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Delta Air Lines offers several co-branded credit cards to loyal frequent flyers. Each card offers cardholders unique benefits, statement credits, and travel perks. One of the lesser-discussed benefits of Delta credit cards with an annual fee is the Delta Stays Credit. If you are a cardholder and haven't used your credit, you're leaving money on the table.
Here's everything you need to know about using the Delta Stays credit earned through Delta co-branded credit cards.
Which SkyMiles Cards Offer a Delta Stays Credit?
Delta Stays is a platform that allows you to book hotels or vacation rentals. It's similar to travel portals offered by credit card issuers, such as Citi Travel, Capital One Travel, and American Express Travel.
When you find a place you'd like to stay, you pay for your room using a credit card to earn miles or using your SkyMiles. The Delta Stays credit is offered on all Delta co-branded cards with an annual fee, including business cards. The value of the credit varies depending on your card.
Credits are only valid for prepaid hotels and vacation rentals, so please don't select the option to pay at the property.
Personal cards with a Delta Stays credit:
- Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card: Up to $100 back per year
- Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card: Up to $150 back per year
- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card: Up to $200 back per year
(Terms apply)
- 2X miles per dollar spent on purchases made directly with Delta
- 2X miles per dollar spent at U.S. supermarkets
- 2X miles per dollar at restaurants worldwide, plus takeout and delivery in the U.S.
- 1X miles on all other eligible purchases
(Terms apply)
- 3X miles per dollar spent on purchases made directly with Delta
- 3X miles per dollar at hotels
- 2X miles per dollar at U.S. supermarkets
- 2X Miles per dollar at restaurants worldwide, plus takeout and delivery in the U.S.
- 1 mile on every eligible dollar spent on purchases.
(Terms apply)
- 3X miles per dollar spent on purchases made directly with Delta
- 1X miles on every eligible dollar spent on purchases.
Business cards with a Delta Stays credit:
- Delta SkyMiles® Gold Business American Express Card: Up to $150 back per year
- Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card: Up to $200 back per year
- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card: Up to $250 back per year
(Terms apply)
- 2X miles per dollar spent on eligible purchases made directly with Delta
- 2X miles per dollar on eligible U.S. purchases for advertising in select media (annual cap of $50,000 in eligible purchases)
- 2X miles per dollar on eligible U.S. shipping purchases (annual cap of $50,000 in eligible purchases)
- 2X miles per dollar on eligible dining purchases
- 1X miles per dollar on all other eligible purchases
(Terms apply)
- 3X miles per dollar spent on eligible purchases made directly with Delta
- 3X miles per dollar spent on eligible purchases with hotels
- 1.5x miles on eligible purchases over $5,000 (up to 50,000 bonus miles annually)
- 1.5X miles on eligible transit and U.S. shipping purchases*
- 1X miles per dollar on all other eligible purchases.
- 3X miles per dollar spent on purchases made directly with Delta
- 1.5X miles per dollar on eligible transit, U.S. shipping, and U.S. office supply store purchases, plus all eligible purchases after spending $150K per calendar year
- 1 mile on every dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
Keep in mind that you can more than one personal SkyMiles card and a business card, so you could technically receive multiple Delta Stays credits each year.
Related: Which Delta Credit Card Is Right for You? A Breakdown of Benefits & Perks for Each
How to Use the Delta Stays Credit
To use your Delta Stays credit, go to the Delta Stays website at www.carsandstays.delta.com. Log in using your SkyMiles account.
You might notice that you can also book car rentals through the same website. Unfortunately, your Delta Stays credit is only for stays. Don't book a rental car and assume the credit will automatically apply because it's the same website.
Begin your search by entering your destination, dates, and number of travelers.
You can filter by neighborhood, price, brand, and amenities offered. It's the same process as using any other travel portal to search for a hotel stay. When you find a hotel that works for your dates, you can click on it to select your room.
When you find your room and click “reserve,” you'll see this pop-up. Make sure you click “pay now,” as only prepaid bookings are valid to earn the credit. That said, you can book a refundable room, as long as you prepay.
Make sure you see the line that says, “This reservation is eligible for the Delta Stays benefit available on Select Delta SkyMiles American Express Cards.”
Next, enter your card information, and complete the booking. You should receive your statement credit shortly after the transaction posts to your account. I booked a room at a hotel in Johannesburg using my Delta Gold Card, and it didn't take much time at all for the credit to hit my account
Keep in mind that you are booking a room through a third party. If you have elite status, you might not receive your normal perks. While this will vary from property to property, it is something to keep in mind. Plus, prices on third-party websites can run a bit higher than booking with the hotel. Before you book, make sure you aren't overpaying by more than the value of your credit.
Related: How I've Used My Delta Stays Credit for Stays in the Maldives the Past Two Years
Final Thoughts
Although I generally prefer to book travel directly with the hotel, I also love to save money. As a cardholder, you're paying an annual fee in exchange for benefits. If you don't ever use those benefits, there's little reason to pay for the annual fee. The Delta Stays benefit is an easy way to save up to $100 (or more) on your next hotel stay, with very few strings attached.
- Earn 80,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $3,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Offer Ends 10/29/2025.
- Enjoy a $0 introductory Annual Fee for the first year, then $150.
- Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card Members get 15% off when using miles to book Award Travel on Delta flights through delta.com and the Fly Delta app. Discount not applicable to partner-operated flights or to taxes and fees.
- $200 Delta Flight Credit: After you spend $10,000 in purchases on your Card in a calendar year, you can receive a $200 Delta Flight Credit to use toward future travel.
- When you use your Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card, you can earn: 2X miles on Delta Purchases, 2X miles at restaurants, 2X miles at U.S. supermarkets, 1X miles on all other eligible purchases. Every mile you earn brings you closer to the places you want to go. Turn them into your next trip, use them for seat upgrades, and more.
- Enjoy your first checked bag free on Delta flights and save up to $70 per person on a round-trip Delta flight.
- Receive Zone 5 Priority Boarding on Delta flights; board early, stow your carry-on bag and settle in sooner.
- $100 Delta Stays Credit: Get up to $100 back per year as a statement credit after using your Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card to book prepaid hotels or vacation rentals through Delta Stays on delta.com.
- Want even more flexibility? Take up to $50 off the cost of your flight for every 5,000 miles you redeem with Pay with Miles when you book on delta.com.
- Receive a 20% savings in the form of a statement credit on eligible Delta in-flight purchases after using your Card.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees. Enjoy international travel without additional fees on purchases made abroad.
- With Send & Split®, you can send money and split your Card purchases with any other Venmo or PayPal user, directly from the Amex App. Enroll today.
- Apply with confidence. Know if you're approved for a Card with no impact to your credit score. If you're approved and you choose to accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.
- Terms Apply.
- Rates & Fees
- 2X miles per dollar spent on purchases made directly with Delta
- 2X miles per dollar spent at U.S. supermarkets
- 2X miles per dollar at restaurants worldwide, plus takeout and delivery in the U.S.
- 1X miles on all other eligible purchases
For rates and fees of the cards mentioned in this post, please visit the following links: Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card (Rates & Fees), Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card (Rates & Fees), Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card (Rates & Fees), Delta SkyMiles® Gold Business American Express Card (Rates & Fees), Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card (Rates & Fees), and Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card (Rates & Fees)
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