Delta Air Lines is the second biggest airline in North America by passengers carried. It’s also my carrier of choice as a frequent flyer. Through the years, I’ve found that being loyal to Delta and its partners, and holding Delta co-branded credit cards issued by American Express, help me travel smoothly, earn more miles and enjoy perks like upgrades and lounge access.
I’m based in New York City, where Delta dominates my home airports of LaGuardia and JFK. Today, after 25 years as a frequent Delta flyer, I have a good handle on what I can expect from my airline. Here’s why Delta and its credit-card ecosystem work for me and why they might be a good choice for you too.
Among credit card and travel experts it’s commonplace lately to say that airline loyalty is dead, because qualifying for elite status is expensive, lounges are crowded and upgrades are tough to get. Most people, the reasoning goes, don’t need to pursue status by concentrating their flying on one carrier and are better off collecting transferable credit card points rather than airline miles. Those points can then be redeemed for flights including in premium classes, with no need to hope for complimentary upgrades based on status.
