What credit score rating do you might want to get Delta SkyMiles playing cards?

You might wonder if you have got a excessive sufficient credit score rating to be authorized for a Delta SkyMiles bank card. In fact, it is essential to keep in mind that whereas your credit score rating signifies your approval odds, it isn’t an absolute science. Bank card issuers additionally take into account many different facets when deciding whether or not to approve you for a card.

So let’s take a better have a look at what it often takes to get authorized for Delta client playing cards, together with the Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Categorical Card, Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Categorical Card, Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Categorical Card and Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Categorical Card.

What credit score rating do you might want to get Delta SkyMiles American Categorical playing cards?

To be authorized for a Delta SkyMiles bank card, information factors counsel you’ll typically want a credit score rating of 690 or greater. Nonetheless, it’s doable to be authorized with a credit score rating as little as 640 if different facets of your credit score portfolio look interesting to American Categorical.

American Categorical would not publish a required credit score rating for its playing cards. In any case, many different elements go into qualification past your rating. For instance, Amex will probably additionally take into account your revenue and the age of your credit score accounts.

Associated: Why the proper credit score rating is not vital

What number of card accounts can I’ve open?

American Categorical limits cardholders to at most 5 Amex client or enterprise bank cards. So, you probably will not be authorized if you have already got 5 different Amex client or enterprise bank cards.

Associated: What number of bank cards ought to I’ve?

Will I be eligible for a SkyMiles welcome bonus?

American Categorical typically restricts eligibility for a card’s welcome bonus to “one per lifetime.” For instance, the appliance phrases and situations for the Delta Gold Skymiles Amex card presently state:

“You might not be eligible to obtain a welcome supply when you have or have had this Card the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Categorical Card, the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Categorical Card or earlier variations of those Playing cards. You additionally might not be eligible to obtain a welcome supply primarily based on varied elements, comparable to your historical past with bank card stability transfers, your historical past as an American Categorical Card Member, the variety of bank cards that you’ve opened and closed and different elements.”

Fortunately, Amex’s welcome bonus qualification software will notify you in case you are ineligible for a welcome bonus after you click on to use. In the event you’re not eligible for the welcome bonus, you’ll be able to both proceed with out a welcome bonus or withdraw your utility.

In September 2023, American Categorical launched a household rule on some private Delta bank cards, additional limiting welcome bonus eligibility. The overall phrases state:

“You additionally might not be eligible to obtain a welcome supply primarily based on varied elements, comparable to your historical past with bank card stability transfers, your historical past as an American Categorical Card Member, the variety of bank cards that you’ve opened and closed and different elements. In case you are not eligible for a welcome supply, we’ll notify you previous to processing your utility so you have got the choice to withdraw your utility.”

Along with these phrases, particular Delta playing cards issued by Amex embody the up to date household phrases of eligibility:

• Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Categorical Card: You might not be eligible to obtain a welcome supply when you have or have had this Card, the Delta SkyMiles® Choices Credit score Card, the Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Categorical Card, the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Categorical Card, the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Categorical Card or earlier variations of those playing cards.
• Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Categorical Card: You might not be eligible to obtain a welcome supply when you have or have had this Card, the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Categorical Card, the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Categorical Card or earlier variations of those playing cards.
• Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Categorical Card: You might not be eligible to obtain a welcome supply when you have or have had this Card, the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Categorical Card or earlier variations of those playing cards.
• Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Categorical Card: The household time period guidelines haven’t been added to this card as of now.

Principally, Amex will most likely disqualify you from receiving the welcome bonus on a lower-tier card (just like the Gold) if you happen to’ve held a higher-tier one (just like the Platinum or Reserve).

test your credit score rating

There are numerous methods to test your credit score rating at no cost. Many bank cards even allow you to test your FICO rating at no cost. By checking your credit score rating commonly, you’ll be able to see the place your rating lies on the size from good to unhealthy and monitor your rating’s progress over time. You can additionally simply open a free account on a web site like Credit score Karma that may enable you to monitor your rating and its elements even higher.

Associated: 6 issues to do to enhance your credit score rating in 2025

Components that have an effect on your credit score rating

Earlier than making use of for bank cards, it is important to know the elements that make up your credit score rating. The system for calculating your credit score rating is not precise. However FICO states it makes use of the next parts and weights in its calculation:

• Fee historical past (35%): Whether or not you have paid previous credit score accounts on time
• Quantities owed (30%): The relative measurement of your present debt and your current debt ratio to your out there credit score, also referred to as your credit score utilization
• Size of credit score historical past (15%): How lengthy your credit score accounts have been established (together with the age of your oldest account, the age of your latest account and the typical age of all of your accounts) and the way lengthy it has been because you used sure accounts
• New credit score (10%): What number of new accounts have you ever opened not too long ago
• Credit score combine (10%): What number of several types of credit score accounts you have got, comparable to bank cards, retail accounts, installment loans, finance firm accounts and mortgage loans

Associated: 7 issues to know about credit score earlier than making use of for a brand new card

What to do if you happen to get rejected

If Amex rejects your utility, it’s best to obtain a letter stating why Amex turned down your utility. You should use this data to enhance your monetary scenario earlier than making use of once more. However, you could possibly additionally name Amex’s reconsideration line at 1-800-567-1083 and make your case for why Amex ought to take a second have a look at your utility.

In the event you name the reconsideration line, it’s best to clarify to the consultant that you just not too long ago utilized for a Delta Amex card. Then, you may wish to notice that you just had been shocked to see Amex reject your utility and wish to converse to somebody about reconsidering that call. The consultant will probably ask for an utility reference quantity or your Social Safety quantity.

From there, it is as much as you to construct a case for why Amex ought to approve your utility. You may need a greater probability of success if Amex’s cause for rejection was one thing you have been capable of rectify since your utility.

How lengthy to attend earlier than making use of once more

If Amex rejected your utility, I would not suggest making use of once more for a similar card till you have addressed the explanations Amex gave to your rejection. Nonetheless, making use of for a distinct Amex card is usually secure so long as you do not apply for too many playing cards inside 90 days.

American Categorical would not publish necessities concerning what number of functions you’ll be able to have and the way incessantly you’ll be able to submit functions. Nonetheless, TPG has discovered information factors suggesting the next:

• You possibly can apply for 2 playing cards in a single day. Many experiences point out that no less than one utility will probably be placed on maintain as a fraud-prevention mechanism.
• You might get authorized for greater than two playing cards in 90 days. Nonetheless, the final rule is that you just should not apply for 3 or extra Amex bank cards inside three months.

Nonetheless, it is typically finest to go extra slowly. In any case, making use of for too many playing cards in a brief time period can look dangerous to banks. And if you happen to’re authorized, you may want to satisfy minimal spending necessities to earn welcome bonuses on every card.

Associated: Does making use of for a brand new bank card damage your credit score?

Different playing cards to contemplate

It is tough to counsel different playing cards to contemplate with out understanding why you wished to use for a cobranded Delta card within the first place. So, listed here are some options primarily based on the primary causes vacationers often apply for cobranded Delta playing cards.

Associated: 4 the reason why the Amex Platinum may be the perfect bank card for Delta flyers

Associated: The most effective journey bank cards

Backside line

In line with client information factors, you typically want a credit score rating of 690 to greater to be authorized for a Delta Amex card. Nonetheless, some individuals have been authorized with a rating as little as 640 when different elements of their credit score attraction to American Categorical.

Earlier than making use of, candidates ought to concentrate on Amex’s welcome bonus eligibility and the inclusion of a brand new household language, which additional restricts eligibility. Fortunately, Amex presents 4 Delta client bank cards, and most of the people needs to be eligible for no less than certainly one of them to assist them benefit from nice advantages when flying Delta.

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Apply right here: Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Categorical Card

Apply right here: Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Categorical Card

Apply right here: Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Categorical Card

Apply right here: Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Categorical Card

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