. The card’s annual fee is $550 (see rates and fees).
Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card: Earn 15,000 MQMs after you spend $30,000 in purchases on your Card in a calendar year, up to four times. Thus, you can earn a total of 60,000 MQMs by spending $120,000 in a year. The card’s annual fee is $550 (see rates and fees).
If you hold the Delta Platinum Amex and the Delta Reserve Amex and can put $50,000 and $120,000 in spend on them (respectively), you’ll reach Platinum status. That’s because you’ll have 80,000 MQMs (just ahead of the required threshold of 75,000) and will waive the Medallion Qualification Dollar (MQD) requirement for Silver, Gold and Platinum Medallion status.
While not Delta’s top tier, Platinum Medallion still comes with unlimited upgrades and a selection of Choice Benefits that can improve your flying experience.
For reference, the Diamond MQD waiver only kicks in once you’ve spent $250,000 on eligible purchases across your Delta cobranded American Express credit cards.
Note that all four of these cards also include a 15% discount on Delta-operated award flights when you redeem your SkyMiles and pay the taxes and fees with the card. This doesn’t apply to partner tickets.
Related: Best Delta credit cards
Bottom line
Delta SkyMiles remains a solid choice for Delta travelers. I continue to find great value in using SkyMiles for domestic flights for me and my family, and I find equal value in holding Delta Platinum Medallion status. However, SkyMiles isn’t the currency to hold if you’re looking for aspirational or long-haul premium cabin awards.
For rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles Platinum Amex Card, please click here. For rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles Platinum Business Amex Card, please click here. For rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles Reserve Amex Card, please click here. For rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles Reserve Business Amex Card, please click here.
Additional reporting by Ryan Smith, Nick Ellis and Richard Kerr.
Delta Air Lines will replace its SkyBonus program, which has long catered to small and midsize businesses, with SkyMiles for Business in October. By phasing out the SkyBonus program, Delta will more closely align its business program with SkyMiles rather than making it a stand-alone currency.
As part of the changes, Delta is opening up its small-business loyalty program to additional companies, with no minimum traveler or spending requirements. A Delta spokesperson said, “As businesses and their travelers continue to redefine the when, why and how of business travel, Delta is prepared to cater to their evolving needs — regardless of company size.”
However, you’ll still need to meet minimum thresholds to earn miles in the new program.
Here’s what we know about the new SkyMiles for Business program.
Delta SkyBonus to become SkyMiles for Business
ZACH GRIFF/THE POINTS GUY
The existing SkyBonus program rewards small businesses whose employees fly on Delta. The company earns SkyBonus points for eligible itineraries, while the travelers earn Delta SkyMiles, just as they would on a normal ticket. Those SkyBonus points can then be used for things like flight credits, a membership to the Delta Sky Club and eCredits.
However, in order to enroll, a company must have at least five unique employee travelers and spend at least $5,000 in eligible flight revenue every calendar year.
In October, the program is being renamed SkyMiles for Business, and it’ll open its doors to all companies, regardless of size and annual revenue. However, the ability to earn miles (rather than SkyBonus points) will still be restricted to companies meeting the above requirements.
It’ll also continue to offer rewards when employees book eligible flights on Air France, KLM, Virgin Atlantic and Aeromexico. And as a traveler, you’ll still earn your standard mileage accruals as a SkyMiles member — in addition to the rewards your company will earn in its SkyMiles for Business account.
If you currently have SkyBonus points in an existing account, those will be converted to SkyMiles when the new program launches in October. This will happen at a 3-to-1 ratio.
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Bear in mind that you can currently use SkyBonus points for Delta eCredits at a rate of 7,500 points per $25, which means they’re worth 0.33 cents apiece for this option. A 3-to-1 conversion ratio thus pegs the new miles at 1 cent apiece.
Related: The inside scoop on invite-only Delta 360 status
3 tiers of SkyMiles for Business
At the Plus tier, businesses earn miles for eligible Aeromexico flights. KYLE OLSEN/THE POINTS GUY
SkyMiles for Business will have three tiers when it launches in October. Here’s an overview:
Member: Open to any business, with no minimum traveler or spending requirements
Plus: Accounts with at least five employee travelers and $5,000 annual travel spending
Elite: Accounts with at least five employee travelers and $300,000 annual travel spending
As noted previously, member accounts won’t be eligible to earn SkyMiles through the new program. Instead, here’s what a Delta spokesperson told TPG about this tier:
Accounts that belong to the SkyMiles for Business Member tier will receive tailored offers from Delta and third parties. Our goal is to be their partner in business travel, so Delta will also offer resources to allow companies to manage their travel program more efficiently.
For those organizations with Plus or Elite status, the new earning chart that Delta shared with TPG looks very similar to the current SkyBonus program, with higher accrual rates for flights to (or from) the following destinations:
Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL)
Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW)
Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport (MSP)
Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC)
Here’s the full chart:
Market
Delta One
First class
Delta Premium Select
Delta Comfort+
Main cabin
Delta hubs noted above
5 miles per dollar
5 miles per dollar
5 miles per dollar
2 miles per dollar
1 mile per dollar
All other destinations
10 miles per dollar
10 miles per dollar
10 miles per dollar
4 miles per dollar
2 miles per dollar
Note that basic economy tickets will not be eligible to earn miles through the SkyMiles for Business program.
When it comes to redemption, a Delta spokesperson indicated that the new program will continue to allow redemptions for eCredits and Silver Medallion status, and individual Delta Sky Club membership will return as an option.
However, the SkyMiles for Business program will also allow companies to transfer business miles to individual employee accounts, a new feature.
Related: 5 things you need to know about Delta SkyMiles
Earn more miles with Delta business credit cards
ZACH GRIFF/THE POINTS GUY
Ahead of this transition, it’s worth noting that Delta’s small-business credit cards are featuring elevated welcome offers through Aug. 2. Here’s a look at these bonuses:
However, it appears that these business credit cards will remain separate from the SkyMiles for Business program.
Related: Points of View: Which credit card should you use for Delta Air Lines flights?
Bottom line
Delta is phasing out the SkyBonus program and replacing it with SkyMiles for Business. While more businesses will be eligible for Delta’s business program, the current SkyBonus restriction — at least five employee travelers and $5,000 in annual spending — will remain in place for the purposes of earning miles.
Existing SkyBonus points will convert to SkyMiles at a 3-to-1 ratio, and the new program will offer similar redemption options but also enable companies to transfer the miles directly to individual employee accounts.
We’ve reached out to Delta with questions on these details, and we’ll be sure to update this article if we receive any additional information.