Last year, American Express raised the annual fees on the Delta SkyMiles credit card lineup. Alongside the fee hikes came a set of new benefits meant to soften the cost. The most useful for many travelers is the Delta Stays credit. These Delta Amex hotel credits are between $100 and $250 each calendar year when you book prepaid hotels or vacation rentals through Delta Stays, Delta’s Expedia-powered booking platform.
These cards also bring other benefits. For example, higher-tier cards can get you into Delta Sky Clubs when you’re flying, and every purchase you make earns SkyMiles you can redeem later. If you’re new to the program, our guide to earning and redeeming SkyMiles covers all the details.
We recently needed a hotel in Nashville. So I searched on the platform and picked a hotel.
We picked a Quality Inn which was convenient for us.
We paid about $141 all in (taxes and fees included), and the credit posted back to the account without a problem.
Note that the room was even cancellable on the days of arrival, which is incredible. The total price also included the tax and fee, so you know upfront how much of the credit you can use.
The value of the credit depends on which card you carry. Holders of the Delta SkyMiles® Gold Amex get $100 back each year, while Platinum cardholders get $150, and Reserve members get $200. Business cardholders do a little better: the Gold Business comes with a $150 credit, Platinum Business offers $200, and Reserve Business tops out at $250.
The catch is that the credit only works on prepaid bookings. If you select “pay at hotel,” you won’t trigger the credit. Prepaying doesn’t necessarily lock you in—many listings still allow refunds or cancellations. In some cases, you can even reserve with a deposit up front, which should still trigger the credit.
Using the credit feels like applying a built-in discount to your trip. Book a $150 stay, and your $150 credit brings the cost down to $0. You can even spread the credit across more than one night. Because the benefit resets each calendar year, you may be able to use it twice before your second annual fee hits if you time things right—once late in the year and again early in the next. Along the way, you’ll also earn 2x SkyMiles per dollar spent for paying with your Delta card.
How Delta Amex Hotel Credits Work
- Only applies to prepaid bookings through delta.com/stays.
- Both hotels and vacation rentals count.
- Credits can take up to 90 days to appear, though usually they post sooner.
- If you pick “Pay at Property,” you won’t earn the credit.
- The total credit is shared across the account, even if you have additional card users.
Booking a last minute hotel using the delta credit
Credit by Card
| Card | Annual Fee | Delta Stays Credit |
|---|---|---|
| Delta SkyMiles® Blue Amex (Personal) | $0 | None |
| Delta SkyMiles® Gold Amex (Personal) | $150 | $100 |
| Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Amex (Personal) | $350 | $150 |
| Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Amex (Personal) | $650 | $200 |
| Delta SkyMiles® Gold Business Amex | $150 | $150 |
| Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business Amex | $350 | $200 |
| Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business Amex | $650 | $250 |
Things to Keep in Mind
Because Delta Stays is run by Expedia, hotels usually treat these as third-party bookings. That means you probably won’t earn hotel points or elite night credits, and perks like upgrades or breakfast aren’t guaranteed. Sometimes a hotel might still honor your status, but it’s inconsistent.
A Little Extra
When you pay with your Delta card, you’ll also earn 2x SkyMiles per dollar on these bookings. It’s not a huge return, but it’s something. Another small advantage: the credit resets every calendar year, not on your card anniversary. So, use it up before December.
Our Take
The Delta Stays credit can make the annual fee essentially $0. If you already book hotels or rentals, it’s a credit you can use without much effort. Just remember to prepay, compare prices, and treat it as a steady, no-frills rebate.
